U.S. Rep. Steve King stands by no exceptions for rape and incest statement, but would like to phrase it differently

U.S. Rep. Steve King said Friday that the media misconstrued his no abortion, no exceptions views but stood by his belief that there may not be "any population of the world left" if people conceived by rape and incest had not been born.

His sentiment about rape and incest was right, he said at a news conference Friday, but, "I'd rather deliver that in a little softer way, though."

King said the "softer way" to explain it would be to look at the movie "It's a Wonderful Life," in which the main character sees what would have happened to his loved ones if he had never been born. King said he was trying to convey how different humanity would be if "a thousand generations" of people, conceived through rape and incest, had not been born.

"It was an objectively honest and accurate statement, but, I think, it was willfully misinterpreted," he said. "I care about all people, and I think we should look back in our family trees and wonder. That's why I want people to ask that question, because I see this sanctimonious attitude out there — people will say, 'Well, there needs to be exceptions for rape and incest,' or whatever their humanistic argument is, and it is — it is almost flippant sometimes and it is insulting sometimes."

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The 4th District representative called the news conference Friday in response to the national backlash he received after he said last week humanity might not exist if not for rape and incest.

"What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled those people out that were products of rape and incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" he said at the Aug. 14 Westside Conservative Club's event in Urbandale.

When asked by a reporter on Friday if those comments had been reported accurately, the Kiron Republican replied, "yes."

"That sounds exactly like what I said," he said, "And I would point out that genealogists have contacted me and said, 'That's 100% correct.'"

King was joined by Rebecca Kiessling, an anti-abortion activist and founder of the organization "Save the One," who talks throughout the country about her experience as a person conceived when her mother was raped. Kiessling now speaks about the need for "no exceptions" in anti-abortion legislation.

Kiessling said she faced harassment after she posted on Facebook photos of herself holding a sign saying "conceived in rape, I love my life" and her daughters holding signs saying "my mom was conceived in rape, I love our lives." 

"This is the kind of ridicule that I face. And I see that this is exactly the same kind of thing that's happening to Congressman King," she said.

King faced criticism from members of his own party for his comments on rape and incest, including politicians challenging him in the 4th District primary for the GOP nomination and fellow Republican U.S. House members. Democratic presidential candidates and 4th District Democratic candidate J.D. Scholten also condemned his statements.

Kiessling, who said King was the most "pro-life" politician in Congress, said she was glad to have the chance to stand up for the representative.

"I appreciate how he defended us vigorously and how he showed empathy for our people group," Kiessling said. "... (If) we want politicians to carry the water for us, then we ought to be there for them when they are under attack and their words are being twisted."

At a town hall in Rockwell following King's comments last week, a fourth-grade teacher told the Republican representative about one of her former students who had been raped by her uncle and became pregnant at the age of 10. The teacher asked King if he would consider exceptions in cases like the student's at the meeting.

"I have not heard of a case that extreme until today," King said at the time. He said he would "deliberate" on the situation.

At the Friday news conference, King said that this student's specific incident was "so local and so specific" that he was not willing to discuss it publicly.

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"I think that they deserve privacy on this issue, and it's a discussion that should take place privately," he said.

He added that he believes it is theologically and morally necessary to not allow any exceptions in an abortion ban if a person truly believes in life at conception.

"If I were going to put this all in one succinct statement, I would deliver it this way: Thou shalt not execute the baby for the sins of the father, thus sayeth the Lord — and the Republican Party," King said.

Robin Opsahl covers political trends for the Register. Reach them at ropsahl@registermedia.com or 515-284-8051. Support reporters who follow your government by becoming a subscriber. Sign up at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.