GOP Rep. Steve King supports animal abuse

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Injuries sustained to a dog during a fight. Image from uwb2ms.blogspot.com

Congressman Steve King (R-IA) is famous for saying things out loud that most people wouldn’t even think. He called President Obama “urban,” traveled with Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) to Missouri and blamed black farmers for the lack of funds available to storm victims, and refused to publicly state that President Obama is, in fact, an American citizen.

Those statements made Steve King a far right darling, as they appealed to the racist paranoia now rampant in the new GOP. Late last week, however, King made a statement about dog fighting that puts all his previous idiocy to shame. Rep. King does not want dog fighting to be illegal, and made his “case” by comparing dog fighting to boxing.

Here is King’s quote, from Think Progress:

“When the legislation that passed in the farm bill that says that it’s a federal crime to watch animals fight or to induce someone else to watch an animal fight but it’s not a federal crime to induce somebody to watch people fighting, there’s something wrong with the priorities of people that think like that.”

There are so many thing wrong with Rep. King’s statement, it hurts to read it, but let’s go down that road anyway, shall we?

1) As far as I know, when a professional fighter loses a bout, he is not summarily executed, which is what happens to many dogs after they lose a fight.

2) Professional fighters are not enticed into the ring with a bait fighter. Fighting dogs are typically first given a small puppy or kitten to kill, to get their blood lust up, before the actual fight.

3) Professional fighters CHOOSE to fight. No one ever dragged Muhammad Ali, kicking and screaming, into the square circle, beating him if he refused to participate. Dogs are frequently beaten, kicked, punched and otherwise abused in order to get them to fight, and if they lose.

4) Professional fighters make millions and millions of dollars in their chosen profession. Dogs are not paid, but their owners make money off of the dogs they torture and kill.

5) Professional fighters, if injured, are given medical treatment: stitches, x-rays, ice packs, bandages, etc. Dogs that are severely injured during a fight are usually killed.

6) For the most part, professional fighters do not beat the living shit out of everyone they meet, because they understand it’s their job to fight, and they can separate the ring from real life. Dogs cannot, and become extremely violent and aggressive. Fighting dogs are often taken by the pound and killed, to “protect the public.”

7) Thanks to dog fighting, pit bulls especially have a horrible reputation. Many states and cities have banned pit bulls, citing their inherently violent nature. It’s not the DOG, it’s the PERSON training that dog to kill. Professional fighters are not banned from living in any state or city in America.

Rep. Steve King has made it clear he has no idea what dogs go through leading up to, and during, a dog fight. That surprises me, however, because Steve King seems like the typical dog fight lover. He’s cruel, crude, lacks empathy, is a coward and a liar and is incredibly ignorant. I would think he’d have a dog fighting ring in his backyard.

Steve King has been a longtime advocate of dog fighting and cock fighting, even go so far as to fight legislation that would make it illegal to bring a child to an animal fight. And, interestingly enough, Steve King, lover of states’ rights, put that love aside in order to forbid localities from enacting anti-animal torture legislation.

What do psychologists say about people who love to torture animals? Who sit by and grin as a dog or rooster or any animal is bloodied and beaten and chewed up and killed? Oh, I remember. Those people are sociopaths who likely use abusing animals as a replacement for abusing and killing people.

This issue should be non-partisan. People on both sides of the political arena should be contacting Steve King, writing, calling and emailing his office, letting him know that animal abuse is wrong, period. Dog fighting is not a sport. The dogs have no choice, they are mutilated, maimed and often killed, not only by the dogs they fight, but by the “owner” who is supposed to protect and cherish them. Steve King is wrong, really wrong, about this, and should be told by everyone who loves animals that animal fighting is barbaric and cruel.

Rep. Steve King’s contact information can be found on his website, www.http://steveking.house.gov/.

Update: Rep. King released a video response to his earlier video response about animal fighting. He wanders a bit off topic, speaking about a man raping a 13-year old girl, kidnapping her, taking her to another state, forcing her to have an abortion and dropping her back off at a “swing set,” while claiming none of that is illegal, but the gist of it is, King still believes he’s right.

Thanks to Think Progress for contributions to this article.

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About Post Author

Erin Nanasi

Erin Nanasi is an avid underwater basket weaver, with a penchant for satire and the odd wombat reference.
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Deedie
10 years ago

Steve King is a scary, scary man. Does he ever listen to himself? He says he won’t put “animals above people”. He obviously isn’t aware of the fact that humans are mammals and mammals are animals. Steve King gives animals a bad name. He could have served this earth better by just being a rock.

Reply to  Deedie
10 years ago

Steve King is a pig. Apologies to pigs.

11 years ago

Oh, Erin. Don’t get me started. Just one more thing to add to your list. The children of professional fighters are not shoved into a box, and left by the side of the road to die – if they’re deemed too small to grow into fighters themselves. My Gravatar symbol – our dog Jack, came into the world this way. His mother, also abandoned after having given him birth, was hit by a passing car. The rescue org. that help us get him, found him – starving and afraid – suckling at her corpse.

I am a fighter. I don’t make millions in my chosen profession, but I fight once a week, and spend 2 hours a day training for that. The most significant difference is that we are not compelled to fight to the death. Sure, there have been accidental deaths in the ring, but this is far less the norm than most people even realize. I’ve never seen a fight where either contender emerged looking like the horrible pictures I’ve seen of helpless and loyal animals, ripped to shreds in dog fights.

The simple truth is that animal fighting is an abomination and those who participate in it should be publicly flogged.

Reply to  bitcodavid
11 years ago

BOOM. Nailed it as usual. I did not know you were a fighter-King’s comments must have really gotten to you. Hug Jack, and thank you for sharing a little part of yourself. Tell Jack if he’s interested, our 19 pound puma, Princess is always looking for penpals. 😉

Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Well, thank you. Yes, in fact I’ve written a couple of pieces for MadMike about my boxing. I will relay your message to Jack. He blogs as well, but his claws often scratch the keys. 🙂

Reply to  bitcodavid
11 years ago

Princess actually took over for me one day, it was disconcerting. She has an angry streak in her…

Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Hahahahahaha! Yeah. Nobody could ever accuse you of that!

Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

I think I remember that day 🙂

Reply to  bitcodavid
11 years ago

Yes you did David and we’d like to see some more….

Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

They’re coming. It’s on the list of things to do.

11 years ago

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