Rep. Stockman Invites Obamacare Phony Chad Henderson to State of Union

Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman Tuesday invited faux Obamacare enrollee Chad Henderson to accompany him to the State of the Union address.

And Henderson has reportedly accepted.

“Chad Henderson is Obamacare personified," Stockman chided in his sarcastic website invite. "He pushed Obamacare on other people but refused to buy it himself because he would pay more. He’s practically a Democrat member of Congress."

Stockman then said he hoped "Chad will join me at the State of the Union Address so Obama can point to someone who personifies his policies.”

Henderson, a 21-year-old student at Chattanooga State University in Tennessee and part-time child-care worker who lives across the state line in Georgia, shot into the headlines last week when he reported he successfully — and relatively quickly — bought a policy under the Affordable Care Act.

He was featured by The Washington Post as “the Obamacare enrollee that tons of reporters are calling,"  and interviewed by Politico, among other news organizations.

His story was even touted by the official Obamacare Twitter feed.

This is what today was about: MT @ChadHenderson: enrolled in #Obamacare! Looking forward to having affordable healthcare for the first time!

— Obamacare (@obamacare) October 2, 2013

A few days later, however, his father confessed to Reason magazine that neither he nor his son actually bought a plan.

Stockman also charged that Henderson's claims of poverty belie his $1,000 donation to President Obama's election.

“I know Obama can’t wait to personally meet this dedicated supporter. I’m proud to give him the opportunity,” said Stockman.

Though Stockman's news release said Henderson hadn't replied to the invitation, WTVC Channel 9, a Chattanooga, Tenn., ABC affiliate tweeted Tuesday: "@ChadHenderson is a local viewer, & he just tweeted us: 'if it's a serious offer..... I accept.'" Henderson's regular account is protected and could not viewed.

@KateNocera thanks for the tip. @ChadHenderson is a local viewer, & he just tweeted us: "if it's a serious offer..... I accept."

— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) October 8, 2013

Stockman spokesman Donny Ferguson said the congressman was unable to reach Henderson, the Washington Examiner reported.

"We can't find him," Ferguson told the newspaper. "But apparently the mainstream media can, so we hope they deliver the invitation."

Stockman apparently made the offer as a jab at the Chattanooga Times Free-Press, which the lawmaker claims was the first to report the false news regarding Henderson, the Washington Examiner noted.

"We just want to highlight a typical example of Obamacare's price hikes and mainstream media reporting," Ferguson told the Washington Examiner.