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snip
King said he doesn’t regret his remarks.
" shift the discussion away from education to who’s supporting the troops. Of course, I support the troops. In this country, there’s an equating of intelligence with elitism, and elitism with being unpatriotic. But smart people love the U.S., too."
King said he just seeks to cut through the double-talk.
"Who’s for the war in Iraq and who’s not?" he said. "Who’s for better education and who’s not?"
King, who supports Barack Obama for president, readily proclaims that he opposes the war in Iraq.
"If it was up to me, none of those people would have died," he said. "Four thousand have been killed, more than in the World Trade Center. It’s not right, especially when the reasons for going to war were bogus anyway."
He understands that his remarks have offended people with ties to the military.
"Those in the military and military families are going to have their own political views and judge me according to those," he said.
Among those reacting Wednesday to the author’s remarks was U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat whom King is supporting in his U.S. Senate campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
"Tom Allen believes Mr. King used a poor choice of words," said Carol Andrews, communications director for Tom Allen for U.S. Senate.
"Tom Allen fully supports our troops and knows these brave men and women to be capable, self-sacrificing and among the best and brightest."
Andrews said the remarks would not affect a planned fundraiser for Allen by King and two other best-selling novelists — Tess Gerritsen and John Grisham. The three authors are scheduled to read from their works at a $25-per-person event on June 7 at the Bangor Auditorium.
Despite all the heat he is taking, King said Wednesday he will continue his push for better education and literacy.
"I’m not going to apologize for promoting that kids get better education in high school, so they have more options," he said. "Those that don’t agree with what I’m saying, I’m not going to change their minds."
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