There’s much to love about Allen West. He’s had a distinguished military career, and as an Afghan war vet, he’s one of the nation’s foremost authorities on the nature of the enemy we face. He gained national exposure on YouTube through his excellent speaking skills. West doesn’t mince words, or cushion his opinions. His style of rhetoric is blunt, and incisive. All good things…
But…
If he isn’t careful, he could talk himself into being a sort of right-wing Alan Grayson – an obnoxious, bomb-throwing, sucker punching slob, and a national embarrassment.
I was shocked to hear some of the comments Lawrence O’Donnell brought to light on his MSNBC show:
“Obama is probably the dumbest person walking around America, right now”.
“I can’t stand the guy, I absolutely can’t stand him”.
Those statements are beneath the dignity of a United States Congressman. While I don’t blame Rep. West for feeling the way he does, (I feel the same way) – I do blame him for using such strident, and tactless speech. We expect better decorum from our Republican Congressmen. As much as we may not like it, Obama is the President of the United States. Public officials are expected to show a certain amount of respect for the office.
The comments West made about Obama’s trip to Afghanistan are from an interview he gave The New York Times Magazine:
Do you consider President Obama a good leader?
Not really.Do you think those in the military respect him?
I don’t know, you gotta ask guys in the military, but I will tell you this: I think that going in in the middle of the night doesn’t show leadership.Are you referring to that recent three-hour trip to a base in Afghanistan? He needs to consider his own safety, doesn’t he?
Leaders lead by example, and if I’m asking my young men and women to go out there and puttheir lives on the line, I should be willing and able to do the exact same thing. As I told my soldiers when I was commander in Iraqin 2003, the most expendable person in our battalion was me.Didn’t George W. Bush go in for a surprise visit to Iraq under similar circumstances? Remember the platter-of-turkey photo op on Thanksgiving Day?
I’m not saying that’s right, either. I’m saying that my understanding of leadership is a little bit different. Leadership is about being a servant first.
Suggesting that a President should put his life on the line the same as a soldier is ludicrous, and the fact that he dug in, and didn’t back away from the idea until the very end of the interview with O’Donnell, may well have disqualified him from ever running for higher office, I’m very sorry to say.
Am I wrong?
Hat tip: Weasel Zippers
January, 6, 2011 at 3:32 pm
I thought it was a stupid comment. I would never expect a president to fly in announced into a war zone, I would hope they all go in undercover.
Would that statement keep him from running or being elected to a higher office? NO. Don’t they all say stupid crap all the time?
January, 6, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Well, if he were ever to run for President, they would hammer him over the head with it every day.
Republicans are not allowed to make gaffes like that.
January, 6, 2011 at 4:14 pm
No, you’re not wrong, but at the same time maybe West understands that you can’t fight fire with appeasement. One thing that bugs me about the GOP, and conservatives more generally, is the way we respond (flaccidly or not at all) to the attacks of the left. Maybe it’s time for someone to speak their mind?
January, 6, 2011 at 4:38 pm
There has been enough appeasement on the R side of the aisle for FAR TOO LONG… These statements by Col. West don’t bother me at all.
TheWon is quite stupid. He’s paid to read a teleprompter. This is a fact until proven otherwise.
For those who think he is so brilliant, please provide his SCHOOL GRADES to start…
January, 6, 2011 at 5:42 pm
I want our Reps to fight, but while keeping a sense of decorum.
I just hope he proceeds with caution. I want him to be a fighter, not an obnoxious flamethrower.
January, 6, 2011 at 6:11 pm
My first President was Harry S. Truman, and I consider Barack Obama to be the dumbest President of my life time. There is no evidence that Obama ever recieved an education.
January, 6, 2011 at 6:14 pm
With respect, I think you are wrong. These are serious times calling for tough people able to think and speak clearly. Alan West isn’t saying anything that a great many people aren’t thinking.
West learned about leadership in a military family, in military training, and in combat. West well understands that lapses in leadership and discipline can quickly result in death and defeat.
Another plain statement of West’s is this: “If it’s about the lives of my men and their safety, I’d go through hell with a gasoline can.”
I only wish our current president, who has famously been termed “President Pantywaist,” had less of a smooth tongue (such as it is) and more of a grasp of the responsibilities of leadership. It would be heaven if he displayed any desire to put himself in the shoes of the American people, not to mention the people in other nations who have suffered greatly as a result of his reckless decisions.
__________
January, 6, 2011 at 6:35 pm
QR, some of the lowest points of political discourse I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime occurred during the Bush years when Bush was insulted on a daily basis – called an idiot, a liar, even a loser not only by liberal pundits, but by Dem congressmen, too.
I’m sure there were folks on the other side egging them on, saying “these are serious times calling for tough people”.
*We can be tough without stooping to their level.
I don’t want to see an Alan Grayson Tourette Syndrome type of toughness. That’s not going to win anyone over to our side.
I loved John Boehner’s terse little note to the Dem Senate leadership the other day.
He basically said, “Eff you very much” but in very cordial language.
There are ways of getting the point across without being the Geico caveman.
*We, meaning our Reps in Congress. Of course the rules are different for pundits. I will call Obama a Marxist and a liar because that’s what I think he is. We expect our Reps to be more delicate in their language. Point out that what the Prez is saying isn’t true, by all means. But do we want them saying “The President is a liar”?
They don’t need to diminish themselves saying what we already know.
January, 6, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Btw, yes, I did support Joe Wilson when he famously blurted out, “You lie!” during the President’s health care speech. That was a spontaneous, spur of the moment reaction to such a long series of unchallenged lies, it was about time someone said something.
When a President repeatedly and flagrantly lies to your face, I can forgive a momentary lapse in judgment.
January, 7, 2011 at 12:06 pm
NiceDeb:
Regarding COL/Rep West. I believe West’s statement regarding the President was “foolish”, but very understandable. First off, it came before he was sworn into Office [though he was already elected]. Secondly, if I had said it and then confronted by that pretentious idiot, odonnell, I wouldn’t have back down from it either.
It should be no secret that this current Commander in Chief doesn’t attain the same level of respect that the previous one held, by most of the Military and especially the Senior Leadership. A fact that West danced around in that interview, though he knows damn well the facts.
West [as I] are products of many years of Military Training, serving in Leadership positions. As Military Leaders, you never ask a subordinate to do something [especially something life threatening] without “Leading”, “Setting” an example, or “Performing” the very same act, that you’re asking them to do. —Having said that—-
The remark was foolish on West’s part in this way. No one would expect the Commander In Chief be put in harms way. But, as a Military Leader it is exactly what West and all Military Leaders are “Expected to Do”, regardless of rank or position.
When West says he’d “run through hell with a Gas Can, to save one of his men”. You can take that to the Bank. This is the man who was “Drummed Out of the Army” after trying to gather information from a prisoner. He turned himself into his own Command for “personnel action”.
West will go through a eventual transition and will smooth out the edges. Grayson on the other hand is some pathetic punk, who grew up in the Bronx and probably got his arse kicked on a daily basis. Who I would be willing to bet never experienced any more serious jeopardy than a paper cut, or nose bleed. A guy who lives in Disneyland [literally].
Me……… I’ve got a “Gas Can” in each hand and know exactly who I would follow and it isn’t Grayson. Been there done that.
I appreciate your concern and advise to him. He’ll come around and smooth out the edges, in time. We are however talking about two completely different “dynamic” persons and personalities.
The last people I’d want to be right now, is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, but I’d love to be a “fly” on the wall in some of their meetings.
Priceless!!!!
January, 7, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Thank you for weighing in, Geo. I hope you don’t think I was suggesting that Col West is anything like Grayson. *shudder*
I have nothing but admiration and respect for Col. West.
I was expressing concern that if he doesn’t tone it down, he’ll be perceived by some as equally obnoxious.
But I’m thinking you’re right – he’ll smooth out the rough edges, and be fine.
January, 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm
NiceDeb:
I really didn’t think that was where you were headed. But, someone who isn’t familiar with your site might have thought that. I understand your concern though.
I am so tired of the “dopey librulz” controlling the agenda and beating the living hell out of us at every turn. Everytime I hear “My Friend from the other side of the aisle” [from either side]……. I want to strangle someone. West is a refreshing and promising face and I totally relate to him. He’ll mellow out, but hopefully not too much.
Not sure how I did it, but somehow I missed the thread yesterday on my stop.
Thank you, for the site and dialogue. It’s become one of my regular stops daily, for the last six months or so.
January, 8, 2011 at 2:44 am
All that West was saying is a true leader doesn’t play golf 59 times while he’s asking men and women to die in a war that should have been over by now. He’s saying flying into a “Totally Secure” zone in the middle of the night for a photo op doesn’t instill confidence in soldiers. He’s saying that leadership requires some sort of sacrifice on the part of the leader. “Servant Leadership” is the term and the best leaders in the world understood those principles.
Obama shouldn’t put himself in harms way he’s the POTUS. Granted. BUT what signal would it send if a POTUS came in to FOB carrying a rifle and met with those folks for a few minutes (It could be made extremely safe with evac plans and means) That’s the type of leadership West is talking about.
I would be willing to bet if West was POTUS, he wouldn’t be on a golf course, or in Hawaii kickin it before he did exactly what he expects from leaders. West is an honorable man and he believes in the power of good leadership. We haven’t had it here in our nation for a very long time. Perhaps in 2012, West could get that chance!
April, 22, 2011 at 5:03 pm
[...] in January, I expressed concern about some of the rhetoric I was hearing coming out of West. Not to belabor the point, some of [...]