Lawmakers respond to Allen West’s latest claim.
Is the U.S. facing another Red Scare? According to Rep. Allen West (R-Florida), the answer is a definite maybe.
At a town hall meeting in his district on April 10, the wild, wild West said he’s “heard” that there’s a group of about 78 to 81 card-carrying Communist Party members in the House.
“They actually don’t hide. It’s called the Congressional Progressive Caucus,” he said.
Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) and Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), who co-chair the progressive caucus, shot back on Wednesday, denouncing West’s remarks as “childish.”
“We hope the people of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District will note that he repeatedly polarizes the American people instead of focusing on their interests,” they said in a statement Wednesday. “When people like Rep. West have no ideals or principles, they rely on personal attacks.”
The term Red Scare dates back to 1919 when the U.S. was gripped by a nationwide fear of communists, socialists, anarchists and other dissidents following a series of anarchist bombings. The second Red Scare focused on national and foreign communists who sought to influence society. From 1947-1957 many Americans were falsely accused of being communists and lost their jobs and were blackballed.
The Communist Party USA is none too pleased by West's accusations, Politico reports.
“I just think it’s an absurd way to cast a shadow over his colleagues. It’s kind of a sad ploy,” Libero Della Piana, a vice-chairman of the national Communist Party, said of West's statements.
BET Politics - Your source for the latest news, photos and videos illuminating key issues and personalities in African-American political life, plus commentary from some of our liveliest voices. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Videos You May Like
-
News Exclusives: Wade Davis Fights... Clip (7/18/2012)
-
News Exclusives: The singer thanks... Clip (7/16/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Tamron Hall on Fight... Clip (7/13/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Venus Williams... Clip (7/13/2012)
-
News Exclusives: President Obama... Clip (7/11/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Obama Resources... Clip (7/2/2012)
-
News Brief Exclusives: Leaders React to... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Zimmerman’s... Clip (6/29/2012)
-
News Exclusives: NABJ Takes On Voting... Clip (6/27/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Trayvon's Family... Clip (6/25/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Washington Stalemate... Web Original (6/25/2012)
-
News Exclusives: President Obama... Web Original (6/25/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Vice President Joe... Clip (6/21/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Does the Adidas... Clip (6/20/2012)
-
News Exclusives: Wade Davis Fights... Clip (6/15/2012)
(Photo: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
On Facebook
On Twitter
