In the wake of this weekend's Arizona shooting, freshman Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) doesn't seem willing to tone down some of the inflammatory language that peppered his campaign against Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) -- and on Monday he lashed out against Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) remarks on Sunday's "Meet The Press," calling them a "political cheap shot."
Talking about the shooting of her close friend, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), Wasserman Schultz pointed to remarks that conservative radio host Joyce Kaufman, one of West's most ardent supporters who nearly became his chief of staff, had made at a July Tea Party rally, saying that "if ballots don't work, bullets will."
"The shock jocks and the political movement leaders that are out there on both sides of the aisle need to have some pause as well," said Wasserman Schultz, pointing to Kaufman's remarks as an example of rhetoric that should be "toned down."
On Monday, West responded in-kind, calling in to Kaufman's radio show and saying Wasserman Schultz's criticism showed "how low people will go for political opportunism."
"I was standing there when you said that," West told Kaufman. "And guess what, we did it by the ballot box."
West went on to point fingers at his in-state colleague, saying "if you want to talk about toning down the political rhetoric, you need to look at yourself, first and foremost, you Congressman Wasserman Schultz," and accused her of "incit[ing] a political riot and protest outside my campaign headquarters."
"I'm just glad I have more class, more character than she has exhibited," said West.
During the 2010 election, the Iraq War veteran and Sarah Palin-endorsed candidate quickly became known as one of the more incendiary Tea Party candidates. West frequently used gun metaphors and war rhetoric to fire up his supporters, telling his supporters "get your musket, to fix your bayonet and to charge into the ranks; you are my brother and sister in this fight."
On Tuesday, the freshman's hometown paper called him out for his comments, especially after his immediate reaction to the Saturday's shooting, where he said the violent incident should be a time for the "country to consider the safety of members of Congress."
The Palm Beach Post's Frank Cerabino writes West "ought to know" that "there are lots of crazy people out there," because "he's been one of South Florida's prime feeders of violent fantasies."
West said earlier this month that he "didn't learn anything" from the controversy that erupted after he chose Kaufman as his chief of staff. But Cerebino says, "I'm hoping that after last weekend's shooting of one of his colleagues, West will begin learning. It's about time."
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/01/west-not-backing-down-from-explosive-rhetoric-11
"The shock jocks and the political movement leaders that are out there on both sides of the aisle need to have some pause as well," said Wasserman Schultz, pointing to Kaufman's remarks as an example of rhetoric that should be "toned down."
On Monday, West responded in-kind, calling in to Kaufman's radio show and saying Wasserman Schultz's criticism showed "how low people will go for political opportunism."
"I was standing there when you said that," West told Kaufman. "And guess what, we did it by the ballot box."
West went on to point fingers at his in-state colleague, saying "if you want to talk about toning down the political rhetoric, you need to look at yourself, first and foremost, you Congressman Wasserman Schultz," and accused her of "incit[ing] a political riot and protest outside my campaign headquarters."
"I'm just glad I have more class, more character than she has exhibited," said West.
During the 2010 election, the Iraq War veteran and Sarah Palin-endorsed candidate quickly became known as one of the more incendiary Tea Party candidates. West frequently used gun metaphors and war rhetoric to fire up his supporters, telling his supporters "get your musket, to fix your bayonet and to charge into the ranks; you are my brother and sister in this fight."
On Tuesday, the freshman's hometown paper called him out for his comments, especially after his immediate reaction to the Saturday's shooting, where he said the violent incident should be a time for the "country to consider the safety of members of Congress."
The Palm Beach Post's Frank Cerabino writes West "ought to know" that "there are lots of crazy people out there," because "he's been one of South Florida's prime feeders of violent fantasies."
West said earlier this month that he "didn't learn anything" from the controversy that erupted after he chose Kaufman as his chief of staff. But Cerebino says, "I'm hoping that after last weekend's shooting of one of his colleagues, West will begin learning. It's about time."
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/01/west-not-backing-down-from-explosive-rhetoric-11