GOP Lawmakers Skipping Obama Jobs Speech (PHOTOS)

President Barack Obama will address both chambers of Congress Thursday to unveil his plan to create jobs, but not everyone plans to attend.

Despite buzz that Congress might ring in a new era of bipartisanship by choosing "prom night" seating for the speech -- crossing aisle to sit with members of the other party -- some Republicans are threatening to boycott the speech altogether. Their reasons range from opposition to what they call a "political speech" to a desire not to miss the first football game of the NFL season.

Having a number of members skip a president's joint address is not unprecedented, however. The last time was in January 1999, when multiple members -- led by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert -- skipped President Bill Clinton's State of the Union, feeling that is was "disrespectful" to a Congress in the middle of an impeachment process. Rep. William Clay skipped George H. W. Bush's 1992 address because he didn't want to deal with long commute home late at night.

In 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus boycotted one of Richard Nixon's State of the Union addresses because they felt he was ignoring the black community's needs. Members have missed various joint addresses by foreign dignitaries as well.

A slideshow of some of the notable Republicans who are planning to skip Obama's jobs speech is below:

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Sen. David Vitter (R-La.)

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Disgraced Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced that he would be skipping the president's speech to watch the New Orleans Saints' first NFL game of the season -- despite the fact that kickoff is not until 8:30 p.m. ET, while the president will begin his address at 7 p.m. When asked by Fox News why he's skipping the speech, Vitter said: "As a fanatic, I have my priorities."

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Disgraced Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced that he would be skipping the president's speech to watch the New Orleans Saints' first NFL game of the season -- despite the fact that kickoff is not until 8:30 p.m. ET, while the president will begin his address at 7 p.m.

When asked by Fox News why he's skipping the speech, Vitter said: "As a fanatic, I have my priorities."

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dididangerlove said on 8 Thursday 2011 pm30 12:29 pm: Yeah? I'm planning on skipping Republicans next year.

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Comments

[David W Dukes]

12:43 PM on 09/12/2011

Here, stand with me on this Bill, that you have not read, pass it for all my buddies in the Union, and forget about the people that were hit hardest in this recession, the non-union construction workers in America. NO THANKS, you are a failure, because you lied to Americans, and only care about your buddies, while wasting billions more on jobs regular folks cant get. Ron Paul 2012

[shelcreates2]

02:20 AM on 09/10/2011

TO: All Posters, regardless of Party and Racial Ideas
What WE need to focus on is reform in Conressional Benefits. If we really want to save a lot of money long term and put our representatives into the same systems as the people, so they are the same (not privileged elite) in programs important to the nation as a whole we might get real attention by them on issues.

Like most Americans who only have a job for only 4 to 8 yrs, they do not get lifetime benefits.
Like most Americans, they are subject to the programs and cuts they make law. IT IS TIME the people demand laws that they NO LONGER get lifetime retirement benefits, medical benefits, Social Security benefits and other perks from THEIR OWN PRIVATE FUND paid for by working people that they alone have control over through law. The deal is that if you can win a minimum time (4 yrs) in Congress, you are set for life. Fill this site with your views on this and work with others to force Congress to end this ineguality. Even the Tea Party should support this.

[westpascolooking]

02:00 AM on 09/10/2011

if your Congressman or Senator didn't attend then you have a right to make a post and say something. All the rest of you blow hards .... keep your mouths shut.

[Rick Ayers]

09:50 PM on 09/09/2011

NOT A PROBLEM! And, after they skip that, they need to skip on down, skip on down the road. They need to skip on down, skip on down the road. And, they can grab Joe Walsh, as they head for the Unemployment line...... while they just skip on down, skip on down the road.
(Bridge)
When you don't respect the office of the president
And, you seem to think, that you were heaven-sent
Then, your constituents will grab you, in the seat of your pants
And, throw you out there where you belong, among roaches and ants

So, go ahead and just, skip on down, skip on down the road
Tea Partiers, skip on down......skip on down the road
'Cause you didn't really come here, to help the country move along
So go ahead, and skip on down.....skip on down the road

(Sung to the tune of: "Move-on down the Road," a duet sung by Michael Jackson & Diana Ross, from the movie: "The Wiz."

[annacarne]

05:24 PM on 09/09/2011

Destroying Obama is more important to the Republican Party than the lives of Americans. Maybe if they work a little harder they can change this Recession into a Depression. They did it in the 20's, why not now?

[David W Dukes]

01:07 PM on 09/12/2011

As soon as he got in office, he bailed out the people that got us in this depression, the banks. Who he swore he would not help. Now he has sold out to the Unions, with their inflated rates, and 4 supervisors to every worker mentality. His new jobs package? More Union jobs. This man does not give a damn about the average worker, he is not a supporter of the poor or middle class, and he keeps creating "plans" that are wasteful, and detrimental to the economy. he lied to every one of us to get office, just like the last three presidents. Our political field is a joke, and there is only one man that wont sellout to the corporate dogs, the banks, and the military complex. Thats why they are afraid of him, and the media ignores him, Mr. Ron Paul for President in 2012. He's not gonna shuck and jive his way in, he doesn't make promises he cant back up, he introduced legislation (The Sunrise Act) that will give congress time to go over bills before they are force fed into law, he has never changed his stance to gain votes. He is an honest man speaking from the heart, but also from a wealth of economic and Constitutional wisdom. Obama was never anything but a community organizer, and didn't expect to win himself, but white guilt, and every black vote got him elected.

[Helloise]

04:49 PM on 09/09/2011

Well, that worked out well for them. No one noticed, or cared that they were missing. Next up, bellowing in an empty forest.

[jamuelle]

02:44 AM on 09/10/2011

The fact that there were a few rounds of applause that consisted of both parties, standing, makes up for their pettiness.

I wonder how many constituents tuned into the town halls, vs. watching the speech? It'd be nice to have the representation of the people paying attention the first time around, so they can in a timely manner, speak to the people who elect them about it.

That is too much to ask of some Republicans these days.

[Dandy12]

02:43 PM on 09/09/2011

Why is this Horehound candy & Saints fanatic still in congress? He has his priorities, and it's evident that self indulgence is high on the list!

[NatTurner1]

01:51 PM on 09/09/2011

How childish and immature can these republicans be! "We dont want to do our job and represent our constituents because we still havent got over 2008 and Obama's birth certificate."

[relentless63]

01:10 PM on 09/09/2011

As tokens of disrespect go, not showing up when only your friends will notice, is a whole lot less toxic than showing up to shout invectives at the President.

[Charles Bryan]

11:07 AM on 09/09/2011

Football all the way.

[motherofmaggie]

10:32 AM on 09/09/2011

I am ashamed that one of our LA Senators publicly announced his refusal to attend our President's speech last night. Furthermore, to do it with such flippancy is an out affront to the constituency he was elected to serve. (RE: His tweet about fanaticism). As an Independent, I did not vote for Mr. Vitter -- I remain ideologically opposed to him and his party on many vital issues. However, he serves at the pleasure of ALL of the people in this state -- we are his bosses. To put party and petty partisanship above dealing with the economic crisis we are currently experiencing is inexcusable. I pledge this: I will do whatever I can to ensure he is NOT re-elected to his seat again. He has abused the office and should be publicly censured by his leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, and his Senate colleagues for doing so. There are many good Republicans in office; I vote the issues, not the party. Senator Vitter, you have disgraced their good name with this latest action. I am happy that at least one of our Louisiana Senators, Mary Landrieu, never pulled a stunt like this through the eight years of the last administration. That shows character and THAT is a quality sorely lacking in Mr. Vitter.

[Loxinabox]

11:28 AM on 09/09/2011

Obama called a joint session of congress to demand that we immediately give the union thugs their annual graft payola?

[mpk1028]

12:32 PM on 09/09/2011

Keep on the path of eliminating unions and entrusting corporations to treat workers fairly and your cute little micro-bio will be very prophetic.

[annacarne]

05:27 PM on 09/09/2011

You live in a van down by the river, keep up the good wishes, maybe you'll get to be homeless!

[jamuelle]

02:57 AM on 09/10/2011

A bit off topic, but I noticed, during the rendition of the National Anthem for the game, neither coach had any interest in the song. Most of the players were milling about. It was far more important to have the audience hold up placards to make a cool wavy flag than it was to put a hand on the chest and sing.

Our politics has become a football game. There is a winner, and a loser. Brute force until someone loses. One coaches plays against the other coaches plays. And back and forth.

How fitting, that Vitter would be more invested in something where there is no respect when the national anthem is sung, and things are all about the view for the cameras.

Kind of like how they had to let it be known, they were not going to attend, and why.

[Aoede]

09:27 AM on 09/09/2011

Tykete--It is not a race card , its the truth card.

[mpk1028]

09:27 AM on 09/09/2011

David Vitter should resign immediately. Putting aside the complete disrespect for the office of the president, Vitter showed an amazing disconnect with his bosses(the people of Louisiana). Fresh off a month-long vacation from his job that pays six figures and provides him with complete health care coverage for life, Vitter proudly tells his constituents that he won't show up for work because there is a football game he'd rather watch. I'd bet that there are quite a few Louisiana residents that regularly work during Saints' games but don't have the luxury to tell their bosses that they won't be in until after NFL Sunday. Unemployment is at record numbers and Vitter shows that he couldn't care less about people who are out of work. Mr. Vitter, here is an NFL update, the Saints lost! And you lost whatever shred of class you may or may not have had.

[Bwasoon]

08:28 AM on 09/09/2011

It's not surprising that a couple of egg heads would skip his speech......heck, a couple of them egg heads even missed their own swearing in ceremony...... These ARE republicans after all....

[Gary Strawley]

06:34 AM on 09/09/2011

Of course some of the gop would not go to the Obama's talk to the nation, they just kept lettting
the people know they don't care about anything but their corporations Lobbist Money!!!!