Rep. Steve King: Because Boston Bombing May Have Been Done By An Immigrant, We Should Block Immigration Reform
from the or,-you-know,-a-native-born-person dept
In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, it’s no surprise that various politicians are using it to booster their own political passions. Rep. Steve King is not a fan of immigration. Despite the fact that the country is in desperate need of massive immigration reform, King is now using the Boston Marathon bombings as an excuse to stall immigration reform efforts that finally looked like they had a chance of moving forward. What does one thing have to do with another? Well, he claims that since the bombings might have been done by an immigrant, that should make us put the brakes on reform.
“Some of the speculation that has come out is that, yes, it was a foreign national and, speculating here, that it was potentially a person on a student visa,” King said to the National Review’s Robert Costa. “If that’s the case, then we need to take a look at the big picture.”
You know what, some speculation has come out (by me) that it was really someone with the last name “King.” And, you know, if that’s the case, we really need to take a look at the big picture, and whether or not we should allow people with the last name King to be here, or to serve in Congress.
How is it that we elect people like this to represent us?
Filed Under: bombing, boston, boston marathon bombing, immigration, immigration reform, politics, speculation, steve king
Comments on “Rep. Steve King: Because Boston Bombing May Have Been Done By An Immigrant, We Should Block Immigration Reform”
I don’t know what sort of background check is required for a student visa. But I don’t think it unreasonable to look at, particularly if the bomber was here on such a visa.
Re: No American native would plant such a bomb.
Do we know the bomber was here on such a visa?
Or is this speculation because foreigners are evil and are more likely to bomb us than our home-brew terrorists?
Re: Re:
The thing is, you don’t know who did this. Once the bomber’s identity has been ascertained, then you should look at things if they are applicable.
Until then, it’s just xenophobic crap being spouted at a convenient time based on knee-jerk assumptions that likely have no basis in reality. Other have been attacking Muslims as well – but history shows this is as likely to be a homegrown American as any foreigner.
Apparently, Rep. Steve King does not realize there are more than a thousand miles of unprotected border between the US and Canada that anyone can cross without impediment.
Yeah, stopping people from legally coming to the US will completely stop terrorism.
Re: Re:
Actually there may be reasons to shore up that border aswell to avoid mass emmigration when King is reelected.
The ‘Saudi National on a student visa’ being responsible from the attack seems extremely unlikely from the latest news reports to.
-Police searched his apartment and found nothing of interest according to the latest news reports
-The students ‘suspicious activities’ consisted of the following.
1) Get hurt by one of the bomb explosions, and need to go to the hospital for medical treatment.
2) Being seen running away from where a bomb just exploded.
3) Looking like a foreigner & Muslim, aka, a ‘typical mid-eastern terrorist’.
Re: Re:
So…
1) Just like everyone else who got hurt in an explosion.
2) Just like any sane person would do.
And #3… just… I have a hard time articulating just how stupid a basis of ‘he looks like he’s a foreigner, therefor he’s suspicious’ is, so if that’s all they’ve got on him, then yeah, rather doubt that’s the perpetrator.
Re: Re:
Yeah, they’re profiler must be on vacation. What pisses me off is that efforts like this show a bare minimum of effort. I would like to think that idiots would know it is time to shut up when a certain degree of seriousness is reached, but that?s obviously not the case and I?m thinking that was more of a hope of mine than any actual reasoning for it.
Why aren?t we hearing they are starting with event personnel that helped arrange or set up the marathon, especially people that have worked there consecutive years, instead they pick ? national with link to that happened to be there?. Yeah? The only reason the medical treatment was part of their decision was because it made it REALLY easy for them, it sure is alot easier than actually thinking.
There have already been tragedies where the intent was to show that ?speculating? like this doesn?t get anywhere, so what is Steve King doing beyond making things worse? If making stupid unhelpful wild speculations causes more tragedies, I think the person should be held accountable.
Because our elections choose the people who are good at getting elected, not the people who are good at governing.
Enact severe term limits; evict the career politician!
Re: Re:
Because once people like that start to dominate political parties, decent people want nothing with them.
Re: Response to: Jeremy Lyman on Apr 16th, 2013 @ 12:24pm
what’s funny is that he used the word ‘elect’
Re: Re:
I have been saying this for years. I will gladly support anyone who seriously promotes this position.
Re: Re: A pipe dream
The problem with this line of thought is that Congress has to pass any law on term limits.
So we are all hoping that the people who benefit the most from unlimited terms will cut off their source of income and influence. Maybe they will cut their pay too, and limit their health insurance and pensions.
Yeah, and then copyrights will roll back to 10 years.
Re: Re: Re: A pipe dream
Oh, I do understand the problem. However there have been a very few who have been elected and even a couple who have put forth proposals (which, of course were quickly killed off).
That doesn’t change the fact that it is what needs to happen.
Re: Re:
Have exactly 2 semifinals before an election. One is for side A and one is for side B. The persons from Side A is getting looked at by people liking side A and side B’s persons are getting looked at by people liking side B. There is no problem yet.
Add that side A and side B are disagreeing fundamentally. (Something that has grown as media have become more competitive and some less balanced in their editorialising. If a media is far more coloured it is more likely to attract the specific sides supporters. Ultimately side A and side B will not see any of the same media content and the divide will widen 10-fold)
Now Side A will among its own supporters never want to have someone more inclined to compromise with side B. Same goes for side B: The semifinals removes people wanting to cooperate under the existing rules.
Removing career politicians will go some way in reducing this effect, but you need more than two sides to get a 3D-world…
Mike seriously dude……he said IF!!!
“”Some of the speculation that has come out is that, yes, it was a foreign national and, speculating here, that it was potentially a person on a student visa,” King said to the National Review’s Robert Costa. “If that’s the case, then we need to take a look at the big picture.”
Once again that is only if that is what is going on…meaning we really need to step up security and background checks on our visas….the US is currently the single most complacent country concerning visa’s and all he is trying to say is that there needs to be a bit more of a background check on people coming into the country who plan on using a visa to stay here temporarily.
The big picture is simple. We have to be more careful about who is coming in.
Re: Re:
Perhaps electing politicians with more respect for other people and other countries would do a lot to prevent terrorism. Increasing spying, background checks, and restrictions on visitors to the US on the other hand, along with interference in foreign law to the benefit of US companies will alienate more people and increase the risk of terrorism.
Re: Re: Re:
Or perhaps prevent it….because that is what spying is supposed to do…but I guess you wouldn’t know that. Besides that the senator said the words “IF THAT IS THE CASE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE”.
As I said before, this is because the US is the single most complacent country in the world for entry via visa. China makes it clear that if you overstay your declared amount of days for a visit there…if you try to leave the country you get arrested and fined before they let you go. The US basically tells them not to do that again and deports the person at their convenience rather than our own. Security is not to be sacrificed and the statement made by Senator makes that blatantly clear.
Re: Re: Re: Re:
So, you’re saying that if this foreign national caused this one incident then we need to start treating all foreign nationals like criminals. Yet if this foreign national didn’t do it, then we don’t? I don’t think that can sound any more stupid.
That’s like saying if this person (who happens to be foreign) did it, then you’re prejudice against all foreign people, but if he didn’t then you’re not.
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Can I ask how you know that “the US is the single most complacent country in the world for entry via visa”? Do you have personal experience of this? Which other countries are you using for comparison? If you have no personal experience – which is what I’m guessing from your parrot like repetition of what is surely a talking point – then do you have any sources?
I’m guessing you have no knowledge of how difficult, torturous, and Catch 22-y the US visa process is.
Re: Re: Re: Re:
“this is because the US is the single most complacent country in the world for entry via visa”
This, of course, is a bunch of crap. Is China the only basis for comparison you have?
Re: Re:
Wally, even you should know that the phrase “If that’s the case” is a weasel phrase used by politicians the world over who have already made up their mind to railroad or fast-track their pet peeves/projects.
Re: Re:
IF it IS a kongresskritter that instigated, financed, or even secretly hoped for another tourist (sic) attack to enact more draconian laws oppressing us all, THEN they should be strung up by their heels…
see what i did there ? ? ?
i have MORE reasons to believe kongresskritters are NOT acting in my best interests, than i do for a million poor brown people we indiscriminately bomb half a world away…
i have MORE reasons to believe fundie xtian cults are acting against my interests, THAN ALL THE fundie mooselimbs on the planet…
i’d feel ‘safer’ if ‘my’ (sic) gummint were droning fundie xtians than fundie mooselimbs…
i’d feel safer still if they were droning NO ONE…
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof
Re: Re: Re:
It’s one thing to say “I don’t agree with Rep. King’s comments and/or I don’t like how he used the “if” word”
It’s another thing to make up quotes that he didn’t say which is what was done here.
Rep. Steve King you are a F#cking Pig ! All of you who are Republicans on this site I look forward to next Election.Your Party is full of pigs like this disgusting human being.
I am sick and tired of your attacks on Women, The Environment, Sciences, Climate Change…………..long list I have.
Rep. Steve King I hung out for years in that Area.I hung out in Boston for so many years.I was a member of the original punk scene and went to my first show in 1976.Went to a Alternative HS around a 1/4 mile from the Bombing.Had tons of friends who had all lived in that Area at one time or the other.
Already the Republican has to throw in FOREIGNERS when we still have no idea at all who was behind this.There were some people there who were known to friends of mine.My Son told me earlier his Girlfriend and some of her friends were right there near the Bombing and saw the whole thing.
This could be Whackjob Domestic Based Terror for all we know.
Re: Re:
You’re a moron with a moron’s rant…
Politicians with stupid policies get elected in large part because the media love to cover idiocy because it gets lots of attention. This causes the mere-exposure effect to kick in, where someone gets voted for merely because his name is familiar (which explains most of the incumbent’s advantage).
Re: Re:
Still no sad but true button, have an insightful.
Steve king did not say as the title implies he did:
“Because Boston Bombing May Have Been Done By An Immigrant, We Should Block Immigration Reform”.
He did say:
“If that’s the case (potentially a person on a student visa), then we need to take a look at the big picture.”
Looking at the big picture is exactly what has to be done rather than rush through any immigration reform without due consideration for the consequences on national security.
And you are right, “How is it that we elect people like this to represent us”? We usually elect thoughtless knee-jerk idiots.
Re: Re:
He has jumped in based on speculation, without knowing whether or not the crime was committed by a foreigner. Steven king has jumped on a political opportunity to appeal to mass sentiment.
Re: Re: Re:
r/steve/steven/
Re: Response to: Point Man on Apr 16th, 2013 @ 12:36pm
knee jerk? hardly. this is just another example of a soulless politician who uses these events for personal gain. next thing you know, he’ll have buttons that say ‘occupy the border’
We're NOT "desperate need of massive immigration reform".
Just because Peter King is perpetually wrong — as for hying up the totally unnecessary Iraq and Afghan wars — doesn’t make the assertion you slipped in there true.
Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up same place!
http://techdirt.com/
Techdirt Axiom #1: Mike once quipped “Streisand Effect” = he’s the authority on every topic.
08:41:17[j-682-8]
Re: We're NOT "desperate need of massive immigration reform".
Blue, please lose the sig. It could be considered spamming.
Don't Rush to Judgment
Easy there, Mike – many of us are contributing members of society.
Fear...
this is what Rep. Steve king is feeling.
Fear that immigration will lead to more bombings.
Fear that foreigners bare ill intent to those who call america home.
Fear that fuels the fire of the bomber(s)
When you let fear affect your better judgment, you’ve already lost.
Stay strong Boston. Stay strong everyone.
Rep. Steve King comments about marathon bombing
I live in Rep. King,s district. I am ashamed of all the mindless, shameful, and hurtful comments he makes as a US congressman.
What’s sad is these people keep getting re-elected because people aren’t educated.
How is it that every time there’s a bombing everyone gets attention but the victims?
seems to me that he has forgotten where the inhabitants, apart from the native red indian peoples, came from. does he think everyone that is in the USA originated from there? perhaps he should trace his ancestry back to it’s source. he may (or may not) be surprised.
as for using the bombings as a reason to stop the changes to the immigration bill, it’s ridiculous. it’s like saying that 9/11 was a terrorist attack when it was really done domestically so as to be able to convince people we needed to go to war against the Taliban overseas!
Wouldn’t it be funny if this was actually done by an illegal immigrant?
Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
You should be but won’t be ashamed of yourself because it wasn’t accidental but done on purpose for partisan reasons.
Not only did he say “IF”.
He said NOTHING about “we should block immigration reform” like you said in your title. He simply didn’t say that. You are LYING.
It’s no stretch to call it a lie, he simply DID NOT SAY what you claim he did. You feel you have the right to just stuff words into people’s mouths as long as it stokes outrage for your cause. You may convince the ignorant (which is what you want I think) but you do nothing to convince anyone you are right.
It’s also not a “fact” that the country is in need of massive immigration reform of the type you imply you want which is apparently more and looser immigration than we already have which is already overwhelming our country.
Your opinions are not facts.
Claiming they are does not convince, it turns the brighter of us who actually READ what the man said against you, why would I listen to you if your argument is to lie about your opponents and claim your oppinions are FACT.
But from the title and content of your article it’s clear that even your “facts” are not facts, you just make up whatever fantasy you want and stuff it into the mouths of your political opponents. Who cares if it’s true.
I guess it’s about time to stop reading here if this is what I can expect now from your site.
I’m sure you don’t care if I leave you only want the easily propagandized.
Some of us were coming here to get tech news, not partisan propaganda and lies.
What do your lies and opinions on immigration have to do with TECH again?
PS if the FBI had stopped this attack 100% guarantee you would have done one of your “look the FBI has stopped one if it’s own conspiracies again” stories.
Your only solution seems to be get rid of ANYTHING that might prevent terror attacks, either before or after the fact. If you stop them before they do it, it wasn’t a real threat anyway, if you try to do anything to stop the next attack, I will be here on techdirt lying about what you even suggested.
Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
“”You feel you have the right to just stuff words into people’s mouths as long as it stokes outrage for your cause.””
It seems that you feel you have the right to stuff words into someones mouth as long it stokes outrage for your comment””
Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
Gaaah! Overloaded by words and vitriol.
You have the capacity to hotlink. Please! Provide the class with sample evidence.
Mr. Masnick is well known on snacking on crow and submitting corrections when he’s shown to be wrong. Show us that he’s wrong! Bring out the crow!
Re: Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
Nice trick. Please prove a negative.
Prove that he DIDN’T say “We Should Block Immigration Reform”
I’ll prove that right after you prove that you don’t molest children (Another negative which CAN’T be proved), no I don’t think you’re a child molestor but like ANY negative it cannot be proven.
Nice trick, instead of showing that he DID say these things, demand something impossible, proof that he didn’t. How would I do that again? Maybe I have to link every single word he’s every said on or off the internet, on or off the record, to a reporter or to his neighbor? Even that wouldn’t prove he didn’t say that, maybe he said it in the shower when no one was listening?
If you are gonna claim someone said something show a link, I didn’t claim he said anything at all.
I read the linked articles.
NONE OF THE ARTICLES SHOW THE WORDS THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE SHOVES INTO HIS MOUTH.
If he said “Because Boston Bombing May Have Been Done By An Immigrant, We Should Block Immigration Reform” it should be pretty easy for you or the author of this article to show this with a link.
Again I read the linked articles, NONE of them show this quote. This is the author of this articles immagination.
He simply didn’t say it, or if the did the author of this article chose not to link it? (I doubt that)
Nice try with the “please prove a negative” dodge.
Show where he said that or just admit he didn’t say it.
Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
Oh look, the return of Angry Dude. Or have you been back and I just missed it?
Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
Partisan? Please note the story said nothing of which party he belongs to. I don’t know or care, and knowing would not change my opinion of how much of an asshole it sounds like he is. The only one spouting propaganda is you.
Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
“Some of us were coming here to get tech news, not partisan propaganda and lies.”
So you’re reading a blog… which means opinion site… to get hard, factual news.
And you don’t understand figures of speech, like hyperbole. Must not read much. Doesn’t seem like this site gives you much enjoyment… why keep coming back? (And commenting?)
Re: Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
figure of speech? hyperbole?
So you’re admitting he didn’t say what this site claims he did?
Thanks…
hyperbole is an exageration for effect, not claiming someone said something they simply didn’t say…
If he had said “he’s done this tons of times before” when in fact there’s no way to weigh how many times he did this it would be hyperbole.
Claiming that someone said something they simply did not say is not hyperbole.
I guess it’s fine with you though.
I doubt you’d call it hyperbole if I claimed you said something you didn’t though.
PS blog or not this is a tech blog? Not an immigration blog? I came here for tech blogging not Democrat propaganda, if I wanted that I’d watch CNN.
Re: Your headline is an outright lie he said no such thing
I’m not sure this will get through to you as you seem to be in a state of partisan rage, but I’ll try:
Rep. King did not utter the words “we should block immigration reform”, but that is exactly what he’s trying to do. He’s been ranting against immigrants for as long as he’s been in congress, so it’s pretty obvious what he’s doing here. He picked up some unfounded rumor linking the bombing to an immigrant and “we need to look at the bigger picture” means stalling whatever legislation was about to be passed.
Nowhere did this article claim that he uttered those words. It’s Mike’s conclusion that this is what he’s trying to do, and not only is it a pretty obvious conclusion, he even provided the actual quote so that you can come to your own conclusion, so there’s absolutely zero reason why you should throw a hissy fit. Nobody was being lied to here.
If being a Congressman doesn’t work out, King could always make a living as a teacher. Vultures would probably fly in from miles around to learn from him.
Vs. gun control
Well then, why is it that when some lunatic with a gun shoots up we have a “gun control” problem and not a “crazy person” problem?
I don’t hear Techdirt advocating FOR 2nd Amendment rights and FOR increased institutionalization of the crazy.
Re: Vs. gun control
You know, as a certified (diagnosed) crazy person, it makes me nervous when we start imposing rights limitations on crazy people in general.
I don’t necessarily want a gun, but I don’t like when my right to one one is specifically infringed just because I go to a therapist.
The current trend for contain-the-crazy laws are not for people who endanger themselves or others, but for people who go to a shrink because they’re sad without clear cause, or overly anxious, or overly tidy to the point they keep their neighbors awake.
All these people can be perfectly responsible gun owners.
Why do we elect people like this?
Very easy… because most US Citizens don’t give a shit about elections or doing their research about who it is they’re electing.
Hell, most senators and representatives don’t read a fucking thing on a bill that is about to be passed. The rider bills that get snuck in, a lot of times have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with what the main bill is about. Yet, because it’s “a part of the package” that was approved, shit like the Monsanto Protection Act happen or things like a Inmate Re-entry program gets whittled down to nothing, only to realize that they should have read the amendments to see what was actually getting cut, which was over 80% of the bill.
The entire judicial and elective process in the US is friggin’ hosed, why? Because the people that are in power themselves don’t give a fuck less about Joe Blow on the street. That’s why. They’re just there for a friggin’ paycheck and it’s absolutely a sad affair to see the US Government go down the drain the way it is going.
The whole reason the US of A was founded are the precise reasons it’s closing off its citizens now; which goes against everything the American Constitution stands for. Freedom from oppressive governments and regimes.
son, anonymous, and your various other incarnations:
Allow me to explain this to you slowly and clearly, using small words:
1. Horrible bombing happens. No claim of responsibility, and no evidence of any kind to tell us who was responsible.
2. Rep. Steve King wants to promote his agenda, which by all evidence available (none) is completely unrelated to the bombing.
3. Rep. King takes advantage of this tragedy to advance his career and spread fear and prejudice and general bullshit.
THIS is what the article is about.
Re: Re:
Oh. like how Masnick continues to exploit the death of Aaron Swartz. Now I get it.
Re: Re: Abuse of that dead haxxor guy
Oh. like how Masnick continues to exploit the death of Aaron Swartz. Now I get it.
Oh do tell! Be specific please.
When they killed JFK we got to go to the moon. When they killed that nice young freedom-of-information activist we got to…
Oh yeah. We’re still waiting on that.
Oh, surrrrre, let's deport them all because...
…there’s no way that anyone who’s an illegal immigrant could ever do anything good for America.
Exxxxxxxcept…when they’re a BIG FUCKING HERO:
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/04/cowboy-hat-carlos-arredondo-boston-marathon
I submit for consideration that Carlos Arredondo showed more bravery and compassion in a few minutes than King has in his entire life.
What rights will we lose this time?
Every time something like this happens we lose more freedoms, it is so hard to get into the united states legally it’s no wonder all are cites are filled with undocumented immigrants. this nation was founded by immigrants, Why have we strayed so far from what makes this country great. And Blocking people from coming in legally will do nothing but fuel the hatred for us that is prevalent all over the world. MY thoughts are we need to open our arms to people who want to start new lives here not make it so hard that they hate us
ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG BROWN PEOPLE ARE SCARY!
ACCUSE THEM OF EVERYTHING!
Innocent until proven guilty is still the law of this land you waste of human flesh. Capitalizing on the xenophobia you and your cronies keep throwing out at the drop of a hat as the cause of all of our problems is stupid. Your unfit for office if your unwilling to get the facts and instead make knee jerk reactions to things trying to score points with people the Government is terrorizing more than the terrorists.
I do not fear some suicide bomber is going to hit my local grocery store, I do fear that the government is going to intercept my communications, under the guise of preventing terrorism, and try to build a case against me for daring to challenge the narrative.
You want to find the worst terrorists in this country sir? Look around the hallowed halls of Congress where war has been declared on the citizens and their rights, to give special rights to those with the most money.
Where people who speak out against the questionable actions of Congress end up being surveiled.
Where people no longer can peacefully protest without militaryesque responses from those who are supposed to serve and protect the citizens but pay more attention to the monied interests in this country.
You sir are exactly what is wrong with this country, not immigration. If you can find a nonrevised textbook you might notice this country was founded by immigrants, made great by the work of immigrants, and every word you speak does dishonor to everything they have done.
Exploiting a crisis
How is it that we elect people like this to represent us?
I would love to have a “None of the Above” option in elections. Because more often than not I don’t like any of the choices.
Why do we elect people like this?
Because of the lack of a “None of the Above” option. The only candidates running aren’t worth anything. Many who are worthy don’t want to run for office.
When he says “immigrant”, he actually means… Well, pick your own racist epithet. So does pretty much every opponent of immigration reform, probably.
Immigration Reform, yeaaaaaa they fucked it up in 1986, what makes you think they will get it right this time?
Schumer was in on that one too.
Can you trust these asshats? I say no.
Then… if it was domestic, does he ban all United-Statesians?