TPM's Zachary Roth:
Steve King To Conservatives: 'Implode' IRS Offices
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) told a crowd at CPAC on Saturday that he could "empathize" with the suicide bomber who last week attacked an IRS office in Austin, and encouraged his listeners to "implode" other IRS offices, according to a witness.
We already know King is nuts, but the question I have is why does the Republican Party tolerate these kinds of fringe extremists? And no, the Democratic Party does not have anyone similar to King; Dennis Kucinich might be for single payer health care, but he's not for bombing health insurance companies.
I guess when Republicans talk about having a big tent, they are only talking about a tent that goes as far to the right as the political horizon extends. Vote for health care? We're gonna' primary you. Vote for the stimulus? We're gonna' primary you. Say you "empathize" with suicide attacks against the U.S. government? No problem, join the party.
King's comments were delivered at a CPAC panel session and TPM's report is based on a witness from Media Matters. As of Monday afternoon, King's office had not responded to inquiries from TPM about his comments.