Allen West (R-Fla.)

U.S. Representative (since January 2011)

Why He Matters

Two years after losing to Rep. Ron Klein (D) in Florida's closely-divided 22nd House district, West rode the enthusiastic support of tea-party activists to defeat the Democrat in the 2010 midterm elections.

West, who has described himself as a "right-wing extremist," became one of the 2010 cycle's top fundraisers after a series of fiery speeches and inflammatory statements made him a hero in conservative circles. He called on citizens to rise against a "tyrannical" government, denied Islam is a religion and accused liberals of "enslaving" Americans rather than empowering them.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Military contractor for MPRI (2005-2007), High-school teacher (2004-2005), Army officer (1982-2004)
Birthday: February 7, 1961
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Alma Mater: B.A. from University of Tennessee, Master's in political science from Kansas State University, Master of Military Arts and Sciences from U.S. Army Commnad and General Staff Officer College
Spouse: Angela West
Religion: Christian
DC Office: 1708 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515; Phone: (202) 225-3026; Fax: (202) 225-8398

Path To Power

West was raised in a military household in Atlanta. He graduated from the University of Tennessee before obtaining two master's degrees, the first in political science from Kansas State University and the second in military arts from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Upon enlisting, he spent 22 years in the Army, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served in the Gulf War, and in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Bronze Star and three Meritorious Service Medals.

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Controversial Interrogation

In August 2003, West was serving in Iraq when he was told of a plot to assassinate him - a plot that reportedly involved an Iraqi police officer named Hamoodi. Even though West had never witnessed or conducted an interrogation before that August, he had soldiers pick up Hamoodi so he could interrogate him at the base. Soldiers beat up Hamoodi in West's presence. West then threatened to kill the Iraqi if he did not divulge information and proceeded to fire a pistol next to his head - an act that led Hamoodi to admit to a plot and name accomplices.

The New York Times reported that further arrests and investigations uncovered no evidence a plot existed. West later declared: "It's possible that I was wrong about Mr. Hamoodi."

After West reported the events to his commander, the military launched a disciplinary inquiry into his actions. The incident attracted widespread media coverage and triggered debates about interrogation methods.

West became a hero to people who believed the Army should use aggressive interrogation methods: Dozens of Republican lawmakers like Senator John Warner (R-Va.) spoke up in his defense and a nationwide petition calling for his exoneration collected about 140,000 signatures.

In December 2003, the Army decided against holding a court-martial, which was viewed as a victory for West. At a closed administrative hearing held that same month, West was found guilty of aggravated assault; he was reprimanded, fined $5,000 and allowed to retire with full pension benefits. West says he would do it all again to prevent harm on fellow soldiers.

West returned to the U.S. and moved to Florida. He first worked as a high-school history teacher before returning to Aghanistan - this time as a defense contractor with MPRI.

2008 and 2010 House Races

West got involved in politics soon after his move to Florida.

In 2008, he challenged Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) in Florida's 22nd Congressional District, a closely-divided seat that includes parts of Broward County and Palm Beach counties. Klein had just ousted longtime Republican incumbent Clay Shaw and was perceived to be vulnerable.

But the incumbent's daunting financial advantage and the cycle's favorable outlook for Democrats were too much for West to overcome and he lost the election by nine percentage points.

Inspired by the tea party; West sought a rematch. In fall 2009, he delivered a fiery speech at an American Freedom Tour event calling on voters to rise up against a "tyrannical" government that engineered an "entitlement class." The video quickly went viral, transforming West into a favorite of conservative activists nationwide, earning him Sarah Palin's endorsement and making him one of the cycle's top fundraisers.

On the campaign trail, West rarely held back from using inflammatory rhetoric; "that's how people talk," he says. He has called Klein a "pathetic liberal," a "cretin," and a "mama's boy" for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

He described President Obama as the "dumbest person walking around in America right now;", denied Islam is a religion and spoke of his anger towards people with "Co-exist" bumper stickers.

In response, Klein called his opponent a "right-wing nut." Worried about the tough environment Democrats faced in the 2010 midterms, Klein portrayed himself as preoccupied with local rather than national issues.

The Issues

West argues liberal policies result in enslaving citizens by making them dependent on goverment help and creating a culture of victimhood and welfare. He contrasts this to the conservative reliance on the private sector, which he says empowers individuals and serves as the country's true economic motor.

"We have a class warfare that's going on. We have a producing class and you've got an entitlement class," he said in a 2009 speech. "These people are living amongst us," he added of the latter group.

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West disapproves of government spending, high taxes, big deficits, welfare policies and public-sector jobs. "If government is creating jobs, that means that that's less money in the pockets of the American taxpayer," he said in 2010.

He advocates cutting the size of government. including abolishing the Department of Education and repealing the health-care reform bill Democrats passed in 2010.

Conversely, West believes a healthy economy requires tax cuts. In the short-term, he favors making President Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, as well as eliminating the estate tax, the capital gains tax and the dividend tax.

West has also proposed a three-month suspension of all payroll taxes as a way of jumpstarting the economic recovery. In the long run, he favors ending the system of progressive taxation by transitioning to a flat tax.

Islam

West has made many inflammatory statements about Islam and the threat he argues it represents to Western civilization. "Islam is a totalitarian theocratic political ideology, it is not a religion," he said at one 2010 event.

West is worried that terrorists are trying to infiltrate the U.S. to destroy it from within. "There is an enemy out there who wants to take away exactly what we have right now. This enemy is not across those shores, this enemy lives amongst us," he said in 2007, referring to the 9-11 hijackers, who trained in South Florida.

In 2010, he described Islam as a "very vile and very vicious enemy that we have allowed to come in this country because we ride around with bumper stickers that say co-exist."

He is concerned about the threat of so-called "anchor babies" and he compared individuals who would worship at the downtown New York mosque to suicide bombers.

When Al-Jazeera requested to interview him in 2008, West went public about his fears that the TV network was attempting to kidnap him.

On matters of war, West advocates aggressive military strategies to address the threat of radical Islam and worries that setting timetables for withdrawing troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan portrays weakness. He is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state because "to do so would be to create a terrorist state."

Social Issues

West opposes legalized abortions, which he says threaten the nation's future. "If we continue forward with a policy or belief of killing off our future generations, we are not going to have a United States of America," he said.

West also opposes embryonic stem-cell research, same-sex marriage and a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Immigration

West wants to impose tougher laws to combat illegal immigration, from cutting federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities to allowing emergency rooms to refuse care to undocumented immigrants. "My compassion starts with people who are Americans," he said.

But he also argues that the U.S. should protect itself against legal immigration.

He expressed worry about "anchor babies;" he wants to make student visas more difficult to obtain; and he supports a constitutional amendment making English the official language because he believes bilingual societies do not work.

"We have to end the failed ideal of 'multiculturalism' as it pertains to subjugating American culture to every other culture," he wrote on his web site.

The Network

In his 2010 House race, West has attracted support from prominent conservatives, most notably former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart has said he believes West is "presidential material."

Additional Resources