Joyce Schulte, the Democrat from Creston who ran against Congressman Steve King in 2004 and is the party’s nominee to run against him again this year, issued a statement this morning deriding King’s comments at the GOP state convention this past weekend.
RE: There He Goes Again!
Congressman Steve King continues his vituperative and uncivil behavior during his speech at the Iowa Republican State Convention.
Commenting on the recent death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s, a most reprehensible person at best, King opined that al-Zarqai has probably learned that 72 virgins did not await him int he hell he is at King went on to state "And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas."
There was extended laughter by King and his audience.
While we should not be surprised by any of King’s remarks at this point in his career, his dusultory about the appearance of a respected member of the journalist community is so low as to evoke a response from me.
Mean-spirited remarks are beheath the dignity of any self-respecting Congressperson, and remarks about another person’s appearance are even lower.
I am not an apologist for al-Zarqawi, and the hell he put many people through, Muslim, Christian, and unknown others. I am certain that he is getting his justice and that there is no excuse of the kind of terror he practiced. I let God be God.
I hestitate to even use Helen Thomas’ name in the same document with so vile a wretch as al-Zarqai. But I want her and the world to know that Iowans are not insensitive buffoons who make fun at someone else’s expense.
In case you missed it, here is the transcript of King’s remarks.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Saying Thomas is “a respected member of the journalist community” is a subjective description.
From Wikipedia: In July 2005 Thomas was quoted in the newspaper The Hill saying “The day Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself. All we need is another liar.” Thomas added, “I think he’d like to run, but it would be a sad day for the country if he does.” Several days later, Thomas expressed outrage at The Hill for publishing her comments.
In a November 2002 talk at MIT, Thomas revealed: “I censored myself for 50 years when I was a reporter. Now I wake up and ask myself, ‘Who do I hate today?'” In January 2003 Thomas made an off-the-record comment to a reporter from the Torrance, California Daily Breeze following the Society of Professional Journalists annual awards banquet. “This is the worst President ever. He is the worst President in all of American history.” The Breeze ran the quote.
Using Wikipedia as your source is also highly subjective and just plain stupid. Regardless of what you think of Helen Thomas, King’s comments were way out of line for a man who ought to have a little more dignity as a member of Congress. I’m surprised Schulte didn’t mention his other rant about Supreme Court Justices Stevens and Ginsburg having a love affair in Cuba. The guy’s a disgrace to Iowa.
I find Ms. Schultes comments a little hypocritical. She says mean-spirited remarks are beneath the dignity of a congressperson, but then insinuates that Mr. King is a “insensitive buffoon”. Also, she seems to have no problem linking blogs to her own website that call Mr. King “loopy,” “a nut job,” and “an embarassment.” Just another example of liberals not practicing what they preach! I guess this means SHE is beneath the dignity of a congressperson.