An unbelievable exchange took place on MSNBC Monday afternoon when current, sitting United States Rep. Steve King (R-IA) turned to the panel and asked them to name a "subgroup" that contributed more to civilization than white people. Seriously. In 2016.
Watch as Chris Hayes had to quickly cut the segment and a stunned April Ryan struggled (and succeeded) to keep her composure. Video and full transcript below.
Charles Pierce: Tell you what, in that hall today, that hall is wired. That hall is wired by loud, unhappy, dissatisfied white people. Any sign of rebellion is going to get shouted down either kindly or roughly but that's what's going to happen.
Steve King: This whole business does get a little tired. I would ask you to go back through history and figure out where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people you are talking about, where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?
Chris Hayes: Than white people?
Steve King: Than western civilization itself. That's rooted in western Europe, eastern Europe and the united States of America, and every place where christianity settled the world. That's all of western civilization.
April Ryan: Wait a minute, wait a minute. [ Speaking simultaneously ]
Chris Hayes: We are not going to argue the history of civilization.
April Ryan: We will argue the history of this country.
Steve King: If you are looking at the ledger of western civilization, for every flourishing democracy you have hitler and Stalin as well. There's a lot on both sides. Congressman Steve king, April Ryan -- [ speaking simultaneously ]
April Ryan: Oh, my goodness. In Asia, Africa.
Chris Hayes: We are not going to resolve the relative strengths of various strands of civilization. So what I will do is thank…...
