The chair of the Republican Party is not commenting on the controversy surrounding remarks by Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron. King said on a radio show that President Obama has a “default mechanism” that “favors the black person.” King also accused U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder of not pursuing a series of cases because those accused were minorities.
(see related story here: https://www.radioiowa.com/2010/06/15/king-seeing-if-pot-will-come-to-a-boil-after-his-obama-remarks/)
Republican Party Chairman, Matt Strawn was asked about the comments at a campaign event today for third district congressional candidate Brad Zaun. “Congressman King’s comments stand..for themselves, he said that and I’d refer any further questions to Congressman King.
Strawn says the Republican Party is focused on Democrat Governor being “out of touch with what’s happening in Iowa.” “Since he signed the I-JOBS last year we’ve got an additional 20-thousand people out of work. In fact he can’t say how many jobs, paltry jobs, have been created since he signed that bill into law,” Strawn said, “We’ve got a budget in this state that’s going to be about a billion dollars out of balance that our governor and legislature is going to have to deal with next January.”
The reporter continued to press the question and asked Strawn the Republican Party’s stance on race. Strawn replied,”The position of the Republican Party is, we think everybody should have the ability to compete and rise and fail on their own merits, and that is the bedrock principles of the Republican Party, that we believe in the individual to make that decision for themselves how to best support their family, how to best educate their children.” He says Republicans are talking about the issues while others might want to try and distract them.
Congressional candidate Zaun was also asked about his position on race. “Well certainly I think my record in regard to race and race relations stands on it owns, and I don’t know what Congressman King said,” Zaun says. The reporter asked him what his position is on race and Zaun replied, “Everybody should be treated equally. I don’t know what exactly he said.” Zaun said he would have not other comment and the issue before him is the race with Congressman Leonard Boswell.
King told Radio Iowa that he stands by his statements.