The House on Tuesday passed a resolution that calls out Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, for comments that many say showed support for white nationalism and white supremacy.
The resolution of disapproval, introduced by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., noted King’s recent comments to the New York Times that many called racist and was passed with broad support, including a “yes” vote from King himself.
The House approved the measure in a 424-1 vote. The only “no” vote came from Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., who has said the measure doesn’t go far enough and that the House should formally censure King.
The resolution noted King’s comment to the Times as an example of racist commentary, but ended with a broad statement that didn’t target King directly, and instead rejected all forms of hateful expression.
“[T]he House of Representatives once again rejects White nationalism and White supremacy a hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States,” the resolution concluded.
King was quoted in the Times as saying, “‘White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”
King spoke on the floor shortly before the vote to say he would vote for the resolution, and that he agrees with everything in it. But he also accused the Times of not interpreting his remarks correctly. King has argued that he was only talking about “Western civilization” when he asked, “how did that language become offensive.”
He also noted that there is no tape of his 56-minute conversation with the Times, and thus no way for him to show he was misinterpreted. “There’s no way to go back and listen,” he said.
“I understand how you interpreted my words when you read them this way,” he added. “There is no tape for this interview that I did. That ideology never shows up in my head. I don’t know how it could possible come out of my mouth.”
Rep. Steve King: “Let’s vote for this resolution. I’m putting up a ‘yes’ up on board here because what you state here is right and it’s true and it’s just. And so is what I have stated here on the floor of the House of Representatives.” pic.twitter.com/AwDRjLddl1
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 15, 2019
Still, he said he supports the resolution and its intent, and said he agrees with everything in the resolution.
“I understand and recognize the gravity of this issue that’s before us,” King said. “I thought you all knew me well.”
“I regret that we are in this place,” King said. “But the New York Times has a different version of this. They make a habit of attacking the president, as a matter of fact.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced Monday night that King would not be seated on any committees in the 116th Congress, including a seat on the Judiciary and a likely ranking member position he was in line for on the subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
