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QUOTES OF THE DAY > Was Allen West's Angry E-mail Appropriate?

Christine Lusey 2011/07/21 11:00:00
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If you were worried that Allen West might rein in the crazy now that he’s a congressman, fear not!

The Tea Party-propelled Florida freshman, who most recently made news by declaring that Obama supporters are a "a threat to the gene pool," was not amused in the least when neighboring district Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz dared to disagree with his stance on the proposed "Cut, Cap, and Balance" bill.

Wasserman Schultz told House members, "Incredulously, the gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of a plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries ... unbelievable from a member from South Florida.”

West immediately set to penning the following venomous e-mail screed to Wasserman Schultz, sending it to her personal e-mail and copying House leaders, with the unintentionally hilarious subject line "Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior."

From: Z112 West, Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Cc: McCarthy, Kevin; Blyth, Jonathan; Pelosi, Nancy; Cantor, Eric
Subject: Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz

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. You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!

I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior……which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.

You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!

Steadfast and Loyal

Congressman Allen B West (R-FL)


Not surprisingly, a ton of people went bananas and started demanding apologies on behalf of Wasserman Schultz, who told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday that she was neither surprised nor phased by the attack.

"It isn’t surprising that he would react to the probably untold pressure that he’s getting from his constituents, whom he and I both represent, as I pointed out in debate on the House floor; represent thousands of senior citizens who, under this "Cut, Cap, and Balance" - really duck-dive and dismantle plan - that the Republicans are proposing, would face huge increases in their Medicare costs. It would end Medicare as we know it …

"If he can’t handle that pressure, can’t handle being called out in debate on the House floor, then he probably should change his position


"I think Congressman West really needs to understand that when we’re debating on the House floor, that’s what we do. We engage in back-and-forth. And if he can’t handle that – particularly on an issue as important to our constituents as Medicare - then he probably needs to reconsider his really ill-advised position on Medicare.”

West initially refused to back down, telling Fox News, "I think it's important to stake my ground. It was about enough is enough, and it's my right to say that. She is the one elevating this."

But by Wednesday afternoon rumors swirled that West had apologized to Wasserman Schultz, a claim Wasserman Schultz herself denied on CNN’s "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer.

“That is absolutely untrue," she said. "I have not received an apology. I haven’t received a phone call. I know he has my email. I haven’t gotten an apology on my email, nor on my fax machine in my district office, nor my congressional office in the capitol, nor at the Democratic National Committee.”

And just in case anyone forgot for a moment that politics is awful, both the Democratic Party and Rep. West used the brouhaha to solicit donations.

Read More: http://www.mediaite.com/online/video-why-gop-rep-w...

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Top Opinion

  • Diamond Girl 2011/07/21 14:43:03
    It was a perfectly appropriate way to respond to a disagreement with a colleague
    Diamond Girl
    +44
    Grow a spine people, if she can dish it out then she needs to be able to handle the backlash that is coming. just because she is a woman does not make her immune to getting what she deserved.

    If she cannot handle the heat she need get the hell out of the kitchen...

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  • metalmi... metalmi... 2011/07/22 07:28:40
  • COMALite J metalmi... 2011/07/22 19:16:04
    COMALite J
    He just did it to me, too. After calling me a racist.
  • metalmi... COMALite J 2011/07/23 01:56:41
    metalmike13- Trust No One
    Typical coward.
  • Freedom4 metalmi... 2011/07/22 11:31:51
    Freedom4
    You ate here attacking him, did you attack her for her dispickable behavior? I did not think so you hypocrite.
  • metalmi... Freedom4 2011/07/23 01:56:09
    metalmike13- Trust No One
    I guess you cannot read either. I said 2 wrongs. Go play with walt and shut up.
  • Joanna the Great 2011/07/21 22:57:28
    No way, it was totally unprofessional and gross
    Joanna the Great
    +7
    Her comment about him was not a personal attack, nor did it involve any name-calling. He is perfectly within his rights to respond the way he did, but it was really unnecessary and over the top. Sounds like a child throwing a temper-tantrum.
  • Bibliop... Joanna ... 2011/07/22 01:44:45
    Bibliophilic
    +1
    And supposedly we're (women) the emotional ones?
  • Walt Joanna ... 2011/07/22 04:53:21
    Walt
    Calling Allen West childish and comparing his actions to a a temper tantrum shows what a racist you are.
  • EM1-SS 2011/07/21 22:56:49
    It was a perfectly appropriate way to respond to a disagreement with a colleague
    EM1-SS
    +2
    And I hope he taunts her a second time. If that little snippy bimbo wants to pucker up and strap it on, she can stay on the big girls league. Otherwise, she needs to go back ot the little girls room, and snivel.
  • Cogs EM1-SS 2011/07/22 00:23:47 (edited)
    Cogs
    "Yeah man, why can't those uppity women just stay in the kitchen where they belong"
    -Your dumb post
  • EM1-SS Cogs 2011/07/22 01:09:42
    EM1-SS
    +1
    Sounds like you are saying that, not me.
    but thanks for your valuable comment, and your persuasion.
  • Bibliop... EM1-SS 2011/07/22 01:46:05
    Bibliophilic
    +1
    Wrong, I'm pretty sure that using the term bimbo is a demeaning term for silly little women. Oh, and don't forget all of the nonsense about being a big girl.
  • EM1-SS Bibliop... 2011/07/22 01:55:33
    EM1-SS
    +1
    oopppss . . . you got me. i would love to chat some more, but my wife is making me do the dishes. TTFN
  • Julie 2011/07/21 22:53:33 (edited)
    No way, it was totally unprofessional and gross
    Julie
    +6
    It says alot about his character (or lack thereof) when all he seems to know how to do is insult those who disagree with him rather than presenting a proper rebuttal based on facts that could prove her wrong and gain him more support.

    Some say Wasserman should grow a spine, well maybe West should just grow up. He could have used what Wasserman said as a beneficial opportunity by one-upping her but instead he went the way of childish tactics. It doesn't matter if the email is private, the fact is, he resorted to such a level of immaturity and brought alot of negative publicity to himself as a result. He would have been better off taking the high road and as I said, fight back with a stronger case for his plan.

    Only those who have nothing to stand on resort to something as immature and UNPROFESSIONAL as his email.
  • Rod 2011/07/21 22:52:19
    It was a perfectly appropriate way to respond to a disagreement with a colleague
    Rod
    +5
    If everyone knew the history between these two, then I think that you would agree that his response was appropriate.
  • COMALite J Rod 2011/07/22 21:54:02
    COMALite J
    Could you expound more on this history, with citations? I’m genuinely interested.
  • Greg 2011/07/21 22:40:09
    Undecided
    Greg
    This is just a distraction. Educate yourselves on the real issues, people!
  • David 2011/07/21 22:39:22 (edited)
    It was a perfectly appropriate way to respond to a disagreement with a colleague
    David
    +2
    I'd excise the word "colleague" from the answer and substitute "lying harpy".
    __________________________

    Oh, and what's with the disgusting libtard slur, "If you were worried that Allen West might rein in the crazy now that he’s a congressman..."? West is one of the few sane, reasonable people in Congress nowadays. Any sane, honorable person who's paying attention to the Dhimmicraps and Repugnican'ts sticking up Congress would be livid. Obviously, the person who wrote the "If you were worried that Allen West might rein in the crazy now that he’s a congressman..." comment is neither sane nor honorable.
  • observer 2011/07/21 22:34:06 (edited)
    It was a perfectly appropriate way to respond to a disagreement with a colleague
    observer
    +3
    It's not a disagreement. Allen West was insulted and he fought back. This man is a fighter. America needs him as President.
  • Zuggi observer 2011/07/21 23:02:52
    Zuggi
    +3
    srsly, calling someone a "gentleman" and stating that he supports policies you disagree with is some fightin' words!
  • COMALite J observer 2011/07/22 00:07:51
    COMALite J
    +2
    Yeah, and such courage he showed, telling her she should only say such challenges to his face — but he said that in an email!!
  • Safury 2011/07/21 22:31:10
    Undecided
    Safury
    Okay, first off, it was a personal email. So what, now people are going to start judging others' emails? Doesn't matter if he's a congressman, it was still a personal email! (In case you didn't know, that means PRIVATE.)
    And also, she was DISAGREEING with his stance on a bill! There was no dissing, name-calling catfight!
    So... yeah. Overreact much??
  • Nuke Safury 2011/07/21 22:43:16
    Nuke
    +2
    Except that she did it while he wasn't around and in public, I think it took integrity to send it privately and not make it a public spectacle like she did by releasing the Email.
  • Safury Nuke 2011/07/21 23:13:01
  • Nuke Safury 2011/07/21 23:42:14
    Nuke
    +1
    Yeah but the way he did things are better in private even if he said whatever, she didn't even need to bring it out in public and things would have been done and over with.
  • Safury Nuke 2011/07/22 02:06:25
    Safury
    Yup.
  • COMALite J Safury 2011/07/22 02:40:51
    COMALite J
    +1
    She didn’t attack him in public. She debated his position (not he himself) in open Congress, without referring to him by name (she called him “the gentleman from Florida” and there were two dozen other men that that could refer to [Florida has 25 Congressmen]). He wasn’t there, true, but that was because he decided to leave early. She couldn’t say it while he was still there, because Congresspeople don’t just blurt out stuff in Congressional sessions. They must follow their own parliamentary procedure, and only speak when it’s their turn to speak, as called upon by the Speaker of the House. Her turn didn’t come until after West left, which was not her fault.
  • COMALite J Safury 2011/07/22 00:09:15
    COMALite J
    +1
    No, it wasn’t private. Congressmen are not private citizens. They are our elected and paid representatives, whose salaries are paid out of our pockets, there to represent us. They are supposed to be our employees. We are their bosses, and bosses always have the right to read employees’ emails.
  • Safury COMALite J 2011/07/22 02:05:20
    Safury
    Uh, no. Kind of. Bosses have the right to read the employee's email if it was sent using the company's system or computers, but not emails sent on their own private systems.
  • COMALite J Safury 2011/07/22 02:37:37
    COMALite J
    True enough. Did West use his personal or his Congressional email account?
  • Safury COMALite J 2011/07/29 00:22:28
    Safury
    I doubt we'll find out.
  • Arrayist1 2011/07/21 22:27:13
    No way, it was totally unprofessional and gross
    Arrayist1
    +1
    Neither of them acted appropriately. For one thing, Schultz may have started it but she wasn't the one who sent back a personal email and forwarded others into it, creating drama. Saying someone is the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable of the workforce is just sinking to their level and proving your naivety.
  • Chef Bunyan 2011/07/21 22:24:22
    It was a perfectly appropriate way to respond to a disagreement with a colleague
    Chef Bunyan
    +2
    Wasserman Schultz is a pig! She deserves as much abuse as possible
  • Nuke Chef Bu... 2011/07/21 22:41:05 (edited)
    Nuke
    A slap with a fish I say! Slapped with a FISH! lol
    slap fish slapped fish lol Slapped with a fish
  • US for Palin 2011/07/21 22:23:50
    No way, it was totally unprofessional and gross
    US for Palin
    +1
    I'm conservative. I support the Cap, Balance, Cut plan. But, some of the verbiage in this email did not need to be said. It was not a good idea. I've lit off on email and I've taken unkindly to disrespectful acts, but not like this. As we can see from the email, the conflict between them goes back a while and is as much personal as it is political.
  • Nuke US for ... 2011/07/21 22:40:36
    Nuke
    +2
    Remember, she attacked him in public and He responded in private, He has integrity while she is the one that bitches about West responding to her attack in public while He wasn't around.
    I think He was justified in what He said in private...
  • Joanna ... Nuke 2011/07/21 23:05:21
    Joanna the Great
    +3
    She did not "attack" him. She speculated in public as to why he supported a bill that raises the cost of Medicare for beneficiaries. She did not call him names or tell him to shut up, like he did. His email was a personal attack, her comment was normal talk of politicians.
  • Nuke Joanna ... 2011/07/21 23:45:52
    Nuke
    +2
    She blasted him when he wasn't there to defend himself or his view and she was wrong about his stance on top of it thereby lying about him.
    Secondly He sent a private Email which she could have just deleted and everything would have been said and done but she had to bring it public which shows she has no class or integrity at all.
    He had the right to fire back when she attacked first. Don't throw a punch if you don't want to get hit back...
    West Body slammed a bully and she got what she deserved.
  • Cogs Nuke 2011/07/22 00:26:49 (edited)
    Cogs
    +1
    "He had the right to fire back when she attacked first. Don't throw a punch if you don't want to get hit back..."

    Boy, wouldn't it be a hoot if Obama "punched back" at all the other politicians and pundit "bullies" who make fun of him when he isn't in the room. Oh wait, it wouldn't be a hoot, it would be a totally idiotic and dangerous precedent to set. West is a politician, politicians criticize each other and eachother's policies all the damned time.

    All he's done is make himself look like an irrational baby.
  • Nuke Cogs 2011/07/22 00:49:12
    Nuke
    +1
    Unlike Her and Her Being a complete Bitch in public?
    She should have said it while West was there instead of being a complete coward and waiting until He left.
    The fact of the matter is She threw the first punch and He took it and threw down the gauntlet to which she couldn't take it and started crying like a little baby.
    She's the baby, Not West and by the way Obama is too much of a spineless woman to throw punches, He pulls punches and makes threats with stuff he can't even constitutionally do.
    You're pic is right that you are completely upside down on your view.

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