Yesterday, we discussed the brouhaha between southern Florida representatives Allen West (R) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D). Rep. West was offended that Rep. Wasserman Schultz implicitly criticized him on the House floor for endorsing a plan that would change Medicare in a way that would cost his elderly constituents at least $6,000 a year in out of pocket medical expenses. Rep. West sent an email to Ms. Wasserman Schultz in which he called her “the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives.” He also copied several other people on the email, including Eric Cantor and Nancy Pelosi.
Now Rep. West is going on hate radio and claiming that anyone who thinks he overreacted is using a double standard and motivated by racial considerations.
“The thing that really most aggravates me is that there is this double standard, in that the people on the hard left can continue to attack conservatives and especially minority conservatives, and female conservatives,” said West. “But yet when all of a sudden you stand up and you say that you will not tolerate this anymore, then they claim to be a victim — which I find just absolutely laughable.”…
…”I grew up in the inner city, strong values, came from a strong military family and background,” West continues. “What we do is we totally invalidate the liberal social welfare policies and programs. And you know, I’m the threat because I’m the guy that got off their 21st-century plantation, and they cannot afford to have a strong voice such as mine out there, reverberating and resonating across this country.”
While it is nice that Rep. West was able to have a military career (even if it ended in dishonor and disgrace) and get himself elected to Congress, people are not criticizing him because his example of success invalidates social welfare policies. Rep. Wasserman Schultz was perplexed that a politician who serves a district that is basically a giant retirement community would think it was a good idea to support a bill that would increase his constituents medical costs by at least $6,000 a year. So, that’s the first thing he was criticized about. The second thing he’s being criticized about is his decision to send out an intemperate email which was clearly a total overreaction to a legitimate question.
