U.S. House a political billboard for 1 night

As Barack Obama was touting his presidential accomplishments, and listing what he still wants to do, the 2016 State of the Union took on the flavor of a political event with all the side statements being made.

Those ranged from a from a vacant chair being used by the White House to claim the support of victims of criminals with guns to an empty chair suggested by Sen. John McCain for the 250,000 victims of the Syrian civil war to yet another empty chair suggested to recall the 50 million votes canceled by the Supreme Court's 2015 creation of same-sex "marriage."

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was set to attend, after having served jail time because she refused orders from U.S. District Judge David Bunning to violate her faith and issue same-sex "marriage" licenses under her name.

Those listed as guests in Michelle Obama's reserved section included former inmate Sue Ellen Allen of Scottsdale, Arizona; Austin, Texas, community college student Jennifer Bragdon; Las Vegas, Nevada., veteran Cynthia K. Dias; Washington business owner Mark Davis; Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy; same-sex "marriage" activist Jim Obergefell and others.

What do YOU think? What's your reaction to State of the Union address? Sound off in today's WND poll

Other statements:

The Washington Post reported two members of the order of Catholic nuns battling in court against Obama's administrative demand they fund abortion pills were in attendance.

The Little Sisters of Poor are challenging Obamacare's requirement that group insurance plans offer contraceptive coverage at no additional cost. They have the backing of leaders from House Speaker Paul Ryan and Pope Francis.

One website had compiled a list of 140 unfulfilled promises made by Obama in previous speeches.

Those include curing cancer, in 2009, 2010 and 2015; freezing government spending in 2010 and 2011; colonizing outer space in 2015; passing comprehensive immigration reform in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, and closing Gitmo, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

For the first time ever, the White House was reported to have a State of the Union pre-show, hosted by Terrence Jenkins.

Musical guests include rapper Wale and the semi-rock duo EL VY.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., had invited Black Lives Matter founder Alicia Garza, who says she's not sure America can have a society that values black lives as long as there are still police.

She describes her movement "to build alternatives that we want to see."

"So whether that's abolishing a criminal-justice system that feeds off the labor and the lives of black and brown people, whether that's abolishing an economic system that thrives on exploitation, poverty and misery: This is the time for us to not just dream about what could be," she told the Nation magazine last year.

For Barbara Lee's part, her State of the Union invitation to Garza is in keeping with a radical history second to none in the U.S. Congress.

Islam also invaded the State of the Union.

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz encouraged Democrat lawmakers to bring Muslims in an effort to show empathy for their "persecution," which Wasserman Schultz compared to the way Jews were treated under Nazi Germany.

At least two House members were taking Schultz's advice, inviting officials from the terror-stained Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, to join them as guests of honor during Obama's speech to the nation.

Democrat Reps. Zoe Lofgren of California and Alcee Hastings of Florida both hosted representatives from CAIR chapters in their states.

Sign the petition! Urge Congress to 'halt Muslim immigration now!'

And according to a Lifenews report, Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican, said he would leave his gallery seat open for the 57 million babies who have been victimized by abortion in the United States since Roe v. Wade.

"President Obama’s first official act, immediately upon his inauguration was to sign an executive order to accelerate abortions world-wide," said King. "The first tears we have seen him shed in seven years were for the victims of the tragic Sandy Hook School shooting. As far as we know, Obama has never shed a single tear for even one of the more than 9 million babies aborted under his watch. He is the most pro-abortion president ever."