“Our commissioners were following the story in the media about Congressman King’s comments regarding presidential candidate Senator Obama, and they were wondering what role the commission should have, if any, about that kind of speech,” said Ralph Rosenberg, the commission’s executive director.On Thursday, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission will discuss how it should respond when public officials — like controversial U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron — make “hate comments.”

King earlier this month said if Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama were elected president, Al-Qaeda would be “dancing in the streets.” Rosenberg said a commissioner found King’s remarks distasteful.

“Our commissioners were following the story in the media about Congressman King’s comments regarding presidential candidate Senator Obama, and they were wondering what role the commission should have, if any, about that kind of speech,” said Ralph Rosenberg, the commission’s executive director.

The commission will discuss how to address such statements, whether it should take a position, what the position should be and how to communicate it. The commission will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. today at the Grimes State Office Building in Des Moines.

“It raised a larger issue: What do you do when an elected official from Iowa says something that you disagree with that it appears has some civil rights or human dignity context? What’s our role?” Rosenberg said. “Do we respond to everything a politician says that we disagree with?”

Rosenberg said he was unsure if the commission will take a vote on the issue.

Commission Chairwoman Alicia Claypool said in an e-mail: “This is an open discussion as nothing specific has been suggested for what form a response might take.”

Gov. Chet Culver called for King to retract his statements.