GOP Convention: Congressman Defends White People, ‘Western Civilization'

"Where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?"

Defending his party's reputation of consisting mainly of "old, white people," Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa on Monday questioned where "any other subgroup of people" contributed more to society than in Western civilization, according to NBC News.

"This 'old, white people' business does get a little tired," King said on MSNBC Monday, hours before the first speaker would take the stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. "I'd ask you to go back through history and figure out, where are these contributions that have been made by these other categories of people that you're talking about — where did any other subgroup of people contribute more to civilization?"

"Than white people?" asked MSNBC's Chris Hayes, slightly stunned.

"Than Western civilization itself," King replied.

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