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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of South Florida, who happens to also be the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, spoke on the House floor yesterday to criticize the right-wing “Cut, Cap, and Balance Act.” Most notably, she wondered aloud how Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, could back a plan calling for deep Medicare cuts.
West doesn’t take constructive criticism well.
Representative Allen West, Republican of Florida, called Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida, “the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the U.S. House of Representatives” in an e-mail to her on Tuesday. […]
“Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige,” he wrote.
Mr. West sent the letter to the Republican leaders in the House, and added in the e-mail that “from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior.”
He concluded by saying that “you have proven repeatedly that you are not a lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!” and signed off with: “Steadfast and Loyal.”
In his email, West went on to say he wants Wasserman Schultz to “shut the heck up.”
Asked later if he might apologize for his hysterical tirade, West declined.
As a rule, members of Congress don’t generally send emails like this to their colleagues, but it’s not necessarily the language that I find interesting. Allen West has already proven himself to be something of an unhinged partisan lunatic, and the fact that he’d lose his cool like this isn’t the least bit surprising. Besides, if a member really has conducted himself or herself in a “despicable” manner, I’m comfortable with that member being called out on it by colleagues in private correspondence.
What struck me about West’s tantrum, though, is what caused it.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on the House floor, “The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries, unbelievable from a member from South Florida.”
This is “vile”? This is so outside the norms of civil discourse that the Democratic leader is “not a lady”?
What a deeply strange man.
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Vokoban on July 20, 2011 10:49 AM:
It's not the facts that matters, it's the accusation that sticks.
Peter C on July 20, 2011 10:52 AM:
If West is offended that she'd say these things in his absence, then he should stay and listen to the full congressional debate in a respectful manner instead of bolting from the chamber as soon as his blow-hard speech is finished.
June on July 20, 2011 10:54 AM:
What a disgusting display from West. Absolutely shameful and disgusting.
J on July 20, 2011 10:56 AM:
We should all have learned by now, that telling the unpleasant truth about the Republicans is the last word in wickedness in their view.
Sam on July 20, 2011 10:57 AM:
A whiny republican playing the victim card? Shocking.
T2 on July 20, 2011 11:01 AM:
people elected this guy West to Congress. I'm sure many of them have great big grins this morning, just another step in "taking their country back". you wonder.
DJ on July 20, 2011 11:04 AM:
Perhaps we should be grateful that West confined his insanity to an unhinged e-mail, as opposed to tying up Rep. Wasserman-Schultz and holding a gun to her head. Why West is not in prison foe his war crimes is beyond me.
SteveT on July 20, 2011 11:04 AM:
The Tea-hadists are completely befuddled. They simply cannot comprehend someone who doesn't share their attitude of "I got mine, so f*ck the rest of you!"
ack ack ack on July 20, 2011 11:05 AM:
Knowing West's background and knowing this basically unprovoked attack, I would be in fear of my own safety if I were Wasserman Schultz. I don't mean that glibly.
Steve P on July 20, 2011 11:07 AM:
"people elected this guy West to Congress."
Yes--and his greatest primary dread is that an affable oldster with a shock of white hair and the last name of "Matlock" will run against him.
Maybe the Dems can get Betty White to file.
rea on July 20, 2011 11:07 AM:
"I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell."--H. S. Truman
ceilidth on July 20, 2011 11:09 AM:
What can you expect from an unhinged war criminal?
Danp on July 20, 2011 11:13 AM:
At least he didn't call her "a threat to the gene pool." Now that would have been vile.
Mr. Serf Man on July 20, 2011 11:18 AM:
4 letters
PTSD
He should to be seeing a licensed health care professional.
I sure his gold plated Veterans Health Care will take care of it as long as it doesn't offend his tea party sensibilities.
kc on July 20, 2011 11:21 AM:
"I shall defend myself forthright [blah blah blah]"
Do you think he meant "forthrightly?" Or "forthwith?"
Either way, harrrumph! Harrrumph, I say!
mellowjohn on July 20, 2011 11:26 AM:
how did he avoid being fragged?
SYSPROG on July 20, 2011 11:28 AM:
'What a strange man'??? How about sanctimonious peckerhead that thinks by writing a memo to the leaders in the House that she is 'not a lady' (oh and vile and despicable...) shows that HE is a GENTLEMAN and somehow he's thumbing her down? He isn't 'strange'...he's an out and out sexist, arrogant pig which he has shown over and over again. To give this guy credence is to dumb down our entire process...again and again.
CDW on July 20, 2011 11:31 AM:
Reminds me of Clarence Thomas,
Grumpy on July 20, 2011 11:32 AM:
Where was West when Rep. Trent Franks claimed that veterans buried at Arlington Cemetery fought for balanced budgets and no abortions?
T-Rex on July 20, 2011 11:33 AM:
We've all met this type of bully, haven't we? Usually trolling on line. On the old New York Times web site, there was a poster who repeatedly assured me in 2003 that as soon as Amurka got done teaching its enemies a lesson abroad, domestic enemies like me who opposed the war would be unted down and killed. He also addressed me with soubriquets like "Filth." When I finally lost my cool and advised him to FOAD, he ran weeping to the moderator, and whimpering that I was -- wait for it -- "no lady."
Brenna on July 20, 2011 11:44 AM:
From a psychologist's POV, this is classic projection. Also his overreaction shows he scared of what she said.
But, his fundraising numbers are excellent, so there's a lot of unhinged people out there supporting his view.
jjm on July 20, 2011 11:45 AM:
He did this to distract from the horrendously obvious racism of Reince Priebus' accusing Obama of a crime for using the "WHITE" House in an ad, something his predecessors have done without a murmur. Code: he's black, doesn't deserve the WHITE House...
So this is to try to taint Wasserman Schulz with attacking a black man, too: you know, false equivalency. The truth of the matter doesn't count, the headlines do. (People will think, where there's smoke...)
Totally repulsive.
Neil B on July 20, 2011 11:47 AM:
Steve, I like your level-headed tone etc. but sometimes you have to rag on people some, just saying this vile jerk is "strange" is too mushy, bro. And West dishonors his own service by being so touchy.
TR on July 20, 2011 11:47 AM:
So .. who's running against him in 2012 and where can I send them money?
c u n d gulag on July 20, 2011 11:59 AM:
Start calling him, "Wild, Wild, West."
Wapiti on July 20, 2011 12:02 PM:
DJ "Why West is not in prison foe his war crimes is beyond me."
If I recall, West's abuse of a prisoner predated Abu Ghraib by about three months. If the Army had done its job and publicly tried (and convicted) him, that could have prevented some of the abuses at Abu Ghraib and the backlash.
JS on July 20, 2011 12:04 PM:
I like how the former macho military man West tells Wasserman-Schultz to "stop being a coward, and say it to my face"...
in an e-mail.
He's just frustrated that she keeps kicking his ass.
Athena on July 20, 2011 12:05 PM:
I agree with the above comments about West's psychological instability. He knows how to use guns, probably has several, and may bring one to the floor some day. His military history shows a seriously disturbed person. It would be wise to watch him carefully.
Skippy-san on July 20, 2011 12:22 PM:
You have to think like West:
He believes he is superior to any one else-even people like me, who also served in the armed forces, but don't share his warped opinions. 2)He isn't doing this to make a point with Wasserman Shultz, he is putting that e-mail out to reinforce to his fan base his public face as a "victim". And 3) the more people point out how correct her conduct is, the happier he becomes because to the true believer in West-it just doesn't matter.
They then go write out a campaign contribution to him.
And if you look at West's post military career (after he was almost court-martialed) money is exactly what he is about. This is just a publicity stunt to impress the teatards.
IanY77 on July 20, 2011 12:52 PM:
West has said in the past that women should be submissive to men, as instructed in the bible (similar to the Bachmanns). Given that, his reaction doesn't surprise me. The idea of a woman challenging him outrages him.
I'll tell ya, I'll never question the testicular fortitude of those who serve, but this guy's behaviour shows that, post-military, he's nothing but a weenie who can't stand a woman "rising above her place". Pathetic little man. Remember, he signed that snivelling "Let's hit the reset button" letter that Republicans sent to Obama when the Dems started ramming the Ryan plan down their throats. Big tough army man, huh?
Kathryn on July 20, 2011 12:59 PM:
Agree with Skippy-san but also think West is deeply unbalanced and on the scary side. The fact that when he arrived in Washington, the WaPo wrote a story about him on the front page and he was on several Sunday shows (yes, David Gregory you were one) says all you need to know about the media of Babylon.
Danny on July 20, 2011 1:10 PM:
This incident and its aftermath represent the reality-tv aspect of political coverage to which Obama referred in his Friday press conference. It is much easier to report on these personal foibles, and much more entertaining to read about, than policy matters. West gets rewarded for his tantrum by his true-blue (true-red?) followers, which only encourages another outburst. Civil discourse, exchange of ideas, compromise are being crowed out by the thrill of trash talk and faux-moral outrage.
navamske on July 20, 2011 1:41 PM:
"Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz . . . spoke on the House floor yesterday to criticize the right-wing 'Cut, Cap, and Balance Act'."
the Cut the Crap and Balance Act.
Fixed.
Kathie on July 20, 2011 1:48 PM:
Don't forget, this guy's first choice for his D.C. office chief of staff was one Joyce Kaufman, West Palm Beach teabagger right wing radio whacko. She famously said if "ballots don't work, bullets will." And her rantings on radio caused one of her followers to act out and cause a lockdown at a local school: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20022600-503544.html. So apparently West doesn't think all outspoken women are vile, only ones who call out his bullshit.
paul on July 20, 2011 2:40 PM:
I guess expecting a resolution of censure is unreasonable.
thebewilderness on July 20, 2011 2:41 PM:
The view that having your abusive behavior objected to is much worse than the abusive behavior you are indulging in has become pervasive among the authoritarians of the right. You hear it from the banksters, the Fox bobbleheads, and the R representatives in Congress.
They do it because it works.
CathyMac on July 20, 2011 3:20 PM:
What a deeply strange man?
What a deeply unbalanced, misogynist, partisan jerk.
ameshall on July 20, 2011 4:31 PM:
This blowhard did nothing to hide his lunacy before the election, so I have to assume he's giving his constituents exactly what they want. I think West should vote against raising the debt ceiling and when the government goes into default, he should "man up" by volunteering to withhold Medicare and Social Security payments from his district. In fact, that should be the President's plan in the event of default: no Social Security or Medicare payments will be made to any district whose representative voted against raising the debt ceiling. Let the tea-turds walk the walk.
g on July 20, 2011 4:31 PM:
Isn't what Wasserman-Schultz did just what Congress members DO in the process of floor debate? And doesn't he have the ability to get up and rebutt her remarks as part of procedure?
And I'm sure he's heard other members from both parties say equally standard comments about their peers - unless, that is, he's not paying attention when he happens to be on the House floor.
so basically, he's saying she's "vile" for doing what Congress members do - debate.
nice.
yellowdog on July 20, 2011 5:51 PM:
With any luck, this ugly little incident will be picked up in the local media in Florida, and voters there will get a very clear picture of the threat to Medicare that now exists. Wasserman Schultz was asking what many people are asking - How can a party try to destroy Medicare and get so many votes from Medicare beneficiaries?
Lance on July 20, 2011 6:56 PM:
Kind of reminds me of General Order 28.
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
New Orleans, May 15, 1862.
As the officers and soldiers of the United States have been subject to repeated insults from the women (calling themselves ladies) of New Orleans in return for the most scrupulous non-interference and courtesy on our part, it is ordered that hereafter when any female shall by word, gesture, or movement insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United States she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman of the town plying her avocation.
By command of Major-General Butler:
GEO. C. STRONG,
Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.
I wonder if good Southern Gentlemen will be as offended at West as they were at Benjamin Butler.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butler%27s_General_Order_No._28
Kathie on July 20, 2011 7:03 PM:
Two more comments: If you think about what this guy says it's that Wasserman-Schulz should check to see if he didn't leave the hall before she invokes his name in a debate.
Secondly, he now claims he apologizes to her, and she says absolutely untrue! Wow. http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/20/274699/allen-west-apologizes-to-debbie-wasserman-schultz/