Everybody CPAC Shouldn't Have Invited This Year

CPAC is a big deal to conservatives. Thousands make the journey every year to the Washington D.C. area, and the event attracts some of the biggest names in conservatism — major headliners like Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, and Scott Walker will be delivering speeches this year. This year, CPAC will host speakers who will kick off the 2016 Republican primary — make no mistake, it's a big freaking deal. But not everybody is the most stellar guest, and it'd probably be best if some invitees stayed home, sparing CPAC any potential major embarrassments.

It's not as though everyone has to be invited. Chris Christie was banned from attending CPAC in 2013 after he praised President Obama for his handling of post-Hurricane Sandy relief. Believe it or not, there are folks invited to CPAC this year who have done a few things that are much worse than the New Jersey governor. So if the organization isn't shy about turning down a popular politician, they could have the guts to simply not send out some invitations.

Let's take a look at who probably should not be front and center at CPAC this year, regardless of how prolific they might be (we're looking at you, Duck Dynasty.)

Phil Robertson

The Duck Dynasty star is being honored at CPAC with a Defender of the First Amendment Award by Breitbart and Citizens United. No, I'm not joking. It's kind of hard to swallow, right? Let's take a look back at the time Robertson referred to being gay as a sin in an interview with GQ:

We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus — whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists.

Oh my, just stop. This, on top of a Republican gay rights group being barred from sponsoring CPAC.

Ben Carson

Carson might be running for president and the conference is definitely a platform for that, but he's had a faux pas last year at CPAC:

Of course gay people should have the same rights as everyone else, but they don't get extra rights. They don't get to redefine marriage.

Noticing a theme here? Carson also said in a FOX News appearance:

It’s a well-established, fundamental pillar of society, and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality — it doesn’t matter what they are — they don’t get to change the definition.

Carson is an accomplished surgeon, but the doctor needs to stay out of politics and stick to playing in his own sandbox.

Sarah Palin

In 2013, Palin brought a 7/11 Big Gulp soda to CPAC.

Oh, Bloomberg is not around, our Big Gulp is safe! We’re cool. Shoot, it’s just pop!”

It's not a bad thing to have fun, but CPAC is a more serious event. And media bites of Palin continue to surface years after the incident. Look, mockery is not a form of flattery.

Donald Trump

He was one of the leaders in the movement that President Obama was born abroad and illegally became the commander-in-chief. As of a September tweet, he still believes it.

OK, does anyone hold the key to Trump Tower? We might want to use it next weekend.

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