[poochee]

A place for all the civil remarks from the unemotional ones!

Published: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 10:03 PM CDT

Iowa congressman apologizes for remark about White House journalist

DES MOINES (AP) — An Iowa congressman apologized Wednesday for disparaging comments he made last week at the state Republican convention regarding a veteran White House correspondent.

Steve King, R-Iowa, was discussing the June 7 death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Saturday when he mentioned 85-year-old Helen Thomas, who has covered the White House for nearly 50 years and is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.

``There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell he's at,'' King said about al-Zarqawi, in a recording transcribed by Radio Iowa. ``And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas.''

King's spokeswoman Summer Johnson said in an e-mail Wednesday that King has apologized to Thomas.

On Tuesday, the Arab American Institute had demanded an apology from King, a two-term congressman seeking re-election in November.

``Whatever you may think of Ms. Thomas' 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,'' AAI President James Zogby said in a letter sent to King.

http://www.globegazette.com/articles...e535671463.txt

[Mulderator]

What's the point of this thread?

[linskyjack]

Too shot how uncivilized many Republicans are!

[poochee]

Originally Posted by Mulder

What's the point of this thread?

I figured you wouldn't.

[LuckyStrike]

Oh for crying out loud. The public statements of Democrats including at this forum are by far more uncivil and hateful than statements made by Republicans. Besides, Steve King's comment was intended as a joke and it was hilarious.

If I had a penny for every time a Democrat has made a hateful, serious comparison of a Republican to Hitler, I could retire.

[linskyjack]

No--first of all have you polled the forum to determine who is democrat and who is republican? Right wing talk radio and Karl Rove are the true hate mongers-!

[LuckyStrike]

I just googled "Bush + Hitler" and got 15,700,000 results. Lets see, at one penny per hit, that's $157,000.00. I can't quite retire yet, but wait that is only one Republican.

I tried "Rove + Hitler" and got 1,120,000 results. That's another $11,200.00. I still can't retire. But wait, that is only two Republicans.

I tried "Cheney + Hitler" and got 2,830,000 results. Surpisingly low, I thought Dick would put me over the top. That's another $28,300.00. Three Republicans and the total is only up to $196,500.00

But wait, with an increase in the "per hateful comment" minimum wage, lets say to a nickel, that brings my total up to $982,500.00. I can retire on that.

[WarC]

Originally Posted by LuckyStrike

I just googled "Bush + Hitler" and got 15,700,000 results. Lets see, at one penny per hit, that's $157,000.00. I can't quite retire yet, but wait that is only one Republican.

I tried "Rove + Hitler" and got 1,120,000 results. That's another $11,200.00. I still can't retire. But wait, that is only two Republicans.

I tried "Cheney + Hitler" and got 2,830,000 results. Surpisingly low, I though Dick would put me over the top. That's another $28,300.00. Three Republicans and the total is only up to $196,500.00

But wait, with an increase in the "per hateful comment" minimum wage, lets say to a nickel, that brings my total up to $982,500.00. I can retire on that.

500% increase!

What kind of minimum is that?!

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by LuckyStrike

I just googled "Bush + Hitler" and got 15,700,000 results. Lets see, at one penny per hit, that's $157,000.00. I can't quite retire yet, but wait that is only one Republican.

I tried "Rove + Hitler" and got 1,120,000 results. That's another $11,200.00. I still can't retire. But wait, that is only two Republicans.

I tried "Cheney + Hitler" and got 2,830,000 results. Surpisingly low, I though Dick would put me over the top. That's another $28,300.00. Three Republicans and the total is only up to $196,500.00

But wait, with an increase in the "per hateful comment" minimum wage, lets say to a nickel, that brings my total up to $982,500.00. I can retire on that.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by WarC

500% increase!

What kind of minimum is that?!

What difference does it make? If raising the minimum raises standards of living, why not raise it 500%?

[katonca]

And if there are, they probably all look like Helen Thomas

[WarC]

Originally Posted by Mulder

What difference does it make? If raising the minimum raises standards of living, why not raise it 500%?

Bah! The joke was a sly attempt at adding weight to the argument against minimum wage.

Of course in a real world scenario a 500% increase in pay isn't gonna happen. Everyone thats had a job knows that, but by using such a small amount of money (one penny increased to a nickel) that might not even be noticeable unless looked for.

If Lucky was as lucky as "Lucky" suggests , the government would raise his "per hateful comment" minimum wage to 1.05 pennies. They won't, though, because the comment economy would take such a hit. The cost of hateful comments would skyrocket and end up biting into his increase. People not insulting enough would go bankrupt or move somewhere that pisses 'em off more.

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by LuckyStrike

I just googled "Bush + Hitler" and got 15,700,000 results. Lets see, at one penny per hit, that's $157,000.00. I can't quite retire yet, but wait that is only one Republican.

I tried "Rove + Hitler" and got 1,120,000 results. That's another $11,200.00. I still can't retire. But wait, that is only two Republicans.

I tried "Cheney + Hitler" and got 2,830,000 results. Surpisingly low, I thought Dick would put me over the top. That's another $28,300.00. Three Republicans and the total is only up to $196,500.00

But wait, with an increase in the "per hateful comment" minimum wage, lets say to a nickel, that brings my total up to $982,500.00. I can retire on that.

I'm surprised at the Rove-Hitler returning so many results---I would expect that if you put in Rove-Goebbels--you would have got at least two million hits, most of them accurate. By the way, if you put in Rove Hitler---you will get all references to Hitler and all references to Rove. If you Google this correctly you will get six results----

[LuckyStrike]

Originally Posted by WarC

Bah! The joke was a sly attempt at adding weight to the argument against minimum wage.

Of course in a real world scenario a 500% increase in pay isn't gonna happen. Everyone thats had a job knows that, but by using such a small amount of money (one penny increased to a nickel) that might not even be noticeable unless looked for.

If Lucky was as lucky as "Lucky" suggests , the government would raise his "per hateful comment" minimum wage to 1.05 pennies. They won't, though, because the comment economy would take such a hit. The cost of hateful comments would skyrocket and end up biting into his increase. People not insulting enough would go bankrupt or move somewhere that pisses 'em off more.

LOL

[LuckyStrike]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

I'm surprised at the Rove-Hitler returning so many results---I would expect that if you put in Rove-Goebbels--you would have got at least two million hits, most of them accurate.

Originally Posted by linskyjack

By the way, if you put in Rove Hitler---you will get all references to Hitler and all references to Rove. If you Google this correctly you will get six results----

Kaching!$ Thank you sir!