The Hateful And Divisive Record Of Bigot Steve King

[marmar]

from ThinkProgress:



The Hateful And Divisive Record Of Bigot Steve King

In comments typical of his xenophobic and hateful record, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) recently told a local Iowa radio station that al Qaeda would “be dancing in the middle of the streets” if Barack Obama were elected President “because of his middle name.” He said terrorists “will be dancing in the streets because of who his father was and because of his posture that says: Pull out of the Middle East and pull out of this conflict.” Watch it:

Despite having once called John McCain an “amnesty mercenary,” King said he is now supporting McCain for president. McCain has yet to repudiate King’s comments about Obama.

Steve King took office in 2002 after gathering “66 percent of the vote in a heavily Republican district that covers 32 counties in western and a bit of south-central Iowa.” And since that time, he has been a non-stop source of inflammatory hate speech. Some examples:

– King compared immigrants to “livestock” in proposing an electrified fence for the southern border.

– He has called undocumented immigration a “slow-moving terrorist attack.”

– King said that each senator who votes for the comprehensive immigration reform bill should “wear a scarlet letter A for amnesty.”

– King said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib amounted to little more than “hazing.”

– King refused to vote for an innocuous House resolution commending the Muslims on the Ramadan holiday. (To attack those who did, he turned around and proposed a resolution commemorating Christmas.)

– King has decried an “assault on Christmas” from “secularists” who want to “eradicate Christ from Christmas.”

– King released a “report” baselessly claiming that undocumented immigrants have murdered more Americans than the combined death toll of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002.

– King praised Joe McCarthy as “a great American hero.”

– After the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed, King derisively said he was now at a place where there are 72 virgins who “probably all look like Helen Thomas.”

In addition to his impressive record of hate, he has also been prone to remarks of pure idiocy. For example, King said in 2006 that the average civilian in Washington DC is probably “at far greater risk” of being killed than an average civilian in Iraq. After Bush vetoed a bill that would have expanded children’s health insurance, King declared it a “victory” for kids. The Des Moines Register wrote in 2005: “Spare us more embarrassment: Replace King.”

UPDATE: McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told Fox News:

“The Senator has been clear that he intends to keep this campaign about the issues. He has condemned similar comments by (radio talk show host) Bill Cunningham. He doesn’t agree with King’s comments,” Buchanan said. “He intends to run a respectful race and keep it about the issues.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/08/steve-king-record /

[barbtries]

1. it's not only mind-boggling

but downright embarrassing that such morons hold office in this country

[spanone]

2. he has certainly lowered the bar for intelligence per congresscritters

[IADEMO2004]

3. Kingwatch.org link

A transcript of King's comments made at a Republican fundraiser in Boulder's Conference Center showed he compared illegal immigrants to stray cats that wind up on people's porches. King said at first stray cats help by chasing mice, so people feed them. King added that the stray cats then have kittens, which are liked for their cuteness, but eventually the strays, fed by the people, end up getting lazy, just like illegal immigrants. King would not comment on what he said on that day. Sioux City Journal, 10-13-2006


http://www.kingwatch.org/King_Quotes.html

[marmar]

4. "he compared illegal immigrants to stray cats that wind up on people's porches"

What an asshole!

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Hmmmmm

Don't like the bigots when they branch out from the ordained gay baiting? Myself, I stand against all of them, not just the ones that go after me and mine.
I say if you do not like King, then you should not have stood for McClurkin. A bigot is a bigot. "The glvoes are off this is war. They are trying to kill our children." that is alright to Obama supporters? Would it still be ok if Donnie was talking about another minority?

As Bob Mareley said:
Whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall it it

Welcome to the other foot. Not so fun when the filth flies your way, now is it? Not so keen to 'keep listening' to King, are you? Want to reach out and engage? Or stand up and repudiate?
To anyone outraged at this posting and still confused over the anger at Obama/McClurin should check themselves good and hard. Pointing out bigots is a duty, even when they are in the employ of a Demcorat, especially then.

King is a repulsive hate filled ego freak. Like McClurkin. A bigot. People who live in glass houses should not cast the first stone.

[marmar]

6. WTF are you talking about?

"To anyone outraged at this posting and still confused over the anger at Obama/McClurin should check themselves good and hard"

Are you referring to a specific poster, or is this just general broad-brush ranting? I resent the implication that many of us didn't condemn McClurkin's bigotry. Perhaps you should check your own glass house.

[Occulus]

9. There were a LOT of DUers who didn't see that as such a big deal

and there are several in the GLBT forum (including myself) who are still pissed off about it.

Check yourself.

[marmar]

10. "who are still pissed off about it."

And understandably so.....But I guess I don't understand a tangential rant in a post about Steve King being a bigot. But then again, I don't understand how people wouldn't be disturbed by McClurkin either.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Sorry if it sounded too harsh

And I only meant it for those who flat out mocked calling out a bigot in one case but not the other. I don't have a broad brush in my mind, and I am not trying to characterize anyone, this was something of an attempt to explain the deep reaction I and many others had to McClurkin. To me, he looks the same as King. And there are still people who don't really understand the fiercness of our feelings.
I was refering to anyone, as I said, who understands why King is a foul creature, but may have trouble understanding that many of us see McC as the same exact thing. Surely not everyone. And it is just a thing to think about. Basically trying to explain myself and I guess, failing badly.
It was not intended to paint with any brush,and it was not supposed to be a rant. Sorry if my early morning writings came short. I hope this was more clear.

[marmar]

12. I appreciate your clarifying explanation.....

Bigotry against anyone is bigotry against everyone, and until we realize it and speak up about it even though it seemingly doesn't affect "us" directly, then we are collectively doomed.

:thumbsup:

[johnfunk]

7. Steve King = David Duke - (Charm + Smarts)

... and that's today's political math lesson...

[JerseygirlCT]

8. I sat there, watching that last night, with my jaw on the floor

We ought to run this guy right out of WDC. What a bigot!

What's really scary are the people out there who just don't *say* things like this. Horrible.

[patrick t. cakes]

13. ugh! hes such a pig.

im so glad im not in his district.
please iowa WAKE UP!