A Note To Reps McCotter And West

First, let me say, I RT'd Rep. Thad McCotter's Tweet yesterday, as I thought it made good sense, while not realizing it was linked to any talk of primary-ing Rep. West, or questioning his dedication to conservatism. For the record, I also supported Speaker Boehner's efforts yesterday and endorsed Rep. West's prudent decision, while also respecting those who felt differently.

RT @LisaDeP: .@ThadMcCotter: Time has come 4 the Tea Party 2 grow up & the Rep Party 2 wake up; & come tgthr 2 serve & save ths gr8 nation."

This via the Hill.

"On the right, take note," McCotter said on the House floor. "It is as unwarranted and injurious for a Republican to call a Tea Partier a hobbit as it is for a Tea Partier to call a Republican a RINO."

Furthermore, in my opinion, anyone taken seriously, or desirous of being taken seriously by those who support the broader Tea Party movement, as I do, wouldn't consider calling Rep. West a RINO, let alone suggest primary-ing him.

Finally, as it needs to be said and reinforced, particularly as Democrats are seizing upon the ridiculous "extemist" tag to deride the movement and some Republicans, including during the current debt ceiling debate, any Right-side media personalities pushing it for any reason only demonstrate their complete ignorance of the movement, while doing a terrible disservice to it, whatever their reasons. End of story.

Levin is a little ticked that certain people are using the threat of primarying Allen West to attack the Tea Party, asking “are they trying to get their ratings up?” He says first and foremost that West is a solid Congressman and even though he strongly disagrees with him on the Boehner Plan, he says there’s no way we are going to do better than West in his district:

Comments

[smitty]

For what it's worth, the voting has mirrored the struggle for liberty.
It's going to be this sort of struggle for a good, long while.
Victory goes to those who (a) show up, and (b) succeed at attrition warfare.

[Sean]

I reserve the right to call 'RINO' as I see it. Who cares if that makes me a Hobbit in John McCain's eyes? It's not like he has any remaining credibility.

[Dan Riehl]

You're free to call whomever whatever you want, that's America. What isn't free, is credibility, or being taken seriously.

[gary gulrud]

So Dumbass McCotter thinks I'm immature because we've gotten nothing done in two swings--2011 Budget and Debt Ceiling. No tax reform, no tort reform, no repeal of LiarsCare, no defunding of EPA, SEC or Education, no spending cuts(0.7% max), barely an audit of Fed, nada on entitlements--diddly squat.

What a useless tw*t. Primary everyone. What's keeping McLame's myocardial infarction?

[Ragspierre]

One of the men I admire most in the world is Dr. Thomas Sowell.

He came down on this thing differently than I did.

I hope nobody here is dumb enough to suggest he is a RINO (or COIN, as I calls them).

I can see how people of conscience and rock-solid conservative values would not see eye-to-eye here.

[bbinfl-22]

Look I actually live in West's district and voted for him as did my wife. However, one of the things he guaranteed us that he would do was help curtail spending and now when it has come time to put up or shut up he sold us out. I wouldn't characterize the guy as a rino but that doesn't change the fact that I feel like he lied to us to get a vote. I know, he's a politician, but it will take me a while to believe anything he promises to do for us in this district. Actions speak louder than words do. Besides, if they don't fight this fight now then when do they? IMO they had a stronger bill with the 1st one, CCB with the 3T in cuts, and should have fought based on that one.

[2nd Treatise]

Our fight to save even the idea of a representative republic is not only with the statists, who have used Fabian gradualism to get us to this point, it's also with their enablers who view themselves as welfare state managers. I don't take issue with Sowell or West who have been consistent in their criticism of spending. Though I strongly disagree with their arguments, their views are not illegitimate.

McCotter is largely irrelevant, however, someone who has been allowed to escape scrutiny is Paul Ryan. I didn't support his "pathway" because it continues the unabated growth of government. Let's look at his record. He supported TARP, the auto bailout and now the Boehner bill. We shire folk have a legitimate beef with the welfare state managers who continue to provide cover for and enable the statists who are debasing the republic.

[jann]

Agree with bbinfl-22, sorry if I got ur name wrong it's light, anyway, I agree West not standing strong when needed, this was the time and the others got more for hanging in there. West and Elmers were the first, I don't know what Boehner promised them but he wasn't put in there for the GOP or Boehner. McCotter telling us to grow up, West with Laura fri on the radio calling us schizophrenic, McCain calling us Hobbits, I like that one, Bill OReilly calling us irresponsible, who else besides the left calling us the usual racists, murderer, terrorists, Nazi's, homophobic, Islamophobic, crazy, and on and on and on, blah blah blah. And they are still there trying to give Obama our money. Rand Paul on Fox with Cavuto this morning said he offered Obama 2 trillion and he will fix the debt problems and O said NO, Rand is a smart man. There is something wrong with Obama, seriously, enough! The Reps should walk out and slam the door. Stand strong peeps we will succeed :)grrr

[jann]

One more thing, are all the talk show hosts that bashed us going to continue by working with the left?? Tammy Bruce was to fill in for Laura all week, I wonder if she will cancel that?? Hope not, Tammy will gain a lot of listener's after last weeks stab in the back, not cool Laura!!

[DaMav]

Good blogpost.

I've always considered myself an active supporter of the Tea Parties if not a 'member' (huh, is there a Credentials Committee?) but attacking Allen West or anyone like him is Friendly Fire and if folks can figure that out they ought to be kept away from the political ordinance.

[DaMav]

s/b "can't" figure that out

[bbinfl-22]

So just out of curiosity DaMav are you saying that those of us that he actually represents are not allowed to express our disgust at our congressman reneging on what he promised to do when he got to DC especially when that thing is so important to the future of our country? It's all fine and dandy calling Wasserman-Scuzz the pig she is but that is like saying grass is green or water is wet. We wanted out rep to take a stand against spending and not to keep caving to the dims and he didn't. What ever happened to actually holding our elected representatives accountable?

[Huey]

There are bedrock principles upon which to stand.

This is not such a case.

I think that our Speaker botched the job in this negotiation. Frankly, I'm really not sure if he ever really had a chance not to botch it, since, from the outset, he and just about every other person in Congress knew that the Republicans would have to, ultimately, vote for an increase in the debt ceiling.

Kinda hard to wring concessions from the other side when the other side knows how you're going to vote even if you don't get a dang thing...

[astonerii]

Ever notice how the longer someone has been in office, the more progressive they become, the more institutionalized their positions become. West has already made that move in 7 months. So, arguing that primarying him is totally against the ideals of the Tea Party, like our esteemed host here is saying, seems pretty ridiculous. If he is the best we can get, then a primary should give no problem to him. If he is following what his constituents want him to do, a primary should give no problem to him. If on the other hand, the people in his district could do better, and or he is not following what his constituents want him to do, a primary will focus him on what they want from him, harden him on his conservative bonafides if that is what they want from him. Basically, it keeps politicians in check, something that has been severely missing from our government until recently. Looking at Utah, those primaries have done a world of good for getting Utahans representation in the capital.

[Ragspierre]

"West has already made that move in 7 months."

Nuts.

But as to primary challenges...bring them on. That is just a good idea. Let the strongest horses win the derby.

[Right Klik]

Some Republicans are unprincipled, opportunistic RINOs, and some Tea Partiers are naive and impatient.

Elder Republican statesmen who fancy themselves more mature than the average Tea Partier would do well to demonstrate their level-headed maturity and sophistication by educating and encouraging the Tea Party.

Republicans who instead deride and demoralize the Tea Party are snobs and cowards.

[Ragspierre]

Dittos, Right Klik.

[Jaynie59]

What I find unfortunate is the notion that Allen West is somehow the darling of the Tea Party and any and all concerns about his voting record and time in office is now automatically used as "proof" that the Tea Party is everything the liberal narrative says they are.

In other words, West is being used to turn the "purists" against each other. It is now pretty much impossible for any true conservative to run against West in a primary without being attacked no matter how sincere their motives are.

West is vulnerable for one very simple reason: he does not live in the district he represents. Believe it or not, this is not a well known fact now but you can be damned sure it will be by the time the next election comes along.

[AZVick]

Whatever West did, he's done. I am disappointed in his vote but I take issue with his unwarranted and hypocritical excoriation of the tea party.

[Ragspierre]

"I take issue with his unwarranted and hypocritical excoriation of the tea party."

Well, let's get real here, people.

1. there is no "tea party" The Taxed Enough Already movement is not a party...certainly not yet.

2. West said some tea party people were schizophrenic. Some are, we know that. We are people, and people are not really consistent things always. I have heard people at TEA Party rallies say things like, "Leave my Medicare alone"...which is laughably inconsistent.

3. nothing West said is "hypocritical". Nor was it "excoriation".

4. I doubt it was even "unwarranted" to be highly frustrated at the fickle nature of people. Maybe West can be critiqued for not being more aware of this too common human trait, but that's about all.

[Elmo]

West learned politics is some quite nasty biz (one woulda thought he already knew this ... really). I could have just as easily taken his point of view. I waited. I watched. And waited some more. Gathering more data points.

But West, he showed his cards a wee bit early (just a wee bit). Now, if any plan/deal put forth, was square ... quid pro quo ... the real fookin deal. Then he would have seemed a man of reason. I believe his intentions. I believe in the man. And be happy to share a (virtual) beer with any Flowrida's in West's neck of the woods (who are quite surprised to find their bottom's are a lil sore this week). It's YOUR vote. F*ck yeah. It is within the realm of possibility, he was looking at the electoral calendar (don't know). Straining, while looking at it, disbelieving he was already engaged a struggle for reelection? He trusted Boehner. I seriously doubt he will again.

[Ricky]

Why must we treat West different than any other politician who does not keep his word? This is now the 5th time that he dissappointed with his voting.

Pigford and Boehner-bil, he also voted against stopping the 100 billion that Bachmann said we could prevent immediately from going to implementing Obamacare, the other one I don't remember, but I remember those who paid attention was upset with his vote, the rest of us were still too impressed with his smooth-talking.

If he voted with Boehner that would not be as bad as him doing that an then turn around and call his supporters crazy. Just another arrogant condescending politician, Allen West.

Who does Mark Levine and people like him think they are to tell voters what to do?

[angelatc (@AngelaTC)]

Getting the TEA Party to tolerate transgressions on the one issue that is supposed to unite them is the GOP wet dream.

Levin is wrong-headed about this. The TEA Party's only requirement is hard-core fiscal conservatism. Leave the foreign policy and social issues outside the meetings (I;m talking to you, Judson P) and vote for spending less money across the board, and the party will be stronger.

Cave every time the demagogues cry wolf, and nothing will change.

[Xiaoding]

From Weird and Pissed Off

"Oh, Colonel...really?
Commenter "Grandpa" at iOTW sums up the recent actions of Allen West. To say I'm disappointed is on the level of saying that outer space is slightly chilly.

FACT: Congressional bill #1 in 2011 was a vote to defund Obamacare. Allen West did not support it and voted NO.

FACT: Allen West voted to continue FUNDING for the fraud that is Pigford.

FACT: Rep Kings Bill to defund the Libyan war and call Obama to task on his violation of the war powers act. Allen West voted no. He voted to fund Obama’s war.

FACT: Allen West disparaged, the Tea Party with name calling. Sure he twisted himself in knots saying people misunderstood. But I heard him. There was no misunderstanding.

FACT: Allen West voted to support the raising of the Debt Ceiling. A specific platform plank he used as a talking point in his election effort at 36 different venues in speeches. He promised on 36 different public occasions to vote AGAINST raising the debt limit and borrow more money.

Principles matter, perhaps not to progressives who are comfy in the land of hypocrisy and lies, but a conservative, a real patriot, should never be comfy there or even know where the flippin place is. It shouldn’t even be on their map.
"Steadfast and loyal," Col. West? Really? You were elected to take a stand against the Obama regime, sir. Remember? What happened to that?"

West is a liar and a traitor.

Oh dear, have I commited a faux paw? It seems we are all held to account, except for those who are not!

Some issues are beyond good manners.

[Elmo]

Yeah Xiaoding ... proof of the puddin's in the eating. Was gunna follow that sentence, with a gratuitous: 'cough/spit'. But even if no challenger emerges to West? His record's now there, for the Dem challenger to readily exploit. I am feeling a little cheap and used myself. Never met the man. Never shaken his hand. Looked him in the eye. Now, not so sure I would want to?

The whole entirety of the debt ceiling debacle makes me sad (yesterday it made me sick and nauseous). Weren't his specific actions, per se. We can all disagree at one time, or another (to be sure). But we looked to him for leadership. We put our faith in him, our trust.

Be a long road back for him. Be interesting to see if he makes it. Sh*t, the country might not make it.

Thanks Al, thanks for nothing.