Can Allen West Transform National Popularity Into Local Votes?
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Democrats celebrating at the state Jefferson Jackson dinner in Hollywood this weekend said they had a lot to celebrate…except the race between Allen West and Democratic Congressman Ron Klein.
Pumped up by Internet videos and hyperventilating radio hosts, West is the darling of the conservatives and Tea Party types across the country. He is the Republicans dream candidate — a decorated veteran and a black Republican opponent of Barack Obama.
How popular is West nationwide?
I was in Ohio last month and met a middle school teacher. When I told him I was from South Florida, all he wanted to talk about was Allen West.
“He’s the type of person we need in Washington, said this teacher, who had absolutely no connection to our area.
This worship of West has been repeated in every nook and cranny of the nation’s political landscape. He’s a Republican rock star who brings audiences to their feet.
The popularity has translated into cash. West raised $463,785 in the last quarter from contributors who gave less than $200, according to George Bennett in the Palm Beach Post
The big question is whether he can transform that nationwide support into votes in the relatively moderate House District 22, which winds mostly through east Broward and then into Palm Beach County.
Is anti-incumbency such a driving force this year that moderate voters will hold their noses and cast ballots for a hard-right conservative just to send a message to Washington?
So far Klein is not coping well against West, complain many Ds.
When Klein beat Clay Shaw four years ago, he was the outsider running against the entrenched incumbent. Now the tables are turned and he seems unable to cope with the new circumstances.
“He is doing nothing. Nobody sees him, said one Broward Democrat. “He’s ignoring this guy at his own peril.”
Broward Democratic Chair Mitch Ceasar said the Klein detractors are misreading the race.
“He is quietly doing his job. In the middle of the summer this is all inside baseball. Voters won’t focus on this November race until after Labor Day, Ceasar said. “I am positive you’ll see Ron Klein out there fighting.
Ceasar then took a shot at West.
“The voters I meet don’t know the real Allen West. They think it’s the guy who played Batman (Adam West).
I remind Ceasar that voters have made that mistake in the past. It is widely assumed that Agriculture Secretary Charles Bronson got a big boost from sharing a name with an action movie star.
“Whatever, Ceasar said, and he trudged on. “The bad news is the Republicans are targeting this race. The good news is Ron Klein’s opponent is Col. West.
“West’s candidacy is like a bad kidney stone: It too will pass.
July 19th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
No.
July 19th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
West was a crazy two years ago…nothing has changed, except he’s receiving $$$ from the crazies.
July 19th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
No need to find out West’s position on issues . . . just watch Glenn Beck.
July 20th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Allen West wraps himself up in a flag that he dishonored
July 20th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Allen West is a Dangerous Right Wing Nut Job. The citizens of Broward and Palm Beach need to get serious about showing their opposition to his incendiary rhetoric and fear mongering. Been doing my best to oppose his candidacy with my own NoWestFL22.blogspot.com
July 20th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Say what you will about Lt. Col. West’s politics, he has put his life on the line for the United States. After observing Rep. Klein over the years, I think it’s fair to say he is has shown himself much more loyal to Israel than America. He should follow former colleague Robert Wexler into working fulltime as a paid lobbyist for the Jewish state, rather than doing it on the taxpayers’ dime.
July 20th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
He has no shot in that district, and probably knows it. But he’ll collect about a million bucks, spend about a third of it., and then see ya later.
July 20th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Allen West is a Tea Party idiot who is living in the 1950s. He believes we should stay in Iraq and Afganistan forever.
LoveyDovey is mistaken at 1:13 p.m. West is the candidate who is genuflexing to the Israelis. West is for more settlement on the West Bank and has no use for peace in the region, except on the right wing Israelis terms.
West would fight forever to the last Israeli.
July 20th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
West dishonored no flag and served his country with distintion. When the time came he sacrificed his career for the lives of the men and women in his command. You can disagree with his politics but that does not entitle you to besmirch him or question his character. Especially with a cowardly anonymous screen name.
July 20th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
West is a douche nozzle.
July 20th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
West is a terrorist. Anyone who can justify taking an innocent person and beat them senseless is a terrorist. That is the same thing the Nazis did to the Jews, the Kozaks did to the Russian People, and the KKK did to African Americans. Is that the type of person you want representing our state in Congress?
July 20th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Anyone who can justify taking an innocent person and beat them senseless is a terrorist.
—
My bet is that if it was an Israeli doing the beating, you’d give him a medal.
If, on the other hand, it was a Palestinian, you’d brand him a terrorist.
Am I wrong?
July 21st, 2010 at 12:52 am
You are wrong and do not presume to know me!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:42 am
He beat no one. He fired his pistol behind a terrorist head who had information about an attack. The “innocent person” then confessed to where an ambush and IED attack was plannned against West’s troops. His troops found the insurgeants neutralized them saving dozens of American lives. West then turned himself in to his command authority for what he had done. There is a quote that says what he did better than I could ever say, “no greater love than to lay down ones life (career)for another”.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:13 am
Jim You are wrong he oversaw and ordered the beating, Threatened the detained individual’s life, numerous reports account for him firing a pistol next to Hamoodi’s head while he was held face down in a clearing barrel with his face in the sand. If you don’t believe me then read the military’s own investigation. You can find it on my blog. West was found guilty of three counts of aggravated assault and a single count of communicating a threat.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2003/12/14/us_officer_to_resign_for_assulting_iraqi?mode=PF
July 21st, 2010 at 11:55 am
Love this, any time West is mentioned, his zombie followers come out of the woodwork. Dishonored his uniform and forced to leave the Army. Yet he still waves the flag and boasts of his military service as if he’s a pro wrestler promoting a match. The next thing we’ll see is him wrestling the Iron Sheik. No less sad, but far more entertaining.
July 21st, 2010 at 2:17 pm
No plans for attacks on Americans or weapons were found. Colonel West testified that he did not know whether “any corroboration” of a plot was ever found.
Hamoodi was detained for 45 days, then released without having been charged.
West stated, “It’s possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/27/politics/27WEST.html?ex=1400990400&en=71d7b26fe2922d57&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND&pagewanted=3
July 21st, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Doesn’t he ever get tired of cashing government paychecks?
July 21st, 2010 at 7:41 pm
what is this fuss , because someone served in the military, does not make them sane, smart, correct, or the person to vote for…there are millions of men and women that volunteered to serve..do you believe all of them deserve to be elected to the US Congress???