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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Chris its seem you an roomey is friends, you look like twins yet go home,chris you an roomey need to visit the zoo an find you look a like there an have fun.
He should take it as an honor to have been snubbed by these folks!
I did not like Christie before. Now I love him!
Brilliant. Don't invite the popular contender, the one who truly represents the people in his jurisdiction, the one that can honestly praise when praise is due, who doesn't polarize every action, who doesn't look like a cartoon of a President from the 1950's, and who might actually earn the undecided and a few Democrat votes. The GOP...it's like watching a slow suicide by self-induced irrelevancy.
Take it as the compliment that it is, big guy. You have evolved from ideology to leadership and that scares the little people.
As a moderate who has been driven from voting Republican, I never cease to be amazed at the arrogance of today's Republican party.
Dear Lord, Please let Rick Perry run again, I need that kind of entertainment. Amen
There is no hope for the GOP unless the moderates can banish the right wing "no-compromise-on-principles" nuts. To do that, the moderates will have to become as active as the hard core conservatives have been. Unfortunately, fanaticism beats moderation every day of the week.
My advice to moderate Republicans is to consider joining the Democrats and swing that party further towards the center, where most Democrats really are, and not out on the left wing where the hard core liberals live. One thing you can say about the far left that's better than the far right ... they're not fanatics about their political convictions. They will compromise ... when they realize they have no choice.
To Chris Christie:
I'm not a Republican, and I wouldn't even vote for you, but you could do something historic and beneficial to the country: Go on your own an split the Republican Party. I honestly believe you could create a viable third party...something this country desperately needs politically. All the best....
Perhaps it's time that CPAC not drive Presidential politics. It's apparent that CPAC is made up of spiteful girlie men that can't see beyond the echo of their plaintive bleats.
So again the republican party doesnt want to put up a legitimate nominee with a chance to actually win. Makes perfect sense. Just keep on trying to get a non-electable or radical puppet. Obviously works out well. Good job.
Dang – another point in his favor. I really want to hate this guy, but stuff like this is making it hard. I mean, if CPAC doesn't like him, can he be all that bad?
Well, they made sure the Far Right are well represented. How convenient for the Democrats. The GOP, The Party of No, now cutting their own throats to make their point.
Chris Christie does not need to be with the whiners and complainers at CPAC. Are they trying to punish him for actually working with Obama during the Hurricane Sandy event? The hypocrisy is amazing but fully expected. Mature politicians, and there are darn few of them, know when to put politics aside and actually work together. If Boehner and McConnell would man up and mature a bit, they could get a long with Obama also. But they want things their way, the whiners.
That means Christie has a chance to be elected President. C?PAC is the kiss of death nationally.
"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."
And the GOP wonders why they lose elections when they get angry at someone who puts people before party? I may not agree with everything that Christie stands for but he sure sounds like he knocked it out of the ballpark during that disaster.
Another page out of the GOP play book. If you don't tow the party line – they turn on you like Piranhas. That's the thanks Christie gets for raising millions during the Presidential election.
What better endorsement could Christie get for a 2016 run at the Presidency than being turned away by these yahoos?!
It is so deliciously sublime to watch the Republican Party self destruct. Christie may be the only Republican with half a brain in the entire Republican Party and they are snubbing him. What a bunch of dopes.
Christie should consider it a compliment. These guys are just having a really big senior moment anyway...
Wow. The GOP is really not listening to The People. Christie is very, very popular, with Conservatives, Moderates and even Liberals, alike. I used to think these Conservative donors were wiley Machiavellian types, but now I see them for the clueless, toothless strategists that they are.
Christie is probably the BEST hope of creating a moderate alternative to the tea party for republicans. someone who speaks with conviction but also pragmatic. Polarization in politics is dooming this country.
Deja vu again? The crazy right thought John McCain wasn't a real Republican because he was too moderate. They didn't like Mitt Romney because he wasn't conservative enough (and he was a Mormon). Now it's Chris Christie - probably the most popular Republican in the country right now (not that big an accomplishment) and he's not good enough for the far right because he's not a crazy conservative. I've said it before, the Republican party needs another Barry Goldwater - someone who passes every conservative litmus test. Someone who has signed every right-wing pledge and holds the proper ideology on every conservative hot-button issue. Then, when that guy gets trounced in the next presidential election, then MAYBE the party will start to realize that ultra-conservative ideas are out of step with the American electorate.
Wow... didn't see this one coming... right! The Republican Party doesn't appreciate the truth, especially from... well anybody.
Typical brain dead gop. The only person who might actually stand a chance of winning the next election and he doesn't get invited. I hope the gop go the way of the dodo bird and fall into exctintion. How stupid can these neo consevative evangelical turds be? Oh wait, they just showed everybody how much. Idiots!!!