The Republican Party has not done very well in reaching out and I think that’s where we have an opportunity to show that the conservative principles and values that really are the cornerstone and the bedrock of the black community — individual responsibility and accountability, faith and family, hard work ethic,” he said. “Those are the type of things that we can reconnect to the black community and once again get a thriving economic community within our inner cities.Says US Representative Allen West (FL-R).
Speaking on The O'Reilly Factor, Representative West also characterized himself thusly:
I’m here as the modern-day Harriet Tubman to kind of lead people on the underground railroad away from that plantation into a sense of sensibilityNice historic reference there.
Hat tip to the Althouse Blog.
Regards — Cliff
That last quote is one of the most arrogant and insipid statements I've read in a long time. "Sense of sensibility"? What does that even mean? And, I'm sorry, but co-opting someone else's historic achievements and implying that they're also your own is just plain bad character. Whatever reasonable point West had to make is made worthless when spread with manure like this.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a good historic reference. May a "Black Man" not appropriate for historic reference an action by a Black Woman? Or is this about how you can't really be a Black person if you are a Republican?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think "sense of sensibility" is awkward wording.
Regards — Cliff
And then there are those who are upset because the Representative used the phrase "Nuts" to respond to a CAIR-FL request that he disassociate himself from certain groups. At first it was because it seemed to be short and arrogant and then because he was accused of quoting without attribution.
ReplyDeleteI would have thought that anyone with some knowledge of US history would have understood. Now, if he had said, "These are my credentials", then I would have thought it was a little obscure and needed backup.
Regards — Cliff
PS: I am not saying that I am pushing Mr West for anything (someone has suggested a Perry/West ticket), but the People of his district did elect him to go to Washington to do a job, which he seems to be about.
This isn't about race--it's about Harriet Tubman's achievements and how crass it is for anyone to try to exploit them for political gain REGARDLESS of race. Pols claiming to be Reagan reincarnated are no less ridiculous, even if their example is less courageous.
ReplyDeleteThis exemplifies the problem with taking issue with a very small part of a much, much larger picture. That Allen West is found to be massively offensive to even moderate liberals is no surprise to me. Here is a black fellow who retired from the Army at 20 years as a LtCol after doing two tours in Iraq and returning as a civilian advisor to the Afghan Army for one year. He has done time as a high school teacher...probably one of the toughest jobs today. He is conservative, believing that you earn your way in the world, not having it handed to you. He is not without compassion, but he is not and advocate of the nanny statism that has infected post modern American society today. Life is hard, there are winners, and there are losers, and often the difference between the two is mere chance. There is little government can do to intervene and make life "fair." It isn't and the best government can do is give losers a false sense of accomplishment which will only serve to inculcate a chronic sense of self doubt and will nullify genuine success in the name of everyone being a winner....and nobody a loser. It is an unsustainable artificiality that will ultimately destroy a society from within.
ReplyDeleteWest should be the next President....unfortunately...he won't because of race...his own...that finds his frankness...his honesty.....his fact based outlook on American society and its problem to threaten their claim of being somehow left behind. He has little kind words for the so called black caucus or for that matter, any of the other numerous self interest groups within the Congress.