In new ad, Rep. Allen West touts rival's past arrest

(CBS News) Allen West, a controversial Republican lawmaker seeking re-election in Florida's 22nd district, released a new ad Friday touting his Democratic rival's 2003 arrest, complete with the candidate's resulting mug shot.

In the 30-second spot, entitled "Decide," West compares his own actions on the night of Feb. 16, 2003 to those of Patrick Murphy, the Democrat who is attempting to unseat the first-term congressman.

On that night, according to the campaign, West "had just received deployment orders and prepares his men to go to war." The spot then zooms in on a map of "South Beach, Miami," where "Patrick Murphy is thrown out of a club for fighting, covered in alcohol and unable to stand," according to the narrator. "Murphy then confronts and verbally assaults a police officer."

"Patrick Murphy was arrested and taken to jail," the narrator continues, as Murphy's mugshot is featured next to West's head shot. "Two men, a country in crisis. You decide."

"Our new television ad exposes Patrick Murphy for who he really is-a spoiled brat who knows nothing of duty, honor or service," the West campaign said in a press release Friday. "Patrick Murphy can duck every debate and his father can run all the false, racist attack ads he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that Patrick Murphy is the emptiest of empty suits and of highly questionable character. Patrick Murphy is not fit for office."

According to Florida's Palm Beach Post, Murphy was 19 and in college at the time of his arrest, and charged with drunk and disorderly conduct. He has since called the incident "the biggest mistake of my life."

In a statement, the Murphy campaign attacked the ad as shameless and hypocritical.

"Allen West is shamelessly attacking Patrick Murphy for a mistake he made as a teenager, which he has discussed at length in the media as a mistake he learned from. West then goes on to discuss his tenure in the military in 2003 while failing to acknowledge that he was criminally charged that year for assault and violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice," said Murphy communications director Erin Moffet. "The only reason he was able to escape prosecution is because he cut a deal to retire. Unfortunately, West's unstable behavior has continued in Congress, and he continues to diminish the office and the people to which he serves."

The congressional race has become both contentious and expensive: According to the Palm Beach Post, West has raised more than $10 million to defend his seat, while Murphy has topped $2 million in contributions.

[theclevertwit]

Allen West should not be casting stones. Those highway billboards bought by his friends at APSuperPAC come first from the Kaufmans of Reagan Wireless, a company which West touted in 2011 as a beacon of self-reliance. The U.S. Attorney, however, in 2006 hit the company with two counts of fraud and one count of money laundering.
Ah, the company you keep.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-ross/allen-west-touts-business_b_2041866.html?utm_hp_ref=allen-west

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Romney/Ryan West and their fellow republicans CANNOT TELL THE TRUTH about what they want to do. Because they know voters would soundly reject them. Think about it. In 2010 republicans campaigned for congress on creating jobs. But what did they do after gaining control of the house? They began the war on women, they cause America's credit rating to be downgraded, they refused to extend unemployment benefits, they refused to allow a voted on President Obama's job act.

They have created unnecessary voter I.D. laws at the state level to suppress the vote of likely Democratic voters. I could go on and on with numeous examples of how republicans have used they public office to benefit corporations, big oil, big pharma and the super rick over struggling Americans.

Bottom line republicans have shown they are incapable and unworthy of holding public office. Now it's up to voters to vote against them like they have voted against us.

[takacrat]

Obama has beer parties in the Rose Garden, what's wrong with a Gutter Puking Bar Fight in the Sun Shine State. Looks like that these two Leaders is getting First Hand of living!!

[AOCGUY]

What's wrong with beer parties?

[carolo43]

Is that it? A 19 yr old college guy gets drunk? Woweeeeee. That's really rare, huh?

Why is Allen always built up to be some incredible super hero? Yes, he had many years in the service. But he did not retire, he was kicked out. West had 4 solders beat up a civilian Iraqi police officer and then West fired his gun next to the guys head trying to get information from him. He was discharged because of this. Instead of giving him a court martial, they gave him an Article 15 and a $5,000 fine.

We always said those that were nuts got the Article 15's.

[retmw1]

MORTARMAN

He was a leader that was supposed to set an example for his troops. He didn't follow military procedure and was given and article 15 and forced to retire. Actually he should have faced a court martial, for his actions. He pushed the envelope to far.

[AOCGUY]

As much as I dislike West he did retire and was not tossed out. That said an Art 15 to a field grade pretty much is a career ender. And mortar, a LOR is not an Art 15 and you know it.

[mgkline1]

You are hiring someone on their character and past and should be properly vetted. We hired our existing clown and commander in chief with out proper vetting and look what we got, an idiot destroying the country one foundation brick at a time. Where is Obama's college transcripts and records, he sealed them. What about the LA times Khalidi tape, being suppressed. An administration that touts openness is hiding a lot.

Fair game people fair game in the world of politics.

[carolo43]

West should have been vetted. He was kicked out of the military for being violent and been ranting, raving, and screaming at everyone since then. He's a lunatic.

[mgkline1]

Carol,

Were you there when he was kicked out of the military. Did you witness his bad behavior? I was not and will tell you this much, during the time he was in Iraq it was the most dangerous times and we were getting shot at 24 X 7 with casualties all the damn time. Unless you have lived it day in and day out you really should not say much at all.

[TheLondonPerspective]

Alan West is a coconut

[jimbom121]

Alan West illustrates what is wrong with today's political environment.

[ricardoayaviri]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_West_(politician)#Iraq_interrogation_incident

check some of the **** this ******* does !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[audemus]

So typical of Republicans. Take an incident that happened to a NINETEEN year old, and try to make that seem as if it somehow matters NOW.

To be facing charges of CRIMINAL ASSAULT and violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice as an officer in the United States Army, and resigning to avoid the consequences of such charges, is a MUCH more SERIOUS incident than some college kid getting drunk and disorderly.

This TeaPublican doesn't belong in the House, or anywhere else that involves decision making for American citizens. He should be "retired" from being a shifty politician...America deserves much better.

[Aggie95]

and what west did ws years and years ago ....right ....but anyway since the liberal don't seem to like the ad I do

[inbethlehem]

Allen West is a dispicable little man. I hope the good people in his district have enough sense to throw this lunatic out on his ears.