Iowa Congressman Compares Himself to Phil Robertson for Holding Views 'Contrary' to 'Liberal Media and PC Police'
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has compared himself to "Duck Dynasty" reality television show Phil Robertson in an email newsletter to supporters this week.
"I have been in similar situations to the one Phil Robertson finds himself in now. I have learned to navigate [liberal] intolerance while holding firm to our values," King wrote.
The congressman also told potential voters that he would be "doubling down" against those who criticized him for holding beliefs "contrary to views held by those with loud megaphones, including the liberal media and PC police. ... The leftists who disagree with him made it clear with their attacks that conservatives are to be driven from public life if they express their opinions, however, objectively true they might be."
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King was criticized last year after stating that "for every [illegal immigrant] who's a valedictorian, there's another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds—and they've got calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert."
The Republican also encouraged his backers not to compromise for their convictions or beliefs.
"Don't back down. If you are right and you are standing on principle, whatever you do, don't back down. The second you back down, they win," he wrote. "Don't apologize. John Wayne said, 'Never apologize. It's a sign of weakness.' I agree, unless we are wrong and we are not wrong."
He reiterated that if individuals knew the truth it was their obligation to speak out in favor of it.
"Never waiver from the truth. This includes taking on all the left's false premises before they become the perceived truth. The left is not held accountable to the truth — it is our duty to expose them. Objective truth is a shield protecting us from the left," King wrote.
The representative is expected to be challenged this year for his fourth Congressional District seat by Democrat Jim Mowrer, an Iraq war veteran who has also worked at the Pentagon.
King also said that he was the "last one standing" of a trio that included himself and fellow representatives Col. Allen West (R-Fla.) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who were the "top targets of the liberals throughout the country."
West was defeated in November and Bachmann that she would not be running for reelection in 2014.
Just weeks ago, Phil Robertson was "suspended indefinitely" by A&E for his "coarse" remarks in an interview where he quoted scripture and stated that homosexuality is a sin. Following the comments, gay activists demanded A&E drop the popular Duck Dynasty show from its network. It caved in to suspend Robertson. However, over the next week, hundreds of thousands protested against the A&E network, demanding that it reinstate Robertson, with many saying they would boycott the network for its treatment of Robertson. The A&E network again caved in, and just nine days after suspending Robertson, he was reinstated to join the family to film the upcoming season later this year.
