Days after stirring the political pot by calling Democratic members of Congress communists, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) was back in front of a microphone, taking aim at President Barack Obama's performance in handling the debt crisis.
Conservative New Media caught up with West at Palm Beach County's Tea Party "Tax Day" event on Sunday. The freshman congressman was asked whether Obama and Democrats were really addressing the debt crisis. He answered no, linking some ancient political thinking to the modern situation.
"It's much the same as Alexis de Tocqueville talked about in 'Democracy In America' -- that this American republic will collapse once Congress and obviously our president realizes they can bribe the public by using the public's treasury," West said.
West drew headlines last week for his Tuesday town hall remarks, where he noted that he believes there are "about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat party who are members of the Communist Party." Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) headed the House Democrats' response, noting that "not even Joe McCarthy would have said anything so stupid and dissociated from reality."
From a fundraising standpoint, the reality is that West continues to do well. The Palm Beach Post reports that the Tea Party favorite raised more than $1.8 million during 2012's first quarter. His GOP primary opponent, Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder, managed only $26,800 during his first month on the campaign trail.