i think this is a good thing, though. we need to get it out in the open and see what's really on people's minds. obama dismisses king:
“I think that Mr. King has it backwards. The fact that the continuation of a presence in Iraq as Sen. 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,” Obama said today at a campaign stop at The Little Dooey, a barbeque restaurant in Columbus, Miss.
“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 Sen. McCain would want to distance himself from that kind of inflammatory and offensive remarks.” (mccain did)
steven king defends his comments that just because obama's middle name is hussein, the terrorists will be "dancing in the streets." poor guy says he's been overwhelmed with comments. if you still want to pester him, you can do that here.
Rep. King Defends Comments About Obama
By JAMES BELTRAN
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Republican congressman on Monday defended his prediction that terrorists would celebrate if Democrat Barack Obama were elected president, despite a rebuke from 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-Qaida "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.
Obama's campaign has criticized King's comments and asked McCain to disavow them, which the Arizona senator's aides did Monday.
"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.
King said the Obama family's assimilation into American culture will not change the perception terrorists would have if Obama wins the White House. King said he'll keep a close eye on Middle Eastern streets after the election to see if he's right.
