Debbie Wasserman Schultz fires back after Allen West email

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) speaks during a news briefing January 6, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

/ Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Updated: 6:03 p.m. ET

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the head of the Democratic party, fired back on Wednesday at fellow Florida lawmaker who called her "despicable" and "not a Lady" a day earlier.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, said the blistering email from Republican Rep. Allen West stemmed from his "really unacceptable" politics -- but that she remained "unfazed" by it.

"I have to tell you I was unfazed by his email," Wasserman Schultz said in an interview with MSNBC.

In the email,  West accused her of being "vile," "unprofessional," "despicable" and "not a Lady" after she referenced him during debate over the GOP debt plan on the House floor. Wasserman Schultz added that the attack was "not surprising," given the pressure he was under to defend the Republican position on Medicare and Social Security.

"I mean, [Republicans] are defending ending Medicare as we know it; Congressman West represents thousands of senior citizens - which is what I was pointing out - and they would face significant increase costs due to the Republicans' Medicare plan and the 'cut, cap and balance' bill," Wasserman Schultz said. "So it's not really surprising that he would crack under the pressure of having to defend that."

The Florida Democrat, who was elected head of the Democratic National Committee in May, said West should "understand that when we're in debate on the House floor, members are going to go back and forth."

"If he feels that concerned and gets that churned up over having to defend his position, then he probably should reconsider his position," Wasserman Schultz added.

The congresswoman was not the only Democrat to push back against West's comments: In an email to constituents on Wednesday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., lambasted West for his "monstrous tongue lashing," and urged readers to sign a petition expressing solidarity with Wasserman Schultz and her position on Medicare and Social Security.

"The rant against Debbie was downright shocking, especially when you consider she was protecting the interests of the people of southern Florida, the people she's steadfastly represented for so many years," Gillibrand wrote in the email. "Is it wrong to put the elderly before Big Oil?"

Gillibrand also took West to task for his comment about Wasserman not being a "Lady": "Nothing is more ladylike than fighting for the issues that you care about," she wrote.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) used West's "hate-filled screed" as an opportunity to solicit campaign funds: In an email, Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., urged voters to donate money to "help throw Allen West and his Tea Party colleagues out in 2012."

"This is exactly the sort of partisan tantrum we're used to from House Republicans as they push our economy to the brink of disaster while pandering to their Tea Party base," Israel wrote. "We can't let this shameful display go unanswered."

Women's groups, too, have expressed outrage about the e-mail - particularly in regard to what many perceive as its sexist undertones.

"You know, it's sad [West's] attempt to be condescending and sexist is not going to fool any of his constituents," said Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, in an interview with Hotsheet. "The reality is, he's voting against his constituents."

O'Neill argued, however, that while West's comments about Wasserman Schultz's gender were "stupid and sexist," the more imminent concern was his policies.

"The real focus for me is on his attempt to slash Medicare and Social Security and Medicaid," she said.

EMILY'S List president Stephanie Schriock pointed to West's comments as an example of the "Republican war on women" - and urged supporters to sign a petition demonstrating their support.

"Allen West's angry, hostile tirade to DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz is truly despicable," Schriock wrote in an email on Tuesday. "If you had any doubt about the Republican war on women, look no further than West's email -- it's threatening, sexist and demeaning."

West, in the meantime, stands by his statements -- and is actively fighting rumors that he may have apologized to the congresswoman.

Reports of an apology are "absolutely false," says West spokeswoman Angela Sachitano, who added that added that "the Congressman is actually waiting on an apology from the DNC Chair."

Update: Five female Democratic members of Congress have released a letter calling on West to apologize and asking the GOP leadership to disavow his response. The signatories are Reps. Gwen Moore, Carolyn Maloney, Lois Capps, Donna Edwards and Jackie Speier. Read it below:

Dear Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor, Majority Whip McCarthy and Representative West:

We know that politics can get rough and that strong debate brings out many emotions. And as women, we are often held to a higher standard in public discourse.

News reports indicate that after last night's debate, Congressman Allen West sent a completely inappropriate and sexist e-mail in total disrespect of our colleague, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

By any objective viewing of her floor speech, she was well within the rules of decorum for our chamber. Yet, Mr. West's response was completely out of order and an offensive personal attack with a clearly sexist tone. We call on you to disavow this response in the strongest of terms.

We also call on Mr. West to immediately apologize to Ms. Wasserman Schultz and vow to keep debate about policy, not personality.

[FlorencedeGracia]

hell hath no fury like a republican caught in the blinding headlights of the truth. LOL

[exaag]

Why does the media continue to shield President Poof and the Democrats? Why is it that the media continues to ignore the fact that the Dems took over Congress in 2006, the Dems approved the "2 wars" and the "deficit" (then only 8 trillion) and the Dems created the "Bush Deficit" that Poof inherited in 2008? Why is it that the media continue to ignore the fact that the Democrats have yet to even propose,much less approve, a budget 218 days after it was due? Why is it that the media have not pointed out that President Poof and the Dems, while criticizing American attempts to pass a budget and a deficit plan in the House, have yet to come up with a plan of their own?
Indeed, when is CBS going to display vestigial journalistic integrity? Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot who CBS works for.

[FlorencedeGracia]

I replied to a few so now I will give you my take. This lady has moxie!
No wonder she is the DNC leader. Telling 'em how the cow ate the cabbage and they can't take it. Whoo-hoo! One of the best speeches I have seen on that floor. If the Democrats don';t get real about sticking up for their values, the GOPs will run rough shod over them. About time I heard one address the meat of the matter! They tried 'compromise' and the elite their dirt in their faces. And here she says something so benign as political speeches go and this whiny butt pretends indignation. haha-hee-hee! Truth hurts I guess.

[pstanley54]

JObs should be what they should be dealing with but, instead of addressing this issue last year, instead they pushed Obamacare down everyones throats and everything has gone downhill since then. Obama and the democrats have their priorties wrong. They could have easily addressed this problem when they had full control of the house, senate and Presidency. What a screwup group they have turned out to be. The Republicans have not been any better at protecting America's interest. They all eat off the same plate. The K Street Diners plates. It's refreshing to see these new Tea Party Republicans fianlly drawing a line in the sand and putting an end to these crooks spending our money as if it were their own. They need to go down in history as the crooks they are. The best thing that could happen to this country is a default so those idiots will fianlly have to stop the spending. It is not right that the future generations will be stuck with all their debt. Who cares if interest rates go up? People need to start living within their means instead of on credit. It's a hard lesson that must be tought now before it is too late!

[pasha128]

TRUTH Health Care Reform extended the viability of Medicare over 5 years -- BMALLEN again presents with BIG ROVIAN LIES instead of real facts.

[pasha128]

Health care reform alone extended Medicare viability 5 years -- more lies from bmallen -- big fat KARL ROVE lies the Republicans pride themselves on selling to the gullible.

[absolutejoan]

Are you kidding? You ran this as a straight news story? LOL. The Demo women do not represent "womens' rights" They savaged Gov Palin so mercilessly it will go down in the history books. Schultz was trying the g ame with Allen West. And he replied, appropriately.
Yes it was "stinging" but so is Schultz. But please don't let these ladies tell anyone they represent Women or our rights. They protect and serve selectively and oly those they like. They are feministas, not feminists, and should stay in the mall shopping purses. Her mouth is a disgrace to Congress. 'nuff said.

[credibility2]

Wasserman was the one that attacked West, his intentions and interests by asserting that he doesn't care about seniors because he wasn't lock-step with what the Dems wanted. Sounds to me like she's too stressed out with trying to manage being the DNC Chair and representing her district and state concurrently. I think she's bitten off more than she's capable of chewing; one can't have to masters to serve and expect to serve them equally. I don't much respect anyone who uses their gender or race to affirm baseless allegations of any "ism". That's a cheap shot and one Wasserman is all too familiar with dishing out, but not being able to take.

[SparkysMom]

Polls show we the people agree to increase taxes for upper income levels. Since the American people support a tax increase, then this debate should not even exist.

People...you need to vote OUT the Republican majority at the next available opportunity. This blockage has been carried to ridiculous heights. We need new representatives who represent US.

[whosaid1]

Polls that I would certainly question ! But,...."we the people" ??!! No doubt "that" includes the 47% of "us" that don't pay any tax.....look, I'm all for a "fair"...or even a "flat" tax so "we" would all pay our "share"....under those circumstances I would even agree to an "increase" if that is what it took.

[carolo43]

Agree. Their handling of everything since being voted in has not had one thing yet to do with jobs, the thing they all harped on during their campaigns. They don't even mention the word.

[tonyatq]

Another teabagger Thug.

[whosaid1]

All those we "elect" are suppose to be "big boys and girls"...you know...should be able to "take it"...she fired the first "volley" and now wants to cry because "he" returned fire.....LOL

[absolutejoan]

Gutter level? She slyly insinuated a moral lapse by West because he voted differently that she did. She did this after he spoke and had left the room; she said it on the House floor, humiliating him before the world. Her snarky tone said all she meant.
West responded with "gutter" words like vile. Yaaaawn. He has a right to defend himself from her remarks. That he did so was the big surprise here. Because Schultz is very sly in her word choice and hard to call out, most of her victims don't. So West surprised the whole Dem club just by replying. She/they think it okay to slander somone and were caught up short by the victim actually defending himself. That's all. Read for yourself.

[FloridaGranny]

Ms. Madison,
We support Allen West, unequivocally. He owes NO apology to Wasserman-Schultz.
In our opinion, the Democrats are pulling a "high tech lynching" against this GOD-fearing, good, decent, honorable military hero. They cannot tolerate that he is a black, conservative Republican who is absolutely adored by conservatives. We don't see the color of his skin, we see the blessed goodness of his character.
As far as we're concerned, West should seek higher office. A man who refuses to put up with ka-ka from anyone---on USA soil---or on foreign soil---that's the kind of President we desire and America needs.
West knows how to manage military men and women and military budgets---superb qualifers for national office.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been an attack dog against Allen West since he announced his intention to oppose Ron Klein in a run for the U.S. House.
We do not recall any stories, with your byline, reporting her despicable actions toward West for more than 1 1/2 years.
Where was the clamor against Wasserman-Schultz when she sent a mini-mob to West's home to harass him?
Where was the reporting on October 22, 2010, when Wasserman-Schultz led a mob scene in front of West's campaign office? There was almost a riot. She stated West was a "right wing extremist who wears his :extreme disrespect as a badge of honor." "He thinks it's OK to objectify and denigrate women. He thinks it's OK to take away our reproductive freedom."
Where was the objective reporting when Wasserman-Schultz accused West of denying Medicare to seniors when SHE voted to CUT 1/2 trillion dollars from Medicare? Which one is TRULY hurting seniors?
Where was the reporting when Debbie crossed district lines to campaign against West? Had the reverse occurred, you know the Dems would have screamed blue murder, and you would report that.
I hope you are inundated with messages from supporters of Allen West. So much so, no one at CBS will doubt West is revered and has far-reaching support.
Thank you.

[pasha128]

So a politician denigrating your daughters, mothers, grandmothers, grand daughters with fabrications of sexual promiscuity or worse is acceptable conduct in your opinion.

[exaag]

Trying to engage in any discourse (based upon historical facts) with lieberals is a waste of time. These cretins cannot remember anything prior to their last diaper change and their vision of the future is nanny giving them their next bottle. They have no concept of economics, yet want to sell the rest of us into neo-soviet slavery. They falsely accuse Republicans of being fiscally ignorant, but then complain because those same Republicans run successful businesses and (gasp) make money. Wasserman-Schultz is a venemous little attack-dog who is notorious in Florida for her over-the-top rhetoric and idiotic accusations. She hates free enterprise, despises human rights, and aggressively promotes national socialism. Had she been in Germany in the 40's she would have been an enthusiastic violin player at Auschwitz. Before anyone defends this woman they ought to examine her record.

[Zann-Zel]

"Nothing is more ladylike than fighting for the issues that you care about," she wrote. - I like that line! : )

"If you had any doubt about the Republican war on women, look no further than West's email -- it's threatening, sexist and demeaning."

I'm afraid their heads my just explode when Hillary gets elected in 2016! : )

[absolutejoan]

Schultz is the sexist one. Yep, what she and the dem women did and allowed to be done to Gov Palin will go down in the history books. She does not represent "womens rights. "She and the dem women have lost all moral authority on this subject. So, please don't portray them as feminists. They proved that they are not. Let them be feministas instead and stay out of politics altogether if they can't represent all of the people all of the time, instead of selective, preferred individuals when they have time. Thanks.

[RedDeath50]

Palin's a woman???

Go on! <snicker>

Since when??