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Allen West Says Obama Wants Americans to be Slaves

It's just the latest in West's growing repertoire of stinging remarks.

By Joyce Jones

Posted: 07/03/2012 11:26 AM EDT

Filed Under jobs, Barack Obama 2012, Barack Obama, President Barack Obama, President Obama, Economy, redistricting, unemployment, Allen West, Politics News, 2012 Election

(Photo: Courtesy WPTV-5)

If Congress were the Olympics and had a category for incendiary comments, Rep. Allen West would be a gold medalist. Since his arrival on Capitol Hill almost two years ago, he has made it a sport to speak his mind, and those who feel offended be damned. His most recent target is President Obama, whom he accused of wanting to enslave Americans, WPTV reports.

"He does not want you to have the self-esteem of getting up and earning and having that title of American," he said at a Sunday campaign event in Florida. "He'd rather you be his slave."

In April, the tea party favorite and only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus accused the president of causing mass economic destruction. That same month he declared that up to 80 Democrats in the House were "card-carrying" communists and has conducted a long-standing feud with fellow Florida lawmaker Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chairs the Democratic National Committee.

West's first re-election bid is taking place in a redrawn district and "will be one of the most closely watched races this political season," the television station said. His opponent, Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder, said he's "offended by some of the things [West] says and does." Crowder is a well-known figure in the area, but when it comes to fundraising, in this contest West gets the gold.

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