Rep. Steven King Speaks to CRs

Iowa Republican Rep. Steven King spoke to the College Republicans Thursday night, answering questions from students and discussing the future of the political party.

As part of the Congressional Dinner Series, the five-term Congressman spoke to the CRs at Meiwah Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant on 21^st and M Street.

“We’ve been in the trenches a long time,” the Rep. stated about the recent minority status of his party. “We did our business. We were pretty responsible.”

Rep. King praised his audience and their benefit to the Republican Party, commending them for their efforts during the recent election cycle.

“You’re new blood and new ideas. So is this class of 2010 that’s come in here,” he asserted.

Rep. King also spent time, however, criticizing his political opponents.

His party suffered massive losses in 2006 and 2008 because, as Rep. King explained, “Democrats beat up on George W. Bush. The Democrats went to the media and beat us up.”

Things have changed now, “Nancy Pelosi is seeing her office get cleaned out,” he added to a round of applause. “It’s because we came together as a nation.”

Rep. King also described President Obama as “a pretty gimpy first term president. He’s a one term Democrat.”

Expounding upon a common criticism, he also claimed that Obama “took his playbook off the socialist website” and explained that the president’s agenda is “an assault on our liberty.”

When asked about the middle class tax cut proposal that passed the House on Thursday, Rep. King stated, “We just needed to vote no.”

Failing to cut taxes for the upper class, King explained, sends the wrong message.

“If you’re going to produce and achieve, we’re going to punish you greater,” he stated.

He sounded a similar note when asked about the estate tax and its effect on millionaire’s inheritance, calling it “outrageous,” and stating that it must end.

Responding to a question about the expiring unemployment benefits, Rep. King stated that he was opposed to extending the measure.

Stating that “99 weeks provides no incentive to get to work,” he was prodded further about what unemployed Americans should do.

“They should start a business or get a job,” Rep. King declared. “I mean, how long do we have to pay these guys?”