Steve King’s Wild Day at CPAC
From comparing Capitol Hill janitors to Stasi troops to defending a white nationalist, Steve King’s wild day at CPAC didn’t leave anything for Iowa to be proud of. If his outrageous comments weren’t enough on their own, he made them while the rest of Iowa’s Congressional delegation met with the Air Force, attempting to save 500 Iowa jobs at the 132nd Fighter Wing.
Not a fan of CFLs, efficient showerheads, or healthy kids
King’s day started off with a bang when he chose to use his time in front of CPAC to rail against the menace of efficient, compact fluorescent lighting. His main example of “leftists that are deconstructing America on a daily basis.”
The congressman went as far as comparing Capitol Hill janitors to “Stasi troops” sent by Nancy Pelosi to install the new lights and told the story of interns breaking down in tears when they failed to locate a traditional Edison bulb in the Capitol. The problem is so bad, that King now brings his own “black market” bulbs that he stores in a reusable tote bag in his office.
If CFLs weren’t bad enough, King went on to site water-saving showerheads and restrictions on marketing junk food to children as examples of an America headed in the wrong direction. In usual Steve King fashion, he failed to mention any plans for creating jobs, growing Iowa communities, or supporting education.
Apparently proud of this display, King’s office has posted the entire speech on his YouTube channel:
- Des Moines Register: Steve King bashed lightbulb-policing “Stasi troops’ in speech rallying conservatives
- Huffington Post: Rep. says Democrat ‘Stasi troops’ want to end freedom with lightbulb regulations
- The Hill: Rep. King: Pelosi’s “Stasi troops’ force use of efficient lightbulbs
- TPM: Rep. Steve King goes for the easy San Fran laughs at CPAC
King follows up outrageous speech by defending a white nationalist
Immediately following his speech, King participated in a panel titled “The Failure of Multiculturalism.” King defended co-panelist and white nationalist Peter Brimelow from criticism, even telling Brimelow that, “I’ve read all your books.” Those books advance his thesis that “Race is destiny in American politics,” and Brimelow is the president of the VDARE Foundation, a nonprofit that warns against the polluting of America by non-whites, Catholics, and Spanish-speaking immigrants.
King defended Brimelow from the label of “white nationalist” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, saying “I wouldn’t take them seriously,” he said. “No, not at all.” King went on to defend him, saying “I’ve taken so much criticism on my life that has just been completely unjustified, you know, a fabrication of the hardcore left, I’d want to see whatever evidence that is before I comment on it.”
Read more:
Meanwhile, the rest of Iowa’s members of Congress were trying to save Iowa jobs
While King was busy at CPAC, the remaining Congressmen and Senators from Iowa were meeting with the Air Force in an effort to save 500 Iowa jobs. Congressmen Bruce Braley, Dave Loebsack, Leonard Boswell, and Tom Latham joined Iowa Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley for today’s meeting, where they urged the Air Force not to cut jobs here in Iowa.
King had other priorities in mind.
Read more about the meeting that King decided to skip: