Rep. Steve King: Obama And Chávez 'Have Done The Same Thing To Private Business'
Appearing on C-Span today, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) gave a very interesting spin on the right-wing attacks against President Obama for shaking Hugo Chávez's hand -- saying that Chávez and Obama are so very much alike:
"But something that comes to mind when I see this image, too, is here are two world leaders that have both, within the last month, nationalized huge private-sector companies," said King. "In the case of President Obama, General Motors and Chrysler, at least in effect if not in actuality, and moved it down that path, when he fired the CEO of General Motors, and when he ordered that Chrysler merge with Fiat."
"Those two have done the same thing to private business," King added, "and I think that image also will soak into the minds of investors around the world, and where they want to put their money."
Josh
Matt
Eric
"I think"? No, you don't "think", Steve, at least not in the normal sense of the word.
Maybe investors will think about Obama's actions and rush off to, oh, that mythical country where everyone gets a unicorn and there's no regulation and the economy is wonderful...more likely, however, is that the typical voter is going to hear about Chrysler turning down bailout loans because of caps on executive compensation.
April 21, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think...the glue that keeps that muskrat stuck to his head has addled his brain.
And there wasn't all that much to addle to begin with.
April 21, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Steve King is just a little jealous of all the attention that Michele Bachmann has been getting lately. I expect this to be merely the first step in a targeted "Crazy? I'll show you what crazy looks like!" campaign by King.
April 21, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
In a perfect world, Steve King and Michelle Bachman would be renditioned to a pleasant little island where they could out-crazy each other to their hearts' content, leaving the rest of us out of their ... craziness.
April 22, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, this is amazingly sane and low-key for Steve King. And no, I don't mean he isn't talking out his ass, because he still is of course, but I mean he didn't call Obama a socialist, Nazi, terrorist-lover or Muslim once!
Amazing.
April 21, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not so fast. Isn't Chavez seen as anti-american and a tyrant?
April 21, 2009 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remember, Steve King is exploring the possibility of running for Governor here in Iowa. He has to make an attempt at not being so idiotically irrational if he hopes to appeal to a state wide constituency; however,when you look beyond the surface he is still as wacky as he always has been. The people of Iowa's 5th district, like the people of Minnesota's 6th district, should really feel proud of their selection for congress.
April 21, 2009 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any chance the state that launched Obama into orbit would elect him governor?
April 23, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
him=king
April 23, 2009 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why are Reps so ridiculous? Is it the two-year terms that lock them in constant campaign mode or the fact that there is so many of them that some districts keep re-electing the clowns purely for the entertainment value?
April 21, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
And think, this is still the THIRD month of Obama's presidency. We could have another NINETY-THREE to go.
I can only imagine within a a couple years time the right wing will have armies of people marching around and on the steps of Congress, causing total mayhem and preventing our Government from functioning and call it patriotic.
April 21, 2009 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
LMAO I was thinking the same thing. They are going to have to create some new words to criticize Obama.
April 21, 2009 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of the GOP's ultra conservative wing: A potentially very tough primary challenger has emerged for McCain in Arizona: One of the two Minuteman founders will run for Senate against him.Given McCain's bad relationship with Arizona Republicans this could very well be a story to monitor.
April 21, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does Arizona have an open primary? If it's closed like in Pennsylvania then McCain will have to lurch hard right, however if it's open he might actually stay centrist in hopes he can paint himself as the only candidate that could beat the Democrat challenger. I'd also assume Arizona wouldn't have the sore loser rule, meaning McCain could pull a Lieberman and run as an independent if he lost the primary challenge.
April 21, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there a plausible Dem who could run against the militiaman?
April 23, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
pure intelligence from another GOP idiot!
April 21, 2009 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Carter Brokered Peace Treaty: What did GOP Create?
Isn't is funny how soon Republicans forget their own past?
Speaker Gingrich seems to have forgotten how his hero, President Ronald Reagan, was once a friend of a dictator; Remember Saddam Hussein Mr Speaker?
Remember when the special envoy for President Ronald Reagan, Donald Rumsfield, went to Baghdad, Iraq? Remember Rumsfield's famous handshake with Saddam Hussein back on December 20, 1983?
Do you also remember in 2005 the comments from soldiers guarding Saddam Hussein after his capture?
The jailed former Iraqi leader described how Mr Reagan, who was president during the time of Iraq's 1980-88 war with Iran, sold him planes and helicopters.
"Reagan and me, good,'" Saddam said, according to the article by Lisa DePaulo.
"He said, 'I wish things were like when Ronald Reagan was still president'," said one of the soldiers who guarded him.
Ronald Reagan was trying to make friends with Saddam and other enemies back then for broader strategic foreign policy reasons back then, just as President Obama is doing now.
As for how Jimmy Carter did with his foreign policy; he's the only one that was able to make a lasting peace with Egypt and Israel -- remember? Israel and Egypt ended 30 years of war with an historic peace treaty brokered by the United States and then President Jimmy Carter. That peace treaty still exists today.
What peace treaty did President's Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush -- or even you Mr. Speaker, broker in the last 30 years?
April 21, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
GOOD one .. good history lesson. Yep Reagan sold arms to Iraq which was against the law!!
....and another tidbit. Nixon (remember him, for you young uns he was a Republican President too. Not only shook the hand of the USSR's leader Brezhnev... he gave him a CADILLAC!
....awww but he was a Republican too so no foul.
Then there are the BUSH/Cheney torturers, not quite as bad as
Hitler's but .....again Republicans...so no foul right?
GEEZ guys.
April 21, 2009 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Disgraceful!!!! Who does Obama think he is??
Obama’s High-Powered Ride to the Airport
By Jeff Zeleny
On The Road - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog
AMMAN, Jordan — The King drove the senator to the airport.
After dinner at His Majesty’s palace tonight, known here as Beit Al Urdan, Senator Barack Obama was headed to catch a plane to Israel. So King Abdullah got behind the wheel of his dark-gray Mercedes Benz, Mr. Obama hopped in the passenger’s seat and they headed through the streets to Jordan/Queen Alia International Airport.
April 21, 2009 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Steve King...Enough said!
April 22, 2009 8:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm usually not a fan of reality shows, but I have an idea for one.
Let's pit King, Bachmann, Coleman, Boehner, Cantor, Jindal, and der Palinator against each other in a new series called, "The Biggest Asshole." They can compete in categories like "Weirdest Conspiracy Theory" and "Don't Think That Word Means What You Think It Means." One by one, contestants get voted "off the island" (and out of politics). The grand prize winner gets to be mayor of Wasilla for two years or until impeached, whichever comes first.
April 22, 2009 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Help me, you guys. I'm trying to learn how to be angry and still keep the high ground.
I understand some of what the Republicans are saying fall into the "tit-for-tat" category. God knows I called W a dictator and war monger plenty of times. And just like I thought I was right, maybe they think they are right too. But bailing out a dying car company employing a failed business model is not the same as nationalizing a foreign enterprise that has gained control of a significant portion of a critical export crop.
I'm sick of lies. I'm sick of Republicans. I don't know how they did it, but I revile them now more than I did during W. It's hard not too use violent phrases when describing them. I feel like Rachel Maddow asking someone to talk me down.
Please tuck me in and tell me a happy story about the 2010 mid-terms when the democrats hold a 67-33 majority in the Senate (or at least 66-33 if Franken isn't seated yet) and extends its already collossal lead in the House.
April 24, 2009 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama nationalized the auto industry??? I missed that one. If that is what King calls nationalization then we must own wall street and several banks now and can end the profiteering known as "bonuses".
King is such an embarrassment for Iowa and the nation. He refuses to accept that "it is better to keep one's mouth closed and let one wonder if your a fool than to open it and remove all doubt".
In many ways and to many Americans Chavez, is a hero for the people throwing the oil profiteers out of his country and returning ownership of their resources back to the people instead of national foreign corporations. Which is why the US tried to remove this democratically elected leader from office and FAILED.
'Economic Royalists' tried to steal the resources of his nation and reduce the population to starving peasants. Too bad there is no oil in Iowa eh Mr. King.
King, like his buddies, have no plans or policies so all they can do is try to demean and demonize Obama. The more they try the more ridiculous they appear. King still trying to get notoriety and face time but too ignorant to see how stupid he appears. Poor Iowa
April 24, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink