He looked good and sounded good, but U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) has been officially removed from consideration by me as a possible Republican candidate for president of the United States. Why? Because I learned Thursday the combat-hardened Army officer-turned politician voted in favor of making payments of $1.25 billion to people who claimed to be black farmers who had been discriminated against by the USDA. Later, it turned out that many of those supposed farmers were simply con artists backed by hungry class-action lawyers.
According to Lee Stranahan in his article published at Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com, Congressman West wasn’t alone in making some kind of freshman mistake. Seventy-eight other House Republicans — including U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) — joined him in favoring the measure, apparently after deciding that a vote to please some of their constituents during an election year was easier to cast than a vote to rob taxpayers of more than a billion dollars.
Think I’m wrong? Then check the facts by clicking on the link to the Pigford Settlement documents.
UPDATE 6/21/11 at 8:50 a.m. Central: See Lee Stranahan’s update > Rep. Allen West Accepts Responsibility For Lack Of ‘Due Diligence’ On Pigford Funding Vote.
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15 responses so far ↓
1 Chuck MacNab // Jun 17, 2011 at 1:49 pm
This is really too bad… I thought he was above that sort of vote…
2 House Vote Enables Continued Funding of Pigford Fraud - Big Journalism // Jun 17, 2011 at 3:01 pm
[...] Lee Stranahan’s article at Andrew Breitbart’s BigGovernment.com and my piece that followed cast some light on the matter, none of the alphabet networks or dinosaur newspapers [...]
3 MaryS // Jun 17, 2011 at 9:09 pm
OK – I’ll give him this one. But looking at the big picture, he’s STILL our BEST CHOICE. Who among us has not made a (beginner’s mistake).
4 Laurie Brown // Jun 18, 2011 at 10:34 am
Maybe we need to reserve judgement until we hear exactly what he was thinking (or not) when voting for this. Maybe it WAS just an error, from misunderstanding. No one is perfect.
5 BobMcCarty // Jun 18, 2011 at 10:38 am
I’m not saying he’s a horrible guy. I am saying that, if he becomes a presidential candidate, he will not receive my vote. Our economy is on the brink of collapse and cannot withstand any more fraudulent billion-dollar-plus payouts.
6 Always On Watch // Jun 18, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Ugh. I’m disappointed in West on this one.
7 mona norton // Jun 19, 2011 at 2:14 am
From what I heard him say .. Is that he made a mistake on this one and would nave to take it in the shorts ( was his words ) From what I understand there was 65 other amendments attached to this bill … That would have caused problems for people if it did not pass … That had nothing to do with the Pigford bill !!
8 Ron // Jun 19, 2011 at 8:33 am
I am not buying it that this was a mistake. This was a very important issue and well known issue. Looks to me that he just voted along with his Black Caucus brothers.
The only possible mistake that I could accept is that maybe he thought by voting NO he thought the funding would be halted when in fact the way the amendment was worded he would have to vote YES to have the funding stopped. That would be a typical freshman mistake, but I have not heard what exactly his mistake was, only that he made a mistake.
9 Bob1943 // Jun 20, 2011 at 6:13 am
There will always be a risk involved with voting for a “minority” candidate, some minorities more than others. It matters not what is said in order to get elected, there are things that will happen based on the “brotherhood” of the minority that will not make sense to the majority of Americans.
I fear Allen West, in spite of the great things he has done and his appearance of being a rock solid conservative in many ways, will not be immune from voting with the “black caucus” on certain issues.
Obama has proven that skin color often trumps everything else, but during his campaign he was touted to be the first, “post racial” president.
Sorry if this thought makes me “racist”, but I don’t think we should have another president who after being elected cannot be criticized because of their race. Even if he voted the way I wanted 98% of the time I would not want someone with immunity to criticism in the White House, again.
10 LAWMAN // Jun 20, 2011 at 7:26 am
Laurie Brown // Jun 18, 2011 at 10:34 am
Maybe we need to reserve judgement until we hear exactly what he was thinking (or not) when voting for this. Maybe it WAS just an error, from misunderstanding. No one is perfect.
LB YOU REEK OF A CRYBABY LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE HAND OUT JUST LIKE ALL THE REST OF YOU COMMIE LIBERALS
11 Crabby Jackie // Jun 21, 2011 at 6:00 am
Congressman West was on Joyce Kaufman’s show on Friday and, in a humble way, typical of Allen West, admitted he made a mistake. He is human and so are we, hence he’s far by perfect.
What makes this man different than the rest of DC is the fact that he has the courage and conviction to admit it, immediately, that he erred. Standing up for others is what heroes do, standing up and admitting errors is what leaders do.
True to a fault, the congressman continue to prove himself to be a leader.
12 » Rep. Billy Long Votes to Fund Pigford, Then Cites Need to ‘Slow Out-of-Control Government Spending’ - Big Government // Jul 8, 2011 at 12:02 pm
[...] Tea Party rock star U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), the subject of my first post who later apologized for casting a vote in favor of the funding, U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) [...]
13 Gary C. Huggins // Sep 11, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Bob McCarty wrote: “I learned Thursday the combat-hardened Army officer-turned politician…”
Bob, Allen West is about as far removed from being a “combat-hardened Army officer” as Barack Obama is a committed-conservative caucasian Republican. Allen West is, in proper miliary jargon, an REMF (google it).
While Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) West served in the US Army during Operation Desert Storm, which lasted a total of 42 days, (17 January 1991- 28 February 1991) the actual ground assault lasted approximately 100 hours. LTC West was never once, on any occasion, involved in ground combat action during Desert Storm.
While LTC West was the battalion commander for 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division in Iraq from 6 June 2002 until 4 October 2003, the day he was forced to relinquish his command as a result of his criminal actions in Iraq, LTC West was never involved in combat action during this period. Noticeably missing from West’s military awards and decorations is the US Army Combat Action Badge (or CAB).
The Combat Action Badge, which features an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade, may be awarded to any soldier after the date of September 18, 2001 that has performed duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is authorized, who is personally present and actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy, and has performed satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement.
Allen West was never awarded a Combat Action Badge because he has never actively engaged or been engaged by the enemy. While Allen West is not a combat-hardened Army officer, he is, in fact, a disgraced Army officer that was forced to resign his commission in lieu of facing a court martial for his criminal actions in Iraq in 2003.
Gary C. Huggins
USMC (retired)
14 Brian // Jan 29, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I’ve read substantial evidence on several blogs that West talks the talk, but he doesn’t walk the walk. Like Obama, Farrakhan, Jackson and Sharpton, he is just another slick street hustler (con artist) duping the gullible in my opinion.
15 BobMcCarty // Jan 29, 2012 at 12:57 pm
One mistake he made should not result in him being lumped in with the race-hustling crowd. You’re way off the mark.
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