Aren't we so proud to claim Steve King as an Iowan?

[petersjo02]

From ThinkProgress this evening:

Rep. King Justifies Suicide Attack On IRS: Sympathizes With Hatred Of IRS, Hopes For Its Destruction

On Thursday, a man flew a plane into a Texas federal building in an apparent domestic terrorist attack. The suicide bomber, identified as Joseph Andrew Stack, was allegedly a right wing extremist who wrote on a website that violence “is the only answer” and expressed anger at the IRS, the federal government, and health care reform. Some on the fringe right have declared Stack a hero.

ThinkProgress caught up with Rep. Steve King (R-IA) at CPAC to talk about the attack in Texas. Asked if the right-wing anti-tax rhetoric might have motivated the attack, King implicitly agreed, noting that he had been a leading opponent of the IRS for some time. He noted that although the attack was “sad,” “by the same token,” it was justified because once the the right succeeds at abolishing the IRS, “it’s going to be a happy day for America.” He sidestepped the question of the legitimacy of the terrorists’ grievances, but sympathized by saying that “I’ve had a sense of ‘why is the IRS in my kitchen.’ Why do they have their thumb in the middle of my back”:

TP: Do you think this attack, this terrorist attack, was motivated at all by a lot of the anti-tax rhetoric that’s popular in America right now?

KING: I think if we’d abolished the IRS back when I first advocated it, he wouldn’t have a target for his airplane. And I’m still for abolishing the IRS, I’ve been for it for thirty years and I’m for a national sales tax. <...> It’s sad the incident in Texas happened, but by the same token, it’s an agency that is unnecessary and when the day comes when that is over and we abolish the IRS, it’s going to be a happy day for America.

More at link: thinkprogress.org

[Cairycat]

1. Somehow I can never see his name in print or online without thinking,

"Oh God, what did he say now?"

Every time you think he's out-stupided himself, he goes and proves you wrong. What an ass.

[progressoid]

2. Me too. I'm hesitant to click on a link with his name in the headline.

Got the same feeling yesterday when we got a form letter from him in the mail. Opened it and read one paragraph before needing to take a stiff drink.

[rurallib]

3. you know how Iowa always brags about it's education?

Having Latham and King proves that passing tests and graduating doesn't make someone intelligent.
Does King ever think of the consequences of what he says? Of course not.
No IRS means no enforcement which means no one would pay taxes. Then we would have no government at all.
Now I know King would love this, but does he realize that there would be no one at the border to stop those horrible brown people that he hates with a passion.
Be careful what you wish for, Stevie.

[IADEMO2004]

4. Poor Steve King.... Omaha World Herald today

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100224/NEWS01/702249905

Snip

Asked about the report on Tuesday, King told The World-Herald that the “implode” comment was taken completely out of context. King also said that while acts of violence cannot be condoned, he understands Stack’s frustrations because of his own negative experiences with the tax collection agency.

King, who started his own construction business, said he was audited by the IRS several times in the late 1970s and early ’80s. He said he thought a 1979 audit was particularly unfair but was forced to compromise his principles to preserve his business.

“Your waking moments and even your sleeping moments are committed to pulling the business together and keeping it thriving and operating,” King said. “You expect everyone to play by the rules, and when the government doesn’t play by the rules, it’s a very frustrating experience.”

-------------------------------------------

The family of Vernon Hunter, the longtime IRS employee and father of six killed in the suicide attack, rejected any suggestion that Stack was a hero.

“People say (Stack) is a patriot. What’s he a patriot for? He hasn’t served the country,” said Hunter’s son, Ken Hunter. “My dad did two tours of Vietnam and this guy is going to be a patriot and no one is going to say that about my dad?”

end snip

IRS must have taxed the heart out of the poor man. Now he is just a dick in a tie. How is paying taxes compromising principles?

[Bluzmann57]

5. Maybe he got audited because he's a crook.

Just a thought.