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Subscribe to RSSUpdated 3:31 p.m. - Freshman Rep. Allen West (R-FL) claimed at a town hall meeting that about 80 members of Congress are communists, a remark which has drawn quick fire from opponents.
"I believe there's about 78 to 81 members of the democratic party that are members of the communist party," West told supporters at a town hall meeting in Jensen Beach, FL. He was responding to a question by a participant who asked, "what percentage of the American legislature do you think are card carrying Marxists?"
Doug Murray / Reuters
Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., claimed at a town hall meeting that about 80 members of Congress are communists, a remark which has drawn quick fire from opponents.
Asked to respond to the comments, West spokeswoman Angela Marvin told NBC News that the Congressman was referring to the 76 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
"The Congressman was referring to the 76 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus," Marvin said in a written statement. "The Communist Party has publicly referred to the Progressive Caucus as its allies."
"The Progressive Caucus speaks for itself," Marvin continued, "These individuals certainly aren't proponents of free markets or individual economic freedom."
West's office also referred to a post on the website for the Communist Party USA where it says they made a mistake by turning "away from our allies in Congress, the Progressive Caucus, and John Conyers" during their fight for a single-payer system being included in Obama's health care law.
Libro DellaPiana, who is one of the vice chairs of the Communist Party USA, called West's statements "ridiculous" and "a cheap shot."
"There are no members of Congress in the Communist party," DellaPiana said, "We support public parks and I assume Congressmen West does too, that doesn't mean he's a Communist."
Allen West has been thrust into the spotlight after a number of notable Republicans listed him as a possible running-mate for Mitt Romney in the general election. Of those who have called for West to be considered is Sarah Palin, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), and Herman Cain.
This isn't the first time West has criticized a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. In January of last year, West criticized Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep Keith Ellison (D-MN) as "someone that really does represent the antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established" because he is a practicing Muslim.
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I agree with him. I love Allen West's honesty, hope he's our V.P.!
Troy, the real Irony is, is that that this black puppet for Soros may lead our nation back to bondage..
Communists? Hahahaha that Propaganda came straight out of the 1960's!
Who does Congressman West believe he is...McCarthy?
Talk about Disinformation them "Boogie Bear" Communists are going to "Steal" America from your lawful Lords & Masters the Corporatist's if we aren't careful.
Oh how I long for the Good Ole Days of the USSR when America was free and these "War Mongers" in Washington DC had someone else to attack instead of the People of America!
Come join OWS at your neighborhood "Occupation" for the First General Strike in America this Generation on May 1st 2012 (if not sooner) for it is time for the American Spring and for real 99% of US to return to the Streets!
If these "Communists" could free their country why can't America free itself from this new "McCarthyism"?
Oh...He is a Tea Party member. So this does not surprise me. The more I hear from these "Freshman" Senators the more I question their education and motives. The party of "less government" is a Big Brother wannabe in disguise. When will people wake up and research the background of the people they elect? When the overwhelming call of "Elect anyone but...."drive you to do JUST THAT without some research it always bites EVERYBODY in the butt. From what I have seen and heard just about all these Tea Nuts need to be voted OUT!!!!
This clown will not serve another term in Congress....
This is one of the Krazy type guys that slip thru the cracks and show up in places that are troublesome to the world.
"Commies? You don't say! Well, yes, Representative West I'd really love to stay and chat... but I have to drive my Edsel home to watch a brand new episode of 'I Love Lucy' on the Motorola".
If you want to go back to the 1950's to fight in government, Representative West, you should at least make it a level playing field. Quite a few rights were unavailable to an African American man back when words like "Communist" was the scare word of the day; and a title as polite as 'African American' and certainly not 'Congressman' were uttered to a Black man. And you know who you have to thank for ending all that?
The Democratic party, and people who have voted for Democrats over the decades; we Liberals. We Progressives.
While not speaking for all Democrats, let me as a Democrat, say that you're welcome for your rights, Congressman West. Oh, and you might want to google a Wisconsin Senator by the name of Joseph McCarthy and study how things turned out for him way back then too.
wow -
all those commies .
and
One True Fool
Ah! The perfect running mate for the Vice-Presidents slot under The party of hate, Republican Party, is following in the footsteps of Hitler and other "great world leaders" in showing that if you get people to hate others that don't follow your dogma, they will follow your cause. The voters of this idiots district should be red faced ashamed.
The Democrats are the MASTERS of hate propaganda. They LIVE off of mudslinging. Spout your non-sense elsewhere.... -.-
MOST reps and senators DON'T care about the people's interest and safety...Of course its a republican saying that there are communists in our government---what? because some actually care about the people, and not for the companies that buy their elected officials?
Nope he said it because the Communist Party stated that the Progressive Congressional Caucus (democrats) were their allies. It's written just up above in the article that you obviously FAILED to completely read. If an organization calls another organization allies, they must like each other. It must mean they have similar goals and agendas.
I swear half of the people responding to this eithor don't know how to read or just read selectively, eliminating any portion of the article that they do not deam important. Kind of like mainstream media these days, they are just following their lead.
READ THE WHOLE DAMN ARTICLE PEOPLE!!!!!!!
so if the nazi party (or something equal as bad as the communist party) stated the the Republican party were there allies . that would makes it true?
Is it true? The truth here is that the Communist Party and the Progressive Congressional Caucus ARE, in fact, allies. Tell you what, get the Progressive Congressional Caucus to DENY they are allies with the Communist Party. Oh wait, they can't deny it because it's the truth.
Proof is always welcome and should be mandatory for such comments, but one thing is for certain. There have been commitments of the communists to infiltrate the US government for years. Just how well their efforts have succeeded may not be precisely known yet, but the wise should consider the possibility and be aware in case the number and their positions in our system become significant. There are many signs that some influences are altering certain traditional freedoms we had taken for granted.
Stevie - As your first sentence states "proof is always welcome", so where is the proof that communists are trying to infiltrate the US today? And which type of communists? Chinese? Cuban? North Korean?
West
said it because the Communist Party stated that the Progressive Congressional Caucus (democrats) were their allies. It's written just up above in the article that you obviously FAILED to completely read. If an organization calls another organization allies, they must like each other. It must mean they have similar goals and agendas.
I swear half of the people responding to this eithor don't know how to read or just read selectively, eliminating any portion of the article that they do not deam important. Kind of like mainstream media these days, they are just following their lead.
READ THE WHOLE DAMN ARTICLE PEOPLE!!!!!!!
so if the nazi party (or something equal as bad as the communist party) stated the the Republican party were there allies . that would makes it true?
Is it true? The truth here is that the Communist Party and the Progressive Congressional Caucus ARE, in fact, allies. Tell you what, get the Progressive Congressional Caucus to DENY they are allies with the Communist Party. Oh wait, they can't deny it because it's the truth.
"A potential running mate for Mitt Romney"............???????????
AAHAHAHHAAAA! HAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!
Ed-2874315,
Uh, I wouldn't give this fellow any more excuses. PTSD? I think not. Most of his career was in Field Artillery as an Operations Officer. These units are not on the front lines taking direct fire from an enemy force. They're "in the rear with beer." Didn't notice any major awards with a 'V' device, except a Army Commendation Medal (likely for a fire support mission). No Combat Infantry Award either. No, he might just be riding on the current "Support our Military" feeling and playing it for what it's worth. Seen quite a few 'gung-ho' types that never "saw the elephant." I think you got it right. Sorry state of affairs. "Good night Chesty, wherever you are."
You are a moron. I was also not combat infantry. I was a mechanic and was on the road in convoy's in a wrecker EVERY SINGLE DAY. If you look at the casualty statistics for IRAQ most deaths and injuries were caused by ambushes ON THE ROAD. IED mean anything to you. Your assumptions alone indicate you know NOTHING about the battlefield over there. Two weeks in country my unit got into a 40 minute firefight in an ambush. I can name 15 of my friends that are no longer alive and many more permanently wounded and ALL from a transportation unit. I also knew guys in arty units and they were used for FOOT PATROLS becuase their arty wasn't needed. You need to get your facts straight before opening your mouth about things you DON'T know.
Not to mention West ISN'T using PTSD as a justification for his statements. He made his statemen because the Communist Party stated that the Progressive Congressional Caucus (democrats) were their allies. It's written just up above in the article that you obviously FAILED to completely read. If an organization calls another organization allies, they must like each other. It must mean they have similar goals and agendas.
I don't know why everyone thinks the Founding Fathers were so magnanimous. They supported slavery, they supported genocidal policies towards the Native Americans and they legislated the systematic theft of the land of 25 million Native Americans. They supported the principles of the Roman Republic in that they based much of the Constitution on those ideals. The Roman Empire existed because it depended on slavery and the subjugation of the peoples whose land they conquered. The US exists today because it is the result of outright theft and the idea that we can kill anyone if they are a threat to our national interest, which means oil. Our foreign policy is based on oil and if we would use our national assets to create a non oil based economy we would not need to have a military Empire. All Empires implode under the weight of their internal bureaucracy because they consume too much of the wealth of the nation for sustenance. Bureaucracy consumes but produces nothing in return. It is like cancer in that it ultimately devours the patient and ultimately death. All Empires collapse and we will be no different.
Now I actually can partially agree with you. The Roman Empire slowly lost power and died because of its internal corruption. Nothing on this Earth lasts forever. Also you ARE RIGHT, our founding father weren't perfect. Neithor am I, nor are you, nor is anyone alive or that has ever been alive that was born of a man and a woman. But they did nail down what a good government should be like.
Just remember one thing, there are many forms of corruption and corporate greed is only one of them that is destroying this country from the inside out. Laziness and total amorality are also destroyers of solid communities. Just ask anyone that has been mugged for crack money. There are people out there that risk prison to steal a 6 pack of beer from convenience stores. Then you've got the people that drive to the grocery store in brand new cadillacs and then pull out the food stamps to pay for their groceries. Oh there are MANY more corruptions involved in our downfall than just corporate greed.
If you have the knowledge and the ability to work, best get some land and start growing vegetables and buy a few firearms. When it all goes to hell only those that know how to actually feed themselves will live and you can bet the ones driving to wal-mart in brand new cars using food stamps will burn your house down to get at your vegetable garden if thats what they have to do to keep from starving. When the Roman Empire fell, Europe went through more than a thousand years of hell called the dark ages.
Just remember the good ole addages, "history always repeats itself". Also, when it comes to being prepared, "It's better to have and not need, than to need and not have".
Nice words from the TOKEN boy for the repubs
The congressman obviously has a bad case of headinass. It's a difficult condition to treat because those afflicted with it seem to think their opinions are legitimate. The only real solution is an intervention by the voters.
Just like you seem to think your opinion is legitimate? I guess only you are entitled to an opinion? Besides, he wasn't stating an opinion. The Communist Party stated the Congressional Progressive Caucus were their allies. This means The Communist Party LIKES those Democrats. It's fact.
Such nonsense and fear-mongering. This is totally irresponsible behavior pandering to fanatics that harbor deep-seated hatreds. Communism collapsed twenty years ago, and it is not a serious threat to anyone. The only true Communism left is North Korea, and it is a crumbling nation.
The Republicans are more extreme than any political group in the existence of America.
They call one group a terrorist group another group Communists but they have failed to eleviate theirself of the racist and White-Only leadership that the Democrats have left behind.
The Republicans only believe in that white skinned people should be in places of political power because if they didn't they would have by now voted to have a non-white skinned person as their presidential candidate.
So why can't the Republicans elected a presidential candidate that isn't white? The reason being is because they still believe in their Aryan mastery over all other skin colors. If the Republicans were truely just and social like they paint theirself to be then they would have elected a non-white to be their leader.
Their excuse would be "We tried."
No what the Republicans did was to find someone of non-white skin color they know would not be elected a presidential candidate just to say that at least they tried to break the stereotype of not being an all exclusive white only party.
The Republicans are racists and segregationists and their policies will be the ruin of America.
This is the only reason why lap dogs like West say that things they do about non-republicans. Because people like West have been whipped into believing that they can do anything they want to do as long as they do not run for the presidential ticket as a Republican.
The Republicans hate of anything that is not of their religion and what they control has lead America into the war in the Middle East and even West's racists remarks can be seen as he points to those around him judging them to be inferior.
America will not survive if Republicans like West are elected to the White House as once they are in they will in essence create laws that will further extend the ability of a single religion to dictate down to Americans how we should live our lives and how to be.
Has President Obama once made a remark about any Americans personal belief? Has he once looked down his nose at others of difference and said that they were the enemy? Has he once portrayed himself to be a dictator unlike the Republicans constantly do when they say that the problems are coming from everyone else?
The real problem is the Republican Party/ Grand Old Party that still wants to believe that America let alone the world is the same as it was when they were growing up.
GOP = Racism and once again West has proven the Republican Party to be a white only theocracy.
Written by a true racist.......
Will there ever be a non-white Republican President?
Why not?
Obama was the first non-white Democrat president. So by your logic, the Democratic Party was a racist party before Obama. That's not exactly ancient history. Oh and while you, like so many other fools, like to throw the racism card around. The KKK was an organisation made up of white southern DEMOCRATS........ Pwned.....
Not only is it funny to read what this idiot has to say, it is just as comical to read what the Repub's responding on here have to offer. What a bunch of morons.
Bunch of "deep thought" in this comment right?
If Mr. West represents the people, then he needs to stop making a fool of himself. The witch hunt ended many years ago, and yet he is starting a hate race (pun intended) with out of focus comment; just to play along with a question; that honestly I believe was planted.
Mr. West is like a coconut, brown on the outside and white (arian) on the inside. With that you are not representing the people, nor defending the Constitution: Justice for ALL, and your are committing an injustice with those comments.
The Commie play??? RUFKM ?
This guy wouldn't know a "Communist" is he got bitch-slapped by one. What an idiot.
An idiot calling someone an idiot, just read the comment.
The congressman has more intelligence in his little toe than the whole lot of liberal commentators on here. If you believe our country is headed in the right direction, we are in a sad condition...
It would be if we could just stick all you nut jobs in Texas and Utah and let the grownups run the rest of the country.