of the original tea party wave, and he quickly
earned the attention of cable news thanks to
his propensity for over-the-top rhetoric. That
rhetoric didn't help his reelection chances,
and he lost to Democrat Patrick Murphy after
just one term.
But given his appearance this week, and hav-
ing announced he will "definitely" run for
office again in 2016, let's take a nostalgic trip
back for some of West's greatest hits during
his brief time in office (emphasis added
throughout):
• West says up to 80 House Democrats
are communists: "U.S. Rep. Allen West told
about 90 largely supportive Palm City vot-
ers Tuesday that locally prioritized federal
projects — such as the St. Lucie Inlet dredg-
ing — aren't going to matter if Washington
officials don't address a mounting deficit. …
West said Obama was 'scared' to have a dis-
cussion with him. He later said 'he's heard' up
to 80 U.S. House Democrats are Communist
Party members, but wouldn't name names."
(The Palm Beach Post)
• West compares Democratic strategists
to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels:
"'If Joseph Goebbels was around, he'd be
very proud of the Democrat Party because
they have an incredible propaganda machine,'
West told reporters in the Capitol. 'I think that
you have, and let's be honest, you know, some
of the people in the media are complicit in
this, in enabling them to get that type of mes-
sage out.' West was responding to a question
about Congress's low poll numbers and the
fact that public blame is centered more on
the Republicans." (Politico)
Former Republican Congressman Allen West makes a point. Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr
Sarasota News Leader February 7, 2014 Page 57
