Steve King complains of "white supremacist" censorship: "How did that language become offensive?"

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Salon


The controversial Iowa congressman defended the term "white nationalist" in a recent interview with New York Times

MATTHEW ROZSA
JANUARY 10, 2019 6:23PM (UTC)

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, just admitted in an interview that he doesn't see why people make such a big deal out of the terms "white nationalist" and "white supremacist."

"White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive? Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?" King asked during an interview with The New York Times that was published on Thursday.

The same article reviewed the number of controversies that have emerged about Rep. King during his career as a member of the House of Representatives, which began when he was elected in 2002.

. . .

King also had a Confederate flag in his congressional office until recently, a fact not even justifiable on the already-tenuous grounds of regional loyalty (Iowa fought for the Union during the Civil War).

Read more: https://www.salon.com/2019/01/10/steve-king-complains-of-white-supremacist-censorship-how-did-that-language-become-offensive/

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

1. HUH?? Whats the problem - if thats what you are (a white nationalist) then its GOOD that you call

yourself that, and acknowledge that's what you are.

I think hes objecting that the term does have negative connotations. That's not "censorship." What a doof.

[nycbos]

2. And he wonders why he bad google search results

[DBoon]

3. This is how it became offensive

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Exactly.

[smb]

8. And...

[Tobin S.]

5. He can't be that clueless.

[Bradical79]

14. He's not

He just knows his base.

[old guy]

6. The people of Iowa keep electing him.

They know and have known who and what he is and they don't care. He obviously represents the feelings of most of the voters.

[Itchinjim]

10. He represents a slight majority of one district in Iowa and barely managed to get re-elected in 2018

Iowa's other three districts are represented by Democrats, two of them women. He hardly "obviously represents the feelings of most of the voters" Most of us know who and what he is and are mortified by him.

[old guy]

11. My leading sentence should not have blamed all Iowans and for that I apologize

I stand by the body of the post as his district has been electing him every two years since 2002. They know who he is and most of the voters approve.

[Itchinjim]

12. No apology needed.

And I agree with you about his district, however his margins are getting smaller and he has two primary challengers for 2020, so maybe there's hope for them yet

[hibbing]

7. Nazi n/t

[Beausoleil]

9. Good question, Steve!

Why DID you sit in those classes?

Apparently you didn't learn anything.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Rep. Steve King goes on defense: 'I reject white nationalism. I reject white supremacy'

The Iowa congressman came under fire following a recent interview in which he said: "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?"

Jan. 10, 2019, 4:42 PM CST / Updated Jan. 10, 2019, 5:23 PM CST
By Kasie Hunt, Alex Moe and Rebecca Shabad

WASHINGTON — Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, did not deny making inflammatory comments to the New York Times about white nationalism and white supremacy — though he insisted in an interview that he rejects both of those mindsets.

“I reject white nationalism. I reject white supremacy. It's not part of any of my ideology. I reject anyone who carries that ideology,” the Iowa Republican told NBC News in his Capitol Hill office.

King said that he was really talking about “the continuation of applying labels onto people as freely as they are.”

King faced widespread criticism following a recent interview with The New York Times in which he said: “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?...Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?”

More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/under-fire-rep-steve-king-goes-defense-i-reject-white-n957366