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Rep. Steve King: Son of the South? Maybe not!Posted Saturday, October 3, 2009, at 10:24 PM
It wasn't too long ago that I pointed out that our fearless leader in Congress was the only member of that body to oppose the placement of a commemorative plaque on the Capital Building to honor the slave labor that was used for its construction.
King's defense on the matter changed a few times until he finally settled upon the assertion that the plaque didn't offer a "balanced depiction of history" as evidenced by a lack of monuments to the civil war veterans. Considering the NUMEROUS Civil War Vets' Memorials in the capital, I (half) jokingly suggested that maybe King was just upset that all of those monuments honored the Union Side. Why am I rehashing this? Well, not too long ago, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) mistook the floor of Congress for the set of the Jerry Springer Show and interrupted the President by shouting "YOU LIE!", regarding the President's truthful explanation that the proposed health care legislation did not allow for taxpayer funding of treatment for illegal immigrants. Ironic, considering Rep. Joe Wilson's own vote in favor of providing taxpayer dollars for the health care of illegal immigrants in 2003. http://snipurl.com/sb8hn [www_opencongress_org] It was no surprise to me that Congressman King flew to the defense of this hypocrite's disrespectful outburst. What did surprise me was the language King used. In his defense of Wilson on FOX"news", King extended his defense to include the South Carolina congressman's vote in favor of keeping the Confederate flag above the SC state capitol. "[Wilson] is an officer and a gentleman and everyone who knows him knows that. ... Being a son of the South puts you in a different position when it comes to the Confederate flag. It means something entirely different to the people who have ancestors who fought in the Civil War on the south side of the Mason-Dixon line." As a state legislator, Wilson was one of only seven Republicans to go against his own party and vote to keep the Dixie Rebel flag flying over the South Carolina capitol. This left me wondering: Is Steve King even aware that he represents a Union State? If this were 1861, and King was in charge, would he have had Iowa side with the south? Is Steve King a modern-day southern sympathizer? The latest evidence suggests not. Last month in an interview with The Hill, King responded to a question regarding any votes he wished to re-do by taking the opportunity to brag about his vote against providing relief for the victims or Hurricane Katrina, claiming that it was the "best vote I ever made.": "...I'd answer that question another way, probably the singular vote that stands out that went against the grain, and it turns out to be the best vote that I cast, was my "no" vote to the $51.5 billion to [Hurricane] Katrina. That probably was my best vote. But as far as doing something different again, I don't know." http://snipurl.com/sb8sv [thehill_com] No word on whether or not King would have voted against reconstruction funds for the post-war south. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Owner and founder of a liberal/progressive online news aggregator, former candidate for State Representative, media reform activist, internet communications consultant.
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Ain't politics grand?
Excellent job of bringing the facts together.
Is there anyone that doesn't understand why the party that fully ran the country (and the world) just a few years ago, has become so ineffective and so marginalized that their political reality for the foreseeable future amounts to zero?
And still nobody from the reasonable right has stood up to lead them. Rush, Palin, and Faux entertainment news are all they got. Which means that the rest of us, at least from the conservatives, also only have that much.
I can't really blame the astro-turf town hall crowd for being so angry. If I were one of them, I'd be livid!
Leslie, Thanks for the kind words.
I don't think linking the antics of people like Steve King to the Republican party or conservative ideology, as a whole, is particularly constructive or valid.
Folks like King and Bachmann are the exception, not the rule. I don't think King's success in elections comes from a shortcoming of Republican voters. Rather, I think the fact that he represents a district with an extremely small media market which happens to cater to what their audience wants to hear. Most of the media audience is comprised of King supporters; therefore, the local media outlets tell the audience what they want to hear and not challenge what they think or believe about him. Bad press for King can mean canceled subscriptions and a smaller audience. That hurts the profit margin.
The difference between what Northwest Iowa radio and newspapers report on King compared to what the rest of the state hears and reads regarding King is like night and day.
One could make the argument that King is hurting the Republican party nationally, but the bigger problem, (I would suggest) is media companies with a regional monopoly who are unwilling to challenge the bias of their audience, even when it is in the audience's best interest.
It's to the great credit of the Sentinel that they would allow me this place on their website to post ideas that are fact-based, but unpopular.
TJ,
I'm sorry, I didn't intend to imply a lacking on the part of your average Conservative voter. Folks is folks and while I may not agree with their politics, generally I like these people as fellow human beings. Again because it's important, even if I don't agree with their politics, I still like them as human beings.
That said, what I intend to convey was an opinion that in today's American political world, the Conservatives lack reasonable, intelligent leadership. Leadership that leads by example. Leadership that does not pander for votes, or for the media attention such pandering usually gets. Grassley being a prime example. For a conservative he has always been a fairly reasonable Congress critter. But then this last summer it seemed he drank the koolaid! Why? Because as a whole the party lacks leadership and it seems otherwise reasonable people like Grassley simply went with the flow. And because of this we all suffered and will continue to suffer.
I don't live in your region. I live in a blue area of a blue state. And from my outside perspective I also am pleased that your local paper gives you the room and the freedom to express yourself in ways that encourage good healthy discussion of the issues most important to us right now. If I were a wealthy man I would reward your local paper for this. As it is all I can offer is my appreciation as a fellow American.
About racism.....
I suspect that it's as I have said many times, in that we're all racist. However, those who deny this reality have no tools on their kit to battle against their racism, and as such, it festers and grows all the while they insist they are not racist.
A person busy talking, is not listening.
A person can't learn, until they decide they want too.
TJ,
Once again nice post. I would have to agree with what you stated. My thought on this issue of the confederate flag is why is this an issue now? After the civil war this flag should have been taken down and never returned. It sure makes you wonder about Steve King's beliefs and level of racism. Living in NW Iowa you only hear about the "good things" about Steve and that becomes more apparent the closer you get to his home town. Also thank you for the comment "I don't think linking the antics of people like Steve King to the Republican party or conservative ideology, as a whole, is particularly constructive or valid."
Leslie,
I do like your classification "the reasonable right" and I believe that's where I fit. I myself don't think that Rush, Palin or even former President Bush fit this class and Fox news does not convey my beliefs. To answer your question concerning the waning power of the Republican Party. It is my opinion that everything goes in cycles. It's like when I was in school we wore bell bottom pants and now my children want to wear them. Ten years ago nobody would be caught dead wearing them because then they had to be the "skinny pants", ones you could barely get a foot through. This is because in politics like fashion, people go to the extremes. I am sure in the future people will tire of the extreme left, the roles will be reversed and the extreme right will be cool again. I think we would be better off with just a reasonable right and a reasonable left party. It is just like the clothes I wear, t-shirts and jeans for everyday and jeans with a collared shirt (no tie or name brand) when I go out. I don't own a suit and I don't wear clothes with holes. That's just how I am.
Crane,
I do agree that along with most things, politics is cyclic. However, will the GOP have enough left of the Reasonable Right to ever be able to come back? Right now for instance, if there were a charismatic leader for the Reasonable Right that were to stand up and fill that void left empty by the GOP, would you and most Reasonable Republicans jump ship? I think yes, you would. And if that leader and his new party were successful, what then of the GOP?
No, Conservatism in America is not diminishing. It's reasonable leadership is, and all the Reasonable Right needs is that leadership. But I'm afraid that first America's conservatives have to suffer a bit longer with the now crazy GOP before they'll realize this truth. They may win a few seats in 2010, and like the south, they'll feel they are rising again.
Keep in mind that today the Reasonable Right is NOT considered a part of the GOP's base. You are not being pandered too, even though that aspect is far and away the largest demographic of American Conservatism.
Leslie, I would have to agree that the leadership is lacking. The GOP needs the "RR" to stay afloat and if it turns its back, eventually it will perish and a new party will rise from its ashes. Unfortunately I think it won't be until 2014 until we see any change. Actually I think we would be better off without just two major parties or party's altogether. It is impossible to pigeon hole everybody into two groups and to actually serve its members properly. If you are a republican or democrat doesn't mean you agree with all democrats or republicans or even they represent you and your beliefs completely. Even though my grandmother did it, I don't know how a person can vote strictly one party, heck it took her two seconds to vote. Close the curtain, pull the Democrat handle and open the curtain. Choosing your representative should require more thought process. Unlike the south conservatism will rise again.
One technical point here, the confederate flag, to the best of my knowledge, even when I lived there, didn't/doesn't fly the confederate flag at the capital. Georgia on the other hand has made it part of their state flag, allowing it to reign over the state as a reminder of inequality and where it is slow to change.
"This left me wondering: Is Steve King even aware that he represents a Union State? If this were 1861, and King was in charge, would he have had Iowa side with the south?"
One must remember that Iowa did have a Governor who was a known member of the KKK... just one embarrassing reminder that racism and hatred are regretfully distributed thoughout the population. Hopefully sparesly distributed if it has to be!
Correction to my entry (sorry):
One technical point here, the confederate flag, to the best of my knowledge, even when I lived there, didn't/doesn't fly the confederate flag at the capital in South Carolina. Georgia on the other hand has made it part of their state flag, allowing it to reign over the state as a reminder of inequality and where it is slow to change.
Leslie:
I don't believe everyone is racist, I'm not racist at all and I know many others who are not. Prejudice at time's I'm sure as we have all pre judged without all of the facts, but not by race, ethnicity, or belief. It is fear and self protection that garnishes itself with inequality to make oneself more valued than another by devaluing someone else. Social Maturity and cultural awareness of individuals leads any notion of prejudism an embarrasing part of the past.
That's my view.
TJ, I came up with an idea for a future blog. freedom of religion and crosses in the military (public) graveyards. A court case is in the Supreme Court regarding this. It would fit right in with the exposure the last few topics have expressed.
Different,
I was careful to say "nearly everyone."
That said, I'd urge you, especially if you tryly consider youself prejudice free, to consider the possibility that maybe you are, just a little bit more so than you think. In doing so you acknowledge the possibility, and as long as it's possible then you have the tools available to fight personally against it.
The smartest person in the room, is the one that says "I don't know." because he knows he has something yet to learn.
Likewise, the least racist is the one that can state, "well, maybe I am?"
I found I was years ago due to local upbringing. I quickly reconciled the problem and retrained myself in many ways to no longer be racist. It aupsets me whan I hear people speak racially motivated assumptions and condemnations. I never claim to be the smartest person in the room, there is always something to be learned even from those who don't seem to have enough knowledge! I do see where you are coming from tho! I respect that.
I'm the same way in that I grew up in a town of 6100 people, of which only 1 family of 4 was black. I had to reconcile myself with the reality that, through no fault of my own, I was racist. Because I did that and because I believe in the golden rule, I began a process of putting my racism in check. After years of practice I am still racist, but I'm also pretty confident that I have and I am successfully dealing with what is MY issue.
And that's all I am asking of my fellow humans.
That's good and similar to my experience. Thanks for your explanation.