Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush became the latest Republican Monday to criticize Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, after the lawmaker warned against repopulating the United States with “somebody else’s babies.”
“America is a nation of immigrants,” Bush tweeted in response to King’s warning. “The sentiment expressed by Steve King doesn’t reflect our shared history or values.”
America is a nation of immigrants. The sentiment expressed by Steve King doesn’t reflect our shared history or values. https://t.co/msydFudA7m
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) March 13, 2017
The former governor also retweeted a sharp rebuke from Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla. against King. Curbelo, a Cuban-American who represents part of South Florida, asked King whether he qualifies as “somebody else’s baby” given his heritage. He added the hashtag “#concernedGOPcolleague” at the end of his tweet.
King’s initial tweet came out in support of Dutch politician Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician who King argued “understands that culture and demographics are our destiny.” On Monday, King remained steadfast and continued to support the tweet, and told CNN that “I meant exactly what I said” about his tweet.
“Well, of course, I meant exactly what I said, as is always the case,” King said. “You cannot rebuild your civilization with somebody else’s babies, you’ve got to keep your birth rate up, and that you need to teach your children your values and in doing so you can grow your population you can grow your culture and you can grow your way of life.”
Along with Bush and Curbelo, many Republicans have spoken out against King’s statement, including Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann. Kristy Campbell, a former Bush spokesperson was more blunt in her assessment of the Iowa congressman.
“Embarrassed to be a member of the same party as Steve King,” Campbell tweeted.
