Steve King: ‘Irrational Leftist Lust’ Comment Based On Love, Not Violence

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is further explaining his recent comment, made in a Human Events article, that Democrats passed health care reform because of an “irrational Leftist lust for socialized medicine.” As he explained it in an interview just now on ABC News’s Top Line, that’s not such an incendiary thing to say.

King was asked about the comment, in light of recent commentary over whether heated political rhetoric contributed to the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).

“Well, I’d say first that the word ‘lust’ is more associated with love than it is with violence,” King responded. “I didn’t think it’s an irrational comment at all — I just see it as the situation we’re in. I have an irrational lust to love the Constitution and fiscal responsibility and individualism.”

King did say that the people in Washington have a responsibility to tone it down, but also said that he did not think “the anomalous tragedy in Tucson” was relevant to that.

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: