Will Hunting For The Colonel (Allen West)?
(Gabriel Carrera writes for Wheels on the Road and the Florida Sentry. Below is the 2/2012 instalment of the political writing for the magazine, enjoy)
Most WOTR (Wheels On The Road) riders know U.S. Congressman Allen West as “The Colonel!” Lieutenant Colonel Allen West (US Army, Retired) was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and is third of four generations of military servicemen in his family. He has served in several combat zones: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country. The Colonel ran in District-22 as a dedicated U.S. Constitutional Tea Party backed candidate in 2010 winning in a highly dense Democrat district.
The Colonel sent shock waves through the Obama controlled party angering many Democrat operatives nationwide who promised to return in 2012 with swift vengeance. West is one of the most visible and outspoken members of Congress, and he has been holding both the Establishment Republicans, and the Obama Administration accountable for their actions. Some may remember how he was attacked by Debbie Wasserman Schultz forwriting in WOTR, a biker magazine that degrades women, what was she thinking? Ron Klien, the self proclaimed socialist, ran ads against this man of Honor that he he writes for a biker magazine (WOTR), its owned by the Outlaws and rides with biker gangs. These were lies to confuse the population against Allen West. Now you know why he aint the U.S. Congressman for District 22 right?
The time has come and the Colonel has a target on his back from a group of progressive enemies. Two Demon-crats have cashed in on the left’s venom against the Colonel. Self-employed Patrick Murphy, and the failed former mayor of West Palm Beach, Lois Frankel, have fundraised against West repeating lies in hope that voters will believe their dishonest message. He has endured the constant fire from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has deceitfully accused West of voting to give oil companies tax breaks while cutting benefits for seniors. “Let me tell ya something, if I was not a pain in the butt to liberal Progressives, I would not be their number one target,” West commented. If that was not enough, the Colonel has another new front to the re-election war. This year the congressional districts must be redesigned according to the U.S. Census data. The GOP establishment having the majority control in both houses in Tallahassee has dealt a serious blow to the most admired Conservative biker in America. The FL Republican majority have drawn preliminary maps deleting Constitutional Conservative strongholds and replacing them with ultra-liberal Democrats from neighboring districts from the ever lovely Democratic Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic National Chairman) and Ted Deutch to West’s detriment.
In sum, Rep. Allen West who in the 2010 Tea Party Revolution narrowly ousted a devout Socialist from office is now running the campaign of his life fighting off “friendly” fire.
What is the most conservative legislature in Florida’s history thinking when they saved their political hides for future runs, but threw the Colonel under the bus? In January, my good friend Javier Manjarres at the Shark-Tank.net broke the story that a very high ranking member of the Florida legislature gave him a very disturbing prediction regarding redistricting – “Allen West is screwed!” Are the FL legislature RINO power brokers targeting the Conservative Colonel for defeat in 2012? Have the smokey back-room deals been sealed with Democrats passing an unopposed redistricting plan?
Supporters of the preliminary redistricting maps that harm West argue that two Florida Constitutional changes, Amendments 5 & 6, succeeded in the last election preventing them from guarantying Allen a fighting chance. These amendments were dishonestly labeled the “Fair District” amendments to guaranty added language to the state Constitution that districts should not be drawn to deny minorities the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. The sun-light breaking through the dark clouds is a recent 2012 U.S. Supreme Court Decision that holds: the State Legislature has more say over the maps they create than the Courts. Texas Republican majority used their political muscle to create a map more favorable to Conservatives than liberals. The Democrats challenged and initially won in the lower Court until the Supreme Court reversed mandating the case back to the state stating the Legislature has the power NOT the court to redraw the maps. This S.C. Case gives Florida Republicans political cover should a district favorable to the Colonel be challenged before “liberal-activist” Judges.
I cannot appreciate how an elected majority who won in an historic landslide by the 2010 Conservative Revolution do not use their torque to keep the most admired Conservative biker in office. The current FL district maps are throwbacks to the days of Democrats making Districts conserving the likes of convicted felon Alcee Hastings as Congressman. Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz district is not impacted negatively, but their fellow Republican in District-22 is sacrificed on the satanic-altar of media likability. Democrats do not cower in fear using their majority when they are in control so why do these yellow bellied Republican Elites lack back bone to govern? Haven’t the people spoken?
Florida State Sen. President Mike Haridopolos and State Rep. Will Weatherford chair the committee that holds the fate of The Colonel’s District-22 in their hands. Many wonder aloud if the Privileged GOP Establishment, who strongly detests the conservative Republican base, proposed a map to defeat the rise of the People’s Conservative-Tea-Party backed candidates. Some have floated that Sen. Haridopolos has decided to preserve a possible run for Congress in his congressional district of Melbourne. Haridopolos’ congressional representative is currently Republican Bill Posey. Posey may decide not seek another run for Congress in 2014, opening the door for the popular and well-funded Senate President to instantly become the frontrunner for the potentially vacant seat were he decide to make a run for Posey’s seat.
The Colonel is an active WOTR brother who rides and supports us every chance he gets. The challenge I place before you is to speak out? What can you do? Call Sen. Mike Haridopolos at: (321) 754-3131, & (850) 487-5628 or 5056, email: haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov
Call State Rep. Will Weatherford ( Wesley Chapel) at (850) 488-5744 & (813) 558-5115, or email him at teamwill@willweatherford.com , Let them know we support our brother Allen West and that they should use their 2010 victory to keep the Colonel in office lest we vote them out of power!
