The top two Republicans in the House of Representatives, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), wouldn’t say on Sunday whether Rep. Steve King (R-IA) will face any consequences for seemingly implying to the New York Times that terms “white nationalist” and “white supremacist” should not be considered offensive.
“White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” King wondered to the Times in a piece published Thursday. After considerable backlash, King said: “I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define.” But his past racist comments have been well–documented.
“Action will be taken,” McCarthy told CBS’ Margaret Brennan on Sunday, after saying he would meet with King on Monday. “I am having a serious conversation with Congressman Steve King on his future and role in this Republican Party.”
“What does that mean?” Brennan asked.
“There is a number of things, you’ll see, that is taking place,” McCarthy said, without specifying further. “But I will not stand back as a leader of this party, believing in this nation that all are created equal, that that stands or continues to stand and has any role with us.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on possible consequences for King: “Action will be taken. I am having a serious conversation with Congressman Steve King on his future and role in this Republican Party…
There is a number of things, you’ll see, that is taking place.” pic.twitter.com/B5uTFf2OnO— Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) January 13, 2019
According to CBS News, after the interview ended, McCarthy told Brennan “he is reviewing whether King should keep his committee assignments.”
“Will Republicans take any action against Steve King?” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked Scalise in an interview earlier Sunday, after referencing the Congressional Black Caucus’ call for King to lose his committee assignments.
Instead of answering directly, Scalise referred to Republicans’ statements denouncing King’s comments, and said “many Democrats” — he did not name them — had “aligned themselves with anti-Semites” and “called on physical violence.”
Stephanopoulos tried again: “But yes or no, will Republican leaders call for any action against Congressman King?”
“I would imagine we’re going to continue talking about this,” Scalise responded. “This just popped up on Friday, we were very quick to reject those comments.”
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise won’t say whether Steve King will face consequences for his comment, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”
Scalise: “I would imagine we’re going to continue talking about this.” pic.twitter.com/t5d4dqECaQ
— Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) January 13, 2019
It’s certainly not the first time King has aligned himself with racist ideologies.
In June, for example, he retweeted a British neo-Nazi, to silence from Republican leadership. And in October, he endorsed the Toronto mayoral candidate Faith Goldy. In December 2017, Goldy joined other white nationalists in a YouTube discussion and explicitly endorsed enthno-nationalism, saying: “It is a natural tribal instinct for human communities to go with their own. So the question is, are we going to continue to work against nature and try to rise above it even though we’re 40, 50, 60 years into this experiment?”
This post has been updated.
I can see that you are quite the leader, Scalise.
Scalise referred to Republicans’ statements denouncing King’s comments, and said “many Democrats” — he did not name them — had “aligned themselves with anti-Semites” and “called on physical violence.”
“I would imagine we’re going to continue talking about this,” Scalise responded. “This just popped up on Friday, we were very quick to reject those comments.”
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Homina, homina, homina…
Typical GOP chatter…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHk4B1MtQF8I actually know who he’s referring to, but he won’t get pressed over this, sooooooooo