Conservative Congressman’s Star Power Extends Beyond Florida District

The New York Times ^ | 28 Apr 2011 | JENNIFER STEINHAUER

[mandaladon]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Often, the most interesting thing about a person is the characteristic that lies beneath, that hidden thing that bobs up along the waves of time. But the most compelling part of Representative Allen B. West of Florida is his own biography, there for all to see: an African-American Tea Party activist Republican congressman and ally of hard-right Israelis who, after his beloved career in the Army ended under a cloud, defeated the sitting Democrat in a largely white, politically polarized district here and quickly became one of the right’s most visible spokesmen.

Mr. West’s fans in his district, which stretches over two counties along the east coast of Florida, are both numerous and loud; hundreds fill his town hall-style meetings, many of them favoring T-shirts bearing his image. At a recent Tea Party rally in Washington, supporters flocked to him like sea gulls to a crust of baguette. Among the 87 House Republican freshmen, he ranks third in the latest fund-raising period for his re-election campaign; his $433,551 haul came largely through individual donations.

Mr. West’s popularity among conservatives goes far beyond South Florida. He was chosen to give the keynote speech in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference, and is frequently featured on the Fox News Channel and in other conservative settings where he enjoys explaining, reiterating or unleashing any number of incendiary remarks concerning what he often calls “the other side.”

There was his recent observation that liberal women “have been neutering American men,” and that the president of the United States is a “low-level socialist agitator.”

[mandaladon]

Mr. West scoffs at the notion that he has become a sensation. “I don’t drink my own tub water or read my own press,” he said in a brief interview before a town hall-style meeting here this week. “I tell the truth and I stand on convictions and you know what you’re getting.” ...The Rats fear this man and they are to get him.

[Westbrook]

Allen West for President!

[mandaladon]

Mr. West’s place in the Democratic crosshairs stems, he said, from the fact “that I scare the liberal establishment.” “You’re looking at a black man who was brought up in the inner cities, career military, a conservative, married going on 22 two years, two beautiful daughters, and for whatever reason that really does scare them,” he said. “My theory is that for whatever reason I could cause others like me to reject these liberal social-welfare policies...We need this man to replace the sissy currently occupying the WH.

[Falcon28]

[katiedidit1]

Run Allen Run!!!!

[Spok]

I heard him on Beck yesterday, and you can add great sense of humor to his distinguished list of attributes/accomplishments.

[llmc1]

If there’s a West ping list, I want on it.

[WKUHilltopper]

Remember—when the enlightened left MSM starts criticizing West, it’s only because they’re racist. No other point matters.

[Falcon28]

Allen West for President!

It's already begun:

Draft Allen West for President

[Windflier]

The Rats fear this man and they are to get him.

Give it time. Soon enough, there'll be an anti-West contingent on Free Republic. The same type of people who irrationally oppose Sarah Palin will come out of the woodwork to give West the same treatment.

[Falcon28]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/did-allen-west-admit-to-glenn-hes-running-for-president-have-a-listen/

[mandaladon]

His recent remarks to a conservative Christian women’s group that women affiliated with liberal groups “have been neutering American men” are the sort that tend to attract attention. “America needs strong men,” Mr. West explained, adding, “the feminist movement was a great thing to push the equality of women but that does not mean you have to make men feel inferior or degrade them.” Mr. West said he tends to keep to himself on Capitol Hill, where he is busy with hearings, meetings and constant reading. “So the end of the day I’m kind of tired,” he said, “about 10 or 10:30 at night I get to my little bat cave, then I’m back up at 5:30 to get in a five- or six-mile run and I’m back at it again. So right now it is not so much about hanging out with people as it is about making sure I am developing myself as a capable legislator.” ...Compare him to Obama ?

[Chuckster]

Palin-West or West Palin=fine with me and a winning ticket either way.

[Java4Jay]

The ‘Best’ Presidential candidate… bar none!

[TheOldLady]

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Save Lazamataz! He’s fading fast!

[Chuckster]

I didn’t know he was a Redleg. “Fire Mission! Battery adjust!”

[mandaladon]

v\In the Army, he rose to battalion commander during the war in Iraq. His 22-year military career came to an end in that theater when he was relieved of his command after using a gun to coerce information from an Iraqi police officer during an interrogation. He retired with full rank, honors and benefits in 2004, and moved to Florida with his family. After a short stint as a high school teacher, he worked as a civilian adviser to the Afghan army, ran and lost against Representative Ron Klein in 2008, then came back to handily defeat Mr. Klein, a Democrat, in 2010. ...He takes no crap from anybody...he's fearless and inspiring!!!

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

He not only has a far better head on his shoulders than General Affirmative-Action-Powell, but he looks way better in uniform as well.

[cherry]

I don’t like to talk about peoples looks but look at his face....his chin....he is a MAN!!!....

[cherry]

"there'll be an anti-West contingent on Free Republic"

interesting how conservatives/pubs/patriots eat their own...