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Robert E. Lee, Hero of the Union

Iowa Republican Steve King got into a slap fight with history earlier this week, when he was the sole Representative to vote against a House resolution recognizing the contribution of slave labor to the construction of the U.S. Capitol.  At first, he tried to spin his Nay as a mere difference of opinion with the decorator — he didn’t want to hear about placing any silly plaques until they’d settled on where “In God We Trust” was going to be chiseled in the Congressional Visitors Center.  Yesterday, however, he told a radio interviewer that he objected to the resolution because it didn’t honor Jefferson Davis for fighting to free the slaves.  Or something.

KING: I would just add that there were about 645,000 slaves that were brought to the United States. And I’m with Martin Luther King, Jr. on this. His documents, his speeches – I’ve read most of them. And I agree with almost every word that came out of him. Slavery was abhorrent, but it was also a fact of life in those centuries where it existed.

And of the 645,000 Africans that were brought here to be forcibly put into slavery in the United States, there were over 600,000 people that gave their lives in the Civil War to put an end to slavery. And I don’t see the monument to that in the Congressional Visitor Center, and I think it’s important that we have a balanced depiction of history.

Think Progress notes the abundance of monuments paying tribute to the men and women who served on behalf of the Union during the Civil War, but I think it would ease Representative King’s mind if someone pointed out that only about 360,000 of the approximately 618,000 casualties “gave their lives…to put an end to slavery.”  The remaining 258,000 actually died to defend slavery.

So there you go, Congressman; there’s a more “balanced depiction of history” for you.  All better?

Posted by scott on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 10:21 am.

7 Responses to “Robert E. Lee, Hero of the Union”

…of the 645,000 Africans that were brought here to be forcibly put into slavery in the United States, there were over 600,000 people that gave their lives in the Civil War

So, the 600,000+ deaths in the Civil War were restricted solely to the 645,000 Africans enslaved in the USA? I think they deserve a helluva lot more than a plaque, in that case.

Left by David in NYC on July 9th, 2009

His documents, his speeches – I’ve read most of them. And I agree with almost every word that came out of him.

We applaud the singular dedication of the Representative from Iowa, especially since much of the King collection–10,000 items–was unavailable until a consortium purchased it from the King family which, uh, let’s call notably protective of their value. About 7500 of them first went public, and online, this past January. That’s one month after the family blocked Harry Belafonte from selling papers that were in his possession.

Of course, Representative King’s genuine interest is obvious, so I guess we shouldn’t be surprised by his dedication, which must have consumed much of his free time this year, any more than when his next interview informs us that some of his best friends are Negroes.

Left by Doghouse Riley on July 9th, 2009

I’m sure Rep. King was all like “He’s related to me somehow. In some weird, space-time continuum way. And certainly not in another way. We’re brothers under the skin, not by the blood of my great-great-grandfather and his great-grandmother who happened to “work” for my great-great-grandpappy.”

And I’m equally sure that “And I agree with almost every word that came out of him.” includes all the stuff about the Memphis garbagemen, Vietnam, brother Malcolm, affirmative action and social justice.

Because that’s how Steve-o rolls.

Left by Jay B. on July 9th, 2009

At least the good Rep. isn’t from Indiana, Doghouse.

(Or New Jersey.)

Left by Li'l Innocent on July 9th, 2009

645,000 slaves may have been brought to the US, but by the time of the Civil War, there were about 4,000,000 slaves in the country. The vast majority of slaves were not “brought” here because they were born here. And of course, for every slave brought here, there were more that died on the way.

Left by General Woundwort on July 10th, 2009

Oh, the mental gymnastics and dissimulations that are required by one possessed of an 18th century slave-owning mentality in these early years of the 21st century.

Left by Bernoldus Niemand on July 10th, 2009

No no, Scott! You have it all wrong!

The men who fought and died defending slavery weren’t Americans because they were from another sovereign state, so when they were defending slavery, they were foreigners!

But naturally, when the US reconsolidated, they were posthumously given US citizenship, 72 virgins, and absolution.

Left by actor212 on July 10th, 2009

Something to say?