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In a rather ridiculous display, even by 2012 standards, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) told constituents this week that there are 78 and 81 members of the "Democrat Party" in Congress who are "members of the Communist Party."
This was further evidence, not only of West's unhinged personality, but also of the depths of the political discourse.
On Wednesday, West's strange red-scare antics became national news. On Friday, West decided he wants to be rewarded for his strange red-scare antics.
Rep. Allen West is using his comment that about 80 House Democrats are members of the Communist Party to raise money for his re-election bid.
The Florida Republican, a top target for defeat this fall, sent a fundraising pitch today asking for help to fight the "destructive policies of the extreme left."
While I suppose efforts like these are inevitable -- for all I know, they're effective -- what's disconcerting is the system of rewards that's come into play lately.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), for example, heckled President Obama during a speech to a joint session of Congress a few years ago, shouting "you lie!" when the president was actually telling the truth. As a result of his outburst, Wilson became a right-wing cause celebre -- the far-right backbencher was suddenly popular with other unhinged Republicans and Wilson's fundraising soared.
The problem is the system of incentives: if you're a politician who wants to be noticed and get a fundraising bump, you're going to have to say and/or do something stupid.
Instead of feeling shame or embarrassment, West accused nearly half of the House Democratic caucus of being "members of the Communist Party," and now he feels entitled to some kind of prize.
Democratic politics just doesn't seem to work this way. If a House Dem said there are 80 House Republicans who, whether they admit it or not, are fascists, the expectation would be that he or she would apologize, not send out a fundraising letter seeking a reward.
West, meanwhile, continues to see his name referenced as a possible vice presidential nominee. It's unclear whether his "commie" outbursts will help or hurt his chances, which only helps reinforce the larger point.
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At this point, the (R) after Republican pols' names should just be replaced with an "L" -for "Loon."
More like "Lying Loser Laughingstock".
Actually it should remain R, however for regressive.
Or "R" for Retarded, I assume that all the time.
Only "J" for "Jerk" makes any sense. Anything more appropriate would require inappropriate language.
This man should be on serious meds and living in a tasteful, pale blue suite at the Menninger Clinic - not being allowed to sit in Congress, enter into contracts and sign checks.
Actually, Allen West is damn lucky he's not in Leavenworth after being convicted by a JAG court martial of abusing both his own soldiers and Iraqi civilians, a fate from which he escaped by the hair on his chinny chin chin. Instead, he was allowed to resign his commission before a trial and - far from slinking away in shame and embarassment - had the audcaity to run for Congress.
Not since the 1950s have Republicans trotted out the "he's a dirty rotten Commie" meme, but Mr. West seems to find some political traction in rehashing it. Somebody should tell him a few things:
How did this nutjob get elected, anyway?
"How did this nutjob get elected, anyway?"
Voters with low standards.
Hey Florida Governor Scott was convicted of 14 felonies and ripping off Medicare for millions and they still elected him Governor. Senator Vitter of Louisiana was caught up in the DC prostitution scandal having used the services of prostitutes in both DC and evidently Louisiana but despite the fact that the Republicans demanded Dems step down for similar or much tamer scandals, like the Anthony Weiner scandal, he refused to and for that refusal he received a standing ovation from his fellow Republicans in the Senate when he returned to Washington. I could go on but I think you get the point. Republicans love to elect and keep criminals in office on their side, but they will not tolerate even an appearance of impropriety by a Dem.
"How did this nutjob get elected, anyway?"
Given the way Republicans count votes, he may very well not have been.
They should test the water in the district that elected him. There is something seriously wrong when unhinged individuals like him can get elected . Don't we have standards other than upright and breathing?
I think we all should avoid overly inflammatory rhetoric, but calling Dems "commies" hasn't worked very well since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It just makes the person making that statement look ridiculous.
Clinically speaking, though, you could find far more fascists in Congress than communists.
There are more flat-out Nazis representing the Republican party than communiss in Congress
Well, when it comes to saying or doing somethiing stupid, West has got that down pat. So if fundraising follows, he should be wealthy enough to retire soon.
You are so right. Unfortunately there are so many, many folks out there that don't think he's saying anything stupid. There are so many, many folks out there that don't think.
Could someone, using little words, explain to me where all of this ridiculous rhetoric is coming from? Is it because President Obama is a Democrat?
I am thinking of having a tantrum here!
Far-right Republicans don't want to accept anything that isn't exactly like them. So when anyone is to the left of them, politically, they over-state things.
Calling them Communists, specifically, is just them still living in the past. I'm amazed none of the Presidential candidates promised a war with Russia.
Calm down, folks. It is just another fund raising ploy.
In a Southern backwater, a fellow running for congress told his listeners that his opponent's sister was a "well-known thespian". He got elected.
"If a House Dem said there are 80 House Republicans who, whether they admit it or not, are fascists, the expectation would that he or she would apologize, not send out a fundraising letter seeking a reward."
If he or she said that he or she would be technically correct. There would be no need to apologize for telling the country that the GOP House members are following fascist ideals to a tee.
Does anyone have anything to say about the NRA Convention? I believe they are insighting fear. I would like to hear the Presidents' response.
I used to think neo-con bombast was akin to Freudian slips but it has become increasingly clear that the subversive dreck spilling from their purchased lips is premeditated - lies aimed at creating confusion in poorly informed minds. The destruction of language, the very human tool that binds or divides.
Rachael, Allen West well may be someone who served his country and was able to get elected to serve public office, but he thinks he still is able to flex the military rank he had when he served. Someone needs to tell him he is a civilian and he should conduct his duties, tactfully approach people and stop bragging how he used to bust soldiers under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Most responsible commanders has empathy for soldiers when they screwed up and compassion for their families, he braggs about having the power to destroy their lives. A total jerk.
Stating that half the House Republicans are fascists would not be some "crazy lie," but rather a statement of conservative, independently-verifiable, FACT.
Do not attempt to adjust your set for you have entered "The Outter Limits,"?
Adam West was Batman. Allen West is just plain batty.
West is doing exactly the same thing liberals do when they fund raise. So please spare me the righteous indignation unless you can also muster it when liberals do exactly the same thing. One politician doing what other politicians do - every other politician - is hardly grounds for outrage.
Really? I don't recall very many Democrats going out and saying "There are X amount of Republicans known to belong to the White Supremacist Party." This is pretty nutty on it's own. If you mean that he's pandering to his audience then yes he certainly is- which says a lot about his audience- and yes pandering certainly is something all politicians do. But calling Democrats commies is not your run of the mill insult. That's pretty far out there.
Usually when Democrats are called out for saying something bullpuckey they don't get to turn around and fund raise off of the outrage. They usually have to apologize. I am sure there are some instances in which a Democrat has said 'look I'm being attacked for a stupid thing I said- now give me money!' but I can't think of a modern example of such a thing happening. Not in this last election cycle or the one before, at least.
He's sly like a fox - don't underestimate him. He's as aware as you and I that there are no "commies" in congress, and there's no real danger to him in saying there are. His goal was to speak to, and gain recognition by, his party's fringe...and possibly Mitt Romney in a lame bid for VP consideration. What's really interesting is that he has not only gained the nutjobs' attention, he seems to have a firm grip on ours as well. It would be ingenious if not for the small fact that he's hardly the first republican to use the tactic. Obviously it still works.
"If a House Dem said there are 80 House Republicans who, whether they admit it or not, are fascists"
And what exactly would be the problem with that? As long as the Dem made it clear he wasn't talking about people who were actually enrolled members of a fascist party, but was referring to people whose political philosophy was taken from the fascist parties of WWII, what is the problem? He could include the whole T party caucus and would be 100% correct.
Exactly. And even if he's not 100% correct, there's the little matter of First Amendment protection. It's our option to believe him or not - also a right.
He wants a reward for being full of crap?
81 sounds like a low number considering the number of demoncrats in the Congress.
Bring back HUAC.
How did this nutjob get elected, anyway?"
He's the product of gerrymandering, voter supression, and the largest, most successful, propaganda machine the world has ever seen
the GOP has already created de-facto One Party States in Texas and Florida and they are attempting to do the same in several more states using the same template
What do you call a nation in which only one party is allowed to rule ?
We should be grateful for Mr. West he is an obvious symptom of the poison that is killing our democrtic process
See this article over at Daily Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/12/1082820/-A-Tea-Partier-Just-Called-Me-Communist-Watch-My-SLAM-DUNK-Response
A small excerpt from the lengthy response by Joe Lyles:
The scary thing is that some people might actually believe him.