Spirit of the Wild: Lawmaker explains bringing Nugent to State of the Union
Washington (CNN) – Rep. Steve Stockman, the Texas Republican who invited Ted Nugent to this year's State of the Union, explained Tuesday his reasoning in bringing along the outspoken rocker and gun rights advocate to President Barack Obama's annual address.
"He's a very articulate spokesman," Stockman told CNN. "I'm excited to have him. I think he gives a balance to what's being said tonight at the White House. And it will be a balance. The president gives his views and his opinions. And we live in a free country where other people get to speak their opinion."
Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address starting Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN's apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Follow our real-time State of the Union live blog at cnn.com/conversation.
Stockman, who served two years in the U.S. House during the 1990s and was again elected last year, has emerged as a vocal critic of Obama, particularly on the subject of gun control. He's vowed to tweet during the president's address using the hashtag #youlie, a reference to the 2009 outburst from Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, during Obama's address on health care to a joint session of Congress.
Stockman has also said he'll consider filing impeachment articles against the president in response to the executive directives Obama issued following December's deadly school shooting in Connecticut.
"I think if we keep going down this road it sets a dangerous precedent and we're going to continue to look at our options," Stockman said Tuesday, adding that "all options are on the table."
His guest to Tuesday's speech, the platinum-selling rocker Ted Nugent, has also voiced his fierce opposition to Obama's policies, including during last year's presidential campaign. He was interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service after he said he would be "dead or in jail" if Obama was re-elected.
Nugent made the comments at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, on whose board he sits.
In a recent interview with CNN's Deborah Feyerick, Nugent said tighter restrictions on guns wouldn't prevent massacres like the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
"It's not the weapons. The weapons had nothing to do with it. These weapons are in every pickup in Texas. People have to get past the hardware," Nugent said.
One place there won't be weapons? The U.S. Capitol during the president's speech. Asked if he was confident Nugent would arrive unarmed, Stockman recalled his guest saying he would have to "demilitarize" himself.
"He has to go through screening like we all do," he said.
CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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I served while this N.R.A. icon (and coward) dodged the draft. He loves guns and hunting. In 1965 we would have gladly issued him a weapon and given him the opportunity to hunt – and be hunted. What a loud-mouthed phoney.
so the congressman has no problem supporting a man that says the president of the United States can "suck on his rifle muzzle"..amongst toehr things he in public said. And if this is to counter who some of the Democrats are bringing..vitims of gun violence does this mean he supports gun violence. Free country...free speech...YES!! Stupidity and lack of respect NO! Typical from a congressperson from Texas though.
"I think he gives a balance to what's being said tonight at the White House."
So what balance are we tryna get when the President talks of strong union and keeping our communities safe? GOP keep talking and putting forth stupid policies. Your time in our government is almost running out and the next generation of voters will eventually outrank the grumpy old white man party.
Why does this not surprise me? A Texas republican that shows no respect for the President by saying he will tweet during the address and on top of that he invites Ted Nugent as his guest. I guess he didn't listen to Jindals remarks about being stupid. Probably good for Democrates that these extreme republicans just keep opening their mouths. The sooner the hatred stops the better off the country will be. You can disagree with the President all you want but lets remember the majority of Americans elected him. Maybe his mama did not teach him not to be rude and and to not disrespect people. Nothing to be proud of when Nugent says these weapons are in every pickup in Texas.
Ya, smart idea to bring a wacko who more or less told the President to suck on this while holding a weapon, someone who spoke such incendiary remarks about Obama that the secret service had to pay him a visit. Ya, that's going to send a clear message alright. That this republican amongst others are out of touch and fringe. Where is the party of Reagan?
everyone has the right to bring their ideas to the table
"He's a very articulate spokesman". Seriously?? Ted Nugent simply threatens the POTUS and Stockman believes that this kind of disrespect gets to be on display at the SOTU address?? This is the problem with the crazy version of the GOP.
To tweet under the #youlie moniker continues to show how little maturity this congressman possesses!
Is Nugent going to be frisked for concealed weapons?
"He has to go through screening like we all do," he said.
But what about his rights?!?! Somewhere, somehow, a Tea Party person is enraged. Conservatards!
Here he is folks....the poster boy for the devolution of American males....
I think it's out of line. Nugent is the most disrespectful narsasist I have ever seen.
Oh, date night?
This guy and his guest are such useless folks!! I'm curious what these idiots would say if one of their kids was killed by a semi automatic weapon!! I bet they would be outraged too, like the rest of us normal folks.
Gail wrote:
Rep. Steve Stockman and Ted Nugent are great. My only regret is that I don't live in Rep. Steve Stockman's district. Would love to be able to vote for him.
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The right wing finds this type of language to be highly persuasive. [ TeeHee ]
somebody has to have the courage to try and stop obama from controlling everyone's lives–go ted..
no one could ever beat obama for rudeness and arrogance in all of his speeches–calling out the supreme court, george bush, gun owners, and many others on his bully pulpit–knock off the hypocrisy, liberals....obama is as disrespectful as anyone in the USA...
As if they haven't made a big enough freak show out of our political system already. What's next the lady with the donkey?
Articulate spokesman? His last comment about the President was "suck on this". Yeah, I guess that does make him the most "articulate" spokesman in the Grand Old Tea Party.
Typical Southern white racists. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Keep it up, GOP. Every stupid move like this just alienates you more from the vast majority of Americans. They see you for what you truly are in a case like this.
Ted Nugent is a washed up has been. It figures that Steve Stockman from Texas would invite him. Please Texas succeed from the US. The rest of the country would be better off.
Yet again, a Republican creating a circus atmosphere and trying to pass it off as equal politics. It's as if they can't even hear themselves.
I'd love to hear Mr Po–py Pants lose control and shout out something during the speech. It would cement the GOP's place as a bunch of undisciplined, disrespectful, and totally out of their mind fanatics. Maybe Obama will goad him with some statement and Ted will start frothing at the mouth until he can't hold back. Cmon Mr President......egg him on til he explodes
Go Uncle Ted!!
If Nugent displays any disrespect I hope the president have him escorted out.