Steve King (R-IA), seeking re-election, apologizes to Helen Thomas

Iowa Congressman Apologizes for Rude Helen Thomas Reference

By E&P Staff

Published: June 22, 2006 2:00 AM ET

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002726435

NEW YORK Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, apologized to Helen Thomas on Wednesday for disparaging comments he made about the veteran White House correspondent.

Last Saturday, Rep. King, while discussing the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi at the state Republican convention, said, "What occurred to me that morning is something that I imagine a lot of you have thought about and he's probably figured it out by now. There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell he's at and if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas."

The remark drew wide laughter and applause.

A spokeswoman for the two-term congressman said King has apologized to Thomas, 85, now writing a column for Hearst newspapers. King is running for re-election this fall.

Joyce Schulte, King's Democratic opponent in November, said "Mean-spirited remarks are beneath the dignity of any self respecting congressperson, and remarks about another person's appearance are even lower. I hesitate to even use Helen Thomas' name in the same document with so vile a wretch as al-Zarqawi. But I want her and the world to know that Iowans are not insensitive buffoons who make fun at someone else's expense."



http://www.house.gov/steveking/index.shtm

Washington, D.C.
1432 Longworth Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: 202.225.4426
Fax: 202.225.3193

Council Bluffs
40 Pearl St.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Phone: 712.325.1404
Fax: 712.325.1405

Creston
208 W Taylor Street
P.O. Box 601
Creston, IA 50801
Phone: 641.782.2495
Fax: 641.782.2497

Sioux City
526 Nebraska Street
Sioux City, IA 51101
Phone: 712.224.4692
Fax: 712.224.4693

Spencer
306 N Grand Avenue
P.O. Box 650
Spencer, IA 51301
Phone: 712.580.7754
Fax: 712.580.3354

Storm Lake
607 Lake Avenue
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588
Phone: 712.732.4197
Fax: 712.732.4217

http://www.house.gov/steveking/email.shtm

Like McCain making fun of Chelsea Clinton.

What an asinine statement. Helen may be 85, but I bet she could deck him, given the opportunity. Go, Helen!

After all, he's a **Republican* and we all know Helen leans left.

(In case someone is unsure, this entire reply, including the title is pure :sarcasm: )

Welcome to DU, by the way.

thanks for the welcome (although, for the record, I've been on DU for years, mostly under another name).

He didn't have even the bare minimum of decency to make his own apology. Wonder what HIS mother or grandmother looked like at age 85!

I'm sure the "apology" was prompted by some internal polling which found out that his constituent base disapproved of the comment.
On Edit: (click on link to King's remarks)
read below to see what he said about Justices Stevens and Ginsberg)
http://learfield.typepad.com/radioiowa/

Radio Iowa« Romney, Pataki, Brownback at GOP State Convention | Main | Vander Plaats @ GOP State Convention »

Saturday, June 17, 2006
"And what occured to me that morning is something that I imagine a lot of you have thought about and he's probably figured it out by now. There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell he's at." (Laughter) "And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas." (Extended laughter from King & crowd)

Later King said (as I was transcribing above) that he prayed that Justice Stevens and Justice Ginsberg fall madly in love with each other and elope to Cuba. That way President Bush can appoint two more Justices like Alito and Roberts. (Thanks to Dan Gearino from Lee Newspapers for that quote.)

I've sent him off to Keith Olbermann for Worse Person in the World :D

Notice how their "funny" remarks are mostly directed at those who have done no harm (widows, principled reporters), and how they fall back on crude staples like making fun of someone's race, age, or looks (all, in the case of Helen Thomas). The quality that Conservative attempts at humor almost always lack is that they're not very funny. Cleverness eludes them. Their "jokes" are actually just cheap shots.

The Coultergeist (now that's funny!) has elevated cheap shots into a career. Her remarks are ham-handed, cruel, and contain no sub-context (we make mean fun of George Bush and his crew because they have done things that are heinous! Lots of them!) What did the 9/11 widows or Helen Thomas do, other than disagree with the Republicans?

all he needs is the glasses and the moustache, and you could put him up on the shelf at any ToysRUs store in the country.
No wonder they are called pukes.

on Olbermann last night :toast: