GOP Rep. Says There's No "Thread" Of Patriotism In Obama's Background
The the Courier of Cedar Vally reports on a speech given by Rep. Steve King of Iowa...
King, who represents western Iowa and is known for making provocative statements, made a speech here asking the Iowa GOP delegation what part of Obama's upbringing, relationships and education would be appropriate for someone who wanted to be president."There is no part of that that I would subject a child, a young man or woman to. I don't think that there's a nurture there that shows a thread of patriotism or a sense of appreciation of free market capitalism or the destiny of America or what has made this country great," he said.
Cue up the thundering denunciations from the McCain camp...
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Okay, so King doesn't want children to go to college, or become lawyers, or become elected to the Senate. Okay, these are very unpatriotic things to do.
September 5, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Studying and teaching Constitutional law is so unAmerican!!
September 5, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
They really are going to make this about patriotism?
Holy. Shit.
They've totally lost it.
September 5, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sorry, but patriotism and symbolism only go so far. They can repeat the words 'patriot' and 'family values' and other buzz words as much as they want, but they've lost the substance to back it up. I mean, look at this guy!
September 5, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, you have to remember that by the Republican definition, patriotism seems to mean picking up a gun and going to another country to kill people who talk funny.
Unless, of course, your name is George Bush, or Dick Cheney, or Mitt Romney, or . . .
September 5, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Was this the All Star who said radical Muslims would be dancing in the streets if Obama was elected?
September 5, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why won't Obama wear a free market capitalism lapel pin?
September 5, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg,
Why isn't TPM posting this video?..
EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD OF THIS creepy promotional video for a workshop at Wasilla Assembly of God (Sarah Palin's longtime church)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJnhRhJW35o
When you watch this video REMEMBER...this was Sarah Palin's church for nearly her entire life.
The man with in the leather jacket donning a goatee was Sarah Palin's pastor from 1999 till 2002.
She continues to have close ties to this church and is involved with workshops there.
September 5, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you really want to bring up Church controversy?
September 5, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did you watch the video???
September 5, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Leave the church thing alone.
September 5, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
O you'd like that, wouldn't you?
sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit -
September 5, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
This attitude is why the republicans prevail way more than they should.
WATCH THE VIDEO...PALINS PENTECOSTAL RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND IS WAY OUT OF THE MAIN STREAM...
September 5, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now now, there is nothing out of the mainstream about speaking in tongues, Bush does it all the time.
September 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
So what, asshole? Either link it to policy that matters or shut the F up.
September 5, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
How is this related to policy?...If you don't think there is a relationship between Palin's religious beliefs and the fact that she supports abstinence only education, supports the teaching creationism in public schools, opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and tried to censor 60 books from the Wasilla Public Library during her time as mayor, YOU, my friend have your head up you ass.
She make Bush look like an Episcopalian.
September 5, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the English translation: "Have you noticed that Obama is a n*****?"
September 5, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Roffle.
Working at The University of Chicago with the endorsement of Cas Sunstein does not show a "sense of appreciation of free market capitalism."
Just wow. The idea that folks listen to this is just incredible.
September 5, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
It just shows he's a pointy-headed elitist liberal uppity academic.
September 5, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whats new? That asshole is full of hate. King will be dealt with in time--racist bastard.
September 5, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, let me see if I get this. Obama's upbringing was unpatriotic, but the fact that the governor of a state gave a welcome to the convention speech to a political party that wants the state to secede from the us, is aok. Gee, now I understand.
September 5, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Secession isn't unpatriotic, it's Mavericky.
September 5, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget it's reform minded too!
September 5, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever happened to "putting an end to partisan rancor?" Oh right, that's just for show.
September 5, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I usually check to see if a congressional race is competitive before donating. But in this case, I'll make an exception.
Cha-ching! $50 for Run Huber, King's opponent in IA-05, via ActBlue.
September 5, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
can someone hit this gop bobble heads on equating patriotism with the free market?
my patriotism has nothing to do with being able to by 12 pairs of tube socks at wal-mart. when they link patriotism and the free market as symbiotic entities, they completely belittle what patriotism really means. it demeans the true sacrifices that many have made and many more will continue to make in actual defense of this country.
September 5, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm. I didn't know that "patriotism" = "free market capitalism."
Guess I'll have to read the Declaration of Independence and Constitution more closely.
September 5, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sorry, this is hilarious.
She began college at Hawaii Pacific University, a private, nonsectarian school in Honolulu. She attended only as a freshman during the fall of 1982, school spokeswoman Crystale Lopez said. Then known as Sarah Louise Heath, she was in the business administration program as a full-time student, Lopez said. "We're trying to track down someone who knew her," Lopez added. From Hawaii Pacific, Palin transferred to North Idaho College, a two-year school in Coeur d'Alene, about 30 miles east of Spokane. She attended the college as a general studies major for two semesters, in spring 1983 and fall 1983, spokeswoman Stacy Hudson said.
From North Idaho College, Palin transferred 70 miles south to the University of Idaho, the state's flagship institution. She majored in journalism with an emphasis in broadcast news. She attended Idaho, whose mascot is the Vandals, from fall 1984 to spring 1985. She then returned to Alaska to attend Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer in fall 1985. Then she returned to Idaho, for spring 1986, fall 1986 and spring 1987, when she graduated.
Despite her journalism degree, she does not appear to have worked for the college newspaper or campus television station, school officials said. She worked briefly as a sportscaster for KTUU in Anchorage after she graduated college.
If she applied for an internship at National Review, they would turn her down.
September 5, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
The "what a terrible student" argument doesn't really fly, unfortunately. Recall who we have in office right now.
September 5, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, I know.
I just loved Sullivan's line at the end.
September 5, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about a link please?
September 5, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You don't have to look that far... consider her running mate!!!! This must be campaign theme.
September 5, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is from ABC, right? I commented there and I'll say it here. I don't really like Palin's stances or character, and her record and scandals are fair game, but this is kind of a non-story. A lot of people flail about after high school figuring out what they want to do.
Yeah, she seems to have been flailing quite a bit, but this stuff just belongs in her bio-file--I don't think it says a lot about her. It's just a snapshot of her growing up. (I'd hate for some of MY growing up bio to be posted--I think I'm a different person from then)
September 5, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know. I know.
I'm not advocating it as a line of attack or anything. I just found Andrew Sullivan's response funny.
September 5, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh shit, the bold part wasn't your comment, it was Sullivan's. So now it's more funny. Oh well, totally missed your point then.
September 5, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would too - and that's why I don't run for office.
If you're going to run, your biography is fucking relevant - all of it. If you have things you want to keep to yourself then do not put yourself on a ballot.
End of fucking story.
September 5, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was for matya - damn comments system
September 5, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of which: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/here-we-go.html
September 5, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, what are you saying? I didn't quite get it.
Hey, I'm not trying to 'concern troll' my way around here--I'm just saying that her other issues, like, i don't know, (the multiple firing scandals, being with Ted Stevens before being against him, wanting to secede, being on McCain's pork watch list, getting photographed in a a patriotic bikini toting a gun, etc.) more important. Yeah, this stuff is fair game, but it's irrelevant.
September 5, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
A lot people struggled in high school and college, I know I did. But don't we want the best people leading us? Don't we want to keep our standards high, so that our government is the best it can be?
I want someone smarter than I am to occupy the WH. the job is to
September 5, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
A lot people struggled in high school and college, I know I did. But don't we want the best people leading us? Don't we want to keep our standards high, so that our government is the best it can be?
I want someone smarter than I am to occupy the WH. The job is too important to leave with someone who isn't quite up to the task.
September 5, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure Republicans feel the same way. I guess that's why they went through Michelle Obama's undergrad thesis with a fine-tooth comb.
September 5, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure Republicans feel the same way. I guess that's why they went through Michelle Obama's undergrad thesis with a fine-tooth comb.
September 5, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think I missed that one.
September 5, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to disagree with you on this one. Going to 6 schools in 6 years is over the top. It shows an intense lack of focus, research and self awareness. Yes, she was young, but she was the same age as McCain when was in military and that is certainly relevant. By her own account she was an adult at the time. Given that she is only 44 years old, this is not that long ago.
September 5, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. And wasn't she using the scholarship money from the Miss Alaska competition for part of that? Flitting from school to school is not a very efficient use of scholarship money -- you almost certainly lose credits that way, not to mention that most schools, certainly the stronger ones, will require that you get some minimum number of hours in courses at that institution.
But you won't get much information from the schools themselves; those records are confidential. And it's probably going to be hard finding people from any of them who remember her very well, because she wasn't at any one place long enough to make many lasting friendships.
September 5, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure they do; its no crime. But they would have no business later ridiculing someone else who had gotten into good schools, studied hard, and then went to right work using that education to help other people.
That would be really hypocritical.
September 6, 2008 2:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't bite the bait.
September 5, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are we this afraid of Repugs at this point that we think every retarded comment that slips out of their mouths is some carefully-constructed trap? Some of these people are ACTUALLY THIS STUPID.
September 5, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, I'm not and I'm sick of people who want to run scared of what someone might say.
Goddamn - that's the formula for losing.
September 5, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is going to reach hysterical levels as we get closer to election day. Black! Unpatriotic! Uppity! Just wait until one of the mouth-breathers really slips up. It's really going to be depressing.
Oh, and yeah, King is the moron who said something about muslims dancing in the streets if Obama were elected.
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
September 5, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ever seen a chicken wildly thrashing after having its head chopped off? Well, the Republicans know their necks are on the chopping block and the ax man cometh in only 60 days.
September 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
I say, let him talk more. The more this fool talks, the more right-wing he reveals himself and the Republican party to be.
Keep yaking, Steve. Way to lure in those independent voters for McCain.
September 5, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
He is absolutely right!
Who wants a man who went to public school or who's family struggled in the White House!
Imagine the destruction someone who genuinely cared for the poor could do!
Jesus Christ was a community organizer, Pilate a governor.
September 5, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actual Jesus, or Supply-Side Jesus?
September 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
God I have Steve King...what a douche.
September 5, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm from Iowa, and let me tell you that this guy is a complete lunatic and the political embarrassment of our state.
Having said that, this type of comment really isn't all that outrageous by his standards. Pretty par for the course, actually.
September 5, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shouldn't McCain reject and denounce Rep. King?
Shouldn't Palin reject and denounce The AIP?
Hmmm. Methinks I spy a double standard.
September 5, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, from the republican party? Not in a million years. Just ask sfcwallace.
September 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
He is absolutely right!
Who wants a man who went to public school or who's family struggled in the White House!
Imagine the destruction someone who genuinely cared for the poor could do!
Jesus Christ was a community organizer, Pilate a governor.
September 5, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Facts and John McCain don't see eye to eye.
"I know some of you have been left behind in the changing economy and it often seems your government hasn't even noticed. Government assistance for unemployed workers was designed for the economy of the 1950s. That's going to change on my watch."
http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080905/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy
Good to know. One more reason to vote Obama/Biden. Please donate for those who can't because they have lost their jobs.
September 5, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kings rant doesn't even make sense. It will be interesting to see if the MSM takes the bait.
September 5, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The woman is not that bright and i am not ready to vote for someone who transfer from one school to another simply because she has a bad grade.
September 5, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
As for the Rep who think Obama is not patriotic, tell him to go fuck himself.
September 5, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rasmussen reports that Palin is now more popular than Obama or McCain. Nielsen preliminary figures say more Americans watched McCain's acceptance speech than Obama's.
I predict that by Monday morning's tracking polls at the latest, McCain will be ahead. The Obama Bin Biden campaign is no doubt reeling right now.
September 5, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does that mean we can denounce her as a celebrity?
September 5, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm a bit confused, but I take it that King means the following institutions, organizations, and relations are insufficiently patriotic for King to associate with:
Columbia University
Harvard University
The University of Chicago
The Illinois State Senate
The United States Senate
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
WWII Vets
Grandmothers
That list says commie sympathizer to me . . .
September 5, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
translation: a black man is african, not american; therefore, unpatriotic...i get it now..that's a very unpatriotic comment coming out of iowa.....
keep offending those of us who are not lily white and see where it gets ya Republicans...in fact, keep repeating just such filth in every non-red neck town and see your votes dwindle to just the red neck vote and a few uncle tom votes...keep at it!!
September 5, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
When Steve King says dumb, wrong shit like this he is insulting millions upon millions of Americans who share something in common with Barack Obama's life story.
I want the evidence of what thread in Steve King's life qualifies him to have a credible or useful opinion about anything. The guy is obviously a socially irresonsible, reckless, moron.
September 5, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
They really have nothing to run on.
September 5, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone notice something missing from King's bio:
http://www.house.gov/steveking/biography.shtm
Steve King grew up in a law enforcement family in Storm Lake, Iowa. He attended Denison Community High School, where he met Marilyn Kelly, whom he married in 1972. They have lived in Kiron for 28 years and are members of St. Martin’s Church in Odebolt. Steve and Marilyn have three grown sons and two grandchildren.
King studied math and science at Northwest Missouri State University. He started King Construction in 1975 and built the business up from one bulldozer. He brings valuable knowledge to Congress as an agribusinessman and a small business owner for 28 years. King’s oldest son now runs the construction business.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_King
Steven Arnold "Steve" King (born May 28, 1949)...
King is a lifelong resident of northwestern Iowa. He was born on May 28, 1949 in Storm Lake, but currently calls Kiron home. He attended Northwest Missouri State University from 1967 to 1968. In 1975 he founded King Construction Company.
King dropped out of college at the age of 18 in the middle of the Viet Nam War, and some how seemed to miss serving. Not just the luck of avoiding the draft, but failed to enlist. Classic chicken hawk.
September 5, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
When Steve King says dumb, wrong shit like this he is insulting millions upon millions of Americans who share something in common with Barack Obama's life story.
I want the evidence of what thread in Steve King's life qualifies him to have a credible or useful opinion about anything. The guy is obviously a socially irresonsible, reckless, moron.
September 5, 2008 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The American people don't want Amerika to be fixed! They want to be sold a Disney movie, featuring the happy warrior, and small town mom as POTUS and VPOTUS!
September 5, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do we really need to hear about every single instance of a Reep nut job who says something mean and stupid about Obama? Seriously, this site could have 40 similar threads a day if it wanted to highlight such things. There's no shortage of Reeper stupidity, so why pick this one?
Wait a second....are we becoming the online version of the Republican Convention? Greg pins this stuff up like it's bulletin board material for a football team, and we rile ourselves up in response?
Very well then. Carry on. Whatever it takes.
September 5, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course our King has special patriotic blood pumping through his heart. It's so good to be a King.
September 5, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Obama should have worked in a Chinese sweatshop making flag lapel pins?
September 5, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oilbama needsd to stress that he is the one who voted for his buddy Dick Cheney's Big Oil Energy Bill and that McCain voted against it. He needs to stress that he is a much bigger lightweight empty suit than Sarah Palin. He needs to stress that he is the one that is friends with Racists like Rev Wright, Terrorists like William Ayers, and Slumlords like Rezco. He needa to point out that while facing a true American Military hero he did not serve in the Armed Forces and has a bitchy wife that was not proud of America until people started fawning all over her cult leader husband.
September 5, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course our King has special patriotic blood pumping through his heart. It's so good to be a King.
September 5, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Our King has special patriotic blood pumping through his heart. It's good to be a King.
September 5, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's certainly what they are trying to peddle.
I recently attended a talk by Gary Boyd Roberts, author of Ancestors of American Presidents. Obama, he said, has more American ancestors than I do. He handed out some charts showing Obama's kinship to some prominent Americans of the present and the past.
Obama is an eleventh cousin of George W. Bush.
Obama is a ninth cousin once removed of Dick Cheney.
Obama is a tenth cousin once removed of Gerald R. Ford.
Obama is a fourth cousin 3 times removed of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Obama is a third cousin 9 times removed of James Madison.
Obama is a seventh cousin 3 times removed of Harry S Truman.
Obama is a fifth cousin 8 times removed of Robert E. Lee.
Obama is a ninth cousin 3 times removed of Winston Churchill (common ancestor with Churchill's American-born mother).
On the lighter side:
Obama is an eighth cousin once removed of John Steinbeck.
Obama is a ninth cousin of Brad Pitt.
Seems pretty solidly American to me.
September 5, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
they attack on his patriotism lets not forget that this is from a party that gave us the patriot act
September 5, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did anyone get the remark of Cindy McCain?
"that her family and deep roots in American soil." I think if the speeches were analyzed for it, we would find these 'dog whistles' to the faithful meant to compare Obama's background with theirs.
September 6, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I dreamt that I walked down every Main Street in America and everywhere that I glanced, there was a campaign sign: on front yard lawns, on the sides of buses, in storefront windows, on bus benches, way up high on billboards, on blimps overhead:
WHERE IS SARAH? was the message.
WHERE - IS - THAT - PITBULL? is NOW the message.
September 7, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The GOP really has nothing to run on so they will SMEAR! Its sad really...
September 7, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Palin needs to state clearly where her first loyalty lies; and John McCain owes us her statement. The Alaska Independence Party says very clearly Alaska first. How about Ms. Palin? Her long-term dalliance with the party, and in-her-position-as-governor publicly stated support for them, raises a serious question about her first loyalty. which is it, Alaska or the USA? No one has raised any such substantive issue in Obama's background while smearing his patriotism. She needs to answer.
September 7, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is now ahead 54% - 44% among likely voters.
Steve King is a neo-McCarthy fascist, but when he started attacking Obama months ago, nobody around TPM had the time or interest to take him on. Guess we thought he was going to go away.
I just read this entire thread. Would someone please explain to me exactly what you get out of something like this. Seems so much like an echo chamber circle jerk to me. Snappy one liners, irrelevant factoids, bravado, pom pom waving. Exactly what need does it fulfill in your lives?
September 8, 2008 6:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly what need does it fulfill in your lives?
They love a small town as much as Sarah does, they just don't realize it?
September 8, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink