GOP Rep. Steve King Triples Down On Comparing Immigrants To Dogs, Won’t Fully Disavow Birtherism

[highplainsdem]

Source: Mediaite

During a Sunday interview with Des Moines NBC affiliate WHO-TV, GOP Rep. Steve King tripled down on his controversial May comments that allowing certain immigrants into the country should be a process similar to choosing a “good bird dog.”

The famously anti-immigrant incumbent insisted his comments were a “compliment.” He took a shot at his opponents for repeatedly using the quote: “They knew it was a compliment, they turned it into an insult because they’re professional hyperventilators.”

-snip-

King insists he was praising the “good” immigrants we do allow into America when he said: “You get the pick of the litter and you got yourself a pretty good bird dog. Well, we’ve got the pick of every donor civilization on the planet.”

-snipping paragraph about King's earlier birther comments, which he was asked about-

Addressing this controversy, King responded that he was just repeating the questions and concerns of other people, while refusing to disavow birtherism in its entirety. “I don’t know where he was born, but I don’t see the indication that he was born anywhere else,” he said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/gop-rep-steve-king-triples-down-on-comparing-immigrants-to-dogs-wont-fully-disavow-birtherism/

[bemildred]

1. Priceless.

"Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad."

[freshwest]

2. He's in favor of dogfighting, too. See what Psychology Today says and more:

Dogfighting Okay Says Iowa Representative Steve King

By Marc Bekoff, Ph.D.
Created Aug 2 2012 - 2:37pm

I just received an email about Iowa Republican Representative Steve King's support for dogfighting. This is no joke and my purpose here is to alert those who don't know about this most sick form of advocacy for animal abuse and torture that there is something you can do to stop it.

To quote Mr. King: When the legislation that passed in the farm bill that says that it’s a federal crime to watch animals fight or to induce someone else to watch an animal fight but it’s not a federal crime to induce somebody to watch people fighting, there’s something wrong with the priorities of people that think like that.

You can watch a heartless video of Mr. King and sign a petition here asking him not to support dog fighting. Please also spread the word far and wide because cruelty cannot stand the spotlight.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201208/dogfighting-okay-says-iowa-representative-steve-king

http://www.care2.com/causes/gop-rep-steve-king-defends-dog-fighting.html

I guess Michael Vick lived in the wrong state?

And from Think Progess, it gets even worse:

Steve King Defends Dog Fighting Comments In Bizarre Diatribe

By Scott Keyes on Aug 1, 2012 at 2:04 pm

Yesterday, ThinkProgress reported on Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA) comments that “there’s something wrong with” outlawing dogfighting when “people fighting” is legal. King has since tried to backtrack from the claim, arguing that while his words were “distorted,” he still believes that “we’ve crossed a moral line” by “elevating animals up to above that of humans.”

In explaining himself, King argues that animals have more rights than fetuses, and suggests that liberals have so devalued life, that a man can rape a young girl, kidnap her, force her to undergo an abortion across state lines, and then “drop her off at the swingset….and that’s not against the law in the United States of America.” Watch it:

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/01/622881/steve-king-responds-dogfighting/?mobile=nc

http://wonkette.com/479791/iowa-rep-steve-king-why-is-it-wrong-to-dog-fight-if-it-is-okay-to-rape-and-kidnap-these-children

[Hutzpa]

3. Same as all republicans

women should be home cooking and taking care of their children. IMO, the republican party has become the party of vile white men who see their grip on power diminishing before their eyes and are powerless to stop it, hence the overtime on abuse.

[KamaAina]

8. He probably has immigrant fights in his garage

Immigerants = dogs, dogs = fighting.

[freshwest]

9. All worthy of death. Joe the Plumber calls to ‘start shooting’ immigrants at the border:

At two separate events in recent days, Samuel “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher has proposed to “put a damn fence on the border going to Mexico and start shooting.”

Wurzelbacher first made the remarks during a campaign rally for Arizona Republican state Rep. Lori Klein on Friday, according to video published by Prescott eNews.

“For years I’ve said, you know, put a damn fence on the border, going to Mexico and start shooting,” he insisted.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/14/joe-the-plumber-calls-to-start-shooting-immigrants-at-the-border/

Another fine Republican mind said this:

'Illegal immigrants should be shot from helicopters like hogs': Storm over state lawmaker's immigration gaffe

By Daily Mail Reporter
UPDATED: 10:50 EST, 15 March 2011

A state legislator has been publicly rebuked after claiming that illegal immigrants should be treated like wild hogs - and shot by marksmen in helicopters.

Virgil Peck told the Kansas state House: ‘It looks like to me as if shooting these emigrating barrel hogs works, maybe we have found a solution to our illegal immigration problem’.

Several members of the audience and the House Appropriations Committee gasped and an appalled silence descended upon the chamber.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366451/Illegals-shot-like-hogs-Kansas-State-lawmaker-Virgil-Peck-remains-defiant-immigration-gaffe.html

Typically, when he was called on it, he said it was just a joke... Just like Glenn Beck's vision of shooting Obama in the head, Rush Limbaugh calling Chelsea Clinton a dog, Michael Boortz terming blacks as savages.

Just another joke from the good old boys, hip hip hooray! Even if we didn't have murders such as the dragging death of James Byrd, Democrats wouldn't be laughing. No sense of humor, huh...

[Frustratedlady]

11. I signed a petition in the last couple days to get King to protect animals.

It had to do with the dog fighting.

[freshwest]

12. The only petition that will change his mind is losing his job.

[mim89]

4. Polls

He's running against Vilsack correct? Are there any polls on this race?

[pampango]

14. Haven't seen any polls but here's an article on his tight race.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's tendency to cause a ruckus on Capitol Hill made her a tea party sensation. Her bulging campaign treasury and conservative district make her a clear favorite to win a fourth House term on Election Day, despite her Democratic rival's attempts to turn her won't-budge philosophy into a liability.

Three other high-profile House conservatives, facing opponents insisting that their views are too extreme, have trickier paths to re-election next month. GOP Reps. Allen West of Florida, Steve King of Iowa and Joe Walsh of Illinois are all embroiled in tough and expensive races that are drawing plenty of spending by friends and foes from around the country.

The challenges faced by West, King and Walsh stem in part from this year's redrawing of congressional districts and a political climate that has cooled for tea party politicians since the 2010 groundswell that swept them into office. They also underscore the risks that frequent television appearances and outspoken views can bring.

"You get more attention, you've got better ability to get your message and policy positions out there," said GOP pollster David Winston. "The challenge is because everybody's paying such close attention, you have a lot of scrutiny."

http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/259217/House-tea-party-icons-face-re-election-challenges.html?isap=1&nav=5031

[daleanime]

5. The sad thing is....

I sure he meant it as a compliment and is totally confused about why anyone is upset.

[bulloney]

6. Iowa is home to several big meatpacking plants that exploit immigrant labor.

King's statement is no surprise to me.

[CoffeeCat]

7. Do you *really* want to know why Steve King is doing this?

I love to be the bearer of extremely good news!

Steve King is running against Christie Vilsack, and her campaign is doing very well.

Steve King's actions can probably be explained by these facts:

Early voting in Iowa shows that 20 percent more registered Democrats have voted, than registered Republicans. Yeah, I'd be scared too, Steve King--because your party has a lot of ground to make up!

According to a CNN article, "Of the 463,219 early voting ballots requested in the state as of Thursday morning, 45% came from registered Democrats compared to 30% of registered Republicans."

Oh, so sad, Steve King.

And to make matters worse for Steve King--one more reason he might be shaking in his boots--is that Iowa "is on pace to exceed the 1.5 million votes cast early in 2008", according to the same CNN article.

Ok, that is huge! Republicans have attempted to suggest that Democrats are "unenthused" and not as excited as they were in 2008 when they initially voted for Obama. Baloney.

Iowa's voting numbers are set to outpace 2008.

Congressman King is worried. He sees these numbers. He's not making mistakes with his radical words. This is an intentional shout out to his base. He's so desperate and worried, that he's willing to alienate moderates, Independents and reasonable people. King is now resorting to a very narrow, singular strategy to get his rabid, ridiculous base to the polls---because all of the Iowa numbers indicate that Dems are blowing away Republicans, in terms of voting--and that voter turnout will be as heavy and enthusiastic--as in 2008.

[rational_pi]

10. Amusing to hear Iowa rep complain about Immigration and immigrants!

Iowa is one of the states that actually wants immigrants. It has trouble keeping young Iowans to stay in Iowa.
In fact few years ago Governed of Iowa wanted the Federal government o exempt Iowa from some of the most stringent immigration requirements so that state can recruit immigrants.

[iandhr]

13. Nothing surprises me anymore.