The Quote Below: More Misinformation from the Media
Congressman King should resign. He has lost even the potential to effectively represent his Iowa constituents because of his abhorrent comments about white nationalism and white supremacy. . . . King has made Iowa a laughing stock on the national stage with his offensive and absurd remarks about undocumented workers, comparing them to dogs or disparaging them as drug mules with calves the size of cantaloupes. . . .
[A]pparently in an effort to claim credit for President Trump’s border-wall plans he gave The New York Times what should be a career ending quote: “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 civilization. – Steve King Should Resign for the Good of Iowa, Des Moines Register, The Register editorial, 1/15/19 [Link]
Fact Check of Quote: Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has an excellent record of standing up for sensible immigration reform, and it is a credit to his character that he has made the enemies he has—most particularly some leading outlets of the corporate media. This attack by the Des Moines Register is typical in its falsehoods and distortions.
For example, Rep. King did not make “offensive and absurd” remarks about illegal immigrants. The statement about “dogs” applied to setting standards for legal immigration so that we will get the best people. King used the analogy of a pet buyer wanting the best puppy in the litter to become his birddog. King employed this down-home example to illustrate that we need to select for excellence when we admit immigrants. He was not likening immigrants to dogs.
His statement about illegal aliens being used as drug mules is not out of line either. It’s simply a fact. King probably didn’t need to comment on the aliens’ calves, but that’s hardly a fatal gaffe. If Iowa because of King has become a “laughingstock,” it’s because malicious media have done everything possible to manipulate laughter against him.
The charge he is a “white supremacist” because of the New York Times quote is as bogus as the other claims. If there are still any elected officials in this country who are white supremacists, it’s hard to imagine that they would be so stupid as to admit it to the Times. Rep. King isn’t stupid—despite what his detractors say—so one might conclude that his quote meant something other than an admission of white supremacy.
And indeed it did, as King tried to explain as the media orchestrated a frenzy over his statement. His point was that the term “Western civilization”—at least in the media and academia—is being made as disreputable as white nationalist and white supremacist. King asked, how did that language, i.e., Western civilization “become offensive.” He then underscored his reference to Western civilization by describing how he learned of its merits in school.
No doubt the congressman could have phrased his statement more clearly. But an interview, such as the one King did, requires off-the-cuff responses which often diminish clarity. Despite the congressman’s reasonable explanation for his statement and his emphatic disavowal of white supremacy, much of the media went into a frenzy against him. That carried over to Congress, where cowardly Republican House leaders stripped King of all his committee assignments.
The hypocrisy of this uproar is evident in the kid gloves treatment the corporate media always gave former Rep. Luis Gutierrez (R-IL) Until his recent exit from the House of Representatives, Gutierrez was one of the leading advocates in Congress for illegal aliens, and legislation to benefit them. He directed harsh and firery rhetoric against any congressman who dared to suggest effective steps to stem illegal immigration. Gutierrez made his mindset quite plain when he stated, “I have only one loyalty and that is to the immigrant community.”
It was a truly offensive statement, one which explicitly disavowed loyalty to the United States. At a meeting of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), Gutierrez told the assembled crowd that they needed “to punish” their enemies. “La Raza” means “The Race.” It is evident that Gutierrez is far more of a racial supremacist than Steve King could ever think about being. Yet as far as the media are concerned, so it seems, some supremacists are more equal than others.
In any case, King was absolutely correct to defend Western civilization. Its heritage and values are the foundation of our country. The corporate media’s vicious assault on the congressman reveals more about them than him.