Allen West Refuses To Name 'Communist' Democratic Representatives

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), who claimed up to 80 House Democrats were Communists, refused to name any of them when asked Thursday on CNN.

Asked by CNN's Soledad O'Brien to name specific representatives, West instead said, "Communist, progressive, Marxist, statest… I’m looking at the ideologies, I’m looking at the things they believe in and if you don’t think that we have to stand upon truth and be able to identify and clearly contrast the different principles and values and ideologies … here in this country then we’re never going to get to the fact of accepting the true debate that is happening in America."

West has a history of controversial comments, which have included comparing himself to Harriet Tubman and saying Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels would be proud of the Democratic party.

Here's a look at some other notable statements from West:

Loading Slideshow

• The Republic Will Collapse

  "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," Allen West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/16/allen-west-obama-republic-will-collapse_n_1428851.html" target="_hplink">told a Florida Tea Party group</a>.

• Communists

  "I believe there's about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party who are members of the Communist Party," Allen West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/allen-west-democrats-communist-party_n_1417279.html" target="_hplink">said at a town hall</a>. "It's called the Congressional Progressive Caucus."

• 'Racist' Tax

  "You want to talk about something that's really racist?" West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/06/allen-west-tanning-salon-tax-racist-_n_1408454.html" target="_hplink">said at a Florida retirement home</a>, referring to a 10 percent tax on tanning salons. "They have a tanning tax. I'm not tanning."

• Clothing Choices

  Mocking Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) for wearing a hoodie on the House floor, West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/allen-west-bobby-rush-hoodie_n_1389170.html" target="_hplink">said</a>, "I'm thinking about a University of Tennessee big orange colored hoodie-footie, and, you know, see if I can sneak by the security and get in there."

• Handicapped-Accessible Pools

  "This is another example of the bureaucratic nanny-state not considering the economic ramifications of its insidious regulatory policies," West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/allen-west-handicapped-access_n_1385186.html" target="_hplink">said of a proposed regulation</a> to make all public pools handicapped-accessible. "I have talked with and received letters from several South Florida hotels saying this is a wasteful exercise that will cost Florida businesses a lot of money and accomplish nothing."

• Suicide Mission

  "Anyone challenging me on my support to this visionary plan to restore our economic security will be signing up for a suicide mission," West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/allen-west-paul-ryan-budget_n_1372386.html" target="_hplink">wrote on his Facebook</a> about the Ryan budget. "My recommendation to any detractors, read Proverbs 17:28 and heed its advice. It is time for those who understand how to govern, not demagogue."

• Stock Markets

  West credited the possibility of a Republican winning the 2012 election for helping improve the stock market. "I would think maybe the markets are looking five to six months down the road when we have a change in leadership in this country," <a href="http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2012/03/allen_west_says_stock_market_i.php" target="_hplink">he said on Fox</a>.

• Osama Bin Laden

  West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/02/allen-west-obama-osama-bin-laden_n_1316160.html" target="_hplink">wrote on his Facebook</a> that Barack Obama should stop talking about the killing of Osama Bin Laden. "Please stop with the Osama Bin Laden line, U.S. Navy SEALS double-tapped that rascal," he wrote.

• 'Second Holocaust'

  West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/allen-west-second-holocaust-israel-iran_n_1304297.html" target="_hplink">warned</a> that the U.S. might not be doing enough to protect Israel against Iran: <blockquote>"You're looking at a second Holocaust" if Israel doesn't "know they can trust and depend upon the stars and stripes ... to provide them support," West told attendees of a town hall meeting last week at First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to the Palm Beach Post.</blockquote>

• 'Insidious Form Of Slavery'

  "The Democratic appetite for ever-increasing redistributionary handouts is in fact the most insidious form of slavery remaining in the world today, and it does not promote economic freedom," West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/allen-west-slavery-democratic-handouts_n_1281570.html" target="_hplink">said in a speech</a>.

• 'Get The Hell Out'

  "Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else," West <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/28/allen-west-liberals-get-out-florida-primary-2012_n_1239247.html" target="_hplink">said, referring to Democratic leaders</a>. "You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America."

• Nazi Comparison

  "If Joseph Goebbels was around, he'd be very proud of the Democrat Party, because they have an incredible propaganda machine," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/allen-west-joseph-goebbels-democrats-propaganda_n_1152365.html" target="_hplink">West said in a speech</a>.

• Harriet Tubman

  "I'm here as the modern day Harriet Tubman to kind of lead people on the Underground Railroad away from that plantation into a sense of sensibility," West said while <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/18/allen-west-harriet-tubman_n_930052.html" target="_hplink">making an analogy</a> in which he also compared black leaders like Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) to a "plantation boss."

• Debbie Wasserman Schultz

  In an email to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/19/allen-west-debbie-wasserman-schultz_n_904047.html" target="_hplink">West wrote</a>, "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."

Related on HuffPost:

Comments

[Claudia Ring]

04:36 PM on 08/23/2012

How can a black man make such loose comments about slavery? We're slaves and he's Harriet Tubman? What?? I'm pretty sure Harriet Tubman would be pissed if she knew what he was saying.

[jimmyasu]

04:46 PM on 11/08/2012

that"s why he cannot win period

[AveragePatriot]

10:11 AM on 07/31/2012

He thought, "What was it Glenn Beck said again?"

[LouieBee]

10:26 AM on 08/11/2012

The same charge could be made about all those "fascists" in the GOP.

[Enrico Dagastino]

04:45 PM on 07/17/2012

Rep. West is a reincarnation of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

[bsulli4207]

03:33 PM on 07/17/2012

Every time that this guy opens his mouth, an adventure begins....

[Stephany Erin Maurer]

07:06 PM on 07/09/2012

I'm seeing a resounding theme here from some of the Repub Regurgitators in this thread:

There is a significant difference between Socialism and Communism. You "unwashed masses" -Phil the Paranoid Parrots vernacular, not mine - might want to look up that difference before you use them interchangeably. I know reading is a difficult task for you, but I'm sure you can ask someone to help you.

[LouieBee]

10:23 AM on 08/11/2012

They might be able to read but little do they comprehend.

[jimsay]

11:31 AM on 05/02/2012

Allen West is 100% right on target. Spot on! He IS a real and true patriot and if Americans continue to refuse to heed his warnings there will be no America left standing. America will be done.
It's time we return to proper descriptive terms such as Communist instead of liberals, progressives, Democrats, social justice, economic justice. They all mean Communism. It's time to start calling feminist who**s, sl*ts and all the other terms that fit them. Enough mamby, pamby and PC!

[Stephany Erin Maurer]

06:51 PM on 07/09/2012

Oh, I see. This is why you're single. Got it. You forgot your meds this morning didn't you?

[bsulli4207]

03:40 PM on 07/17/2012

Yeah, and let's call West and his ilk nuts like they are....

[Michael Leinbach]

10:11 AM on 08/23/2012

I am sure you meant that as if women cant stand West.

Why are you Liberals so dense? Why must you always try to insult?

I keep asking that question as if you would actually answer with the truth that you really dont have anything useful to say so insults and inside jokes for other liberals to join in under you in approval are your only seemingly useful tactics.

No substance period.

[Shawn In Qatar]

02:11 AM on 04/26/2012

Patrick Murphy (D) is challenging Rep. West for his seat! Visit here to request an apology from West regarding his outrageous comments!

http://patrickmurphy2012.com/contribute/apology

West must be unseated in 2012!

[dang57]

04:38 PM on 04/27/2012

DO YOU EVEN KNOW THE TEN TENETS OF COMMUNISM?

[Stephany Erin Maurer]

06:55 PM on 07/09/2012

What about them?

[bsulli4207]

03:42 PM on 07/17/2012

Wow, there are only 10 people living at the communist apartment? That's not many at all....

[walkerhds]

03:31 PM on 04/25/2012

you can't name names when you are pulling the stuff out of your $&#^

[Philclock]

02:22 AM on 04/24/2012

Allen West is absolutely correct, Communism is an ideology that places the individual rights of citizens beneath the ruling power of central , which is exactly what's at the center of the Democratic Party platform, dedicated to "justice" and "fairness", as defined by....the Party, exercising its power through government.

What's your problem with telling everybody your ideology, "progressives", Democrats, Liberals, and all you other social engineers? It's OK, just be straight about it, come on out of the closet, we the great unwashed know what you're all about anyway, we think it stinks and refuse to give up our individual liberties to your self-anointed elite, just makes it worse when you hide your real agenda by bashing and demeaning people with whom you don't agree, like to you believe in your OWN ideology, or just want power so you don't have to work for a living like the rest of us, and just mooch? Well, everybody has one like that in the family, we love 'em all but keep a close eye on those in particular, and don't let them get out of hand. It's just common sense.

[sedc72]

02:11 PM on 04/24/2012

You, like West, are just wrong. If anything, liberals are the ones trying to make sure people's freedoms are still that. It's folks like you who want to restrict others' freedoms and call it progress. Explain why all these new anti-abortion laws popping out of no where from the very people who said, 'We want to concentrate on job creation.' WHAT JOBS? And if anything more, the very fact that these Repubs are making new restrictions on women, minorities, and others, are the VERY DEFINITION of what YOU call COMMUNISM - and I'll even use YOUR QUOTE, 'Communism is an ideology that places the individual rights of citizens beneath the ruling power of central'. What have all these Repub Govs. been doing since their election?

[Philclock]

08:33 AM on 04/25/2012

I, like West, am 100% correct, so-called "liberals" are parasites and moochers, self-anointed elites telling everybody else how to run their lives, and grabbing government power to do so, which is anti-free choice. We conservatives are for freedom, free enterprise, individual choice, individual responsibility, and LIMITED government power, as called for in the Constitution.

Your so-called "anti-abortion laws" are a response to YOUR assault on the sanctity of live, and the value of human beings, with your evasion of any dialogue on the definition of life, the right of life to be pursued through the fetus, you and your sanctimonious caterwauling about the "right to privacy" while snuffing it out in the formation of another being.

Job creation's very simple; remove YOUR irresponsible expansion of government power, which prevents we the people from growing, expanding, and creating the REAL jobs of the economy.

Your refusal to defend your collectivist ideology, and simply attack others, says it all: you're all about the monopoly use of power, for whatever your policy of the moment is. Other people exercising free choice just gets in your way.

[Donna Bird]

02:21 PM on 04/25/2012

amen!!! liars all talk

[usereasonalready]

05:46 PM on 04/25/2012

Allen West was discharged from the Army for torturing an Iraqi policemen. And he's winning hearts and minds over here with Red Scare fear mongering.

Much of your characterization of liberals is more correctly applied to the GOP/conservatives:
-ad hominem attacks are the norm--it's easier than rebutting arguments
-the great unwashed know what "you" are about: Protecting the wealth of the wealthy because you all think you'll be billionaires one day through your hard work and you don't want to harm the social class that you'll soon be a member of.
-you disparage "elites", but you earnestly protect the Rich at all costs, and your party's challenger has an elevator for cars in his home. How do you define elite, because it must not agree with Mirriam Webster.
--mooch? freeloaders? When did billionaires paying 14% income tax no longer become a form of freeloading off the people paying 25%?

You are all about half-truths, willful ignorance, and misinformation. Why should we believe the followers of the party that espouses Strauss' "Noble Lie?"

No disrespect intended.

[Philclock]

09:52 PM on 04/27/2012

None received, appreciate your comment, even if not very well thought out.

1. GOP/Conservatives philosophy is freedom, limited government and limited FEDERAL government, agreeing with Declaration of Independence and Constitution, best government is LOCAL, where people are DIRECTLY involved, and politicians most accountable. Dems are about "fairness" and "justice", using any and all government power to so effectuate. READ THE PARTY PLATFORMS, IT'S ALL THERE!! Repubs make mistakes re/government excess, BUT NOTHING LIKE DEMOCRATS WITH THEIR COLLECTIVIST IDEOLOGY, self-anointed elites and experts know what's best for we the great unwashed.

2. Who are YOU to speak for ME?I n your "progressive" world, I canny speak for myself, figures.

3. I protect EVERYBODY'S RIGHT TO GET RICH, AND ONCE THERE, TO STAY THERE, AND NOT GET RIPPED OFF BY MOOCHERS AND PARASITES IE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PARTY AND CRONIES, who make a living ripping off from the productive.

4. The "progressive" income tax, thrust upon we the great unwashed by "progressives", is a violation of the equal protection clause that "progressives" caterwaul about everything else, abusing government power to force THEIR perceived policies and outcomes on OUR freedoms. We the people are forced to have IRS agents in our bedrooms, a "public-private" joint venture partner having a claim on EVERYTHING we do in case it involves generating material wealth, we are always subject to a knock on the door, to prove the Federal Government has received ALL its Joint Venture share of our hard-earned income!

[Midnight Cry]

07:28 PM on 04/23/2012

The Communist Party USA could probably verify some names. If you are interested, go to their website. Communism is alive and well in the USA.

[Donna Bird]

02:22 PM on 04/25/2012

well, tell us the Web site. You brought it up and made the accusation. IF you make an accusation and you are so sure, then PROVE IT. why be such a chicken head.

[Sophist FCD]

05:58 PM on 04/25/2012

Well, yes, if you define "alive and well" as "having 2000 members in a nation of 300 million" then the CPUSA is doing great.

[Stephany Erin Maurer]

12:29 PM on 08/26/2012

LOL, and Donna...they're right here:

http://www.cpusa.org/

[goldnmartin]

02:35 PM on 04/23/2012

THIS PERSON IS AN IDIOT AND SHOULD BE WATCHED BY THE CIA AND WHO EVER ELSE CHECKS OUT NUTS !!!!!!!!

[Midnight Cry]

07:27 PM on 04/23/2012

He was taken out of context. Don't believe the hype in these articles.

[Donna Bird]

02:23 PM on 04/25/2012

Listen to the Video that it came from his MOUTH. He said it there are video tapes and he said it on CNN and other places, He has said it multiple times at different locations. It is taken out content if you say it over and over again.

[Dee Bird]

03:31 PM on 04/25/2012

Amen!!! lol amen! amen! amen!

[alone in the center]

10:27 AM on 04/23/2012

WTF? This news article is about a news show. I just watched the unedited version of the congressman's remarks on the web and realized that CNN had subtly truncated it to remove context and thereby change the meaning and make it seem outlandish. Cable news networks (all of them) have lost their validity by trying to create news rather than report it.

[Donna Bird]

02:26 PM on 04/25/2012

Watch the original video
never mind the media. You and I know that the media has the technology to edit and remove words, sentences and even paragraphs. they do it to eveyr one. But the problem is that West has said in different places including his town meeting. If he keeps saying it over and over again then he did say it,

[pta1992]

09:02 PM on 07/28/2012

Donna, I agree with you wholeheartedly! great post! (maybe because I agree with you?)

[usereasonalready]

06:35 PM on 04/25/2012

Spot on. Keep in mind that cable news is about making profits. Making profits requires viewers to tune in, which in turn requires stories that attract attention and polarize viewers.

Check out truthout.org for a non-corporate, non-profit media alternative.

[pta1992]

09:05 PM on 07/28/2012

While naming the liberal media, lets not forget the Fair and Balanced network and all of their similarities in offering of news. the same reworded, the same edited, same out of context coverage for all of them. I want to encourage people to take the time to do what usereasonalready suggested: truthout.org

[rcassa8]

03:47 PM on 04/21/2012

I'm not saying that Democracy and the Democratic party is one and the same, or that all Democrats are members of the Communist party, nor am I saying that the Republic and the Republican party is one and the same or that there are no Communist in the Republican party.
I believe that the Communist party has infiltrated our political system at all levels from the top down to the bottom and has its members through out the entire political system.
I am pointing out that they got their position because we the people voted them in, (Hitler was elected by the people) we need to investigate our candidates ourselves and know their political agenda and their acquaints
The 81st Congress, the legislative body of our government, during their 2nd Session conducted an investigation into the national Lawyers Guild and the American Bar Association and concluded that both were Communist Party's, therefore it would be reasonable to think that all BAR CARD holders are members of the communist party.

Click the link and read the Congressional Report:
[ http://debs.indstate.edu/u588r47_1950.pdf ]

If you are opposed to Democracy, Socialism, and / or a Communistic Dictatorship then don't vote for a bar card holder.
Do your part, get involved, be a part of the restoration of the Constitutional Republic instituted by our founding fathers that has been overthrown by FDR's Democracy, the socialistic, Communistic Dictatorship introduced as the NEW DEAL in the 1930's.

[Sophist FCD]

06:03 PM on 04/25/2012

Citing 50s HUAC reports? Yeah, you're coocoo for Cocoa Puffs.

[usereasonalready]

06:41 PM on 04/25/2012

"...that brought us out of the Great Depression in time to defend Freedom in Europe from that Hitler guy I mentioned. Later, we became the richest, most powerful nation on the planet.

Oppose Freedom and Prosperity! Oppose Economic Recovery! Oppose the equality of all Men! Vote Strom Thurmond 1932!"

[eidolon3pla]

12:51 PM on 04/21/2012

Everybody posting here can name at least one! Maxine Waters stated during a hearing on the price of gas that she/we (being a member of Congress) are going to socialize, completely take over and run all the energy companies! That’s what Communists do and I did not hear any of her fellow Congressmen on the panel disagree!

[My Mate Pat]

07:54 AM on 04/23/2012

None of the communists I know have ever done anything like that. Chance would be a fine thing!

None of that makes Maxine Waters a member of the Communist Party.

[Tommy6860]

08:23 AM on 04/23/2012

Note that "Red" is the color of the republican meme. Note that "Red States" in the US, mean those states favor republicans. Isn't "Red" the color representative of most nations under, or that were under communist rule (Soviet Union, China, etc)?

[ArchieBunkerNYC]

11:37 AM on 04/21/2012

right on representative West! when the left squawks this much, you know you hit the target. The greatest trick the marxists pull is pretending their kind does not exist!

I just want to add this quote:

"That a man whose only qualifications to be POTUS were rhetoric, style, and symbolism could be elected speaks volumes about the inadequacies of our educational system and the degeneration of our culture".

Dr. Thomas Sowell

[goldnmartin]

02:39 PM on 04/23/2012

LETS SEE MMMMMMMMMMM WAS ARCHIE 4 REAL. SO WE SEE U R NOT ALL THERE EITHER

[sedc72]

02:13 PM on 04/24/2012

sowell is a sell-out!