Rep. Steve King Calls Out Pope For Not Understanding Nation States, Importance Of Borders

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2011 file photo, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa speaks in Washington. West and two other high-profile House conservatives are facing opponents who insist that their views are too extreme, have tricki... FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2011 file photo, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa speaks in Washington. West and two other high-profile House conservatives are facing opponents who insist that their views are too extreme, have trickier paths to re-election next month. GOP House candidate, Allen West of Florida, King and Joe Walsh of Illinois are all embroiled in tough and expensive races that are drawing plenty of spending by friends and foes from around the country. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) MORE LESS
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Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said Pope Francis’ call to welcome immigrants to the country with open arms in his address to Congress on Thursday shows the Catholic leader doesn’t understand the necessity of national borders or the idea of nation states.

“One thing the Catholic Church seems to miss is the importance of the nation-state, of sovereignty, and if you’re going to protect the rule of law, you have to have borders and have to have the nation state,” King said in an interview with CNN after the Pope’s speech.

Vatican City is a sovereign state.

King, who is Catholic, also said that opening up U.S. borders “eventually would sink the lifeboat that is America.”

The Iowa Republican was responding to a question about the Pope evoking the Golden Rule in urging lawmakers to welcome immigrants to the country.

King went on to praise the speech, calling it “balanced, respectful, and appreciative,” traits he said an uncharacteristically attentive Congress echoed.

King has a checkered history of off color remarks about race and immigration, and recently praised GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration plan.

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  1. Avatar for korvu korvu says:

    Members of the First Nation probably have some sympathy for King’s position.

  2. Shut the fuck up Steve King, you’re just embarrassing yourself. Again.

  3. Avatar for korvu korvu says:

    Maybe his view of the US as a lifeboat explains the cavalier attitude about climate change.

  4. Steve Kink is a sorry assed excuse for a human being. Enough said.

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