There has been a lot of chatter about Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) as a potential vice presidential nominee. These comments he made at a town hall meeting yesterday are a good example of why that’s unlikely to happen:
Moderator: What percentage of the American legislature do you think are card-carrying Marxists or International Socialists?
West: It’s a good question. I believe there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party who are members of the Communist Party. It’s called the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
To be fair, it’s hard to tell whether or not West is joking. His last sentence seems like it could be some sort of punch line, i.e. “Sure, there are Communists in Congress” [beat] “they’re called progressives.” Unfortunately, in all the videos I’ve seen, West’s last sentence is cut out, and it’s impossible to determine without actually hearing it.
Joke or not, West’s spokesperson offered a clarification today:
“The congressman was referring to the 76 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The Communist Party has publicly referred to the Progressive Caucus as its allies. The Progressive Caucus speaks for itself. These individuals certainly aren’t proponents of free markets or individual economic freedom,” Angela Melvin said in a statement to The Huffington Post.
Okay, but West said these were members of the Communist Party. If that was just colorful language for effect, West should say so, but he needs a bit more evidence if he’s trying to stand by his claims.
West may have actually been referring to a document that listed 70-or-so members of Congress as official members of the Democratic Socialists of America, which made its way around conservative blogs a couple of years ago. According to the DSA, the list is fraudulent, and there hasn’t been an official card-carrying member of the DSA in Congress since 1998.
Whatever the reason for West’s comments – joke, bad information, or his honest opinion – this latest flap brings back memories of similar firestorms he’s been involved in. The fact that he speaks his mind even when it’s not politically correct is why conservatives love him, but it’s hard to imagine a politician as cautious as Mitt Romney choosing a running mate with such a penchant for incendiary comments.
His comments were more true than false. At worst he is guilty of exaggeration. So what? Obama accuses Republicans of putting party above country all the time. That is tantamount to an accusation of disloyalty. Is that "incendiary"? The real scandal is the disloyalty of large chunks of the Democratic Party to American ideals and free enterprise. Rep. West's sin is not that he called attention to that, but that he isn't clear enough about what the "Progressive Caucus" really stands for.
These were not smart comments. You and Congressman West–whom I admire–might think these comments are more or less true, we don't need more incendiary comments from our side. Look at the Rush Limbaugh–Sandra Fluke mess. It plays right into Democratic hands and distracts from real and serious message about serious problems, including the economy, national defense, among them. It's not a way to win the election. n nYes, he could be more clear about what the Progressive Caucus stands for, but he can't do that by name-calling. Nobody listens when he does that.
What would be smart comments? The finely stated, oh so politie comments of Paul Ryan? I'm all for smart, but really, what is smart here? Is it off limits to say that the Democrats are, by and large, no longer in favor of American ideals? That their leader is both dishonest and puts himself above the country, and is essentially disloyal to America, in a political rather than a legal sense? Was it smart of Obama to say Repulicans put party above country–an accusation of disloyalty? When can we really say the truth and say it hard and blumtly. Again,. West's real problem is not that he told the truth, but that he just left it hanging, without explaining and proving it with example after the example.
Actually, at worst, West is being accused of McCarthyism. Now, some of the readers of this blog may be AOK with McCarthyism, but those of us who truly value freedom, aren't too interested in returing this country to witch hunt trials and whatnot. n nAt best, he showed how clueless he really is.
wow…no judgment there! n ncommentary doesn't need any more trolls. please find another website more to your liking. may I suggest huffpo?
How is this "McCarthyism"? He's in no way shape or form calling, say for hearings. Also: Um. McCarthy was right in this sense: there were communists in US government. That may have been their constitutional right, but that didn't change that they believed what they believed. nYou calling West a McCarthyist is McCarthyism.
Sorry, we are there already. Listen to a few of Obama's speeches and look at his policies. The Tail Gunner is envious from the grave. He obviously just didn't think big enough So no wonder Obama's acolytes call him"The One". He's just the latest iteration of a very old style. You want "Witch Hunts"? Eric Holder come on down!
Seems West is a perfect balance for Romney. White/Black, businessman/ex-military, soft-spoken/out-spoken, moderate conservative/ new-movement conservative, political family/ political new-comer, North/South … that's all I can think of. And while the two would have a lock on conservative votes, West might not appeal to moderates … but isn't that Mitt's place? n nThe GOP has a wealth of qualified VP candidates, I think West is best.
He should have stuck to the term Marxists and then would have been correct.
West is a very good man. But we MUST beat Obama, and this may not help. That is the issue.
West isn't going to be the VP nominee, Vandy, but I agree this could be a distraction. now that Romney is (all but) the nominee, we need to focus all our thoughts, actions, and prayers to defeating Obama. nothing else matters right now.
Unfortunately, West's future is more likely to be with Fox TV or a similar employer than in the US Congress.
Alana: It's likely he was speaking in at least semi-jest. It's like when someone asked (George Schultz?) if Reagan had ever been to a Communist country. He said, well, President Reagan's been to Massachusetts.
The University of Massachusetts' Economics Department now hosts the annual (International) conference on Marxist Economics and has been doing so since the mid-late '90s. With the Soviet Union gone and the ChiComs studying finance, it probably is the only place in the world where it could be hosted.
What is wrong with what West said. The Democrat party is a socialist party, indistinguishable from parties that wear the name proudly like the French Socialists and the German Social Democrats. The left wing of the Democrat party is solidly Marxist. There is no distance between them and the most left wing groups you can find out there. If West has committed a gaffe, it is a Kinsley gaffe — a truth that should not be uttered in front of the electorate.
Beats me why calling a spade a spade is incendiary. If it walks like a communist, talks like a communist, and quacks like a communist–it's a communist!
What is the difference between a "Progressive" and a "Communist"? Are not both secular materialists who deny there is a God who cares what we do? Are not both proponents have Statist government concentrating power and wealth in a few (despite misusing words that work like "democracy") and centralizing command and control of the economy in the government in direct antithesis to American Constitutional Limited Government, Economic Freedom, Individual initiative and Personal Responsibility based on Judeo-Christian ethic. Communism is not allegiance to a foreign power; it is allegiance to Fabian Socialism. n nRep. West was, and is, right and, probably, did not go far enough in pointing out the threat to the Constitution that Progressives have proven to be. n nOf course, Rep. West may have gone too far in smearing Communists as Democrats.
[a joke]
Tempest in a Teapot. There is no ticket stronger than Romney/West. It brings Black/White, North/South, privilege/working man, introvert/extrovert, GOP moderate/GOP modernist, and more. n nOf all the possibilities for veep: West is best!