Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has apologized to White House correspondent Helen Thomas for taking a cruel jab at her during the Iowa State convention. "There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell he's at," King said of killed terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. "And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas."

Arab American Institute President James Zogby wrote King a letter on Tuesday demanding the apology. "Whatever you may think of Ms. Thomas' political views, she is a revered icon in American journalism, having covered every president since Eisenhower, and having earned a place of distinction in the annals of the White House press corps," his letter read.  

King’s challenger in the upcoming election, Joyce Schulte (D), also commented on King's words. "Mean-spirited remarks are beneath the dignity of any self respecting congressperson, and remarks about another person's appearance are even lower," she said. “I want [Thomas] and the world to know that Iowans are not insensitive buffoons who make fun at someone else's expense."

Some might worry that King, who in the past has praised Joe McCarthy and referred to the torture at Abu Ghraib as “hazing,” has turned over a new leaf. They’ll be reassured to know that he’s helped delay renewal of the Voting Rights Act by arguing against bilingual ballots.