• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Branstad says Steve King’s words shouldn’t deter tourists

Branstad says Steve King’s words shouldn’t deter tourists

March 20, 2017 By O. Kay Henderson

Congressman Steve King.

State tourism officials say they’re fielding “hundreds” of phone calls, emails and Facebook messages, suggesting people are cancelling trips to Iowa because of comments from Congressman Steve King.

On March 12th, King tweeted the following: “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.” King has said in national media interviews that he stands by the remark and that it wasn’t about race. For the second Monday in a row, Governor Branstad has distanced himself from King’s comments.

“I’m a strong supporter of tourism in Iowa and I think we need to continue to work together in a very positive way to bring tourists and jobs to the state,” Branstad said. “…I don’t think the words of one person, even somebody that’s a congressman, should deter anyone from coming Iowa and seeing the friendliness and hospitality and just the opportunities that are here.”

Branstad, though, described himself as a “team player” and he will not suggest King be ejected from the GOP.

“I don’t believe in burning bridges,” Branstad said.

According to The Des Moines Register, some participants in “The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa” (RAGBRAI) are canceling because this year’s route passes through King’s congressional district.

This past Saturday, King tweeted a link to an online opinion piece which praised King for issuing a “Paul Revere-like warning” about the dangers of a low birth rate among American citizens. The Breitbart article, which was written by a former Republican colleague of King, suggested the Iowa congressman was a “victim of the merchants of globalism.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Republican Party, Steve King, Terry Branstad

Featured Stories

Exhibit features lesser known works of Grant Wood

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Drake falls to No. 20 Loyola in MVC Championship

Confusion at MVC Tournament as UNI exits prior to quarterfinal round game

Iowa State looks to avoid winless Big-12 season

New look and new format at girls’ state basketball

Youngstown State takes action against assistant football coach

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC