Allen West: I'm Not Going To Challenge John Boehner For House Speaker

WASHINGTON -- In case anyone was worried, freshman Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said Monday he is not planning to challenge House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for his leadership post in the next Congress.

During an appearance on C-SPAN, a caller suggested that West, a Tea Party favorite, take on Boehner (repeatedly pronounced "Bonyer" by the caller) after the November elections.

"I don't think Boehner is fit to be in that position," said the caller. Unlike Boehner, West "has the desire not to capitulate, but to defeat the communists, the progressives and the Marxists that are in our Congress."

West, of course, made waves in April when he told constituents at a town hall meeting that he believes that as many as 80 members of Congress are communists. For now, though, his concerns about socialists in Congress don't seem to be enough to inspire him to run for leadership.

"It's very humbling and very honorable that you would think that of me, but I'm a junior Boy Scout up here," West told the caller. "I'm learning things every single day."

Another caller asked West if he would run for vice president. West brushed off the suggestion, though he didn't rule it out in the event that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney tapped him for the post.

"I don't think I'm on any short list and I'm not out there lobbying for that," he said. "You have to talk to the presumptive nominee."

Below, more of West's "greatest" hits: