Steve King Doesn't Know Number Of Uninsured In His District: "My District Wants Freedom" (VIDEO)

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) was pressed earlier this week on whether he knew how many constituents in his district were uninsured. The conservative congressman did not appear to know.

The exchange from video of the incident, posted by blogger Mike Stark on YouTube:

"How many people are uninsured in my district?" King was asked.

"My district... The people in my district are calling for freedom," he responded.

According to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, there are 83,000 individuals (15% of the population) without health insurance in King's Iowa district.

When asked the same question a second time, King responded, "I'm telling you I know the answer to this question and it's my people want freedom."

There were seven hundred bankruptcies in King's district last year caused primarily by medical costs.

An adamant health care reform adversary, King will join Rep. Michele Bachmann's "freedom" march today on Capitol Hill to try and "scare Congress" into opposing new legislation.

WATCH:

Comments

[expired]

02:58 PM on 11/06/2009

The big House health care vote is tomorrow. So we've launched a new online calling tool to reach out to MoveOn members in key districts and connect them to Capitol Hill. Can you make calls?


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Dear MoveOn member,
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[Timeisnow10]

12:25 PM on 11/06/2009

A congressman having no idea how many of his constituents are uninsured is inexcusable. King’s disregard for the people in his own district shows that he is out of touch with the needs of Iowa citizens. Iowans need a congressman who cares about issues that matter most, including access to affordable and quality healthcare. Mike Denklau is that person.

It’s time to create healthcare reform that will actually help Iowa. Denklau understands this and this is why I am proud to support his candidacy for Congress in Iowa District 5. King had the chance, and he has failed to create real healthcare reform for the citizens who need it most.

www.denklauforcongress.com outlines Denklau’s plan for bringing new leadership to Iowa and real discussion about the issues that matter most to Iowa.

Sorry Congressman King, but I’m ready for someone who cares.

[oldngrumpy]

11:54 AM on 11/06/2009

You can't understand Steve King unless you understand his constituents. King doesn't debate his opponents. His district is so red that he coasts through elections with little effort. His outlandish statements only endear him to the voters.

The small towns in King's district are governed by a religious sect that makes Mormons look like frat boys. The towns are "dry" and have many laws concerning activity allowed on the sabbath, but the residents make regular Sunday trips to Sioux City or Storm Lake to indulge their vices. I once made the mistake of hunting in the area on a Sunday. A landowner gave me permission and then called the local game warden. I was issued a citation for trespassing and a "separate" ticket for hunting on Sunday. The second citation directed me to a local justice for trial. I beat both after complaining to the State DNR about the "Sunday" citation, which isn't supported by state law, and threatening the landowner with a civil suit, but one wonders how many would just pay up.

The area doesn't seem to be part of the same country the rest of us live in. One must experience similar mentality to that which abounds here to know just how delusional religions can make otherwise reasonable people. The youth here are wasted potential that will never overcome the lack of modern education. The area is high on the list of productive areas for crystal meth and teenage drinking and pregnancy is rampant.

[DanielRomens]

11:39 AM on 11/06/2009

I have mixed feelings on these videos. We complain in faux shock and outrage when O'Reilly or other conservatives when they pull this kind of surprise attack, and then we cheer it on when it's our side. While I agree that King is on the wrong on the issue, the interviewer spends more time verbally attacking him than asking questions. At what point does journalism become harassment?

[marmalade]

11:33 AM on 11/06/2009

Everytime i listen to a Republican like this speak I think: how many people have died because of this man or woman. Political terrorism in the name of freedom is illustrative of the authoritarian locksteppers.

Each speech, appearance, pronouncements of these whacknuts I think: Death to the Republican Party and the conservative movement in order to save lives.

My motto: Death to the whacknuts who have caused so much misery and death over the last 8 years and continue their pox on America.

[AndyBitMeAgain]

11:14 AM on 11/06/2009

My insurance companies want Freedom! Liberty! Free Enterprise!

Oh, pardon - you meant voters? My mistake - I thought you were asking about something important.

[bgofca]

10:27 AM on 11/06/2009

He doesn't really care about his people, just his influence an power and money. If he wants his district to be free, maybe they can be free of any federal government assistance. My state of CA provides about 1/6th of the nations' economy and taxes paid, much of which is distributed to other states , mostly red states and red districts because that is where the need is often highest, and the level of education and productive ideas are the lowest.

[PennLawyer]

10:26 AM on 11/06/2009

It's not at all about what his constituents want; it's about those huge campaign donation checks slipped to Representative King by Big Insurance, Big Pharma, & other big health care professional group lobbyists. Bet he could tell you to the penny how much he's raked in. And the longer this struggle drags out, the more bribes the lobbyists shell out. I saw this when I worked at the PA state legislature. The senators & representatives were ecstatic when a really controversial bill was proposed, because as long as they dragged it out and talked about how either undecided they were, or how much pressure they were under from whatever side was the other side of the lobbyists' clients, the more $$$ they got. King will be back at the above listed lobbyists whining about how much this bad publicity will hurt him at the next election, and use that as leverage to collect even more $$$.

[kimbutgar]

10:25 AM on 11/06/2009

" I care more about my corporate donors and party then the voters in my district"/

[Rog49Thomas]

10:20 AM on 11/06/2009

Yes, freedom.

The freedom to die with dignity since one can't afford health care.

The freedom to go bankrupt so one can afford health care.

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.

[dems08]

10:13 AM on 11/06/2009

translation,

"I don't know and I don't care."

[blueken]

09:54 AM on 11/06/2009

Woudln't a Public Option (key word option) and a state wide Opt out (key phrase Opt out) give people the "freedom" to choose? Isn't freedom about choice? How come you don't want your constiuents to be free to choose? My employer picks my health care insurance plan. He also picks what my co-pays will be and what benifits will be covered. I don't have a choice. The drug and insurance industry chooses to hike the premiums on my health care every year at 3 times the inflation rate. Is that the "freedom" you are protecting?

[marecek]

10:03 AM on 11/06/2009

Bam! You hit the nail on the head, friend.

[psnyder]

09:47 AM on 11/06/2009

Right. "Freedom" is the antithesis of health care. There's the freedom to die and the freedom to be homeless, for example. King will defend those freedoms to the death, even if it means death - for someone else.

[MEN8v]

09:45 AM on 11/06/2009

If your district wants freedom then perhaps you can explain why you support the Patriot Act, which despite Boehner's claims about the current House healthcare bill, was actually the biggest assault on American freedom this side of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

[careygranite]

09:27 AM on 11/06/2009

why do the press not ask these politicians about there own personal government run health care option coverage?

[Diogenis]

09:58 AM on 11/06/2009

does

[DanielRomens]

11:39 AM on 11/06/2009

I don't think it was the press, just some dude with a camera.