A leading voice in conservative thought and commentary added itself to the growing chorus of conservatives who have rallied around a sharp message this week: Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, must go.
King has been fending off criticism in the wake of comments he made during an interview with the New York Times in which he asked: “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”
The National Review published an editorial on King’s comments Friday headlined, “Dump Steve King.”
“King tars all conservatives with his irresponsibility,” the editorial reads. “King may be clumsy, dangerous, bigoted, or some mix of the three. Whatever he is, he doesn’t deserve the support of conservatives.”
High-profile Republicans such as Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., have also blasted King’s rhetoric.
“These comments are abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse,” Cheney said in a tweet Thursday.
Earlier this week, Randy Feenstra, an Iowa state senator, announced he would challenge King in an upcoming primary election.
[Opinion: Republicans, we need to confront every instance of racism, inside our party and out]
