Steve King Not Sorry He Compared Immigrants to Dogs

In 2012, Rep. Steve King (R-IA), one of the House's foremost immigration hawks, made town hall remarks comparing immigrants to dogs. The remarks referenced the process by which the United States selects immigrants, which King likened to picking "a good bird dog." Not at all derogatory.

Univision's Jorge Ramos confronted King about the remarks Friday, saying, "In a town hall meeting in Iowa, you actually compared immigrants to dogs. And many people would find that offensive and racist."

"I told you if you watch that video you would know that was a speech celebrating legal immigrants," King replied. "Legal, not illegal immigrants. Legal immigrants. And I said they are the cream of the crop. It's the vigor of America that comes because people of all donor civilizations on the planet want to come here."

The dialogue continued on like this, with King calling the remarks "complimentary," and refusing to apologize. You can watch the exchange here.

The town hall meeting was not even the first time King has compared immigrants to animals. In 2006, he took to the House floor to show a design of for a fence along the southern border. The fence featured a wire electrified with "the type of current that would not kill somebody," King explained, adding, "we do this with livestock all the time."

And just in case there's any doubt about the nature of King's speech, we have video of the remarks below. A glowing tribute to immigration in our country indeed.

(Image via Creative Commons)