(CNN photo)
DES MOINES – This week, Congressman Steve King has made national headlines twice for racially-charged rhetoric and has drawn the ire of an Iowa Senator.
It all started Sunday, when Republican Representative Steve King said “culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” He later was offered a chance on national television to clarify his remarks, and he said meant exactly what he said.
Then, Steve King told an Iowa radio station “I will predict that Hispanics and the blacks will be fighting each other” before whites become a minority in the U.S.
In response to King’s assertions, Iowa Democratic State Senator Matt McCoy released a statement:
I rise today to publicly call out the recent remarks by Congressman Steve King of Iowa who tweeted Sunday, paying tribute to Geert Wilders, a veteran Member of the Dutch Parliament who founded the Party of Freedom.
King tweeted that Wilders “ understands that culture and demographics are our destiny.” We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.”
Congressman King has proposed ending American Citizenship for babies born in the United States to non-American parents.
King has doubled down on his comments and said of course, I meant what I said.
Congressman King’s comments are racist and I feel that the Republican Party of Iowa and elected Republicans leaders—Iowa Senators, should all repudiate and speak out against Congressman King.
Talking about what babies should look like, what color they should be, what ethnic background they should make up is racist. America has always been a melting pot. There is no master race in our country. We are every color of the rainbow and I do mean rainbow— and that is precisely what makes America Great.
The last time in fairly recent history we heard this kind of talk was from a racist, xenophobe who nearly extinguished the entire Jewish race in one of the worst atrocities the world has ever known. A World War II Veteran reached out to me today. He said he was worried of this rhetoric and what it meant back then and why his words send a bad message today.
King’s comments received the support of former KKK Imperial Wizard David Duke who tweeted “GOD BLESS STEVE KING” and “Sanity reign Supreme” in King’s Congressional District in Iowa. The Neo-Nazi website “The Daily Stormer” dubbed him a hero.
President Trump has been silent on the subject although his spokesperson Sean Spicer said he will get back to the press on the Presidents response. Were still waiting.
We remember King’s comments in 2013 when King implied that the vast majority of the undocumented immigrants brought across the southern boarder as children are drug mules.
King stated for “every valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there that—They weigh 130 pounds, and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,”
Congressman King is echoing the principles of white nationalism, the belief that our nations identity is linked to the white race and its superior to all other races. This white nationalism was a very significant part of Donald Trumps crack down on illegal immigration and ban on Muslims from entering the US. This is very ugly business. It weakens our country. It turns brother against brother. It is hateful, hurtful and destructive.
On this occasion, I would have to agree with Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds when they stated this morning that they strongly disagree with him. They don’t believe it’s a reflection of Iowans or Iowa values.
His rhetoric has no place in Iowa. His rhetoric has no place in Washington D.C. representing Iowans. He would do us all a favor and resign. We Iowans are better then this. We Iowans aspire to be a place where all are welcome– if you are willing to work hard, raise your family and respect your neighbors. This is the Iowa that I know and love. I reject the bigoted words of Congressman King and denounce his claim to “represent” the beautiful and honorable State of Iowa.”
