Christie not on CPAC's guest list
(CNN) – It’s considered a key speaking engagement for any Republican considering a bid for president, but one potential 2016 candidate didn’t get an invitation to this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference.
Someone close to CPAC said Monday that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasn’t asked to attend by organizers of the event, which will take place in mid-March at a resort outside Washington. Officially, CPAC says they’re finalizing this year’s schedule.
Other Republicans who are thought to be considering presidential bids and are on the CPAC speaking list include Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was announced as a speaker earlier Monday.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin are also on the roster, along with former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who was a 2012 Republican presidential candidate; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
Mitt Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, will also speak at the conference.
Many Republicans voiced anger at Christie for praising President Barack Obama’s response to Superstorm Sandy, which swept through his state days before last November’s election. Later, Christie publically blasted Republican lawmakers for stalling passage of emergency funds for Sandy victims.
The outspoken governor defended himself against charges he helped swing the election to Obama, however, saying on CNN that "When the president does things that deserve praise, I will give him praise. And when the president does things that deserve scorn, I'll give him scorn."
"I am not going to play politics with this issue, this is so much bigger than an election," Christie continued. "When someone asks me an honest question, I give an honest answer: 'How's the president been to deal with?' He's been outstanding to deal with on this.”
CPAC, which touts itself as the largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists, turns 40 this year and will be held March 14-16 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland near Washington.
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Didn't tagg, you are it, say that his daddy didn't want to run for president?
As far as Christie is concerned his the President is blind and can't find a light switch in a darkroom one or two weeks before Sandy will be forever in my thoughts if her has any consideration of running for higher office.
Deep down inside he IS still a rethug. Sometimes when things happen, like Hurricane Sandy, he needed to eat his words.
No viable GOP candidates again for the next presidential election if they keep going like this. The country doesn't want an extremist and that seems to be all that interests the CPAC.
Dan Moody
I would vote for Christie, I didn't vote for Obama, I voted against the Republican Party, twice now
-–
imbeciles like you are why the country is a mess.
I have one question for GOP: What made you invite Chris Christie as a main speaker at your last convention, and boot him now at your CPAC?
Governor Christie needs to switch parties. Better yet start your own party. I'll vote for you!!
The GOP hates Christie because he talked to Obama and thanked him. These Damned republicans just hate all that in not just like them. They are A DISEASE! Christie might be a republican with a heart and that is why they hate him. Christie might just be the new leader of a republican with a heart and feelings and that is why they are trying to destroy him.
He makes too much sense to be around those other Bozo's.
He's the GOP's only hope for a win! What a bunch of .... I ... they're like the Keystone Cops! Eesh!
Christi dance will start around 2014.
Just like deer seem to want to get hit by cars, the GOP seems to want to lose elections forever, and they will. These corporate-loving, money-hungry, middle-class hating dinosaurs are on their way to extinction. The sooner, the better.
News flash: The Tea Party (and by extension CPAC) got pwned last election cycle. Maybe the GOP should reconsider their platform, since the American political landscape is no longer dominated by white, Christian, wealthy males. Consider that Rick Perry is more likely to win the nomination, but Chris Christie is probably much more likely to win the Oval Office.
Not getting invited should be considered a badge of honor to any sane Conservative ... or is the term sane Conservative an oxymoron?
"Sarah Palin is going to be our next President."
You know, somehow I just don't think so.
That wing of the Republican party is exactly why they will not win any elections in the forseeable future. The Dems did the same thing 40 yrs ago, extreme views that were out of line with the rest of the country. Took them 40 yrs to get out of that, it will take the GOP 40 plus years at the rate they are going. Party of Stupid indeed.
He broke ranks. He MUST be a RINO. This is why the republican party is a laughing stock. One criticism and you are excommunicate.
The deer analogy is funny. Have you noticed that everybody from Michell Bachman to Marco Rubio all have Adam Lanza eyes?
Isn't it just like the GOP to turn on one of their own for simply being truthful and giving credit where credit is due?
Personally, I hope the speakers in the CPAC line-up are the GOP candidates for the Presidency in 2016, because that will mean another four years WITHOUT a RepubliKKKlan President, and that can only be good for our country and the whole world!
The last great hope for the republican party snubbed. I will be able to tell my grandchildren that i got to watch the GOP dig it's own grave.
I am a liberal and if Chris Christy runs for Pres in 2016, you can bet he has my vote. I can't believe how SMALL MINDED the Republican party has become! IF YOU DON'T DO IT MY WAY, THEN HIT THE ROAD seems to be the new norm for them. I am also from Texas! PLEASE DON'T BOTHER TO VOTE FOR RICK PERRY of N_head! He is what he appears to be!
How much do you want to bet that this is happening because somebody figured out that the best way to bolster Christie's chances of winning a national election would be to invent a perceived rift between him and the conservative wing of the GOP?
Big victory for Christie. The far right of the GOP needs to be isolated and put in their place – the Stone Age. To say he helped Obama win is ridiculous. With his archaic views on women and his buffoonery on the World Stage, Romney never had a chance. Romney was just a horrible candidate, but the best the GOP could muster this time around.
I guess Chris Christie isn't as extremely conservative' like Romney claimed he was. Even the Tea Party folks rolled their eyes when Romney said that. The whole ordeal probably flew right over Sarah Palin's head, but we still love her.
This is a tough one for the 'Baggers"! On the one hand, they love Christie because he is loud and obnoxious and shoots from the hip (which they equate with "honesty"), but on the other hand, he worked with the President to get aid to the communities in his state. Working with the President is an absolute non-no with the 'Baggers. They are torn, maybe Rush or beck can help them sort through their feelings.
So Christie was not invited to CPAC eh? I'm starting to warm up to this guy.
Who cares. Rand Paul 2016. The country is ready for a libertarian.... fiscally conservative, socially moderate, common sense foreign policy, cares about personal rights, and won't kill us with a drone