Should Ted Nugent be allowed anywhere near the President?

by David Safier

Yeah, I know the rule, don't give guys like Ted Nugent publicity, because that's exactly what they want. But for those who only know Nugent as a washed-up rocker and a gun-crazed blowhard, it's important to know more, especially since he's the invited guest of Texas Rep. Steve Stockman to attend the State of the Union address. My question is, just as a matter of security, should anyone who has made public statements like his be allowed to be anywhere near the President?

Media Matters has put together a post, 20 Inflammatory Comments From State Of The Union Invitee Ted Nugent. I'm going to quote one which, when I read it, I couldn't believe was real until I saw the video. This is from August, 2007.

I was in Chicago last week. I was in Chicago and said, "Hey, Obama you might want to suck on one of these you punk." Obama, he's a piece of shit, and I told him to suck on my machine gun. Let's hear it for him. And then I was in New York. I said, "Hey, Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch. Since I'm in California, how about [Senator] Barbara Boxer [D-CA], she might want to suck on my machine gun. And [Senator] Dianne Feinstein [D-CA], ride one of these you worthless whore. Any questions?

When he finished, he put both hands in the air and screamed, "F-r-e-e-e-e-e-e-d-o-m!"

Should a man who's as angry and unbalanced at this, who makes public statements that threaten violence to the president, be allowed to sit in the halls of Congress while the President is in the room? This isn't a Freedom of Speech issue. This goes to the safety of the President and the others assembled in the room.