I think it's a bit disingenuous to say that the original vouch from the donor didn't factor into the 2011 invite, and that he was accepted solely on his own mer

I think it's a bit disingenuous to say that the original vouch from the donor didn't factor into the 2011 invite, and that he was accepted solely on his own merits. Most likely, having attended a previous TED conf bumps you up on the invite list. The original invite came from a vouch by the donor. It's extremely possible that's the only reason this person got the 2011 invite. Which makes the de-invite more like not getting that promotion because you slept with the boss's daughter. Politics to be sure, but hardly an attempt for the upper classes to squash the lower ones.