I want to hear Mitt Romney answer yes or no: do you agree, Governor, with Allen West?
As many as 80 House Democrats are communists, according to Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.).
West warned constituents at a Tuesday town hall event that he’s “heard” that dozens of his Democratic colleagues in the House are members of the Communist Party, the Palm Beach Post reported. West wouldn’t elaborate beyond that, however, and didn’t offer up any names. There are currently 190 House Democrats.
Say you agree, Mitt, and you’re as much of a McCarthyite as the man who’s been seriously proposed as your running mate not only by Sarah Palin and Herman Cain but by Nikki Haley (at least until she walked back the recommendation).
Say you disagree, however, and you incur the wrath of your entire party’s base — you know, the folks whose votes you need in November to have any chance of victory? The base, needless to say, thinks every liberal is a communist and would probably say that West, if anything, low-balled his estimate.
Please, someone: ask the candidate. I really want to hear him answer this.
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UPDATE: We now learn what West was referring to:
“I believe there are about 78 to 81 members of the Democratic Party that are members of the Communist Party: It’s called the Congressional Progressive Caucus,” West said at an event Tuesday, according to a partial YouTube video and his campaign manager, Tim Edson, who was there.
Um, really? Charlie Rangel is a card-carrying communist?
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(X-posted at No More Mister Nice Blog.)