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Rep. Allen West swats down NYT’s race-baiting, speaks about leadership

Posted 03 Jan 2011 in Allen West, conservatism, Republicans, teaparty

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If I wasn’t already convinced of Lt. Colonel (RET) Allen West’s greatness from his military service and the way he’s spoken out against jihadists, he’s confirmed it in his latest interview with The New York Times:

When the 112th U.S. Congress is officially sworn in on Jan. 5, two black Republicans will be among the new majority in the House of Representatives. Do you think the G.O.P. has made progress in attracting African-Americans to the party?

One thing that you guys aren’t talking about is the fact that there were 42 African-Americans that ran on the Republican ticket in this election cycle; 14 made it to the general election, and 2 of us were elected to the House.

Right, you from Florida and Tim Scott from South Carolina.

I think that there is a changing wind. There are black conservatives out there, and their voices need to be heard.

Even though you’re a Republican, did you feel a sense of pride when President Obama was elected?

I don’t look to a man to get pride in myself. It’s not about having a black president, it’s about having a good president, and I think that’s the most important thing. This country needs a good leader, and I don’t care if he’s purple or green but yes, there are some people that saw in him a sense of pride.

Do you think those in the military respect him?

I don’t know, you gotta ask guys in the military, but I will tell you this: I think that going in in the middle of the night doesn’t show leadership.

Are you referring to that recent three-hour trip to a base in Afghanistan? He needs to consider his own safety, doesn’t he?

Leaders lead by example, and if I’m asking my young men and women to go out there and puttheir lives on the line, I should be willing and able to do the exact same thing. As I told my soldiers when I was commander in Iraqin 2003, the most expendable person in our battalion was me.

Didn’t George W. Bush go in for a surprise visit to Iraq under similar circumstances? Remember the platter-of-turkey photo op on Thanksgiving Day?

I’m not saying that’s right, either. I’m saying that my understanding of leadership is a little bit different. Leadership is about being a servant first.

Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said last year that blacks don’t have a reason to vote Republican because Republicans haven’t given them one.

I think that there are some objective criteria that you can look at that Chairman Steele needs to try to work through.

What made you become a Republican?

When I retired out of the military, I registered myself as a Republican because my views and perspectives were more in line with that party.

You were raised in Atlanta, in a military family of Democrats, and were the middle of three boys. Are your wife and two daughters Republicans?

After all of the crap that I was put through in this election campaign, I don’t think they’ll be liberals any time soon.

What do you mean by crap?

When you turn on the television and people are accusing you of being a member of a white outlaw motorcycle gang and saying that you run drugs and deal with prostitution, I think that’s a little bit over the top. My opponent was very nasty.

You haven’t started your new job. But you probably feel ready to retire.

No. I have not yet begun to fight, as John Paul Jones said.

Keep your eyes on this man. It’s nice to see someone with sound judgment and a keen grasp on history and the issues getting a chance on the public stage.

Listen to this clip from a townhall meeting during his 2010 campaign and tell me if it doesn’t move you. This is his answer when a woman expresses concern about President Obama’s divisiveness and asks West, “what will you do to heal us?” I’m not one to invest too much in our government officials’ ability to “heal” America (the very notion smacks of Obama cultism), but I think West has the right idea.

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UPDATE: I was driving back from Austin yesterday and missed West’s appearance on Fox News Sunday. Apparently, he rattled Liberals by asserting that their agenda is anti-American:


”When you look at the incredible debt and the deficit that has occurred over the last two fiscal years, we’re going in the wrong direction. And I think that this Liberal-Progressive agenda is not the thing that the American people want, and is the antithesis of who we are as a constitutional republic.”

Few things enrage the Left more than to have someone (especially a black man) point out that the Democrat Party’s goal of a socialist utopia are incompatible with America’s foundation. And when West stirred the hornets’ nest yesterday, he incurred the wrath of Lefty pundit Steve Benen. According to the Liberal playbook regarding criticism of black people, Benen is a RAAAAACIST! (h/t: Flopping Aces)

Rep.-elect Allen West (R-Fla.), well positioned to be one of the House’s most ridiculous members, is the featured interview today in the New York Times’ Sunday magazine. [emphasis added —FMP]

The NYT’s Deborah Solomon asked West about President Obama’s relationship with the military. The right-wing Republican, a scandal-plagued Army veteran, replied, “I don’t know, you gotta ask guys in the military, but I will tell you this: I think that going in in the middle of the night doesn’t show leadership.”

Allen West is “scandal-plagued?” Seriously? The very people who defend corruptocrats like Maxine Water and Charlie Rangel, as well as Bill Clinton’s felonious behavior in the White House have the gall to slander LTC West with rumor and innuendo? The Left continues to attempt to distract from the substance of West’s arguments by attacking him with paper-thin tactics that can’t be substantiated beyond the Democrat party’s lies and talking-points echo chambers like Daily Kos. Tactics which are easily dismissed with facts. Even the Huffington Post reluctantly detailed the dubious nature of the DCCC’s claims.

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UPDATE: Chris Wallace offers some analysis on Rep. West and the possible future of the Tea Party.

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RELATED: If you haven’t heard it already, you owe it to yourself to listen to LTC West’s victory speech.

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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