Rep. Steve King is like a shiny new toy

It's been a while since I've mentioned Iowa statesman Rep. Steve King (R... like there would be any doubt). For those of you unfamiliar, he's the intellectual powerhouse that once contemplated court-ordered citizenship (among other ponderables) for Khalid Sheik Mohammed. His wit and wisdom makes me want to clap my hands with child-like glee.

Suffice it to say, he's none to pleased about queers taking over his home state.

Congressman Steve King (R), who worries Iowa could “become the Mecca for same-sex marriage,” won't rule out a bid for governor in 2010.

Now, not being from Maine, poor Steve can't know that my adopted city of Hallowell has already been named the "gay Mecca" by another frothing ring-wing lunatic, so he's going to have to come up with his own reactionary scare phrase, thankyouverymuch.

In all seriousness, why is it that "gays" and "Mecca" are the peanut butter and chocolate of conservative rhetoric? I realize that homosexuals and Muslims are wonderful bugbears to tout (though generally speaking Islamic radicals and ACT-UP probably don't see eye-to-eye about much), but what about other exciting flavor blends? "Gay mecca" is so 2005.