When it comes to unhinged buffoons who manage to get elected to Congress, Iowa’s Steve King (R) is one of the more striking examples. He’s generally just an embarrassment to himself and his constituents.
But the impressive thing about King is that he’s constantly trying to out do himself, ratcheting up the stupidity to new heights. It’s almost impressive, in a depressing kind of way.
An Iowa Republican congressman said Friday that terrorists would be “dancing in the streets” if Democratic candidate Barack Obama were to win the presidency. Rep. Steve King based his prediction on Obama’s pledge to pull troops out of Iraq, his Kenyan heritage and his middle name, Hussein.
“The radical Islamists, the al-Qaida … would be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11 because they would declare victory in this war on terror,” King said in an interview with the Daily Reporter in Spencer.
King said his comments were not meant to demean Obama but to warn how an Obama presidency would look to the world.
“His middle name does matter,” King said. “It matters because they read a meaning into that.”
I’d hoped to respond to the substance of King’s nonsense, but I’m afraid there really isn’t any. Jihadists who want the war to continue will be pleased when there’s a president who doesn’t? People in the Middle East care about Obama’s middle name because “they read a meaning into that“?
First, if this is the best smear right-wing voices can come up with, I’m unimpressed. Second, if King is sharp enough to tie his shoes in the morning, I’d be very impressed.
This is, after all, the same Steve King who:
* insists that “every child” in America’s public schools should be taught “the tenets of the Christian faith.”
* argues that the United States is “a Christian nation,” and called on Americans to “stand up” to “worship Christ.”
* compares immigrants to cattle.
* falsely argued that illegal immigrants murder 12 Americans a day.
* told reporters, “There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell [al Zarqawi is] at. And if there are, they probably all look like [White House correspondent] Helen Thomas.”
* described Joseph McCarthy as “a great American hero.”
* renamed S-CHIP the “Socialized Clinton-style Hillarycare for Illegals and their Parents” bill.
* argued that the civilian violent death rate in Washington, D.C., is actually higher than it is in Iraq, and cited bogus data while making the case.
* told Newsweek that federal courts “have defied federal law,” and he has a plan to “put the courts back in their appropriate constitutional place,” though he wouldn’t say what the plan is.
* was one of only 11 lawmakers to vote against emergency relief funds for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Obama should wear this guy’s smear as a badge of honor.