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Firebrand Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., said Tuesday he had conceded in his bid for re-election to Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy.
Fourteen days after Election Day, West, a favorite of Tea Party conservatives who had sought a recount and raised the prospect of inaccuracies in the results, said in a statement that his legal team "does not believe there are enough over-counted, undercounted or fraudulent votes to change the outcome of the election."
"While many questions remain unanswered, today I am announcing that I will take no further action to contest the outcome of this election," West said.
Joe Skipper / Reuters
Republican Rep. Allen West speaks at a campaign stop with guests at SCORE South Palm Beach, a resource partner to the Small Business Administration, in Boca Raton, Fla. Oct. 18, 2012.
Murphy led by about 1,900 votes following a partial recount in the district.
He added a bit later on Fox News: "We're going to move ahead and we wish Congressman-elect Murphy very well, but I think that now is not the time to draw the process out."
West was a lieutenant colonel in the Army, during which time he served in the Iraq war. He successfully ran for Congress in 2010, aided by the Republican headwinds that year in his challenge to Democrat Ron Klein in a swing district. He sought re-election in a slightly more favorable district following the redrawing of congressional district boundaries prompted every decade by the Census.
The victory for Murphy adds to Democrats' pickup in the House, and disarms conservatives of one of their most brash voices in Congress. He, for instance, equated economic dependence upon government — through programs like Social Security — to slavery, and West called Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a fellow Florida lawmaker, "vile" and "not a lady."
West's departure from Capitol Hill also means that that Congress will lose one of its two black Republicans. West and South Carolina Rep. TIm Scott, R, are the only two African American members of the GOP conference; West was the only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
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Democrats can't tolerate a black man like West but re-elect jesse jackson from rehab while he's under multiple investigations. That's their type of guy!
That's because Illinois isn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer...and besides, insider boss Madigan pulls ALL the strings in Springfield.
Republican report card: Richard Nixon forced to resign BEFORE being impeached. His Vice Presient from New Jersay was DISBARRED for fraud. Duing George W's term, about 6 republicans in the House and Senate had to resign for various sex related scandals, including one trying to pick up pages. Oh yeah, the democrats have their scandals too BUT a couple of things: The republicans are the ONES WHO GO AROUND TALKING personal responsiblity and moraltiy all the time (clean up your own house first) AND for every scandal the democrats have, the republicans have about three. So, let' look at the score card: Republicans cant' get elected president EVEN WITH the huge financial problems, The republcians got their butts kicked out after one term under THE NEWT (New Gringrich) who was brought up on corruption charges. George W's FEMA chief was an Arabian Horse Judge, George W's Attorney General, the top law enforement officer in the US BROKE THE LAW trying to fire federal judges who weren't republicans. What else? The list goes on and on. Yeah, we have our own problems BUT you keep losing elections, including house and senate seats. I guess if you can't win, you can pour and take your bats and balls and go home.
West was a lieutenant colonel in the Army, during which time he served in the Iraq war.
And therein lies the TRUE problem with our military. When something like West can become a high ranking officer, it really isn't difficult to understand why quite a few of our highest ranking generals are morons...
hate to say it, but it is True. My son and daughter in law, each spent two tours in Iraq. Both have told me, that many officers in charge were uneducated morons, who made grade by just being subservant to the millitary, brown-nosing thier way up. Of course, some West Point grads, and highly educated folks ALSO become officers. But, for the most part, it just the Army Robots, who do what they are told, sign re-enlistment papers whenever they put them under thier nose (most usually have no where else to go) who seem to make grade.
The inmates run the Asylum in War. The crazier, the better, it seems. Its a wonder we don't lose more brave soldiers, with the ignorance of the leaders they choose.
This just makes me nuts: social security is defined as an "entitlement" and now compared to slavery. REALLY? I've been paying into SS since I started working at 16. The expectation to receive those payments back when I retire, is quite fair. I'm not asking for something I didn't pay into (unlike a whole bunch of people who stand in line with their hands out). I'm trying to get my head around the slavery analogy and quite frankly, it just doesn't compute.
Don't look for rational thought. He's Republican, after all!
By definition, SS is an entitlement. And, if you live based on actuarial charts, you will receive far more back than you paid. For example, if you made 60,000 for 45 years, you would pay in about $147,000. If you received the average return as of 2012, you would get back about $215,000 in 15 years.
Yes and if you were paid just the most basic interest on that 147K paid in over 45 years and it's adjusted for COL you would/should get back more than 215K. Oh wait, you think people should just get back the exact amount and not be compensated for their 45 years of someone else using their money or adjustments for COL? Pretty simple minded aren't you? By your own numbers the difference comes to 1511.11 per YEAR or 125.92 per month spread over 45 years wotrth of paying into the program. Oh the horrors!
If Allen West equates Social Security to "slavery", then I wonder if he's going to refuse it when he becomes eligible to collect.
West is a headcase. Everybody seems to know this. What is it about Republiclowns, not wanting to concede a loss? We had one here in Massachusetts. his name was Richard Tisae running for State Rep. He was beat by a, incumbant Democrat, John Tierney, who withstood a smear campaign because his wife was embroiled in an illegal gambling operation with her brothers. Tierney was exonerated by a court of law, YET, this idiot Tisae kept throwing his wifes problems up like the voters actually cared.. FOOL. Former Ma. Senator Scott Brown made his campaign about Elizabeth Warrens claim she made years ago about her having distant native American heritage. As her parents told her she did. I believe my parents, don't you? Make the point it, and move on. He didn't, and it cost him a re-election to the Senate. FOOL.. Voters saw him as just being redundant and mean spirited, over a dead issue.
Scott brown actually did concede with respectability. Tisae, waited for days and said one town, Lynn, miscounted the ballots. Lynn didn't lose the election, he did that on his own...
I have always said, ONCE THE TEA PARTY disappears into its 15 minutes of fame on the american political landscape, a party that CLAIMED to be a reform party BUT WAS REALLY an anti Obama, right wing religious and poltical party, hoping to seize power, turn back the clock on everything, undo labor laws, environmental laws, equal rights laws, and give power to the rich and powerful. PHONY AS A THREE DOLLAR BILL. It worked, like anything for a while. OUR FIRST NON WHITE PRESIDENT with progressive ideas and poplular support, gave the leftover George W Bush - Psycho Dick Cheney right wing religious ideologues the spark to light the fire. BUT VOTERS BEGAN TO SEE THE REAL AGENDA, and THANKS TO THE TEA PARTY GOT OUT AND VOTED FOR OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS. Good riddens, Tea Party. You were nothing but an embarrassment for the US to any of us who care about fairness, justice, and liberty (TELLING EVERYONE HOW TO LIVE IS CALLED GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE) and how the rest of the work sees us. Good riddens.
I still maintain the Tea Party is nothing more than an illusion created by the republicans in an attempt to distance themselves from GW Bush. You all remember the republicans at the end of the Bush term, they were referred to as the 21 per-centers. The let their crazies (the remains of the Birchers) out of the closet and funded their "movement" in an attempt to appear as if a "new" organization had sprung up. They called them the Tea Party and hid behind their crazy colonial dress and women with tea bags hanging off their hats and stood on corners with signs saying "Teabag Congress". oops they didn't think that one through did they? Problem is, once they unlocked the doors to the asylum, they couldn't control the monster they had created. So now they are left with a Speaker that can't even get his own bills passed and most likely hangs at the bar a LOT more and cries a lot, candidates such as Sharon "2nd amendment remedies" Angle and Christine "Is separation of church and state really in the constitution and oh yea, i'm not a witch" O'Donnell. They thought they were creating a "permanent majority" in 2010, then came 2012. Allan "lunatic" West, gone. Joe "deadbeat dad" Walsh, Gone. And about 7 others gone just as quickly as they came. Bottom line, they royally screwed themselves. And it's been quite entertaining watching the implosion.
I can't believe all these racist comments!!!!
It's so clear that you all fear a black man with views that differ from yours.
Bob, you can stop being afraid of the President.
That's not it at all. Have you listened to this guy? He should be in the looney bin regardless of his race, creed, color or sexual orientation.
Will any of the West fans please give us the details of why he left the Military?
Of course they won't.. That was yet another case where West had to admit he was wrong and did something that was stupid and Un-american!
Well this veteran was still on active duty when West left the military. I've read the actual story before all the political spin was put on it. I salute the man from one fellow service member to another.
So why was he FORCED out of the Military? Come on, tell us!
That West didn’t follow “proper procedures” in questioning the prisoner is undisputed. The colonel acknowledged that, in saying he did it in order to protect his men. The outstanding career officer said at his Article 32 hearing that he would “walk through hell with a gasoline can” in his hand if it meant he could save his troops. “I am prepared to lay down my life for any one of them, if need be,” he said.
That is part of it he took the retirement option, but hey I suppose you hate my guts too for being a conservative. You probably could care less of my service record or the sacrifices my family has made and is still making for the good of the nation.
West shot a pistol close to the head of a terrorist to scare him in order to extract information. The information West obtained did lead to the arrest of another terrorist but nothing more. You gotta break a few eggs to make a cake I guess.
"What do you mean I lost, me whom everyone loves?"
Mr. West is an atrophied turd. . . a Living Atrophied Turd.
If West had been a Democrat he would have claimed raceism.
He would have been elected.
If he were a democrat he would at least know how to spell racisim.
He would have been elected because he is Black.
There I fixed that for you Roadkill.
Democrats have a word for any black person who doesn't vote Democrat. It's a word usually reserved for hip hop and gangsta rap, and for any union organizer who doesn't contribute enough kickbacks to the DNC.
Dog Whistle?
Is there an "N" in "dog whistle"?
Pei - Don't show your true colors, M-kkkk.
Road - you are what you eat.
It's about time for this lover of communism, when it regards shipping American jobs to China for investment profits, to finally leave office! Allen West lost the election "fair and square"! Allen West was the wacko that spews "Democrats are communists because they want to give a minimum wage increase or protect workers rights, and jobs in America!"
This is Republican 101, at its best!
In two years, Americans can remove the rest of the Tea Party from the House of Representatives, who block our infrastructure repairs and FEMA funding!
These wackos on the right block our ability to change the tax code, allowing Romney to hide funds in the Cayman Islands, to skip paying taxes on them, while George Bush was just in the Caymans, promoting additional ways to hide more funds as a keynote speaker for the elites!
This exposes Republicans for what they are, the money brokers, who care only for greed, not American jobs! The jobs Republicans promote are in communist China! When Republicans say they are for jobs, jobs, jobs, we must always remember where they want them....in China, for the profits they can hide in the Caymans!
The Democrats need our continued support! We have another date in two years, folks! Prepare for it! The Republicans will have billions in hidden assets to spend defending their hidden nest-eggs! We must not forget what they have done, and what we must do to preserve this nation for all Americans, not just the rich ones!
Vote the Republicans out!
This is truly a joyous day! Maybe, even greater than the re-election of President Obama on November 6th. A true blue T-bagger member of the racist and hateful Repugnant-CON party! Oh happy, day!
Now we don't have to hear another whiney, T-bagger talking trash about what is wrong with our country, and not what is right. He is a disgrace to all true Americans! The divider is gone, let's move forward! Oh happy day!
I'm a true conservative and I say that West should have lost. He like many other would be conservatives just put up a bunch of tough talk with no results to show for it. True conservatism died a long time ago and will never return so get ready for your government cheese because it's coming.
No need to worry about him. He has a job at FOX waiting for him.
I see that delusional emo boys are slapping each other's rumps with wet towels over this election.
Bye bye, psycho. Get your stupid self outta there. This was the nuttiest republican in a party full of nutcases.
Left wing socialist liberals are out in force with their silly inconsequential comments. You dingle berries wouldn't know your butts from the ninth hole because of getting high on each others gaseous farts. LOL...............
So, you have the whole week off from school?
Or did you just drop out in 8th grade?
tad, that's right there with grover's "poopy head" comment. you prove liberals' points. go back to bed.
Ha, ha, ha, thought I'd give you all a taste of your own and it feels "dam" good too....................
Joe Walsh, Allen West, Paul "Lyin" Ryan, and Mittens need to form a band and go on tour!
Band of Brother Boobs?
singin' "i'm a loser."
He is a perfect example of AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROMOTIONS vice earning your position with expertise and integrity. Your position on a legitimate election result has diminished every level of [SUPPOSED]credibility you once had and earned.
Despite his politics the man was a patriot for serving his country and should be shown some respect and gratitude for his service.
Exactly
Tell us WHY he was forced to leave the military?
Or are you AFRAID of showing how unamerican this idiot is?
He was serving his country while you were home crapping in your pants and diddling little boys.
I already replied bud go back to your original request
At least you did not deny diddling little boys.
And yet another sore loser troll emerges from the woodwork...see ya, wouldn't wanna be ya...hitting ignore now, Buffarilla.
Maybe he was just taking time to work on his concession speech. I'm sure he didn't consider writing one ahead of time, much like that other arrogant loser!
I see the house negro,tea bagger finally conceded.
This pos needs a bullet,goodbye you,physco maniac
A physco maniac, you mean a crazy fitness trainer or a psychedelic person? That would be you MRNOABILITY, Ha, ha, ha.
How sad people voted against him based on his race. I guess liberals only vote for black santas.
Bwahahaha! (You forgot the /sarc tag!)
Not because of race, goofball. Because West is a dirt bag!
Tell us why he was FORCED out of the military, why don't you?
pdlenter Ignorance is not a virtue. No one voted him out because he was black. They voted him out because he was and is a hateful moron! The Tea Party paid to get him elected, but even with all the money that came to help him, the people saw through it. Race had nothing to do with it, unlike the treatment from your party towards Obama.