Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), who threatened President Obama with impeachment over his plan to reduce gun violence, has offered a ticket to the State of the Union to Ted Nugent — whose criticism of the president once resulted in a sitdown with the Secret Service.
“I am excited to have a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the House Chamber to hear from President Obama,” Stockman said in a statement Monday. “After the Address I’m sure Ted will have plenty to say.”
Nugent is one of the most vocal and incendiary advocates for gun rights in America. He’s also one of the most vocal and incendiary critics of Obama. In April, the Secret Service sought him out after he told an audience at an NRA convention he’d end up “dead or in jail” if Obama was reelected. The NRA scrubbed the video from its website, and Nugent later said he had a “good, solid, professional meeting” with the Secret Service about his comments.
“Nugent will be available to speak to the media before and after the Address,” Stockman’s office noted in the Monday statement.
Gun control advocates have lobbied members of Congress to invite gun violence survivors and their relatives to the State Of The Union. The USA Today reported Sunday that effort has resulted in about 20 invitations.
