Colorado GOP Rep. Refuses to Attend State of the Union in 'Protest

Republican Rep. Dough Lamborn from Colorado Springs has announced that he will not attend the President's State of the Union address Tuesday night.  His office told The Denver Channel that he will not be present tomorrow because he does not support the policies of President Obama.

Rep. Lamborn is a member of the Tea Party Caucus and currently serving his third term in Congress. The National Journal reports that Rep. Lamborn is already on a flight out of Washington, but his office has provided a statement explaining to his constituents why he will not attend the address:

“This is the first SOTU speech Lamborn has passed on

Congressman Lamborn  has attended all the past SOTU addresses. As for what makes this year’s speech different, Congressman Lamborn believes the President is in full campaign mode and will use the address as an opportunity to bash his political opponents.

As far as he knows, he is the only Republican who will pass on attending SOTU. He is doing this on his own and is not trying to coordinate this with any other Members. Congressman Lamborn is doing this to send a clear message that he does not support the policies of Barack Obama, that they have hurt our country.  

Congressman Lamborn respects the President personally, and the office of the President.

Congressman Lamborn is protesting Obama’s recent 'recess appointments' to the National Labor Relation’s Board and newly-created Consumer Protection Board. He is protesting Obama’s decision to reject the job-creating Keystone Pipeline. He is protesting the President’s draconian cuts to defense.

Lamborn wants to send a strong, clear message that President Obama’s deficit spending cannot continue.

Congressman Lamborn plans to watch the speech on television.”

Rep. Lamborn serves as chairman of the Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and is on the House Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs committees.

The Colorado congressman came under scrutiny last summer when he said on  radio that he was reluctant to associate with the President over the debt deal because he is a “tar baby.”  He has since apologized for the comment.

Rep. Lamborn is the first Republican to publicly announce that he will not attend the President's State of the Union address.