Posted on 08/14/2019 12:15:15 PM PDT by be-baw
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) on Wednesday questioned whether there would be "any population of the world left" if not for rape and incest throughout history, The Des Moines Register reported.
King was speaking in Urbandale, Iowa, where he defended anti-abortion legislation he sponsored in Congress that did not have exceptions for rape or incest.
"What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" King told the crowd at the Westside Conservative Club. “Considering all the wars and all the rapes and pillages that happened throughout all these different nations, I know that I can't say that I was not a part of a product of that."
The Catholic lawmaker argued that the circumstances of a baby’s conception does not negate their right to life.
"It's not the baby's fault for the sin of the father, or of the mother," he said.
The nine-term congressman has a history of making controversial comments.
King sparked bipartisan backlash in January for questioning during an interview with The New York Times how terms such as "white supremacist" and "white nationalist" became "offensive."
The comments were quickly denounced and House Republicans responded by removing King from his positions on the House Judiciary, Agriculture and Small Business committees.
The House also overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning white nationalism and white supremacy by a 424-1 vote. The embattled lawmaker voted in favor of the resolution.
The lawmaker denounced white supremacist ideologies at the time and reiterated his stance on Wednesday. He also told the crowd that he supports his defense of the West, calling the United States "the flagship for Western civilization."
King claimed that political insiders told him that the controversy surrounding his comments was part of a plot to remove him from office, the Register reported.
"People think it was an organic media feeding frenzy, but no, it was orchestrated from the beginning," he said. "They had told me, heads up before Christmas, they're going to try to drive you out of office and get you to resign. Within 24 hours, you had people saying 'resign, resign, resign.' Why? Because The New York Times misquoted me?"
Democrat J.D. Scholten, who is again challenging King, said in a statement on Wednesday that the incumbent is putting “his selfish, hateful ideology above the needs of the people of Iowa’s 4th district.”
“Excusing violence — in any way — is entirely unacceptable. Here in Iowa, we stand strong together in the face of violence, and strive to create a welcoming and safe community for all people,” Scholten said. “His comments are disrespectful to survivors and don’t reflect Iowan values.”
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Cory Booker (N.J.) both called on King to resign after his latest remarks were reported.
"Every Iowa leader, regardless of party, should condemn Representative King’s comments, an exercise they should all be familiar with by now, and join us in asking for his resignation," Booker's campaign said in a statement.
He’s going to have to walk that back.
Well there wouldn’t be any Democrats, at least.
Humanity is just losing it...
What a dumb ass thing to say.
So Representative King, it’s our opinion that children are only born out of wedlock? Really?
A Todd Akin moment.
He needs to walk himself back, like away from Congress. His mouth is a disaster.
Steve, remember when we talked about your “internal voice” and not saying what you are thinking out loud?
“A Todd Akin moment.”
Big Time!
This was such a stupid statement. I thought Stephen King the novelist said it to boost book sales or something similar.
Not that anyone will care.
I’m assuming it’s surrounded by some sort of weird context.
Outraged feminists (is there any other kind?) also say “all heterosexual intercourse is rape”.
If you go back far enough in your family tree you will probably find an born out of wedlock ancestor.
Remove that person and you would not be here.
You will also find that your ancestors were not always morally upright individuals.
Which is why I am against reparations of any sort. We all have ancestral skeletons in the closet. Not a thing we can do about it. Just be the best person you can be.
A Democrat may have been able to get away with saying something of this nature, but a Republican will be crucified.
And while it may be true to say, that rapes have happened in wartime throughout history, does that have any bearing on the abortion debate today?
Sick and disappointing.
Steve, STOP TALKING!
You’re not good at it!....................
And which is he the product of?
Valid point.
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