Rep. Steve King To NFL Commissioner: Nothing Limbaugh Said Is Offensive

Last night, a bipartisan team of congressmen joined forces to defeat the U.S. Capitol Police in the annual "Longest Yard" charity flag football game.  It was the lawmakers' first win in the four-year history of the event and, not coincidentally, the first time they had former NFL players (other than Rep. Heath Shuler) lining up on their side of the ball. 

But that spirit of bipartisanship disappeared today, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stopped by the House Judiciary Committee to discuss the long-term impact of football related head injuries and the league's care for retired players.    

Rather than focusing on the serious issue at hand, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) decided to grill Goodell over statements the commissioner made regarding right-wing talker Rush Limbaugh's failed bid to purchase a stake in the St. Louis Rams.  Goodell previously said that "divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about," adding that he "would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL."

However, King objected to the commissioner's remarks, saying, "I don't think anything Rush Limbaugh said was offensive." Watch it:

Limbaugh has a long history of racially charged comments -- some of which related directly to NFL players.  For instance, the right-wing talker once compared professional football players to gang members, saying, "The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons." Limbaugh was also forced out of a broadcasting gig at ESPN after declaring that Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because he was black.

Of course, it's no surprise that the far-right lawmaker wouldn't find any of this offensive, given his own history of hateful rhetoric. 

For his part, Goodell noted that the league never passed judgment on Limbaugh as a prospective owner.  As Media Matters Action previously wrote, "the NFL never said Limbaugh couldn't pursue the team.  His business partner simply decided Limbaugh wasn't worth the trouble."