Steve King Supports Return To McCarthy-Era House Investigations Panel

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) appeared to lend support in a recent interview to the re-creation of a congressional committee directly descended from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), a panel that was originally formed at the height of the Red Scare to be the chamber's deliberative body to handle the duties of Sen. Joe McCarthy's anti-communism crusade.

In an interview with Right Side News, King was asked if he supported a recent conspiracy-laced speech by conservative media mogul Cliff Kincaid, in which he argued that the next Republican Congress should bring back the House Internal Security Committee in order to combat "the ugly spread of Marxism in America." King responded, "I would. I think that is a good process and I would support it."

The House Internal Security Committee was the followup to the highly controversial HUAC, a congressional body meant to serve as a counterpart to the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee in which McCarthy was heavily involved. The HUAC was notoriously involved in a Hollywood investigation of actors, directors and writers that were allegedly communist sympathizers. More than 300 motion pictures professionals were put on a Hollywood blacklist as a result of hearings by the committee.

ThinkProgress provides some additional context on the function of the body that King said he wants reinstated.

In the 1960′s the committee was renamed the House Internal Security Committee, and spent most of its time trying to intimidate nonviolent progressives, such as Abbie Hoffman (who appeared in a clown suit before the committee to call attention to the mockery it was making of democracy). In 1975, the committee was disbanded by House Democrats and all of the legitimate issues it dealt with were reassigned to the House Judiciary Committee.

In 2008, Rep. King's conservative colleague, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), directly endorsed a new wave of investigations into whether members of Congress were "pro-America or anti-America," a statement that was branded by some as a call for a return to McCarthyist "witch hunts."

Comments

[Terry L Dawson]

11:42 AM on 12/22/2010

When speaking to my "white friends" I tell them the only thing I fear, is the "King of the White Citizens Council" and its back, standing in Congress, and KING, is the KING!

[Aliksa]

09:17 PM on 12/07/2010

Why is it we have to allow so many lunatics in politics?! This man is SICK! Dangerously so! Get him out of any position of power!!

[Eris23Skidoo]

09:00 PM on 12/07/2010

How typical of republicans. Grant them a majority and they'll use it for witch hunts. I wonder if this time the primary topic will be communists or blow-jobs.

[GearRatio]

05:33 PM on 12/07/2010

Kinda goofy. At least in Cold War days, the old USSR actually DID have spies, moles, etc., in the US Government, and some of them were Marxists. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of State Capitalism in China, just who in supposed to be infiltrating Marxists into DoS and DoD offices now?

'Far as I can make out, the only remaining Marxists here in the US these days are grumpy old coffee shop loungers in out-at-the-elbow tweed jackets and briar pipes. And, they appear to be contracting in numbers, not spreading

[dancingstu]

05:19 PM on 12/07/2010

I understand that the Tea Party in the township of Knox, Iowa is a particularly enthusiastic band of supporters for King's proposals.  In fact they've volunteered to become King's enforcers.  They already have their own black uniforms and everything.  But they are asking that they keep their group's original name, which they love to chant:
 
"Knox Tea Party!  Knox Tea Party!"

[Aliksa]

09:18 PM on 12/07/2010

Scarey!!

[sufi66]

04:59 PM on 12/07/2010

Someone throw a net on this sociopath. NOW!

[dakotachuck]

04:37 PM on 12/07/2010

Uh oh, being an avowed Marxist I guess I should be quakin' and a shakin'. Instead I welcome the opportunity to stand before the committee in defense of such a preference. However I'll admit that I never quite got Zeppo or Gummo, the former being too cerebral for my tastes But if the other brothers were down with them who am I to question the professional opinion. Groucho, Chico and Harpo rule today and forever!.

[satanlite]

04:12 PM on 12/07/2010

Wow.
 
What next? Repeal of civil rights legislation?

[dancingstu]

04:59 PM on 12/07/2010

I think that was clear from their calls to "take America back" to the 1960s.

[Dr. Jonathan David Farley]

03:52 PM on 12/07/2010

This committee is a good idea: All Republicans should be hauled before it, sentenced, and deported.

[Tails]

05:12 PM on 12/07/2010

Think of the clowns they'll hire as lawyers.

Always wanted to see Shirley Phelps in DC.

[Rob Horton]

02:21 PM on 12/07/2010

The passage of 60 years does not turn a bad idea into a good one.

[stav506]

02:10 PM on 12/07/2010

"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" - Joseph Welch to Sen. McCarthy. 6/9/1954

Who reincarnated Sen. McCarthy?

[Tails]

05:12 PM on 12/07/2010

More important is the fact we need to reincarnate Mr. Welch.

[tjwdraws]

01:39 PM on 12/07/2010

Can we please have a mental stability test for our representatives?

[Scent]

01:31 PM on 12/07/2010

The first panels had nothing to do with hunting communists and the next one won't either. And it does not matter if that panel will hunt communists, muslims, witches, jobless, unionists, or bunnies.

The job was and always will be to divert the eyes of Americans from the treason committed by politicians.

And it has always worked very well in that regard.

[Stanley]

01:25 PM on 12/07/2010

The bullying on the right knows no end. If there is anything that leans towards an organizing principle that differs in any way, they are resolute to demonize it and inject political vitriol into the process. There is a hateful movement afoot in conservative circles that eats off of fear. These anti-marxists have no problem accepting money from China, but will polarize anyone with an opposing view in order to rally their base. Freedom of speech is under threat once again and our liberties are being stolen to pacify fear.

[whoknew42]

01:15 PM on 12/07/2010

America was founded on anarchy

Being anti-American is being pro-American

[homer winslow]

04:50 PM on 12/07/2010

I have a sticker that says "LOVE FREEDOM? THANK A DISSENTER!"