# Congressman Steve King is even stupider than we thought **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903 "2012-08-08T22:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/41 "2012-08-09T18:01:17Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > But Iowans seem to have problems sending women to Congress. If she wins, she’ll be the first. WTF is up with that? Holy Cow!! We did that way back in 1938 and have sent some more since, including our current Representative. It’s nice to see that South Dakota is not backwards about something. Of course we were also the first state to adopt the referendum and initiative. ---
**Author:** ![Oldeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ea666f/32.png) [@Oldeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oldeb)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/42 "2012-08-09T18:05:36Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > But Iowans seem to have problems sending women to Congress. If she wins, she’ll be the first. WTF is up with that? Minimum age for Congress is too old to haul across state lines. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/43 "2012-08-09T19:24:35Z")
As an Iowan, I would just like to point out that his Congressional District is strongly affected by a close proximity to Cornhusker fans and should in no way be used to judge the rest of the state. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/44 "2012-08-09T19:50:13Z")
You got his district, we got Bachmann’s district. Every state needs somewhere to house the really stupid and insane people. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/45 "2012-08-09T19:58:50Z")
I don’t know. I’ve always thought he was pretty damn stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/46 "2012-08-09T20:09:44Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Not to defend Steve, but I assume his “law to repeal all Obama laws” law would be presented to presumptive President Romney to sign. I gotta hope that his bill is symbolic and not intended to be taken seriously. Not because I’m a Republican but because this country is in trouble if the electorate voted him in. Although I would love to see him, Bachmann and Waters on a committee together. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/47 "2012-08-09T20:18:17Z")
So, what is it that he’s talking about? There must be some legislation about abortions and state lines that he’s angry about? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/48 "2012-08-09T20:23:02Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I was quoting one of the commenters on the story, so yes, I stole it. With impunity! Talent borrows, genius steals. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/49 "2012-08-09T21:10:40Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > So, what is it that he’s talking about? There must be some legislation about abortions and state lines that he’s angry about? He’s pro-dogfighting. There’s a standard Republican tactic where you try to connect anyone who’s agaisnt you with something obviously horrific. So, the picture he’s trying to draw is one of anti-dogfighters also being pro-rape and abortion for 13-year-olds who are then left bleeding at a playground. :smack: Mind you, I’m not saying that he understands the tactic, just that he’s trying to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/50 "2012-08-09T21:23:24Z")
I am by no means a supporter of Steve King, but I think I understand what he’s trying to say. I don’t think he’s pro dog fighting, rather that he is disturbed that there is a federal law against dog fighting but there isn’t a federal law against his rape-abortion scenario. It seems to me that he feels that it is a mixed up priority when we have federal laws against dog fighting but not against other things that he believes are morally much worse. Of course, he’s still an idiot because the comparison of dog fighting to boxing is just ridiculous and his rape-abortion scenario is misleading because, whether or not there’s federal laws against it, every state has laws against it, so saying it isn’t illegal is only a true statement from a very narrowly defined perspective. I’m not really sure why he was making such a big deal out of it, especially since he can’t even meaningfully explain why it’s a big deal. I could sort of see taking a sort of libertarian approach that it should be handled at the state level rather than federally, but he could have just said that rather than make those comparisons. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/51 "2012-08-09T21:28:20Z")
Doesn’t kidnapping become a federal crime if you take the kid across state lines? ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/52 "2012-08-09T21:52:38Z")
Congressman King is by no means stupid or putting on an act. Rather he is playing to his insular and parochial West Iowa base and staying true to the positions that have brought him political success. He has been the standard bearer of reaction since he started out representing an under populated district in the state legislature and was howling about excluding Spanish speaking packing plant workers, English as the official (and therefore exclusive language of government), and the manifest evils of lawful abortion. It was only later that he awoke to the catastrophe that would accompany same sex marriage and not jailing homosexuals. Mandatory Calvinist Protestant Christian prayer in public schools has also been his hobbyhorse, modified more recently to accept a bit of mandatory orthodox Roman Catholic prayer. The guy has been a piece of work from the beginning and the only way we are ever going to rid ourselves of him is when redistricting requires him to run in a district that is not primarily rural and Dutch Reform. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/53 "2012-08-09T22:02:30Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > I am by no means a supporter of Steve King, but I think I understand what he’s trying to say. I don’t think he’s pro dog fighting, rather that he is disturbed that there is a federal law against dog fighting but there isn’t a federal law against his rape-abortion scenario. I’m pretty sure it’s against the law to rape 13-year-olds, whether you force them into abortions or not. Let me ask Sandusky and get back to you. EDIT: Alright fine. Already addressed and I jumped the gun. But damnit, I refuse to delete a decent Sandusky joke just because I have the attention span of a caffeinated tit-mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/54 "2012-08-09T22:21:33Z")
[Stephen Colbert from Tuesday night.](http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/417498/august-07-2012/steve-king-s-dogfighting-defense) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/55 "2012-08-09T22:38:28Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > But if Obama doesn’t sign it, he an obstructionist. > [@Morgyn](#): > > All he has to do is say he’d sign it, and then the Senate Republicans will filibuster it. Well played, both of you. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/56 "2012-08-09T23:35:40Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > “No, no, this is all legal! A Congressman said so! A member of the United States Congress! You can’t arrest me! Wait–what are you doing?!?” Better yet, the “I was just trying to shut down the dog fighting rings” defence. Shame Sandusky couldn’t adopt it retroactively. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/57 "2012-08-10T00:16:24Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > I’m confused. Does he want the Farm Bill to include a clause against breeding 13yo girls or does he want it to ban watching fights between 13yo girls? Can 13yo girls still fight dogs? Whatever, just throw a bucket of water on them. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/58 "2012-08-10T00:19:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I do hope he’s putting on an act for the sake of appearing to be a colorful character. I mean, no entire district in the country could have so retarded a population as to actually vote for him if he’s serious, could it? Have you never heard of [Minnesota’s 6th?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Bachmann) (The fright’n’n 6th! :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/59 "2012-08-10T00:20:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Whatever, just throw a bucket of water on them. And ruin their make-up! I think we’d have to consider a de-clawing bill before we could consider your bucket of water solution. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903/60 "2012-08-10T00:22:13Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > OK, so we’ve got Steve King in Iowa and Michele Bachmann in Minnesota, I just hope the stupid doesn’t migrate west. Ever heard of Orange County, CA? By all accounts, Disneyland is rather its intellectual high point. (The low point is the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressman-steve-king-is-even-stupider-than-we-thought/630903.md?page=4)