February 1, 2012 9:27 AM

Allen West to seek reelection in new district

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Congress ,
Campaign 2012
Allen West (Credit: allenwestforcongress.com)

First-term, Tea Party Republican Allen West will seek re-election in a new district, he announced Tuesday. The move improves West's chances for re-election, since his current, competitive Florida district recently became even more competitive under a newly-drawn political map.

West will run in the new 18th district in South Florida, which is mostly comprised of the current 16th district. Republican Rep. Tom Rooney currently represents the 16th district, but he announced earlier Tuesday that he would seek re-election in the open 17th district rather than the new 18th district.

"I have always believed the state of Florida would be best served by having both Congressman Tom Rooney and myself in the House of Representatives working to solve our nation's most pressing problems," West said in a statement. "It is my goal to continue the success Congressman Rooney has had in Florida's 16th Congressional district in the newly proposed 18th district. I welcome the challenges and excitement that lie ahead."

The challenges for West will be less substantial now that he's decided to leave the 22nd district, which became even more Democrat-friendly under the redistricting plan that the GOP-controlled Florida legislature unveiled last week.

It remains to be seen whether West will have broad enough appeal to win re-election; the conservative congressman is known for his strong allegiance to the Tea Party and his fiery rhetoric. At a Florida GOP dinner over the weekend, West told liberals to "get the hell out of the United States of America."


Add a Comment See all 23 Comments
by Isiah1776 February 3, 2012 2:44 AM EST
West is Right! Think how much better off the USA would be if there were more hard-working, self-reliant, personally responsible citizens and less socialist oriented, get-by slackers with their hands out, in our population. When did being an irresponsible bum that spent everyday looking to get over on someone else and have someone else carry their load become acceptable? No one deserves anything but opportunity, and there is plenty of that in America if you're willing to work. If there are no jobs where your at, move. If you can't find a job doing what you were doing before, get one doing something else. If it pays less than your previous job, do it until you can find something else. And if your not willing to do that, why shouldn't you starve.
Reply to this comment
by ThinkAboutWhoLie February 2, 2012 4:17 PM EST
I love my President! He has a real sustainable character! He has had some outrageous insults and deceptive things and comments thrown at him every day that he has been in office. In spite of all these awful lies from all these mean spirited people, he has managed to work hard for all of us! Can you imagine, if the Republicans Party Congressman's and Senators had worked as hard as his administration, how much more would have been done? His administration has managed over as many as 89 major natural disasters in America in three years (while combating the evil men that forgot what their job description is), 2 wars from the 8 prior years of Bush, Gross China trade imbalances from the prior 8 years, millions of jobs lost from the prior 8 years before he took office, millions of homes foreclosed from the prior 8 years before he took office, companies and banks upside down from the prior 8 years. Excuse me!
He has been cleaning up messes from all these past Presidents and has dealt with our enemies while These Republicans have committed treason and terrorism against our government and the office of THE PRESIDENT by taking a check for a salary from the taxpayers and not working. They have constantly criticized him, played back seat driver and been petty about matters that could have helped just one American. The Republican leaders have been disloyal to America and they should be voted out! The Republican leaders have betrayed their office by plotting to overthrow our President while he has managed to work tirelessly for every American and many cases coming up above the fray and being successful. These Republicans have created a double in the minds of some of our enemies of who is in charge in The White House and by doing so; have made his job extremely difficult. Some of these Republicans jumped on planes trying to unmind our President in these foreign countries with no consequences of their treasonous actions, and constantly showing these people a false sense of security. Mitt Romney will spend his time guarding his millions or billions in other countries and his 15% tax rate and Newt is just a flip flopping dog who doesn't deserve the time of day! By the way Newt bragged about stopping Hillary care. He is a direct result of health care being out of control and it would have been easy to fix it back then! My health care jump 400% since then and my services diminished greatly while my deductibles went up! I like the direction health care is headed and already I have saved greatly by having my college aged children under the umbrella of my policy! Dismantle it is a hell no; correct some of it is a hell yes! By the way, Hilliard Rodman Clinton is one of a kind and the best medicine America has! Democrats work hard in spite of the petty mess. Look at the success of our past Democrat Presidents and the example of service that they give around the world! Don't vote any more Halliburton's in, or gun running Oliver North's or Iran Contra's in or ease droppers.

Vote for our President. He deserves our loyalty! No one measures up to him!
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by Lindag10 February 1, 2012 5:03 PM EST
Just another greedy politican. This rude and obstructive man who doesn't know the meaning of compromise or working with others is so eager to get back to Washington that he will MOVE to another district in order to improve his chances at re-election. Tells me all I need to know about him.
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by ladyang February 1, 2012 2:57 PM EST
Run all you West,but you can't hide! You're toast!!!!!!!!
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by MTATL670 February 1, 2012 2:11 PM EST
Alan West is an extremist that thinks everyone should share his views and if they don't he tells them to get out of America the land of the free. This guy represents the worst about our free society. It is people like him that has caused the crisis the Republic party is in. If members of the Republican party want to save the parties future they will need to purge the party of extremists like Alan West.
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by wdrussell1 February 1, 2012 10:52 AM EST
Hey Allen, I am not going anywhere.
Maybe you should read up on what country you live in.
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by MTATL670 February 1, 2012 2:08 PM EST
I'm sick of extremist like Alan West. He is the type of person I would never want representing me.
by Smokey75 February 1, 2012 10:43 AM EST
by occupy_cbs February 1, 2012 9:41 AM EST
At a Florida GOP dinner over the weekend, West told liberals to "get the hell out of the United States of America."



Typical divisive political rhetoric by a far-right, teabagging extremist, only wanting to divide and polarize our country even more.

Why don't you move to Iraq or Somalia where you can be king, mr. west?
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So do you think telling republicans they can come along for the ride but you'll have to sit in the back of bus is hate speech and divisive political rhetoric.

Or did you think liberal nut job from Florida Allen Grayson was being a unifying figure when he said "republicans just want people to die in the streets" .

Amazing liberal nut jobs can only recognize divisive hate speech when it is said by conservatives.
Reply to this comment
by BlameRepublicanz February 1, 2012 11:02 AM EST
it doesnt make what they said right...so you are saying what allen west said was ok just because some liberal congressmen made hateful remarks too? Your like a 10 year old with that comment
by Smokey75 February 1, 2012 12:42 PM EST
Didn't say it was right I am just saying it gets old hearing the left loons accuse only conservatives of hate speech.

By the way the first quote came from Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Smokey75 February 1, 2012 10:37 AM EST
by ProgressNow February 1, 2012 10:29 AM EST
James West...not Allen!!!! Allen isn't even black...
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What do yo base your racist comment on?

He looks black to me! Or has just been in the sun to long and that is just a really good tan?
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by ProgressNow February 1, 2012 10:30 AM EST
You can run, but you can't hide Allen...we know you too well!!!
Reply to this comment
by ken1dall February 1, 2012 10:01 AM EST
This country needs more public servants like Mr West.
Reply to this comment
by BlameRepublicanz February 1, 2012 10:20 AM EST
we need more hyper-partisan hate mongers? That will help things get done in Congress?
by ProgressNow February 1, 2012 10:29 AM EST
James West...not Allen!!!! Allen isn't even black...
See all 23 Comments
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