Congressman Allen West Goes on Tirade Against DNC Chair in Email

Google Images: Allen West

What a fun day to be interested in politics! Yesterday, the House debated the "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act" that Republicans have been touting for the last couple of days. The mood on the floor was, to say the least, very tense. At one point, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor started yelling at Rep. Chris Van Hollen and on numerous occasions the congresswoman presiding over the debate had to gently remind the congressman delivering remarks that all speeches should be addressed to her and not at each other. 

This sets the background for what happened later in the day. After freshman tea-party darling Allen West delivered his remarks and left the House floor, Congresswoman and DNC Chairman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz delivered some tough rhetoric direction specifically towards West:

"The gentleman from Florida. who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries, unbelievable from a Member from South Florida," Wasserman Schultz said, saying the legislation "slashes Medicaid and critical investments essential to winning the future in favor of protecting tax breaks for Big Oil, millionaires, and companies who ship American jobs overseas."

This fairly routine statement from Schultz, based largely off of the same talking points that Democrats had been delivering for the entire four hour discussion, apparently incensed Congressman West and drew a reprehensible email that was subsequently leaked to the press. 

The full text of the email:

From: Z112 West, Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Cc: McCarthy, Kevin; Blyth, Jonathan; Pelosi, Nancy; Cantor, Eric
Subject: Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz

"Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!

I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior……which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.

You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!"

Steadfast and Loyal
Congressman Allen B West (R-FL)

This is not the first time that West has made controversial remarks. Along with criticizing liberals as pot-smoking buffoons, he has enraged muslims through his blatant anti-muslim comments:

Speaking at a rally in Fort Lauderdale, Allen West said: "Every time we give them land, they want more.  Every commission decision, from the 1937 Peel Commission all the way to the Oslo Accords.  And just recently, when Benjamin Netanyahu said 'We will suspend for ten months,' they said it's still not enough. You're dealing with an enemy that only wants one thing and that is, a return of the Holocaust.  

West's comment are reprehensible. Wasserman-Schultz has been in public service since 1995 and has been in Congress since 2005. Allen West, on the other hand, was swept into office in 2010 solely because of a wave election in which anti-incumbent fever raged high. I usually can respect almost all congressman, even if I disagree with their ideology. Congress is a hollowed place, a place where smart and pragmatic thinkers hash out their differences and attempt to do what's best for the country. Even if I may disagree with what many congressman say, I recognize their genuineness in trying to solve America's problems.

I cannot say the same for West. West has consistently gone on the offensive against anyone who criticizes him. But instead of sticking to the issues, like Wasserman-Schultz did in her rebuke of his ideology, West immediately insults the other person in a much more harmful, person, and reprehensible manner. West is a crybaby, who cannot take it but loves dishing it out. 
He is the epitome of everything that is wrong about the tea party movement: a loudmouth, overly ambitious congressman who badmouths other's and attacks them personally but is unable to handle even the slightest criticism against his ideology. 

After watching both speeches and reading the completely unnecessary email presented above, I'm pretty sure I can tell you which one of these two is "vile, unprofessional, and  despicable" and needs to "shut the heck up" (Hint: It sure as heck isn't Wasserman-Schultz).