Allen West Draws Fire From All Sides In New Congressional District

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) hasn't been a candidate in Florida's 18th Congressional District for long, but already there are a number of people prepared to complicate his road to reelection.

On Tuesday, Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder, a Republican, announced that he decided to challenge West following the congressman's decision to switch to the more GOP-friendly district from the 22nd, which he currently represents.

West's move had a lot to do with Crowder's decision to jump into the race.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Crowder explained that he's running "to provide some local representation for a new district -- rather than having someone who's not really familiar with the district coming in and purporting to represent the people here. I just think the people need to have that option. If they choose to elect an outsider, that's their choice."

Crowder isn't the only challenge from the right that West might have to contend with.

The Palm Beach Post reports on Wednesday that South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson is considering a third-party challenge to West, also over his belief that the 18th Congressional District needs a non-transplant option this fall.

"Congressman West doesn't live in this district. I've lived in this district four years," said Wilkinson, according to the Post. "There's local people in politics that may have considered running in that district who live there. Why shouldn't they?"

Wilkinson, whose Tea Party group hosted West at some of its events, will make a final decision about his candidacy in the next few weeks, the Post reports.

Democrat Patrick Murphy also displayed some excitement at the prospect of playing foil to West, following him to the 18th District this month after having previously intended to campaign against fellow Democrat and West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel for the party's nomination in the 22nd District.

Regardless of the reasoning behind a campaign, West could prove a tough challenge. The bombastic freshman congressman put up strong fundraising numbers recently, bringing in $1.75 million in the last quarter of 2011 and reporting $2.7 million total cash on hand.

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Comments

[JoeQPublic for President]

02:18 PM on 02/27/2012

This man is dangerous. He will likely be US President in 2016 or 2020, when the NDAA 2012 security state is activated. http://www.JustBelieve2012.com

[Dieter Zerressen]

11:32 AM on 02/18/2012

Florida needs to pass a law that requires a potential congressman to have lived at least one year in their district. This kind of carpetbagging is disgusting and sad that the voters fall for it. We have a congresswoman here in Palm Springs, California who actually lives in Florida!

[texasphd]

12:52 AM on 02/17/2012

I like this guy. No, wait, I'm think of Adam West.

[rrodrig843]

10:10 PM on 02/16/2012

Way to go Florida, Grayson, Frankel,and now Murphy. Go blue Florida !!!!!!!!!

[Bettaman]

03:31 AM on 02/24/2012

We will!

[geronimospgs]

07:48 PM on 02/16/2012

At least Judas got thirty pieces of silver for betraying Christ. Black Republicans betray their people for scraps from the white man's table.

[Berettasskeeter]

09:18 AM on 02/17/2012

Really? You want Congressmen to represent their ethnic group, and NOT their constituents? Wouldn't that be a betrayal of their Oath of Office????
Semper fi

[aearthling59]

05:30 PM on 02/16/2012

His Black History Month speech in front of the congress was brilliant. I hope blacks get a chance to read it.

[sanddc]

11:01 AM on 02/26/2012

Why would any black listen to this Oreo?

[Top Level]

05:06 PM on 02/16/2012

Allen West for President

[conversations17]

05:52 PM on 02/16/2012

President of what? Not my country!!

[FoxJunkie]

08:06 PM on 02/16/2012

amen

[Top Level]

10:25 AM on 02/17/2012

:-)

[pat mcintyre]

04:49 PM on 02/16/2012

Allen West..........now here is a pcs of work; a man born black wanting to be white. He has nothing to offer but his color........loud-mouthed and opinionated. "My secret Clearing is Higher then the Presidents".......not so!!!! His Military Career was based on a reward program...."not what you knew but who you knew". Old Allen is sitting REAL pretty........almost $200,000.00 for being a GOP'er and about $100,000.00 for being in the Service.........with FREE medical etc etc.
What does a CLOWN like him know or would understant about the 99% of Americans.

[Top Level]

05:06 PM on 02/16/2012

That is Colonel Allen West to you

[whysaduck]

05:31 PM on 02/16/2012

Actually he's Rep. Allen West, a circumstance that will soon be rectified.

[conversations17]

05:53 PM on 02/16/2012

I think he's an idiot to Pat, just like so many others...myself included, he is a non-factor!

[Mark Fey]

09:24 PM on 02/16/2012

I hear he had to promise to NEVER carry his service pistol ever again.

[onitis]

03:25 PM on 02/16/2012

Over twenty years in the army as an officer and only a ly col.?Thats very ordinary not exceptional.In the days of affirmative action perhaps if he were white he would only be a major or made to resign for not making major quick enough.So he is not exceptional so why would we want him in Washington?He also left the army with an article 15 in which he paid a stiff fine something rare for a field grade officer.Although not trained in interrogation,he attempted to interrogate an iraqi policeman he suspected of plotting against him.He teetered on the borderline of torturing that prisoner who has since not been charged.As a former army pfc i have a good idea of what a lt col would do to one of his men for a similar mistake.

[aearthling59]

05:31 PM on 02/16/2012

He placed the lives of his men FIRST and then since he knew his actions were not according to the manual it was HE that told the military. I'm glad he saved the lives of his men.

[onitis]

08:24 PM on 02/16/2012

Having been in the military in a war i can tell you most of the officers care more for their careers advancement then the "men".If there is a difficult or dangerous mission these guys will say "my men volunteer for the mission" even though they didnt even know there was any mission and even though he personally wasnt going.They go maybe get killed or wounded,the mission is a success he gets a medal andor a promotion.I saw it myself a lt col hid in his trailer during the TET offensive wouldnt come out to make an important decision in turn my lt made the wrong decision killing him.That was worth a silver star,not to my lt who died but to the lt col who was hiding.

[oink2u2]

10:11 PM on 02/16/2012

Read the story about the incident: he didn't "save" doodly-squat

[Donald J Sullivan]

02:58 PM on 02/16/2012

WEST is the perfect example of how our representative ACTUALLY DO NOT REPRESENT US! This is the most detached self absorbed idiot there is in politics today. I am sure he is either mentally ill or on some form of drugs. He is an embarrassment to all races! I do believe mickey mouse can beat this fool when he is up for re-election. Get out West Both parties HATE you..fool! Dan Quayle was an Einstein compared to this guy!

[Aurical]

05:04 PM on 02/16/2012

If people actually thought for themselves and didn't support him just because he has an R after his name we would be better off. This is what we get as long as money trumps reason.

[FoxJunkie]

08:08 PM on 02/16/2012

do u live in his district?

[Donald J Sullivan]

08:13 PM on 02/16/2012

Nope but his major opponent is my representative. He actually lives in the neighborhood next to mine.

[Ziegler21WP]

02:32 PM on 02/16/2012

There are plenty of oddballs in public office but West wins the title of Representative Creepy-Guy. Please let me know who will run against him and I'll send that person money.

[pghpensfan]

02:18 PM on 02/16/2012

Gee, looking over all the comments below, I can't help but wonder if those who are writing negative things about West are the same people who call Republicans "R a c i st" for writing / saying similar things about Obama?

[unikornicopia]

02:12 PM on 02/16/2012

Allen West is a patriot, a hero, and unapologetic about his strong values and beliefs - all things the 'entitlement gen' just doesn't get. Furthermore, the media and Dems are terrified of him - too bad. The man is here to stay. Its called tough love. Take your medicine. "Man up".

[pookie01nj]

02:15 PM on 02/16/2012

Yes, thank God there is someone who will stand up there and defend and be proud of this country.

[Brian Gilmer]

03:09 PM on 02/16/2012

God help the people who need him to represent him while he is busy standing up there and making people proud. Being a public servant is about serving not about making people proud.

[stacknef]

04:02 PM on 02/16/2012

So it doesn't matter to you he was run out of the Army by "retirement" instead of the court martial he was facing....? Some "stand up" guy, he isn't...

and after November, he will just be like a bad taste left in the mouth after eating something rotlten.

[Donald J Sullivan]

03:02 PM on 02/16/2012

Yeah so was OLIVER WEST!

[tlee47ftw]

02:03 PM on 02/16/2012

Fortunately, there will be two chances to remove Congressman West from office. The primary, where one of his own party might do so, or the election, where a Democrat might do so. Either way the country in general and Florida in particular will be better off.

[Brian Gilmer]

03:09 PM on 02/16/2012

With Former Representative West on Fox News waiting for his next opportunity to run for public office.

[Aurical]

05:11 PM on 02/16/2012

"Next up on Fox and Friends we have military expert Allen West to discuss how the President wants to start war AND lose it!"

[UMUVAUM]

01:51 PM on 02/16/2012

Brave Col. West lives in Wasserman-Schulz's district but wouldn't run against her--just run his mouth against her. Now he is searching for another district. Guess he can't stand the heat. I thought our military officers were braver. They would take on anybody. Guess not.

[Brian Gilmer]

03:10 PM on 02/16/2012

It is a tactical re-deployment not a retreat.

[stacknef]

04:05 PM on 02/16/2012

He isn't brave.,,,,,,.taking his weapon to the head of an unarmed and tied up man is pure cowardice. All West has is his mouth. Unfortunately it isn't connected to anything else, like a working brain.