UPDATED: Congressman Steve King made some comments in an interview with the Spencer Daily Reporter on KICD Radio in Spencer which have been picked up and written about by the Associated Press. (Click on the KICD Radio in Spencer link. It’ll send you to the Radio Iowa story, which has an mp3/audio of King’s comments.)
According to the press reports, King said in the interview that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s middle name — Hussein — "matters" and has "meaning" for terrorists. The key quote from King about how Obama’s election as president would be celebrated by terrorists: "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."
Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for Obama, has denounced King’s comments and called upon Republican presidential candidate John McCain to issue the same kind of denunciation that McCain issued last month when a talk show host warming up the crowd at a McCain campaign rally referred to Barack Hussein Obama.
UPDATED: Here is the text of what King said: "I don’t want to disparage anyone because of their race, their ethnicity, their name, whatever the religion of their father might have been. I’ll just say this, that when you think about the optics of a Barack Obama potentially getting elected president of the United States, I mean, what does this look like to the rest of the world? What does this look like to the world of Islam?" King said Friday during an interview in KICD studios in Spencer. "And I will tell you that if he is elected president, then the radical islamists, the al Qaida and the radical Islamists and their supporters Will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11th."
And here’s more, specifically regarding Obama’s middle name: "It does matter. His middle name does matter. It matters because they read meaning into that and the rest of the world, it has special meaning to them. They’ll be dancing in the streets because of his middle name. They’ll be dancing in the streets because of who his father was and because of his posture that says pull out of the Middle East and pull out of this conflict. So there are implications that have to do with who he is and the positions that he has taken. If he were strong on national defense and said, ‘I’m going to go over there and we’re going to fight and we’re going to win. We’ll come home with a victory,’ that’s different, but that’s not what he’s said. There will be dancing in the streets if he’s elected president and that has a chilling effect on how difficult it will be to ever win this global war on terror," King said.
Hillary Clinton’s middle name is not Rodham. That’s her maiden name. Her middle name is Diane.
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.
This seems odd, last week there were several stories/intv’s, based on Aljazeera reports that the exact opposite was true, In fact the terror leaders over there had made statments comparing Bush, Obama, and McCain to Satan. Maybe Congressman King needs to do his research.
I spend most of my time in Italy, although I do get to New York some times and have interest in politics of the US. In fact most people here do.
People like this King mystify me, and I think I speak for a lot of people all over Europe. Even the rightist parties here might have a few elected members that think like this person King, but they would be scandalized if such members started speaking his or her opinions in this way. The man displays himself to be a complete ignoramus.
Bush allowed himself to be duped by bin Laden into a war that saps our strength and damages our economy. He would love this war to continue. He has never been so popular or found it so easy to recruit new members.
Chet
Mr.King shame on you, you make me sorry to say that I am from Iowa.
Hitler made use of the “Big Lie” as a means to influence masses of frightened people into supporting his evil politics. Congressman Ron King’s “Big Lie” discredits his party, demeans his constituents, and dishonors his state and his country.
There are over 4 million Muslims in the USA, many of them African-American. I used to teach for a community college, and several of my African-American students were Muslim. Aside from religious days set aside from fasting, they were like any other student in my classroom. Not one of them was with the 17 Saudis who attacked the Twin Towers. So far as I know, none of them were aiding any radical Islamic element overseas–they were ordinary people, just different in race and religion.
The USA is supposed to have freedom of religion, but for some reason, Americans have been brainwashed into hating Muslims even though the majority of American Muslims want only to live here in peace and enjoy the freedoms the USA gives other religions.
I think it is incredible that people are not flooding Steve King’s mailbox with boos. He is a modern-day witch-hunter, and he needs to be dealt with by losing the right to represent his state.
The Muslim religion recognizes Jesus Christ as a prophet, if not a messiah, and unlike the Jewish Talmud which says that Mary and Jesus are both standing in boiling excrement in Hades, Muslims give Mary and Jesus respect and honor. Americans need to study all religions and not get their ideas from TV propaganda and the ignorant prejudices of individuals like Steve King.
King is a total KOOK now I see, how in the hell did he become a congressman. I’m not attacking him for his opinion but for his sense of thought. Did he forget Obama’s background. And this is a problem that I tend to see with Caucasian Americans especially older. They make race coded comments and they think the rest of the world is dumber then them and they are superior. And it shows with that superior comment made by King. They are not stupid referring to anyone over in the middle east. They think and have rationality too after all they are human. There not humans with half brains or doggy sense. Obama is an American and they know this and there will be dancing in the streets of America with its citizens seeing its family come home too. Everybody will dance to see the end of war! It’s Kings motive of thought that is concern and should be for all Americans! America is not the middle east baby sitter and we don’t own it either. They are going to have to handle this issue them selfs why we strengthen our selfs and secure our selfs too. Its time to slowly pull out. Id like to see Mr. Kings finances and see if he has stocks or anything else financially benefiting him from this war or if he has ties to Obamas competitors! Is there anybody that can check?
Congressman Kings statement makes him sound cowardly and childish. Unfortunately this isn’t the first time I’ve heard a statement like this but I like to think the average person in smart enough not to put that much importance into a name. If I’m wrong I’m going to change my name to “Franklin Jesus Kennedy” and try to get elected.
I suggest that Pfizer invest in research to make Anti-Fear drugs, that way when Americans read articles like this, they could actually comprehend how stupid these comments are. Comments like these are insulting, not to Obama, but to Kings intelligence. Simply making these statements in public and on the record shows his ignorance. He should be dragged through the same mud as any typical anti-semite or racist. This is just a modern twist on an old theme. The jews were often vilified by similar incitements of fear during the Nazi era. Comments like KING’s make it apparent that while the Nazi’s are gone, the dark side of humanity is not… Shame on you King!!!
Thank you for having the courage to say what many of us are thinking. I cannot believe that the voting public hasn’t figured this out.
Mr. King is right on! WAKE UP AMERICA!!
I tend to agree with most of the comments made by other matured and peace loving americans. I despise the fact that in this day and age there are immature, blunt, cowardly and ignorant persons such as Steve King. I am sorry that he is a statesman and he should not be. I grew up Christian in a muslim country and just because you have a few rotten apples of muslim does not make the whole bunch bad. Muslim respect the Bible, mary and Jesus more than some of us who claim to be christians. I am sad that such sentiments do exist. The comments made by King will be like all Christian being equated to KKK. KKK claim to have christian religious affiliation but will you relate to that group yourself King? I am sad for ignorant people who will pick up on comments such as King’s and make their judgement of another person’s upbringing or character and tarnish it. Clinton will also bring the troops home and will there not be jubilant celebrations and dancing on the streets as well. Why will it bother you King when Obama is the one bringing the troops home? I think Obama is the change we all need for this country. Wake up from your stupor and face reality and live in this day and age. I am ashamed of your comments and behavior.
I don’t recall the election of Congressman King (a surname which so blatantly subverts democracy) causing the Monarchists to dance in the streets. Perhaps the flaw in his logic is to assume that people are as stupid as he is? The Steve Kings of the world are the most dangerous mix of stupidity and power a democracy can produce – the kind of people who, left to their own devices, could fill the prisons using nothing more than a phone book.
Yesterday Obama’s grandmother Madelyn past away. She lived past a recent birthday and then dies the day before the election. Now I think this is very strange and odd. Then there is a cresent moon and star on election day. Is this a bad Omen? If anything it will be good luck for all of the Arab countries. They will be celebrating late today after the polls close. Over seas campaign contrabutions, was money well spent on electing Obama. That’s right our enemies helped elect Obama. America has been bought. This could be the beginning of the end for America as we know it. Change is coming. This is a sad day for all.
This was a fantastic and historic win for Barack Obama and our country!