Rep. King Stands by Prediction That Obama Presidency Would Be Welcomed by Terrorists
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa Republican congressman on Monday defended his prediction that terrorists would celebrate if Democrat Barack Obama were elected president, despite a rebuke from aides to John McCain, the GOP’s apparent presidential nominee.
“(Obama will) certainly be viewed as a savior for them,” Rep. Steve King told The Associated Press. “That’s why you will see them supporting him, encouraging him.”
King said his offices have been bombarded with calls — positive and negative — since he said Friday that Al Qaeda “would be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11 because they would declare victory in this war on terror.”
King cited Obama’s pledge to pull U.S. troops from Iraq, his father’s Muslim roots in Kenya and his middle name, Hussein, which King said has a meaning to terrorists.
Asked about the remarks as he campaigned in Mississippi, Obama said, “I think that Mr. King has it backwards. The fact that the continuation of a presence in Iraq as Senator McCain has suggested is exactly what, I think, will fan the flames of anti-American sentiment and make it more difficult for us to create a long-term and sustainable peace in the world.
“But I have to say that Mr. King and individuals like him thrive on offensive or controversial statements as a way to get in the papers, so I don’t take it too seriously. I would hope Senator McCain would want to distance himself from that kind of inflammatory and offensive remarks,” Obama said.
Aides to McCain also disavowed King’s comments.
“John McCain rejects the type of politics that degrades our civics … and obviously that extends to Congressman King’s statement,” spokesman Brian Rogers told The Associated Press.
Last month, McCain also denounced his introduction in Cincinnati by talk-show host Bill Cunningham, who referred to Obama three times as “Barack Hussein Obama.”
Obama supporters have claimed such tactics are being used to imply that he is a Muslim.
The Illinois senator, born in Hawaii to a white Kansas woman and a Kenyan man, is a Christian and has said he has little connection to the Islamic religion, though he acknowledges spending part of his childhood in largely Muslim Indonesia.
Checking you got all your Mail on the Passport Matters?
Go well, Sir.
Yeah, we got him running. He’s feeling the heat.
The man is slipping fast. He’s agonna down.
By African Student
Much can be learned from News Comments on Senator McCain’s visit to Baghdad. I, for one, did learn a lot. And that is the America I have come to admire.
Yes, many of us do admire America, it’s solid power, all the diversities and honest guts. Most in Africa don’t understand that. All Africa and, sorry to say, Arab Middle East, suffer under tyranny of some sort or another. In these countries the terms of Freedom or Liberty, Democrazy, Self Attainment, many others, are not understood the way these concepts are embedded in American life. Oh yes, if they would be understood there, most people in these countries would love America and yearn to have these values at home, but, sadly, that is a dream because their Rulers/Dictators/Self Appointed Leaders hide these basic truths from the people because they would not be allowed rule if the people knew.
Some of you may ask who I am because others also submit comments under the name of African Student occasionally. I know some others; we meet at times, and our interpretations vary. Most of us or those in my circle [I cannot speak for all] but most of us respect America.
I study American history in comparison with Africa [you can approach it from either side] and I respect and admire America. My circumstances are not such that would make it possible for me to live fulltime in America, so I am not a citizen.
Because I am not a citizen I obviously cannot vote and, for both reasons, I shall not assume the audacity to express a view.
But I have learned enough [I hope] to think that Americans will allow me [I hope so too] to say the Comments on Senator McCain’s visit to Iraq, well they kind of made me wish I could be part of this great land.
I have followed this election as part of my studies. but I shall refrain from commenting on that [I lack the audacity to do so]. As a researcher though [that is my field] [and it allows me to be my own person] the Comments in the columns I refer to herald a complete change in this election, and I like that.
Suddenly these columns changed the mood of the election from the negative to the positive. Allow me this one time, I beg of you. This is a good change, and that is why I study the things I do. It is fascinating; America is fascinating; Americans are fascinating people. And [I almost said but] it made me wish it could be the same in the World I herald from.
I admire you America. I hope you will be strong and that you will prosper for your good and the good of the World.