Representative Steve King Continues to Pine for “Homogeneous” America
"I meant exactly what I said"
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Politics News Steve King
Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who is the leader and founder of the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, has compared the Quran to Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and has campaigned to have the Muslim holy text banned in his country. He’s called for a cessation of immigration from Muslim-majority countries, argued that new mosques shouldn’t be constructed in the Netherlands and that stopping the “Islamation of the Netherlands” is crucial to the country’s continued existence and prosperity.
Sunday, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) tweeted in support of Wilders, saying: “Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with someone else’s babies.”
Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies. https://t.co/4nxLipafWO
— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) March 12, 2017
And today, Monday, Rep. King doubled down on the tweet during a segment on CNN by saying that Western civilizations need to get their birth rates up and repeating the “somebody else’s babies” line.
When pressed about the idea being antithetical to American ideals, King effectively suggested that those who are pro-choice also want immigration to continue unfettered so that “someone else’s babies” can fill the void created by the abortion of American babies.
Watch the segment in question below.
Update: Top Republican lawmakers aren’t exactly pleased with Rep. King’s comments. In a statement, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) said he “clearly disagrees and believes America’s long history of inclusiveness is one of its great strengths.” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) tweeted, “E pluribus unum. And as Christians, we believe the many all come from Adam and Eve.” Rep. Carlos Curbello (R-Fla.) also took to Twitter to express uncertainty as to whether he’s “someone else’s baby.” And Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) brought some of the strongest heat, telling King to “get a clue.” Despite continued criticism of his racially divisive comments, King still hasn’t apologized.