(CNN) Republican Rep. Steve King clashed with constituents as he defended several of his controversial comments on abortion and immigration during a Saturday town hall in his hometown of Storm Lake, Iowa.

King was asked in a tense exchange if he would defend comments he made Wednesday questioning whether there would "be any population of the world left" if you pulled people out who were "products of rape and incest," according to a video posted online by The Des Moines Register , which first reported the remarks. The comments drew condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

King deflected the question, saying the "very active and vibrant left-wing media out there" had picked up The Des Moines Register's reporting that misquoted King and "decided to do a hack job." However, the question posed to him did not refer to the quote corrected by the Register. The quote corrected by the Register to which King referred referenced other members of Congress who co-sponsored his legislation.

King further defended his position on abortion and the federal ban he has proposed prohibiting an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, even in cases of rape and incest.

"I did not allow exceptions for rape and incest in that bill because those babies that are born as a product of those activities [rape and incest] are as precious as you are or any of my grandchildren are," King said.

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