The Republican Party is turning against
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who has a
long history of making race-related remarks and
going against tribal interests.
Republicans in the House stripped King, who has represented Iowa's 5th Congressional District since 2003, of his committee assignments on Monday.
A day later, the chamber
voted in near unanimous fashion to pass
H.Res.41, condemning remarks he made to
The New York Times in which he appeared to praise White nationalism and White supremacy.
"Let me be clear––Rep. King’s language is reckless, wrong, and has no place in society,"
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California), who leads Republicans in the House, wrote in a
post on Twitter.
King has
claimed his remarks were "completely mischaracterized." But his troubles mounted when President Donald Trump's primary spokesperson on Wednesday condemned his remarks.
“Steve King’s comments were abhorrent,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, according to The Associated Press.
In 2010, King voted against the
Tribal
Law and Order Act. When Native women protested outside one of his offices in Iowa,
he complained that they
didn't know what "they're talking about" even after he repeatedly failed to explain why he
opposed a bill that strengthened law
enforcement in Indian Country.
Three years later, King
voted against the
Violence
Against Women Act. Again, he failed to explain his opposition to a law that recognizes tribal authority over
non-Indians who abuse their partners.
Despite his record, tribal leaders with trust lands in his district have had to work with King in hopes of addressing issues facing their communities.
So have tribal advocates in Sioux City, where Native Americans make up nearly 2 percent of the population.
"Congressman Steve King should resign," The Des Moines Register said in an editorial. "He has lost even the potential to effectively represent his Iowa constituents because of his abhorrent comments about white nationalism and white supremacy."
Iowa's 5th Congressional District includes trust lands owned by the
Winnebago Tribe, the
Omaha Tribe and the
Ponca Tribe.
The area around Sioux City has long been known as crossroads for tribes and their citizens in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Read More on the Story
Analysis: Steve King has been controversial for years. So what changed?
(The Des Moines Register January 15, 2019)
House passes resolution rebuking Steve King after comments on white supremacy, nationalism
(The Des Moines Register January 15, 2019)
Republicans Rebuke Steve King but Face Vexing Question: Why Not Sooner?
(The New York Times January 15, 2019)
White House denounces Steve King's white supremacy remarks, calling them 'abhorrent'
(The Associated Press January 16, 2019)
As Republicans Rush to Condemn Steve King, Some Ask: Why Not Trump?
(The New York Times January 16, 2019)
Some Opinions
Editorial:
Steve King should resign for the good of Iowa
(The Des Moines Register January 15, 2019)
David Perry and
Matthew Gabriele:: Steve King says he was just defending ‘Western Civilization.’ That’s racist, too.
(The Des Moines Register January 15, 2019)
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