Rep. Allen West "80 House Democrats Are Communist Party Members"

[jimmy olsen]

I hold here in my hand...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/allen-west-democrats-communist-party_n_1417279.html

 
Allen West: I've 'Heard' 80 House Democrats Are Communist Party Members

WASHINGTON -- As many as 80 House Democrats are communists, according to Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.).

West warned constituents at a Tuesday town hall event that he's "heard" that dozens of his Democratic colleagues in the House are members of the Communist Party, the Palm Beach Post reported. There are currently 190 House Democrats.

West spokeswoman Angela Melvin later defended West's comments -- and clarified to whom West was referring.

"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," Melvin said in a statement to The Huffington Post.

West's campaign also sent over the transcript of the actual exchange that took place during the town hall to show that West was asked directly about the role of communists in the House.

Moderator: What percentage of the American legislature do you think are card-carrying Marxists or International Socialist?

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.

Some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus confirmed that they are not, in fact, members of the Communist Party.

"I can confirm that Congresswoman Baldwin is not a communist," said Jerilyn Goodman, spokeswoman for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), a vice chair of the caucus.

"Chellie is a Democrat, a farmer and a Lutheran but no, she is not a Communist," said Willy Ritch, spokesman for Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), also a vice chair of the caucus.

During the same event, which took place at Jensen Beach, the freshman Republican said President Barack Obama wouldn't have a public debate with him over their policy differences because he was "scared." The president was in Florida on Tuesday giving remarks about the economy and holding campaign events.

"I really wish that, standing here before you, was Allen West and President Obama," West said, according to the Palm Beach Post. "We could have a simple discussion. But that ain't ever gonna happen."

When an audience member asked why, West said in "a mocking voice" that it was because Obama "was too scared."

WATCH West's comments in the video above.

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. -- Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) later criticized West's "outrageous" claims.

"Calling fellow Members of Congress 'communists' is reminiscent of the days when Joe McCarthy divided Americans with name-calling and modern-day witch hunts that don't advance policies to benefit people's lives," Grijalva and Ellison said in a joint statement. "We hope the people of Florida's 22nd Congressional District will note that he repeatedly polarizes the American people instead of focusing on their interests."

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post stated that West made the remarks at Florida Atlantic University. He made the statement at Jensen Beach.

[Neil]

To be fair, most Republican members aren't especially interested in advancing policies to benefit people's lives.

[KRonn]

"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," Melvin said in a statement to The Huffington Post.

The Democratic party sure ain't what it used to be....     

   

Hehe... still wondering what the Republican party is trying to be.   

[grumbler]

Hehe... still wondering what the Republican party is trying to be.   

Laughed at, apparently.  I don't think that, even in Florida, calling one's opponents "communists" gains one anything but disdain.

I am guessing that Allen West will be, by this time next year, unemployed and living back under that rock.

[KRonn]

Hehe... still wondering what the Republican party is trying to be.   

Laughed at, apparently.  I don't think that, even in Florida, calling one's opponents "communists" gains one anything but disdain.

I am guessing that Allen West will be, by this time next year, unemployed and living back under that rock.

I would tend to agree.

[Eddie Teach]

Hehe... still wondering what the Republican party is trying to be.   

Laughed at, apparently.  I don't think that, even in Florida, calling one's opponents "communists" gains one anything but disdain.

I am guessing that Allen West will be, by this time next year, unemployed and living back under that rock.

He's a black Republican, he'll get as many chances to fuck up as Michael Steele did.

[Razgovory]

Batman said this?

[Darth Wagtaros]

Batman said this?

In the Nightmares of Futures Past storyline from the late 80's he actually ran for Congress using his alias, Matches Malone. 

[jimmy olsen]

Batman said this?

In the Nightmares of Futures Past storyline from the late 80's he actually ran for Congress using his alias, Matches Malone.

Why wouldn't he just run as Bruce Wayne? 

[Darth Wagtaros]

Batman said this?

In the Nightmares of Futures Past storyline from the late 80's he actually ran for Congress using his alias, Matches Malone.

Why wouldn't he just run as Bruce Wayne? 

Not being a 1980's comic book writer I wouldn't know what market drives were in effect. I guess billionaire Bruce Wayne was too much a playboy to be taken seriously.

[CountDeMoney]

Even the Communist Party said Ed's full of shit:

A top official of the Communist Party USA on Wednesday ripped Rep. Allen West's "sad ploy" for claiming that as many as 80 Democratic members of the House are communists.

"I just think it's an absurd way to cast a shadow over his colleagues. It's kind of a sad ploy," Libero Della Piana, a vice-chairman of the national Communist Party, said of the Florida Republican's charge that about 80 House Democrats were members of the radical party.

"It's just guilt by association taken to an extreme," he told POLITICO. He also said there are no members of Congress who are members of the Communist Party – not even avowed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

"I think it's just absurd," Della Piana said.

[Ed Anger]

Wut did I do?

[mongers]

Even the Communist Party said Ed's full of shit:

A top official of the Communist Party USA on Wednesday ripped Rep. Allen West's "sad ploy" for claiming that as many as 80 Democratic members of the House are communists.

"I just think it's an absurd way to cast a shadow over his colleagues. It's kind of a sad ploy," Libero Della Piana, a vice-chairman of the national Communist Party, said of the Florida Republican's charge that about 80 House Democrats were members of the radical party.

"It's just guilt by association taken to an extreme," he told POLITICO. He also said there are no members of Congress who are members of the Communist Party – not even avowed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

"I think it's just absurd," Della Piana said.

Especially as there could well be less than 80 members of US communist party.   

Yes I know I'm exaggerating, but some of the long established British socialist and left wing parties have tiny memberships; iirc the Social Party of Great Britain had around 200 members, but I think that was before it split, yet again.   

[Razgovory]

Especially as there could well be less than 80 members of US communist party.   

Most of them are probably FBI agents.  Back during the Cold War the US government was the primary source of funds for the Communist Party of the United States.  The Second one was the Soviet Union.

[Capetan Mihali]

Especially as there could well be less than 80 members of US communist party.   

SWP is where the action's at.