Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) is back in the news, having stirred the controversy pot again by making offensive misogynist comments about rape and incest. That’s lead several 2020 presidential candidates to call for his resignation.
Mediaite reports the fireworks began earlier this week when King made an appearance at Iowa’s Westside Conservative Club where he said this:
“What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest?” King said. “Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?”
Now Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), both seeking the Democratic nomination for president are calling for King’s resignation.
“Iowans have long deserved better than Steve King and his hateful, insulting words,” Booker said in a tweet. “He should resign.”
Iowans have long deserved better than Steve King and his hateful, insulting words. He should resign.
We can show him it's time to go by donating to the guy who will beat him—my inspiring friend @JDScholten: https://t.co/v3Kd7Y9JCV https://t.co/g6cgOswmjp
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 14, 2019
Gillibrand followed suit.
“You are a disgrace,” Gillibrand said. “Resign.”
.@SteveKingIA: You are a disgrace. Resign. https://t.co/Tbu1e1mZ9O
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) August 14, 2019
King’s remarks drew fiery condemnation from South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, The Guardian reports.
“You would think it would be pretty easy to come out against rape and incest,” he said. “Then again you’d think it would be pretty easy to come out against white nationalism. So this is just one more example why there needs to be a sane representative in the district.”
He also had this to say in an interview:
“I would think anybody who had said something that extreme would resign,” he told NBC News. “But then again I doubt that he’ll actually do it.”
JUST IN – @PeteButtigieg tells me in @NBCNews interview that @SteveKingIA’s new comments are “extremely disturbing.
“I would think anybody who had said something that extreme would resign. But then again, I doubt that he'll actually do it.”
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) August 14, 2019
Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro didn’t directly mention resignation, but he was pretty blunt all the same.
“Steve King has no place in Congress,” he said in a tweet. “Time and time again, he has embarrassed himself and denigrated his office.”
Steve King has no place in Congress. Time and time again, he has embarrassed himself and denigrated his office.
Hey, @JDScholten, I’m ready for another Winnebago road trip—it’s time to unseat this bigot.https://t.co/eHnsSqLA7F
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) August 14, 2019
And former congressman and current 2020 presidential contender John Delaney, who called for King’s resignation in January, is calling for it again.
Fmr Rep @JohnDelaney is calling on Steve King to resign pic.twitter.com/r4Wm0bPP7e
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) August 14, 2019
King was speaking in Iowa in support of a bill he sponsored that would ban abortion even in cases of incest and rape. Prominent GOP leaders stripped King of his committee assignments earlier this year after he defended white supremacists and the bill went nowhere.
Even Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) signaled that King needs to go:
Today’s comments by @RepSteveKingIA are appalling and bizarre. As I’ve said before, it’s time for him to go. The people of Iowa’s 4th congressional district deserve better.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) August 14, 2019
Unfortunately, there’s a chance King may be reelected next year. Despite his racism and malignant misogyny, he’s a nine-term congressman who’s popular in his home state. And that’s despite the fact that he’s taking a beating in terms of fundraising.
Let’s hope the Democrats keep up the pressure for King to resign. This might be the start of a larger movement to push white supremacists out of office. It would be a small start, but it’s a good place to begin.
Featured image by Gage Skidmore license CC SA 2.0 via Flickr