US House passes resolution condemning white supremacy following Republican remarks

WASHINGTON - The US House of Representatives vote Tuesday by 424-1 to approve a resolution condemning white supremacy, responding to remarks by Representative Steve King questioning why white supremacy is considered offensive.

In the resolution, which doesn't directly rebuke King, the House "once again rejects White nationalism and White supremacy as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States".

Only Bobby Rush, a Democrat, cast the lone vote against the resolution and called for a tougher response to King instead.

"We need to be clear to the American people that we use condemnation to express our disapproval of those not in the House," Rush said in a statement. "We use censure for those in the House."

"White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization -- how did that language become offensive?" King asked in a New York Times interview published last week.

"Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?" the 69-year-old lawmaker continued.

He has since been under fierce fire and was stripped of committee assignments Monday night as both Republicans and Democrats condemn his comments.

King voted for the resolution Tuesday, insisting that his remarks to The Times were taken out of context. However, local media reported that King has a lengthy history of incendiary comments related to race and immigration.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that if King "doesn't understand why 'white supremacy' is offensive, he should find another line of work."