Clyburn Denounces King For Making Excuses For IRS Attack (VIDEO)

James Clyburn took to the House floor on Tuesday to denounce a fellow member of Congress for making excuses for the terrorist attack on the IRS building in Texas.

The South Carolina Democrat reacted furiously to comments made by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who declined to denounce last week's attack and expressed empathy with pilot Joe Stack.

"It's sad the incident in Texas happened, but by the same token, it's an agency that is unnecessary and when the day comes when that is over and we abolish the IRS, it's going to be a happy day for America," King said.

"I don't know if his grievances were legitimate," he went on. "I can tell you I've been audited by the IRS and I've had the sense of, 'Why is the IRS in my kitchen? Why do they have their thumb in the middle of my back?'"

It was too much for Clyburn, the House majority whip. "The fact of the matter is that the gentleman that lost his life in that building, Vernon Hunter, is from -- was from Orangeburg, South Carolina, that I proudly represent in this body," said Clyburn. "He spent two tours in Vietnam and was about the business of carrying out his duties and responsibilities to this great country of ours. If anybody is a hero, it is this victim. And I find it appalling that a member of this body would call his death a noble happening."

WATCH:

Comments

[Tanker10a]

08:26 AM on 03/01/2010

What does anybody expect to accomplish with this? Not a damn thing!

[nicothebaker]

02:38 AM on 02/25/2010

Below is from suicide note left by Stacks. Tenets not followed by Tea Party members but yet embraced by much of the Obama administration.

The “manifesto” ended:

The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.

[Jimbo23]

06:31 PM on 02/24/2010

Compare the American Right Wing to Al-Qaeda for a moment:
Against women's rights and freedoms, against the betterment of the Arab world, against the US Government, against the US President, willing to use terror and deception to do their masters' bidding, intolerant of any religion other than their own, willing to use planes as weapons, responsible for all major terrorist attacks on US soil, feel they can be moral policemen to others by force... and so on!

They are actually quite close to each other ideologically if you stop and think about it. Violent religious fundamentalists can always find a way to use God as an excuse to kill regardless of what their specific beliefs are. Of course the GOP would be apologists for terror as long as it's terror by their own brethren. The Right and Al-Qaeda hate each other with a special intensity because they are so dang similar. I think they mainly disagree on who should run the Caliphate...

[madame48]

06:48 PM on 02/24/2010

exactly!!! I can't believe moderate gop aren't disavowing this stuff...wait ...they have sat silent for worse sadly

[Jimbo23]

07:07 PM on 02/24/2010

You can say that again sister! I'd like to see them try to wash the blood from their hands... "Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!"

[mamapower]

04:43 PM on 02/24/2010

Republiconz/CON-servatives is the 3nemy!

I've said this for years!!

[panamarine]

02:28 PM on 02/24/2010

Why is it that the Republican party is chock-full of these anti-government wingnuts? They seem to be against every Government institution...except the Pentagon. This man's mindset is in a very far off place. I would put HIM on a terror watchlist.

[ArkayMI]

03:05 PM on 02/24/2010

Republicans have been anti government for quite sometime now. Remember Reagan rhetoric "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. " This is a far cry from the what the best Republican president Lincoln's "Government of the people, for the people and by the people"

But what puzzles me is who do these neocons want to run for office and become part of the government that they so detest?

[madame48]

06:50 PM on 02/24/2010

AND, their hand is the first out in the case of disaster..different tune

[emm29056]

07:42 PM on 02/24/2010

...like crazy as a loon Ron Paul.

Why do people keep voting for people who hate the government all the way to the bank? poor dim suckers...

[Justdontgetit]

01:27 PM on 02/24/2010

If you look up the meaning of "class" in the dictionary, Mr. Clyburn's picture is right there to show you what it looks like.

Look up the word t r eason and there is king.

[ReedYoung]

02:06 PM on 02/24/2010

I believe the charge against King is "sedition" not treason, because he "only" encouraged the violent overthrow of the federal government but did not commit any **act** of war or revolt.

But I am not a lawyer, that's just my amateur reading.

[madame48]

06:51 PM on 02/24/2010

maybe some "enhanced interrogation" of Mr. King would determine his REAL plans...call the CIA

[ctman47]

01:22 PM on 02/24/2010

Thinking it is OK to fly a plane into a building and killl innocent Americans is called what ?

Pre 9/11 mindset.

[WNY CONSERVATIVE]

01:14 AM on 02/25/2010

PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE ALL REPUBS OR CONSERVATIVES BY MR KING. HIS PRE-9/11 MINDSET TAKES FECAL MATERIAL FOR BRAINS.

[Copitlism]

12:20 PM on 02/24/2010

I am a native of South Carolina and the only time I don't cringe when one of our politicians speak is when it is James Clyburn. He is the best we have by far , I am just sorry I am not in his district.

[kwoodberryesq]

01:09 PM on 02/24/2010

You have got to be kidding me! Drive through much of the 6th District, markedly under developed except areas that abut other congressional districts. Williamsburg County has been consistenly one of the poorest counties in the nation, unemployment rate there has never been below double digit in Clyburn's tenure. Hemingway High School, where I graduated has had the same facility since the 1950s. Try to find a hospital in Williamsburg County (good luck)!

When Clyburn turns his attention to the woes of Williamsburg County it will be a cold day in hades.

[Aimleft]

01:49 PM on 02/24/2010

But I'm sure you're in love with Joe Wilson, Jim DeMint, and Gov Sanford, right?

[ReedYoung]

02:10 PM on 02/24/2010

How does Williamsburg compare to other counties in South Carolina? Numerically, from government agencies, not your 'blog and not your personal opinion.

[nicothebaker]

11:28 AM on 02/24/2010

The pilot, Stacks, was a Obama supporter. Not a member of the Tea Party.

[greatlakesgal]

11:31 AM on 02/24/2010

Does it even matter? And how do you know?

[jon86]

11:40 AM on 02/24/2010

Does it matter? The Republicans are supporting DOMESTIC TERROR/SM!!!!

[dourdinlives]

11:09 AM on 02/24/2010

YEEEHAAA! VOTE AGIN THE IRS, VOTE AGIN THE GUBBAMINT. ITS THE YANKEE GUBBAMINT ANYHOW.JOIN THE TEA BAGGERS! THEY RE ON OUR SIDE! VOTE AGIN OBAMACARE, IS JES REPARATIONS. VOTE AGIN EVERTHIN OBAMA WANTS! SAY NO TO EVERTHIN! HURRY! HURRY! BUY YORE GUNS! OBAMA AND THE BLACKS ARE GONNA GIT US! MY FOLKS DIDN'T OWN NO SLAVES. WE JUST HELPED KETCH EM WHEN THEY GOT AWAY.THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN! YEEEHAAAA!

[Punkynsnow]

11:57 AM on 02/24/2010

LOL

[Aimleft]

01:50 PM on 02/24/2010

WOO HOOOO! LOVE IT! Fanned!

[miriamfl]

10:32 AM on 02/24/2010

Congressman Clyburn, you are so right and expressed it so well. I feel that the Repuglicans are in Washington to make sure that government gets broken and doesn't work. For decades their jobs have been to teardown our government rules and laws and give corporations more power. The repugs are in Washington representing these businesses and corporations not WE THE PEOPLE. They will do anything to brake our government and tax structure.

[3000BC]

10:28 AM on 02/24/2010

I wonder who hates US government institutions more? Al Qeada or the Tea Party crowd.

[Daly]

10:36 AM on 02/24/2010

you can tell the difference?

[3000BC]

10:40 AM on 02/24/2010

Only by their skin-color.

[take10]

02:30 PM on 02/24/2010

Al Qaeda or Al Craquer! Which do believe Rep. King belongs to? We need to turn our attention to the latter!

[OldBro70]

03:00 PM on 02/24/2010

Maybe they could form Al Repubcan For those who hate the country so much, and want their Amurikkka back, they could shoot their weapons that they love so much. hold their conventions, rail against illegal aliens, tear down schools, protect their status quo, secede from the government, and throw out every one from Washington especially President Obama, and the rest of the socialist that they are so afraid of.

That would in turn allow the federal government to clean their clocks once and for all.

[yankee452]

08:09 AM on 02/25/2010

Now THAT is the funniest $#!t I have heard in freakin' years !!

Al Craquer !!!

ROTFL !!!!!

[alfatu]

10:20 AM on 02/24/2010

Is Rep. Steve King a former tax protester? You have to wonder why was he audited in the first place? Whatever the reason this man did what he did, people died and holding him up as a hero is senseless. But then again, Mr. King is a Republican; heartless, cold and mean. This is their MO.

[Punkynsnow]

10:11 AM on 02/24/2010

When I first read the story of King's remarks and saw the video of him speaking, I couldn't help but think "buddy, you think you had problems with the IRS before? Just wait!"

What a colossal f00l. I'm astounded sometimes at the people who get elected to public office. He's a disgrace to his constituents, his state and this country.

[OldBro70]

03:10 PM on 02/24/2010

True but his constituents will probably vote for him again,, because they'll say "He's just like one of us"

Yee Haw. You tell em Rep. King, tell me where I can takee them there flying lessons, I've got a score to settle with them deres IRS critters my own damn self yesiree,And I'se wanna be a hero too just like that guy did in Texas.

[Punkynsnow]

10:04 AM on 02/24/2010

Excellent Mr. Clyburn. Rep. King should apologize to the victim's family and to the American people for his remarks.

I hope the voters in his district fire him come next election.

Many people in this country have had problems with the IRS. I've personally experienced it, and it can be awful. Even if you've done nothing wrong they can make your life miserable. But in no way does that give ANYONE the right to attack their offices and kill and injure innocent people. Anyone who justifies or condones such barbarism is nuts at best, treasonous at worst.

[rain33]

10:10 AM on 02/24/2010

yes jim clyburn was right!