Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter won’t attend President Obama’s Thursday night speech on the economy to a joint session of Congress.
Vitter told Fox News Wednesday that he will instead be in his home state to host a football-watching party for friends.
“As a fanatic, I have my priorities,” Vitter said.
Vitter predicted that the address would be “more a political speech than a substantive speech.”
Thursday marks the start of the NFL season, with the New Orleans Saints playing against the Green Bay Packers.
Milwaukee NBC affiliate WTMJ and Green Bay station NBC 26 will broadcast pre-game coverage instead of the president’s speech. New Orleans station WDSU has announced that it will air the speech in its entirety.
The senator is far from the first Republican member of Congress to announce that he would snub Obama’s speech.
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint has hinted that he will not attend, proclaiming that he is “sick and tired” of the president’s speeches.
A spokesperson for Georgia Republican Rep. Paul Broun told Yahoo! News on Tuesday that he will skip Obama’s presentation. Illinois Republican Rep. Joe Walsh will also be boycotting the address, insisting that he will not be a “prop” and that he will instead use the opportunity to talk with employers in his state.