King defends ‘our civilization’ and ‘babies’ tweet, under fire by GOP leaders

Photo by Gage Skidmore

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

Alex Connor
March 13, 2017

Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) is facing backlash after a Sunday tweet that many believe is criticizing foreigners and immigrants. 

In defending his remarks, he said on CNN Monday morning he hopes to see “less of an emphasis” on race in the future, as well.

The tweet was then retweeted and praised by David Duke, a former Louisiana state representative and former Ku Klux Klan leader. 

King – who appeared on CNN Monday morning regarding his comments which have gained national attention – said he “meant exactly what I said.”

King told CNN’s Chris Cuomo, “You cannot rebuild your civilization with somebody else’s babies. You’ve got to keep your birth rate up, and that you need to teach your children your values.”

He added that in doing so, one can grow their population, strengthen their culture and strengthen their way of life.

“If you go down the road a few generations, or maybe centuries, with the inter-marriage, I’d like to see an America that is just so homogenous that we look a lot the same,” King said.

Several top Iowa leaders have condemned King for his remarks, including Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad who said last Monday during his weekly press briefing, “I disagree with what Steve King had to say and we certainly don’t want David Duke or his kind to come to Iowa.

“We all know that… From time to time, he just says things that we just don’t agree with, and we have always been honest about that. We have worked with him on a lot of things, and some of the things we just think are wrong and we disagree with it.”

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds also weighed in saying, “We disagree, and I strongly disagree, and I do not believe that that is reflective of Iowans throughout the state.”

This is not the first time King has come under fire regarding remarks on Western or white ‘civilization.’ In an interview this summer, King asked on MSNBC, “I mean I’d ask ya to go back through history and figure out where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people you’re talking about.

“Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?”

King’s statements could also potential damage Iowa’s tourism traffic, according to an article by the Des Moines Register. 

David Bernstein, a member of the Iowa Economic Development Authority board, aired the tourists’ concerns at the board’s monthly meeting on Friday, the Register reported.

He said the economic development authority, which oversees the Iowa Tourism Office, says tourism contributes $8 billion in economic activity to the state.

King’s statements could hurt businesses looking to woo travelers, Bernstein said. 

King is currently the U.S. representative for Iowa’s 4th congressional district – a position he has held since 2013. He previously held the same role in office for Iowa’s 5th congressional district since 2003.