GOP Congressman Makes Stunning White Nationalist Statement. Almost No One From GOP Denounces It.

Iowa Republican Has Long History of Vile Remarks

U.S. Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, early Sunday afternoon made a stunning remark: “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” The eight-term congressman, via Twitter, was praising Dutch white nationalist lawmaker Geert Wilders, who, King announced, “understands that culture and demographics are our destiny.”

He did not apologize.

King’s comment is, without question, a white nationalist statement. It is also racist, un-American, vile, and sadly, not all that surprising coming from Congressman King.

In September, tagging Wilders, King offered support to a far-right anti-Islam German politician:

He did not apologize.

Not surprisingly, King has made other vile remarks as a U.S. Congressman, and appears to delight in doing so.

“This whole ‘old white people’ business does get a little tired,” King said in July of last year. “I’d ask you to go back through history and figure out where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people that you are talking about? Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?”

He did not apologize.

Also in July, of 2013, Rep. King, speaking about undocumented children, said: “They weren’t all brought in by their parents. For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”

He did not apologize.

This list of Steve King’s attacks on immigrants, LGBT people, and women is long, the list of those within his party will to denounce them is short.

In the 18 hours since Congressman King, a member of the far right wing House Republican Study Committee and Tea Party Caucus, made his white nationalist remarks, one Republican Congressman – and only one, as far as we could find – has denounced them.

Just to demonstrate how vile ad offensive Rep. King’s comments are, former KKK grand wizard, white supremacist, and Donald Trump supporter David Duke offered his praise:

One other Republican, the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, while not denouncing King’s remarks, at least pushed back on them, while denouncing David Duke.

“First of all, I do not agree with Congressman King’s statement. We are a nation of immigrants, and diversity is the strength of any nation and any community,” Jeff Kaufmann said. “Regarding David Duke, his words and sentiments are absolute garbage. He is not welcome in our wonderful state.”

And Republican former presidential candidate Evan McMullan, who ran as an independent, stood up to King:

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan should immediately and publicly denounce King’ comments and censure him. Unless that happens, it’s clear the Republican Party is now the party of white nationalism. 

 

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Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license