First, we had our local U.S. Rep. Steve King, use a local candidacy announcement appointment to unleash what would turn into a political bombshell.

Speaking with myself, reporter Russ Mitchell and KICD newsman Mark Bruggom, King made his generic announcement about intentions to seek a fourth term as representative for District Five in the fine state of Iowa.

He vanquished rumors about a possible senate or gubernatorial run, suggesting that with Republican moderate Sen. John McCain seeking the White House as the GOP nominee, it wouldn't be the right time for western Iowa's conservative voice to make either run.

So then after some additional comments about McCain, King dropped the political bombshell. Wait…back up a minute. It wasn't as much a political bombshell as it was a politically correct bombshell.

Paraphrasing, King essentially said that his father's heritage and his middle name of Hussein, coupled with his announced plans to begin immediate withdrawal of troops fighting the war on terror in Iraq - the Islamic extremists would view it as capitulation on the part of Americans. He said that such a vote by the American people would result in extremists and terrorists dancing in the streets.

And his words shook the walls.

And then they shook my phones.

Returning from the 15-minute press conference, both Mitchell and I knew we had some pretty interesting comments, and planned to forward the story to AP and get the video footage on the website as breaking news. And that's just what we did. That was last Friday afternoon.

At 11:45 p.m., the phone rang and one of my children brought it to my bedside. I figured it was somebody from work. It was a political news person from CNN, wanting to know if they could use the video. No problem, just credit the paper.

Saturday, around noon, my cell phone rings with a (202) area code displayed. Who has my cell phone number from the 202 area code? The answer, Washington D.C.'s AP Bureau. Again wanting access to the footage. Then Monday, as I'm leaving for my Kiwanis meeting just before noon, the office phone rings, "This is Inside Edition, we would like to use your video footage…" You get the idea.

These comments which were played on regional airwaves, and read in the pages of the Daily Reporter and video taped on the website - were all over the national news. CNN was hosting panel discussions, King appeared by phone twice on FOX News, including once on Geraldo, even Rush Limbaugh talked about King's remarks on his radio show.

Congressman King has always been one to call it as he sees it. Like it or not. He doesn't mince words. And he's never been worried with whom he offends when he believes that he is right.

He shared his opinion with us and it made national news.

Personally I don't think it was an accident that he chose to make those comments to Mark, Russ and myself. I think it was deliberate because he knew we weren't going to twist his words or use a limited sound bite to ensure that his words were interpreted one way or another. That's a confidence that means a lot to us, and it's one, I think I can speak for all three of us, that would be in place with any political leader to speak with us.

And it's a good thing we didn't because the actual words drummed up enough attention in their original context.

And Congressman King never backed off as I knew he wouldn't. He doesn't misspeak. He is very calculated in what he says and does. Whether you agree with him or not, you'll never wonder what he's thinking.

In addition to all the national attention, his stories on the website drew over 100,000 hits on Saturday and many thousand more in the following days. It allowed all of those website responders out there to go nuts. And they did.

If there is anything I regret about the whole process, it's this - anonymity.

Congressman King made his comments and stood behind them. I'm making these observations and signing my name. But there's a whole generation of opinion-givers out there who spout off with fake names and made-up monickers. And most of them say things they would never say to your face if they weren't able to hide behind these virtual personalities.

And instead of getting to the issue, they choose to get personal. They got personal about King. They got personal about the story. One even got personal about my wife.

Whether you agree or disagree with Congressman King isn't important. Freedom of speech is available to everyone in this country. He expressed a point a view. You're free to disagree and argue the point on its merits if you choose to do so. But let's leave the personal attacks out.

Ideas and civil discourse is what we're looking for.

King never said Obama was Muslim or a radical islamist or anything of the sort. All he talked about was the viewpoint that it could create for our enemies in other parts of the world where you don't change your religion. If your daddy was a muslim, then you're a muslim.

And perception is reality for a lot of people. That's all he was saying.

What was interesting took place during a CNN panel discussion when the leader of the group thought out loud -- I'm paraphrasing once again -- 'I wonder how many other leaders and citizens might be thinking the same thing, but just not saying it?'

But a week later, it all doesn't matter anymore anyway because Obama's self-proclaimed mentor and spiritual advisor has been recorded suggesting that his congregation should be saying, "God d**n America," instead of "God bless America."

My guess is that might steal a little of King's thunder. At least it should.