King welcomes the war of his words

BY J. JIONI PALMER | WASHINGTON BUREAU

June 29, 2006

WASHINGTON - He once referred to the GOP leadership as "roadkill," said his party was taken over by "barefoot hillbillies," and compared the Million Man March with a "Klan rally." So it isn't surprising that Rep. Peter King would call for The New York Times to be tried for treason - and relish the furor that erupted.

King (R-Seaford) said he knew his appearance on "Fox News Sunday" would give him a national platform to weigh in on the controversy that had begun to percolate when the Times and two other newspapers reported that the government was snooping on banking records as part of counterterror efforts.

"It would get attention and put them on defense where they belong," King said Tuesday, referring to why he called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to begin an investigation of the newspapers. "I intellectually believe The New York Times can be prosecuted ... I say let The New York Times spend the next two weeks saying why they shouldn't be. It's a two-for-one shot for me."

For King, who often courts controversy, politics at times is sort of a cross between a theatrical performance and a no-holds-barred contact sport.

"The adrenaline is pumping," he said describing the rush that overcomes him at times. "To me it's a great experience being in the arena. I believe what I'm saying, but I also enjoy it. I enjoy the combat."

But critics say the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is just a partisan toady.

"Peter King is a hypocrite," said Nassau Legis. David Mejias (D-North Massapequa), who is running against King in November. "When the Bush administration outed a covert CIA operative at a time of war he said Karl Rove deserves a medal."

Democratic political strategist Ray Garafola said voters have become accustomed to hearing outlandish commentary from King during his tenure as a public official and he doesn't expect him to suffer political repercussions.

"He did something I think is stupid, I think Republicans think is stupid, but at the end of the day it's Peter King, the guy you want to have a drink with at the bar," Garafola said.

GOP consultant Michael Dawidziak said it was hard to say precisely what impact King's latest antics would have on his political future but pointed out that King's directness is probably a welcome quality in a crowd of otherwise staid politicos.

"I tend to think people like the kind of Bulworth quality," he said, referring to a 1998 movie about a U.S. senator running for re-election who throws caution to the wind and lets it rip. "He might just be getting more press, but it seems he's getting more outspoken as he's getting along in his career."

Dawidziak said King and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani are somewhat alike - both are the kind of politicians "who speak their minds and not necessarily think about the consequences."

To the contrary, King is thoughtful and deliberately "does all the homework" before making comments, said Ed Ward, who is active in Nassau Republican politics and has known King for more than 30 years.

"He doesn't shoot from the hip," he said. "The first thing he does is study the issue. He knows the arguments for and against before it's presented by the other side."

Former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch said King is the blunt-speaking pol that he's always been.

"He's no different than he was 20 years ago," Koch said before heaping a litany of praise on King. "Everything that Peter does if conscience is involved is an act of conscience. Not everything a member of Congress does is an act of conscience, but when it's involved he never flinches."

He said King is a savvy politician who has a knack for generating headlines with a strategically placed utterance. "What's wrong with that?" he asked.

Koch, a former congressman, said it is in the interest of the members of Congress to keep their constituents abreast of what they are doing. "Well, they sure know with him," he said. "Every member would like to be as good as he is - it's part of the job."

Fighting words

Recent sharp statements by Rep. King: