Duck Dynasty takes over State of the Union: Politicians line up for selfies with Willie

Star of controversial reality series Duck Dynasty was greeted at State of the Union by Republican politicians all keen to pose for a picture

Was invited as a guest to the keynote address by newly elected Louisiana Representative Vance McAllister

Senator Lindsey Graham invited Robertson's wife Korie too

Robertson, 41, is a son of 'Duck Dynasty' patriarch Phil Robertson, who was temporarily suspended from the hit show by cable television network A&E last month for making anti-gay remarks



For some Republican politicians the real star of Tuesday evenings State of the Union address was not the president but Willie Robertson - star of the hit A&E reality series Duck Dynasty.



A whole stream of star-struck GOP house members, including one-time vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan, seemed to go out of their way to get Robertson, 41, and his wife Korie to pose for smiling selfies.



Sporting his trademark Stars and Stripes bandana and untucked white shirt, Robertson was in high demand the minute he arrived in the Capitol building - despite cutting an unusual figure on such a prestigious occasion.



Powerful friends: Duck Dynasty television show star Willie Robertson and his wife Korie (L) talk with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) in the visitor's gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives

Feted guests: Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson, center and his wife Korie, talk with Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington

As he was seated in the visitor's gallery of the chamber, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan traveled up from the floor to meet him and get himself an all important selfie with Duck Commander CEO.



Important: Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson, center and his wife Korie, pose with Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill

Even veteran Republican Senator John McCain waved up at him from the floor.



Asked how it felt to be one of the big attractions of the evening, Robertson told The Daily Caller: 'It was awesome.'



'I don’t know,” he went on. “I think it’s the beard.'

But it wasn't all Republicans who wanted a piece of Robertson.



Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Rep. Steve Israel approached Robertson after the speech, telling him he 'just wanted to say hello.'

The son of controversial star Phil Robertson was invited to the State of the Union by Rep. Vance McAllister from Louisiana, who won election with the reality TV family’s support.



Among those who posted pictures of themselves with the star were the junior United States Senator from Louisiana David Vitter, who admitted that 'My kids are impressed I get to see one person tonight, and it's not President Obama or Speaker Boehner,' - in reference to Willie Robertson.



Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski also posted a picture of herself and Willie while North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer uploaded a picture of his wife Kris beaming alongside the Duck Dynasty star.

Smile: South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham poses for his picture with Willie Robertson and his wife Korie - after Graham offered her his ticket to the State of the Union on Tuesday

Reality star: Texas Rep. Joe Barton makes sure he has the most treasured item of the evening for most Republicans - a selfie with Willie Robertson and his wife Korie

Star Struck: Senator David Vitter said that his children couldn't be more impressed if he met President Obama or Speaker John Boehner as he posted this picture of Willie Robertson to Twitter

Warm up: U.S. Representative for Georgia, Tom Graves said that meeting the Robertson's was the perfect way to start the evening before the president's State of the Union address

U.S. Representative for Alabama, Martha Roby also posted a picture as did U.S. Representative for Georgia, Tom Graves and Texas Rep. Joe Barton.

Willie 'Boss Hog' Robertson invitation was announced by Vance McAllister on Twitter before the State of the Union.

Indeed, Representative McAllister pointedly said in a statement that he looks forward to 'bringing some diversity to our nation's Capitol', with the invitation of the younger Robertson, despite the huge controversy his father created last year.

'I'm happy to announce that my friend, constituent & small business owner @williebosshog will be attending tonight's #SOTU as my guest,' McAllister tweeted - including the younger Robertson's Twitter handle and the "#SOTU" hashtag, or search term, for the State of the Union address.

Robertson's wife Korie, who also appears on the show, was given a guest ticket to the speech by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who tweeted a photo of himself with the couple. Graham, a Republican, is up for re-election this year.



Robertson, 41, is a son of 'Duck Dynasty' patriarch Phil Robertson, who was temporarily suspended from the hit show by cable television network A&E last month for making anti-gay remarks in a magazine interview. Other quotes in the interview were criticized as racist.

U.S. Representative for Alabama, Martha Roby was seemingly ecstatic to meet Willie Robertson and his wife Korie

Famous: Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski made sure to post this picture to Twitter of herself and the Duck Dynasty star

Happy: North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer uploaded a picture of his wife Kris beaming alongside the Duck Dynasty star

Phil Robertson's suspension sparked a national debate over tolerance and religion, with several Republican politicians and conservative figures coming to his defense.



The patriarch, who never apologized for his remarks, was reinstated after fans protested and big-name corporate sponsors stuck by the show.



Willie Robertson is the chief executive officer of Duck Commander, a family-run business that specializes in duck-hunting gear and whose family's life is the subject of "Duck Dynasty," which averages about 8 million viewers per episode. The show is in its fifth season.

