Democrats propose censure of Rep. Steve King over white supremacy comments

WASHINGTON – Two Democratic lawmakers Monday unveiled proposals to formally censure Rep. Steve King over the Iowa Republican's comments on white supremacy that have drawn bipartisan criticism.

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, both proposed censure resolutions.

Meanwhile, Rep. James Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat and African American, is considering a resolution that would express disapproval but not go as far as a full censure, according to his spokesman Patrick Devlin.

“White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” King said in an interview with The New Times last week. “Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?”

Rush said King has "become too comfortable with proudly insulting, disrespecting, and denigrating people of color."

"As with any animal that is rabid, Steve King should be set aside and isolated,” Rush, who is black, said in a statement Monday.

If passed, a censure resolution would require that King go to the well of the House and listen as a statement of disapproval is read.

"Representative Steve King of Iowa, by his despicable conduct, has dishonored himself and brought discredit to the House and merits the censure of the House for the same," a draft of Rush's censure proposal read.The two-page resolution lists controversial comments King has made dating back to 2006.

Ryan introduced a more narrow resolution that would also censure King but based solely on the recent comments he had made in The New York Times.

"The dangerous ideology of white supremacy has no place in America—let alone Congress," Ryan said." We need to send a strong message to our colleagues and the American people that this type of behavior will not be tolerated."

King has sought to tamp down the controversy over his comments about white supremacy, saying: "I want to make one thing abundantly clear; I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define.”

Many of King's colleagues, including Republicans, rebuked him over his comments.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a scathing statement on Monday: "Rep. King’s statements are unwelcome and unworthy of his elected position. If he doesn’t understand why ‘white supremacy’ is offensive, he should find another line of work."

"These comments are abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse," Rep. Liz Cheney, the House GOP conference chair tweeted.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only black Republican in the Senate wrote a Washington Post op-ed titled: "Why are Republicans accused of racism? Because we’re silent on things like this."

As of now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not announced whether she would bring a censure resolution to the floor for a vote. Rush's resolution is considered "privileged" so it will be given precedence over other matters.

Democratic leadership will huddle Monday night, according to Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.

She told reporters Friday there was interest in taking action against King, but she wasn’t prepared then to announce anything.

If the resolution is brought to the floor for a vote, it would require the support of a majority of those voting in order to pass. The resolution would not be sent to the GOP-controlled Senate because it is intended to express the sentiment of just the House.

After big wins in the November midterm elections, Democrats control the House 235 to 199.

King has made other comments that have stirred outrage. In 2013, King said that Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, were involved in drug smuggling.

“For everyone who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there that weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,” King told Newsmax in 2013.

He was abandoned by the House Republican campaign arm going into the 2018 election over alleged ties to white nationalist groups. He narrowly won his election in his deep red district.

The introduction of the resolution comes the same day King was expected to meet with Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy who has vowed to take action over King’s comments.

“Action will be taken, I’m having a serious conversation with Congressman Steve King on his future and role in this Republican Party,” McCarthy said on CBS "Face the Nation" Sunday. His office did not immediately respond to request for comment on the censure resolution.

King’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump said he was not familiar with comments from King.

"Who?" Trump asked after a reporter asked him about King's recent comments. After the question was reiterated, Trump responded: "I haven't been following."

source:https://bit.ly/2M8C0bx