AP: Iowa Congressman Apologizes for Jest (Helen Thomas joke)

Iowa Congressman Apologizes for Jest

The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 21, 2006; 10:28 PM

DES MOINES, Iowa -- An Iowa congressman apologized Wednesday for disparaging
comments he made last week at the state Republican convention about a veteran
White House correspondent.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, was discussing the June 7 death of terrorist leader Abu
Musab al-Zarqawi on Saturday when he mentioned 85-year-old Helen Thomas, who
has covered the White House for nearly 50 years and is a columnist for Hearst
Newspapers.

"There probably are not 72 virgins in the hell he's at," King said about al-Zarqawi,
in a recording transcribed by Radio Iowa. "And if there are, they probably all look
like Helen Thomas."

Spokeswoman Summer Johnson said in an e-mail Wednesday that King has apologized
to Thomas.