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Terrorists Will Party if Obama Wins: Iowa Rep.

Conservative GOP congressman stands by controversial slam

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 11, 2008 8:06 AM CDT

(Newser) – An Iowa congressman isn't going to back down from remarks that terrorists will be "dancing in the streets" if Barack Obama is elected, the Des Moines Register reports. Republican Steve King told a radio station last week that Obama's middle name—Hussein—would be one reason terrorists would hail an Obama win. "They'll be dancing in the streets," he said.

John McCain's campaign was quick to distance itself from King's remarks, but the outspoken conservative refused to apologize. "No one has rebutted my argument so I have to say I must be right," King said. He's received plenty of phone calls since his remarks—and he said 60% were supportive.

Sen. Barack Obama meets his grandmother Sarah Hussein Obama at his father's house in Nyongoma Kogelo village, western Kenya, in this Aug. 26, 2006, file photo. Rep. Steve King has caused controversy by citing his Obama's father's Muslim roots in Kenya as a reason why an Obama victory would supposedly...
Sen. Barack Obama meets his grandmother Sarah Hussein Obama at his father's house in Nyongoma Kogelo village, western Kenya, in this Aug. 26, 2006, file photo. Rep. Steve King has caused controversy by...   (Associated Press)
A man pushes his bicycle past a sign for the Senator Obama secondary school in the village of Kogelo, where U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's grandmother lives, near the shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A man pushes his bicycle past a sign for the Senator Obama secondary school in the village of Kogelo, where U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's grandmother lives, near the shores of Lake...   (Associated Press)
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington in this 2007 file photo. King defended his prediction that terrorists would celebrate if Democrat Barack Obama were elected president, despite a rebuke from aides to John McCain, the GOP's apparent presidential nominee. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, FILE)
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington in this 2007 file photo. King defended his prediction that terrorists would celebrate if Democrat Barack Obama were elected president,...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., campaigns at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., Monday, March 10, 2008. Obama's campaign criticized remarks from Rep. John King about Obama's name and heritage and called on John McCain's campaign to repudiate them. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., campaigns at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss., Monday, March 10, 2008. Obama's campaign criticized remarks from Rep. John King about Obama's name and heritage and called...   (Associated Press)
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