I had a wonderful time in Iowa last weekend. The state fair was fun. The candidates were on their best behavior, as was Brutus, the giant pig. But, seriously, Iowa, you really have to rethink who you send to the Congress, because, honest to Brutus, folks, Steve King cannot be the best you can do. From the Des Moines Register:

"What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" he said in Urbandale, Iowa. "Considering all the wars and all the rapes and pillages that happened throughout all these different nations, I know that I can't say that I was not a part of a product of that."

The Kiron Republican was discussing his defense of not allowing exceptions for rape and incest in the anti-abortion legislation he tried to pass in Congress. Republican leadership had prevented bills he sponsored on banning abortions from advancing through the House, despite GOP support for the measures, King said.

I had my own Steve King Moment at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in 2016, along with April Ryan and Chris Hayes, so nothing he says ever will surprise me. But, honest to god, the man is now defending his anti-choice position by citing the historical example of the armies of Genghis Khan.

The man clearly has no familiarity with the concept of consent, but that's endemic in much of the anti-choice movement. This is one step beyond, though. He is now explaining how rape and incest were essential to the upward progress of humanity. (Also, incest? And "pillages"? Really?) No kidding, Iowa. You throw a great state fair, but this extended clown show has to end now. Your problem is our problem, and we're getting a little tired of it. Send Brutus to Congress instead. Nobody I know will object.

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Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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