Retiring Senator Says Nobody Is Going To Watch State Of The Union, Anyway

While the Senate debates the bipartisan budget plan, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a longtime deficit hawk, outlines his annual “Wastebook,” which points a critical finger at billions of dollars in questionable gover... While the Senate debates the bipartisan budget plan, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a longtime deficit hawk, outlines his annual “Wastebook,” which points a critical finger at billions of dollars in questionable government spending, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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With retirement in sight, it seems Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is done showing unconditional reverence for tradition.

During an appearance Tuesday on “Morning Joe,” Coburn was downright dismissive of the importance of both the State of the Union speech and the GOP’s multiple responses to President Obama’s nationally televised address before Congress.

“Well, first of all, the vast majority of America isn’t going to pay attention to this speech and the vast majority of America isn’t going to pay attention to any of the responses to it,” Coburn, who announced earlier this month that he’ll step down before his term ends, told the panelists.

A poll released Monday by Fox News indicated that Coburn isn’t giving the American public enough credit.

According to the poll, 31 percent said they plan to watch the speech carefully while 28 percent said they plan to watch part of the speech. Twenty-three percent said they intend to read about the speech and 17 percent said they have no interest at all.

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