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Conservative Congressman’s Star Power Extends Beyond Florida District
The New York Times ^
| 28 Apr 2011
| JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Posted on 04/29/2011 11:14:18 AM PDT by 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 rights most visible spokesmen.
Mr. Wests 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. Wests 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: allenwest; florida; west2012
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Mr. West scoffs at the notion that he has become a sensation. I dont 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 youre getting. ...The Rats fear this man and they are to get him.
To: mandaladon
Allen West for President!
2
posted on
04/29/2011 11:16:25 AM PDT
by
Westbrook
(Having children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
To: mandaladon
Mr. Wests place in the Democratic crosshairs stems, he said, from the fact that I scare the liberal establishment. Youre 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.
3
posted on
04/29/2011 11:16:45 AM PDT
by
mandaladon
(PalinGenesis)
To: mandaladon
4
posted on
04/29/2011 11:17:20 AM PDT
by
Falcon28
To: Westbrook
To: mandaladon
I heard him on Beck yesterday, and you can add great sense of humor to his distinguished list of attributes/accomplishments.
6
posted on
04/29/2011 11:18:03 AM PDT
by
Spok
To: mandaladon
If there’s a West ping list, I want on it.
7
posted on
04/29/2011 11:18:25 AM PDT
by
llmc1
To: mandaladon
Remember—when the enlightened left MSM starts criticizing West, it’s only because they’re racist. No other point matters.
8
posted on
04/29/2011 11:19:15 AM PDT
by
WKUHilltopper
(Fix bayonets!)
To: Westbrook
9
posted on
04/29/2011 11:19:35 AM PDT
by
Falcon28
To: mandaladon
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.
10
posted on
04/29/2011 11:19:45 AM PDT
by
Windflier
(To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
To: Falcon28
11
posted on
04/29/2011 11:21:19 AM PDT
by
Falcon28
To: mandaladon
His recent remarks to a conservative Christian womens 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 Im kind of tired, he said, about 10 or 10:30 at night I get to my little bat cave, then Im back up at 5:30 to get in a five- or six-mile run and Im 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 ?
12
posted on
04/29/2011 11:22:06 AM PDT
by
mandaladon
(PalinGenesis)
To: mandaladon
Palin-West or West Palin=fine with me and a winning ticket either way.
13
posted on
04/29/2011 11:22:48 AM PDT
by
Chuckster
(The longer I live the less I care about what you think.)
To: mandaladon
The Best Presidential candidate
bar none!
14
posted on
04/29/2011 11:23:55 AM PDT
by
Java4Jay
To: Falcon28
I didn’t know he was a Redleg. “Fire Mission! Battery adjust!”
16
posted on
04/29/2011 11:26:24 AM PDT
by
Chuckster
(The longer I live the less I care about what you think.)
To: Java4Jay
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!!!
17
posted on
04/29/2011 11:26:39 AM PDT
by
mandaladon
(PalinGenesis)
To: Falcon28
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.
To: Falcon28
I don’t like to talk about peoples looks but look at his face....his chin....he is a MAN!!!....
19
posted on
04/29/2011 11:30:27 AM PDT
by
cherry
To: Windflier
"there'll be an anti-West contingent on Free Republic"
interesting how conservatives/pubs/patriots eat their own...
20
posted on
04/29/2011 11:32:11 AM PDT
by
cherry
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