House Republican says image of Obama-Chavez handshake ‘fair game’ for political ads

Rep. Steve King said Tuesday that Republican it is “fair game” for Republicans to use the image of President Obama shaking hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in campaign ads in future election cycles.

Speaking on C-SPAN, King, an Iowa Republican, was asked whether it is acceptable for Republicans to use that image against Obama and Democrats in campaigns.

“I think it’s fair game,” King said, “but I think there is a lot that will happen between now and the next presidential race.”

Several Republicans, including Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, have sharply criticized Obama for his cordial interactions with Chavez at the Summit of the Americas last week.

King, who is among the House’s most conservative members, also said that Obama is quickly using his political capital to implement as the “liberal image” he desires.

“It appears to me that President Obama has drawn a calculation that any elected executive officer has the maximum amount of political capital the moment that they are inaugurated…I don’t think President Obama is concerned about reelection four years from now, I think he is concerned about transforming America into the very liberal image that he sees.”

Check out the video below, courtesy of C-SPAN:

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com