Posted on 11/06/2010 4:51:54 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Rep.-elect West plans to join Congressional Black Caucus By Michael O'Brien - 11/06/10 11:23 AM ET
Congressman-elect Allen West (R-Fla.) said he plans to join the Congressional Black Caucus next year.
West, one of two black Republicans elected to Congress in Tuesday's election, said he plans to join the Democratic-dominated bloc, to challenge, in West word's, the CBC's "monolithic voice."
"I plan on joining, I'm not gonna ask for permission or whatever, I'm gonna find out when they meet and I will be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and I think I meet all of the criteria and it's so important that we break down this 'monolithic voice' that continues to talk about victimization and dependency in the black community," West said on WOR radio.
"We've got to turn this thing around, and I think it's time for some different voices to be in that body politic," he added.
West hasn't been shy about giving grief to President Obama, the nation's first black president, grief on issues of race. West accused the president of exploiting race for political purposes after his administration decided not to prosecute members of the New Black Panther Party on allegations of voter intimidation in the 2008 election.
Congressman-elect Tim Scott (S.C.), the other African American Republican candidate elected Tuesday, has not decided whether or not to join the caucus, according to the New York Times.
West and Scott are the first black Republicans in the House since Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) retired in 2003.
He was the one person I was really rooting for to win. West is a badazz American hero.
I hope there is video!
LOL I like it.
They should charge admission to watch.
I love Allen West.
I love this guy.
Delicious! This should be GOOD! He’ll make them accept him OR force them to change the name to Congressional Liberal Black Caucus!
Did Watts join the Black Caucus when he was there?
I’m glad to see someone who understands his opposition and willing to play by the same rules. We need more R’s with this attitude, and not the usual “play nice” we’ve seen before.
“I hope there is video!”
If you havent seen West’s victory speech, it is the most UNPOLITICAL CORRECT speeches ever.
How about “I have seen the enemy (Muslims), I am not afraid.” OR “NO COMPROMISE (with the Dems” and last but not least on enemies of America “There can only be peace through Superior Firepower”!
Balls of steel! Just what we need in the GOP.
The black caucus has finally been integrated.
I believe he did.
“Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. of Oklahoma has always set his own agenda. A true believer in individual initiative and personal responsibility, the freshman Republican supports most of the GOP Contract With America. Already separated ideologically from the overwhelmingly Democratic Congressional Black Caucus, Watts is maintaining his physical distance as well. He recently decided not to join the group.
In explaining his decision, Watts cites the small right flank he and Rep. Gary Franks (R-Conn.) hold as the only African American Republicans in Congress. What’s the point, Watts asks, of joining a body where they would be outvoted 40-2 on nearly every issue?”
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17179326.html
re: The black caucus has finally been integrated.
clever remark!
I’m not so sure that J.C. Watts did - anyone know?
I hope Scott joins too. Just think — they’ve had their little black caucus meetings all to themselves. Now someone will be watching. No more private clubby thingie going on.
Whatever happened with Klein’s campaign giving out West’s and his wife’s SSN in political pamphlets?
I really like this guy!
The other guy I liked was Charles Lollar in Maryland. To bad he lost!
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