|
Arab American Institute – June 20, 2006
"King"dom of Heaven?
Iowa Congressman Steve King (R) has sunk political discourse to a new low. According to "Radio Iowa" news director O. Kay Henderson, King told GOP delegates at the state's Republican convention: "There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell [Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's] at…And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas." Henderson reports that King's disgusting comments were met with "extended laughter" from the audience.
AAI President James Zogby demanded that King apologize to the Dean of the White House press corps: "Whatever you may think of Ms. Thomas’s political views, she is a revered icon in American journalism, having covered every President since Eisenhower, and having earned a place of distinction in the annals of the White House Press Corps…As an elected official operating in a deeply divided political environment such as the one we have, you owe your constituents more. You should be providing leadership and examples of civil discourse. Unfortunately, in this instance, you chose boorishness and disrespect. You owe Ms. Thomas an apology, to say the least."
|
