Romney Spokesman Behind Plan to Redistrict Allen West out of Office
One of the tea party’s most effective and popular leaders is Allen West , a Republican black Congressman from Florida. Last night he rocked the house at the Lincoln dinner in Palm Beach where Newt Gingrich was the headline speaker.
Today we learn from Legal Insurrection that the effort to force him out of office through redistricting is being spearheaded by Romney’s Florida spokesman:
The establishment is fighting back, alright.
This has not received a lot of national attention, but the Republican legislature in Florida is about to push through a plan which puts Allen West at serious risk, and the person leading the effort is one of Mitt Romney’s spokesmen [Will Weatherford]
(Disclosure, I have supported West both times he ran for office.)
If this is true, can the Repub establishment understand why people confuse Romney with Obama? Is Mittens just like Obama but with better hair?
What does Obama have to do with Allen West being pushed out by Romney. BTW – like Obama’s hair, face and body better than that of the Robot!
Obama looks like a geeky howdy Doody,Romney’s face could be in Webster’s beside the word handsome. Obama could never be considered handsome.
Very subjective judgment,no?
Are you f&$%ing kidding me????
President Obama is VERY HANDSOME, while Romney looks (and acts) like a freaking vampire!!!
You realize that this has nothing to do with Romney right? – This person isn’t romney’s spokesperson or employee, nor does he speak for Mitt Romney regarding redistricting… He is simply a person that endorsed Romney.
You are so desperate to not like Mitt Romney that you overlook that he is the only one in the race with executive leadership, that has balanced a budget back from a HUGE deficit; that has cut programs and lowered taxes.
Being tea Party that is what I CARE about… less spending, less taxes, smaller government…
I live in MA and I voted for Romney and I lived through Romney’s term. He was a disaster and a totally incompetent politician. He gutted the right of citizens to buy firearms. There is now only three small gun stores in the whole state and they only handle second hand weapons. The health care reform he pushed through is a totally disaster. Each year I have to prove that I have health insurance when I file my state taxes. If you don’t have proof of insurance they fine you hundreds of dollars. What is more the plan didn’t work to control medical costs. This state currently has the highest costs in the country by 25%. The plan was supposed to cut costs by reducing visits to emergency rooms because people would have primary care docs. In the real world visits to emergency rooms doubled. Every hospital waiting room in the state is packed full of illegal immigrants and pregnant welfare moms.
What better example of what a Romney presidency portends: Crush the conservatives, compromise with the Dems.
A Romney spokesman supposedly already said that Romney won’t repeal Obamacare. Now another Romney lacky is trying to force out a true conservative. And the establishment can’t understand why there are those who are moving toward Gingrich. At least Gingrich will fight Obama (or at least we think he will).
Good Grief, do you guys NOT give a crap about truth? How about you look crap up before you continue spreading lies.
The gentleman said that Obamacare is going to be incredibly difficult to repeal and will not happen on day one.
Just a friendly reminder, Pam Bondi, the lead attorney general on the Obamacare case has endorsed Mitt Romney. She is clearly aware of how dangerous this bill is, she understand that if they lose at the supreme court level it will be VERY VERY difficult to disentangle it from our country, and she trust Mitt Romney to get the job done!
all he had to do is bribe bondi with a better paying job on his healthcare team to get her support
Seriously, your rediculous. You realize you just accused a man that by all accounts of those who know him is incredibly honest and ethical… as well as the Attorney General of Florida of being crooks…
So I guess based on your style of truth, your a child molester. – Since I posted it on a website it must be true right?
I have finally decided for Gingrich. I first liked Cain, was holding out hope for Perry until he folded, and then thought that Santorum would be ideal since he can’t be attacked as a Wall Street fat cat, but it seems he isn’t gaining any traction. Paul’s foreign policy would result in WWIII, he needs to read up on Neville Chamberlain.
Anybody but Obomney. I have some trepidation about Newt’s electability, but I am a politically independent, socially conservative married woman. I do not want to be railroaded into voting for Romney.
The thing with your Chamberlain theory is actually the opposite of what you’re thinking. We are Germany and Iran is Britain. I’m a history major at Stetson.
“The thing with your Chamberlain theory is actually the opposite of what you’re thinking. We are Germany and Iran is Britain. I’m a history major at Stetson.”
Now that is really hilarious. Iran is Britain? I am so glad I have barely heard of Stetson. I also have a background in History. Probably from a time when we were taught critical thinking.
Stetson? I thought they made big hats…
Isn’t there a saying “All hat and no intellectual cattle?” I just added the intellectual to make it more obvious in this case, because recasting the argument between the United States and Iran in terms of Nazi Germany (us) and Great Britain (Iran) is just perverse. Which group, for instance, is the counterpart to the Jews that Hitler and his friends were obsessed with exterminating? Al Qaeda? Gimme a break!…
And I was an International Relations major. I don’t think Anony has learned very much in his studies.
Really? Time to stop giving to Stetson.
You were for Cain, Gingrich and who else? Do you want to defeat Obama or make an ideological statement. Gingrich can’t and won’t win. Four more years of Obama will be worse that 30 years of Woodrow Wilson. Romney is anything but perfect but he appeals to independents and looks a hundred times better than Obama when it comes to leadership.
Hi, I’m a Tea Party Member. I live in Texas. I am voting for Mitt Romney because I believe he can get done what we need so that our country can survive. I used to be a big fan of Newts. Now I can’t stand the guy. To me morals and character matter. If a man’s own family can’t trust him why should we. Newt dumped his first wife then wouldn’t pay child support which put his family in danger. He had to ordered by a judge to pay child support. I can’t think of anything lower then that. Newt has REPEATEDLY cheated on his many wives. Plus, how many other women are hiding in the woodwork? How many more are going to come out. Look, we need to look at the soul of the republican party, do we want to become like the liberals? Do we want to hold our nose and vote for a guy that changes wives like dirty socks? The most sacred promise a man can make and he violated it over and over with no regard to his wives. Mitt had some liberal leanings when he was younger, he says he’s grown out of them, become conservative. Isn’t that what we want from the opposition to change? Don’t we want to change hearts and minds to our way of thinking? Now when the chips were down, Mitt has always lived up to his promises, especially those that count MOST in this world, to his family. I honest belived the only thing stopping Newt from cheating anymore is that he is to old to cat around anymore.
Mitt is a good man he has earned our respect if for no other reason then for the exemplary life he has lead.
Ben, Matt: I don’t like Newt for many reasons. I am not demanding perfection, I am very much a pragmatic decision maker. The “ideology” that underpins my decision is that we as a nation have to step back from the precipice of out of control spending. After economic survival, we can focus on morality, but we are close to economic collapse a la Cloward Pivin.
I will vote for Gingrich over Romney because I think he is the one the RINO establishment (and the perverse mainstream media) are afraid of. They know he will take the fight to them. As for Dems attacking his marital history, just four words will suffice in reply: Bill Clinton, John Edwards.
Newt is the only one who ever actually made the government stop spending enough to balance the budget. His signature achievement is the Contract with America. Romney’s signature achievement is RomneyCare. Judge a tree by its fruit.
Now, if Romney gets the nomination, I will of course vote for him, but he is obviously the entrenched Republican machine’s choice. He has no conservative achievements whatsoever. Romney is just Obama lite, even George Soros admits that.
Larry Sabato, a well respected Republican poller, said if Gingrich is the nominee, not only will Obama win but we will lose the house and senate. It’s a very easy decision for me. Romney. And hope to have both houses under Republican control to keep him in check should some of his liberal tendencies come about.
Beg to differ. . .Dr. Sabato is the Director of the Center for Politics and Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at U.Va. He is often quoted in the media, but I have never heard him referred to as a “pollster” or a “Republican.”
A Romney victory would all but kill the Tea Party. Unless the movement was all about hating Obama then his election dooms the Tea Party.
All Mitt Romney wants is an appropriate offer from Allen West. And an appropriate answer is due back to them…
Asking an offering of earth and water from West? With a guy like West that is the same as starting a fight as West will never give it. I am beginning to think that romney is nearly as much a source of national shame as obama.
West is not even Romney’s enemy. He just did not endorse him. West defended Mitt when Newt went over the line in North Carolina. But West is loved by the tea party, and the tea party is against Romney, so this is how Team Romney deals with redistricting, the pragmatic establishment way. West ends up under the Romney bus. Debbie Wasserman Schultz must be thrilled.
One night last week I was listening to Mark Levin on talk radio, and didn’t turn the radio off afterward. Michael Savage, whom I rarely listen to because he is way too in love with himself and expresses hatred for Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin all the time, came on, and said he learned from someone who is definitely in a position to know that Romney told him he loathes conservatives.
If true, that would surely explain a lot, wouldn’t it?
Just what needed, a younger, prettier McCain, only one much less conservative. /sarc
I’ve been saying the Romney is McCain with more money and no Sarah Palin.
do you people really think that allen west can only win in his current district as drawn? dump allen west into another district and make him run agsinst another republican in the primary and it is going to be the other guy who is out looking for a job.
You are right on the money.
Allen West is a rising Republican Star. He has a lot of political options.
West does not have to run in an overwhelmingly black district to win.
West can move to another district and oust an establishment Republican.
He could also run for the U.S. Senate or Florida Governor. West is not
going away. Being martyred in this fashion will only help West in the
long.
This attempt to re-district West is really short sighted and stupid – totally
worthy of Romney.
I think to his north, the Congressman is Alcyee Hastings and on the other side Debbie Wasserman Schultz. I do not see an adjacent Republican district. Am I wrong?
interesting point, but bill nelsen, senate democrat, is up in 2013. if west is actually gerrymandered out of the house, then he just goes bigger. my point is really that west is not going to ousted by redistricting. he might be moved, he might be delayed. he won’t be defeated.
I think it is due to the size and demographics of the districts. They are far more democratic, so taking some of West’s conservative areas and giving him more democratic areas hurts West a lot more than it hurts them. They are willing to do that to get rid of West (who they hate).
Romney is trying to get rid of Colonel West who has, in my opinion, the makings of a great President? I just left the Republican party or to paraphrase Ronald Reagan “the Republican Party left me.”
Mr. West really should not be addressed as a Military officer because he has broken many times the military code of conduct by his public slander of the commander and chief.
Proof that the “Machine” of the RINO’s is racist too? Another “Black Conservative” besides Herman Cain being taken down. So much for the American Slogan “Be All You Can Be”, because when you do succeed your vilified.
West is a true Patriot leader!
Will Weatherford isn’t qualified to zip up Col.West’s pants nor lick shine his boots.
So much for the Willllllllllllllber vote! A horse is a horse of coarse of coarse but not after This Move,Mr. Ed!
Let us be clear: Mr. West has some more to prove in DC, because when he was given his most important test as the biggest name elected by tea party support on the debt deal and super committee issue, he caved and made a public announcement on Fox News, saying among other things that this was the best deal we could get. In doing so, he made it impossible for other, weaker, lesser known tea party caucus members to stand against the deal. If you remember this was the day after John Boehner told his house party members to “get your ass in line”, and Mr. West did. He talks a big game, but the one time we needed him to take a strong stand against something that was really bad (Michele Bachmann knew it, said so, and voted NO), Mr. West did not help our cause.
If this was introduced at Newt fund raiser, I would highly doubt it. His accusations against Romney have all been lies … he can’t answer the claims of his extensive “baggage” and so theatrically he changes subject, then attacks Romney — he has no other answers. Newt is big government insider and part of establishment – one only needs to have eyes and ears to know this. His Freddie Mac historian position (that he hid on his tax returns) was why our country is in such peril – who could vote for this traitor! (Sarah Palin & Rush who overlook his support of Obamacare too!)
The idea that Michael Savage made a negative comment about conservatives … #1 is hearsay. #2 Romney is a conservative, governed as a conservative in Massachusetts. Romney is the MOST free enterprise capitalist in this group and other GOP like Newt, Palin and Rush go against capitalism.
You obviously do not have the foggiest idea what the word “conservative” means. Or maybe “Massachusetts.”
Actually, I think both.
Well said McGehee.
If by “conservative” you mean a South Carolina bigot… I’m not a conservative,
But if you mean FISCAL conservative, I am definitely one… and so is Romney,
If you dont know that, your not paying attention.
So you agree with Barack, that evangelicals and conservatives are a bunch of ignorant bigots who cling to their guns and religion. Just to be clear about where you stand.
Like it or not, the Republican party has three pillars, social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and strong foreign policy types. We CANNOT win without all three parts of our base mobilized. Social conservatives do not trust Romney. So go ahead and sing Obama’s tune that we social conservatives are a bunch of ignorant racists (which is untrue, unfair and only makes us want to beat your candidate more).
Tell me how Romney wins states like VA and NC and I’ll begin to see how he stands a snowball’s chance of beating Obama. I don’t care how many extra votes he gets from independents and moderates in Massachusetts, California and New York – we aren’t going to win those states anyway. We need someone who can win the states that Bush won – FL, OH, NC, VA, and some other states like NM or OH to make up the difference. Romney ain’t the guy. Maybe Newt isn’t either. But someone who can mobilize all the conservatives stands a better chance than someone who thinks he can write off a good chunk of the base and make up for it with independents (see McCain 2008).
Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! All Romney would have to do to win Virginia is to make sure none of the conservative candidates are on the ballot.
Done. I’ll vote Ron Paul because that’s a “not-Romney” vote but most of my friends are agonizing over the decision.
So how much is the Obama campaign paying for Romney boosting?
How do we get to Romney wanting West out…from the underlying information available?
We don’t.
Look, Romney is smearing Gingrich and Gingrich is smearing Romney. But this crap isn’t helping anybody.
West is an “A” teamer, he would be given a much, much, much more important role in Republican politics than a Congressman from some miniscule district. Some guy nobody ever heard of, in some remote part of some district nobody knows about, said that a bunch of people involved in redistricting, made some obscure decisions….NOBODY…BUT NOBODY said that they intentionally are running Alan West out. Ever. At any time.
This is such a stretch. And tying it to Romney…is REALLY a stretch.
Cheap, below the belt…crap.
BOTH campaigns should stop.
But, they won’t. It’s far past irrational at this point.
“B” teamers. It’s just humiliating to watch these two camps act like this.
Normally I would agree with you, but Allen West is a star and it does look like something is very fishy here. That a Romney supporter is the GOP member involved with this makes it especially troublesome. This does not appear to be neutral (which is how it is supposed to be done) but slanted against West. We know the Dems hate him. But it does not look like the GOP representative in on these negotiations was looking out for Allen West. With predictable results.
If true, it shows that Romney is weak, cannot win. A real loser’s gambit.
You know, I can’t say I’m a humongous West fan, but my basic attitude is that I hope the GOP “establishment” enjoys the schism, because it’s probably coming. I can only see two ways it doesn’t happen (though there are probably more), and neither depend upon the GOP. So keep up the good work, fellas.
I’m sorry but Legal Insurrection is very biased. He is extremely pro-Newt and has been shilling for him but stepped it up during the South Carolina primary. From what I’ve been reading on his site for months in relation to pro-Newt and anti other candidates I give no credence to this man.
Also, if you read the actual story…just because someone is a spokesperson for someone it doesn’t mean they had it in for Allen West. I adore West myself but this is way out there to assume it’s because he had it in for West, the teaparty or conservatism. It was also decided months ago, long before anyone even knew the nomination process would get to Florida. There’s also way too few details to make this jump. We also don’t know the process of how they redistricted to know anything of a conspiracy.
http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/2012/01/he-who-must-be-destroyed-palinization.html He who must be destroyed, the Palinization of Newt Gingrich is an ugly thing…
Of all the things one has to do in organizing a nationwide campaign, figuring out how to redistrict a popular black Republican out of office would seem pretty low on any sane person’s list. Romney’s record seems to be one of supporting fellow Republicans and building a broad base. Sorry, but this is approaching koolaid territory.
Here are Florida redistricting suggestions, the present map is the bottom most, as you can see the present district is very ugly, and they had some ballot initiative to ban freaky redistricting, that’s the reason, Allen West’s didstrict is surrounded by blue districticts and one swing disctirct to hard to keep
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2011/reports/redistricting/congress.shtml
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=FL&district=22
Florida Congressional District Boundaries Amendment appeared on the November 2, 2010 ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment where it was approved. The measure proposed amending the current practice of drawing congressional district boundaries in such ways that they establish “fairness,” are “as equal in population as feasible” and use “city, county and geographical boundaries.” Florida CD-22, West’s district, doesn’t really take into account “city, county and geographical bound.
Florida CD-22, West’s district, doesn’t really take into account “city, county and geographical boundaries”. In google maps, it seems to in general pick up neighborhoods with golf and other green areas, lots of bonds and pools, and pass many neighborhoods that lack them.
Links about amendments that limit redistricting, they were put in by Florida peolle http://www.collinscenter.org/page/1gFLAmAmend5and6_MS
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_Congressional_District_Boundaries,_Amendment_6_(2010)
Also here is 2010 house election map, yuo can see how allen wests disctrict is mosly surrounded by democrat districts, and it’s weird shape enables makes it a swing district rather than Democrat leaning district. http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/house
There are tools for people to draw their own redistricting maps, put them online, with all the information, showing what is swing and which leans where, those who want to prove that Allen West is victim of some conspiracy, should put up their own redistricting plan online, with all 27 distritcs, that show how to save Allen West’s district without causing republicans to lose more districtis elsewhere. Represent them in similar format as on this site:
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2011/reports/redistricting/congress.shtml
If you can’t do that, stop spreading conspiracies.
I happen to be a Romney supporter as well as a huge fan of Allen West. Both of these men are prime examples of everything good about the Republican party. Attacking Romney because you disagree with someone who has endorsed him is as ridiculous as attacking Allen West for what his backers might say or do. I can see where the redistricting issue becomes a really big problem because the legislature has to redistrict to comply with the law, and their decisions have to take into account what the citizens of the areas involved want, and make it fair to both political parties. The final map has to be able to pass the judicial. This might have been a golden opportunity for all organizations in Florida to get together to help the legislature in developing a map that would satisfy the people as well as the law. Accusing the GOP of using the redistricting problems as a way of punishing Allen West is just another grandiose political ploy devised by Romney opponents to win an election. It has become very apparent that some of Governor Romney’s campaign opponents will stoop to any level to get a vote, including dragging the names of Mr West, Mr. Weatherford, Mr. Romney, and the GOP itself into a local issue. Go back to the drawing board folks and find a solution for your redistricting problem instead of wasting valuable time playing gotcha politics.
I’m confused by the many in the Tea Party. I was a supporter and member of a local chapter. The odd thing to me is that many are backing Gingrich as sort of an FU to the establishment yet he personifies the sleezy establishment politician that I loathe. The pandering in NH SC and Florida is exactly whats wrong with politics. This is the guy that promised a MOON BASE by 2018 to an audience on the space coast. I repeat, the man promised that with a Gingrich presidency he would build a BASE ON THE MOON by 2018. In a time where TEA party activists are supposedly looking for government spending cuts they are supporting a man that proposed a TRILLION DOLLAR MOON BASE!!! He also promised a new interstate in SC and a bridge in NH. By the time he gets through all 50 states he will have made trillions of dollars of promises. That is the furthest thing from supposed TEA Party values.
You’re right, you are confused.
People please. The voters of the entire state of Florida decided on a referendum to re-draw congressional districts so they make geographic sense. My district, Mr. West’s district, is one of the most illogically drawn districts in the state. While this redistricting will effect Republicans, it will effect Democrats too. Unfortunately for Mr. West’s career, he is in a district that is currently divided equally between Democrats and Republicans, but will be re-drawn to heavily favor Democrats in the future. If Mr. West was more moderate, like our last Republican congressman, Clay Shaw, he’d still have a chance, but Mr. West made his own decisions in the past few years, now he’ll have to live with them … or move/run somewhere else.
Kevin, Did you oppose sending a man to the moon? If so, at least you’re consistent. But I can see validity to Newt’s idea as an aspect of our National Defense plan. Unless you’re a purist libertarian who opposes any national defense plan, perhaps you will accept that mastery of space is really important from a defense angle. Do you want China and Russia to be predominant in space???
Newt is right on target with his space ideas despite the cost (which would likely be a lot less than any one of the entitlement programs!).
Going to the moon is a challenge and we will learn a lot doing it. Why do men do anything risky and bold. Why did Hillary climb Everest? If you are human and have some curiosity about the universe then you have to explore the unknown and stretch yourself intellectually and physically. It makes us human and Romney is nothing but a small minded miser for worrying about the rather minimal price tag instead of looking at the big picture. Sure it is a luxury but who knows what we will find up their if we lack the guts to even check it out.
Let’s see, Romney is for Gun Control, Brady Bill, Trigger Locks and legislation hampering small arms manufactuurers.
Mr. West and Rubio voted for and approved ALL Americans losing Habeus Corpus through NDAA.
Conclusion, both are with, from and for We The Elite people of culture of corruption in Washington DC…did We The People miss anything? God Bless America. Let’s put them ALL in a space ship to the moon, let them cobble together some form of governance…bet they eat each other alive! Wanna bet? Amen!
FYI — you may want to update your post:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=337127326309796&id=106954145993783
Statement Regarding Redistricting and Congressman Allen West
As the House Chairman of Redistricting, I have the responsibility to ensure there is a fair, open, and legally compliant process. The newly approved constitutional amendments, passed by more than 60% of Florida voters, require the legislature to follow a set of standards. This is the first time the legislature has been required to follow these legal standards
These new standards have resulted in disrupting the current districts for incumbents. The Tampa Bay Times stated that the House, Senate, and Congressional maps represent “a record-breaking shakeup in incumbency.” It has been reported that at least 38 members of the Florida legislature do not currently live in their district.
There are rumors that the Florida Legislature has targeted Congressman Allen West. This is patently false. I personally have supported and endorsed Allen West. I will continue to support this extraordinary member of Congress who has brought a much needed conservative voice to Washington, D.C.
However, my personal support cannot and will not trump the Constitution.
This is just the type of sneaky thing Romney does. He doesn’t like Allen West because West came out against him (and he’s black). He plays innocent while groups tell lies to tear down other candidates when you know he told them what he wanted done, despite his platitudes. He is sneaky about finances too, squirreling away money in Swiss and Cayman Island and Luxembourg bank accounts. I want to see the media ask him about Damon Corporation, where he was the manager and the company engaged in one of the largest Medicare frauds in history. He said at first he didn’t know anything about it, but then he must have realized that contradicted the saavy businessman narrative he’s created. Then he claimed he stopped the malfeasance, but Corning (the company to which Damon was sold, refutes that and says they stopped it. Romney is a disingenous, sneaky, lying, conniving liberal trying to dress as a conservative.
Legal Insurrection follows up on this today:
“A natural response, which in fact is what happened, would be to chalk it all up to the supposedly immovable force of redistricting laws. That’s a hard sell on the surface since if it merely were a matter of punching in the numbers and seeing what came out, there would have been no need for months of discussions and negotiations.
But that becomes harder to believe considering this commentary by J.E. Dyer in HotAir’s Greenroom about which two Republicans are hurt the most:
To point out some more “obvious,” this is a Republican-controlled legislature. Did the Republicans allow other GOP-held Congressional seats to be severely jeopardized by the new district lines? Apparently, only one. An analysis done for the Washington Post last week indicates that Allen West’s and Tom Rooney’s seats are the ones in the most danger. Getting positive help from the redistricting are Republicans Dan Webster, Sandy Adams, Mario Diaz-Balart, and John Mica.
Redistricting isn’t as easy as it looks, of course. But it is not believable that it is either a fully non-partisan process – when anyone is doing it – or that the Florida GOP leadership was neutral as to which seats were jeopardized by their plan.
One possibility is that Republican leaders thought West and Rooney were the most likely to achieve reelection in newly hostile districts. They haven’t said that, so that’s pure speculation based on trying to put this in a positive light.
Meanwhile, who are Florida’s arguably most outspoken, conservative Republican Congressmen? West and Rooney.”
Funny. .. .another article on RCP about this. . .and contrary to the assertions here that it’s “not our fault” (typical Romney campaign excuse). . . . .someone else saw what was going on and has a completely different take on what happened. .. .
“West’s congressional district inexplicably sheds the most out support as compared to all other incumbent Republican and Democrat Congressman. A few weeks back we quoted an unnamed legislator saying that, “Allen West was screwed”, a statement which was originally made about made five months before the purposed maps were made public, leading insiders to believe that the fix was in against Allen West. But in light of Weatherford’s comment, it is increasingly clear that this is a fait accompli. ”
This wasn’t “forced” on them by some judge. . . .this was a premeditated move as this insider contends. . . .
Boyyyyy oh boyyyyyyyy, the Romney people are going to have some very ugly explaining to do. . . . .
Guys, Alan West only made it into Congress (barely) as a result of a ridiculous GOP gerrymander that resulted in the four Democratic counties of Broward, Palm Beach, Dade and Monroe having a majority of GOP seats. The GOP gerrymander did this by packing Dem voters into a few districts, and leaving most GOP districts at 51% GOP participation. These gerrymanders split county and municipal lines. The voters of Florida passed a Constitutional Amendment to stop these ridiculous gerrymanders so that people in communities of interest (like counties and municipalities) are put in the same district.
So when the GOP had to unwind some of the gerrymandering, they ended up having to unpack Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s district. Alan West picked up more of Broward County. As he wasn’t in Palm Beach County, he was the most logical choice to pick up those voters. West was in the middle of the Democratic area that had to be ungerrymandered.
Finally, it would have been doubtful that West could have held onto his seat even if it had remained constant. His district has the fastest growing Gay population in the entire United States (not good for a unvarnished opponent of any measure of equality for Gay Americans) and also has a rapidly increasing non-Cuban Latin American voting population. He barely won in 2010, and I don’t think he would have won in 2012 regardless. If the GOP tried to save West, they’d probably lose his seat and another one.
The only person who ‘screwed’ Alan West was Alan West. When you take over a district that is a swing district with a growing Democratic voter base, voting like you have a West Texas district isn’t a good idea. Also, going out of your way to antagonize the fastest growing voter base in your district isn’t a good idea either.
Net result, Alan West will be leaving Congress after losing to an openly Gay liberal Democrat. In either his old district or his new one. But the new district makes it harder for him to hang on to his district.
“Barely won in 2010″ you say.Congressman Allen West was elected with a winning margin of 54 to 45 and I think that constitutes a significant margin in any race. I’m not wasting time with the rest of your post since on the most obvious point you are wrong.
It’s always gerrymandering when a Dem doesn’t get their way, but it’s never voter fraud when more people vote than who are registered, in a district that a Democrat wins in.
Bla, bla, bla, bla.
Schultz is an extreme left wing political bigot, not intelligent or honorable.
Republican lead an effort to replace a republican by redistricting. Very unlikely story. Do you have a creible source? What would be the purpose? To help democrats?
The district has gone back in forth for years. It was a swing district. Democrats have unseated Republicans and vice versa. Its not anymore. It never should have been a swing district. The only way they could have saved West and kept a Constitutional district for him would be to move his district to the west and merge it with a GOP incumbent in SW Florida.
Perhaps Mr. West should move to Crestview, West Texas or North Mississippi with his voting record. Its not a South Florida voting record. Either way, the voters of Oakland Park, Victoria Park, Wilton Manors, and East Fort Lauderdale look forward to having representation again in Congress and for Mr. West to go back to AM radio.
I believe Clay Shaw (R) held that district for many years and the odd boundaries were kept to save his office.
Floridian, nearby district, AW supporter. Gerrymandered district for years has been Alcee Hastings, set up as part of a devil’s bargain in 2001for a minority/majority district. Dems suggested maps this year did not even consider minority districts – the so called “fair” amendment has as its base the desire to throw the redistricting into largely Dem court system.
As a Tea Party party participant, I have no problem believing the Romney connection-way too many of our so-called leaders among Repub s find us Constitutionalists icky and wish we would just shut up,vote as we are told and send money. Not going to happen….
Fiona, the gerrymandering of Hastings’ and DWS benefited the Republicans. Over sixty percent of Floridians voted to stop the ridiculous district issues in Florida. So the GOP isn’t going to pack a few Dem districts with 90 percent voting strength and then leave all the surrounding districts with 52 percent GOP strenght. You aren’t in AW’s district. Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, and East Fort Lauderdale are.
It is a fact that the Republicans do gerrymander in order to stop minority voters from choosing a candidate of their choosing (and no, a district where white voters elect a ‘black’ candidate like AW who has virtually no minority support isn’t the point of the Voting Rights Act). It does our country no favors when minority voters represent 40 percent of the electorate but don’t ever get to elect anyone due to Republican gerrymandering. And that would be the case if the Voting Rights Act were removed. The problem is that if you look at the percentage of people voting Democrat in state legislative and congressional elections, that the GOP, through racial and other gerrymandering, have managed to frustrate all of those voters.
I see “Tom in Lazybrook” has brought his homo-obsessions with him from other websites. How nice.
Anyway, I am pro-GOP and pro-Allen West, but the plain demographic reality of Southeast Florida is that — barring some extreme, world-class gerrymandering — you simply cannot avoid 5 pro-Democrat congressional districts. Under a “normal” congressional map, CD-22 would have gone Democrat in 2002 and never looked back.
Florida gained 2 seats this year, and I don’t know if West can plausibly run in another Florida seat or not. But the obliteration of CD-22 is not the result of any Romney/Weatherford plots, just ordinary demographic movement.
This detailed account of the controversy in Hot Air seems to support your contentions.http://hotair.com/archives/2012/01/30/florida-gop-trying-to-force-allen-west-out-of-congress-through-redistricting/
On the right, I’ll enjoy discussing Gay rights with you when Allen West loses to an openly Gay liberal Democrat from Wilton Manors in November. But I do agree with your ‘demographic’ comment. West’s district is surrounded by large numbers of deep blue voters. North East Broward (I own a second home in CD 22) is home to a very large and fast growing Gay population (most of us were in Wasserman-Schultz’s district last time), so Gay rights are relevant here. The (tens of) thousands of new Gay voters in his district are going to be a big problem (take a quick drive through Wilton and NE Fort Lauderdale if you’d like to see the new voters in CD 22). A more moderate GOP candidate could try to hang on in this district. And without compromising on fiscal issues. But Mr. West had to be the most anti-Gay he could be. So he’ll be on AM radio next year and Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz Balart (South Florida Republicans that don’t oppose equality for LGBT Floridians) will probably be back. Its either him or Feeney who gets gone (Quite frankly, Feeney is almost as bad as West from the persepective of those that don’t celebrate discrimination against Gay people). And if the tea party wants to scream about Romney, I say…go right ahead. It isn’t going to help Allen West or hurt the Democrats. Go to town.
By the way, Feeney’s new district is looking a lot more like a swing district (its potentially competitve for a Democrat – as opposed to his old district) than it used to. So if the GOP tries to play too hard to keep both of them there, you may lose both seats (you may lose both of them anyway). I’d love to see a bruising GOP primary between West and Feeney.
A lot of butt monkeys here shilling for Porky Newtie. Newtie’s megalomaniacal ways were on full blubbering display when Mitt tore him up in the last two debates. Poor Newtie who can’t get help from religion #3 and wife #3 to turn around his sinking ship. Maybe he ought to be like his rump swab–Rushie poo–get wife #4!
This is not good. West seems to be a righteous dude.
Also, I’m not liking what seems to be coming out of Arizona. When Janet Incompetano was governor, the libs ran an initiative creating an “Independent” redistricting commission instead of leaving it alone. The political press here is stupid, and the people are suckers for anything that says Clean or Independent. All fomented by the Dems. Consequently, two freshman GOP reps may be running in the same district if they don’t work it out. Arizona is not the place I came to 40 years ago. It’s getting much more like California than I care to admit. I might have to move to Texas.
Hey all of you in this chat, sorry but President Obama is going to beat Romney and pretty handily. I think the President will lose Indiana and North Carolina, but probably keep most of the other states he won in 2008. No matter, he could still lost Ohio and Florida and still win. The economy is getting better each day, and will continue to do so.
And by the way, exactly what is sooooo bad about the President?? Unemployment going down, the market above 12,500, Bin Laden and most of Al Queda leadership dead, out of that stupid and costly mess in Iraq, getting out of Afghanistan, got rid of Khaddafi with no American lives lost and at a cost 1/100 of the cost of getting rid of Hussein, tax rates the lowest for the middle class in 40 years, kids under 27 covered by their parents’ health insurance, the Affordable Care Act (so-called Obamacare) is all done through private insurance. Give us a break. Things are going very well, especially given the mess that Bush and the Republican Party handed President Obama.
The unemployment rate is higher than it was when Obama took office THREE years ago. The work force HAS GROWN ZERO.
I’d be happier with a higher unemployment rate (due to the work force growing), and at least a net increase in jobs since he took office, but 1.6 million fewer than when Obama took office, IS NOT AN ACHIEVEMENT that is good for this country.
Romney is doing major damage to the Republican Party while pretending to be one. Romneycare? Massachusetts has the HIGHEST health care insurance premiums in the country. The cost of an existing home in Massachusetts is $357,000 at the median. Romney said he would not do anything to interfere with the right of woman’s choice, (even if that means using abortion as a means of birth control). He advocates for ZERO personal responsibility. He is not even close to being a conservative, not even fiscally.
Conservatives in this country highly resent what Romney is doing to the base. He has ZERO chance at beating Obama in the General, because he has nothing to contrast himself from Obama with.
LATEST:
Washington Post reports that West will switch districts and run from the 18th District :
” Tea party firebrand Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) announced Tuesday that he will switch districts and run for reelection in Florida’s new 18th district…
Rep. Tom Rooney’s (R-Fla.) decision earlier Tuesday to run in the open and Republican-leaning 17th district rather than the swing 18th freed West up to make the switch to the neighboring district, which is just north of his current district, which spans from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale.
“Congressman Rooney is a statesman and has been an honorable public servant to the constituents of Florida’s 16th Congressional district,” West said, referring to Rooney’s current district, which is re-numbered from 16 to 18 under the new plan. “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.”