PERHAPS A LITTLE PAYBACK FOR BEING SO OUTSPOKEN?

Maybe a better title for this post would be "Why is Allen West getting screwed by the GOP?" I ask because it was while listening to Rush Limbaugh today that I heard something that caught me completely by surprise and was something that, frankly, I just couldn't believe. What Rush was talking about was the fact that the congressional redistricting plan for here in Florida, and that is currently under review, would eliminate the congressional district of Rep. Allen West. Now I have been a big fan of Rep. West since day one. I found his frankness and his honest talk very refreshing to say the least. But it seems that it might now be because of those are the very same "qualities" having brought so much attention to him, that the GOP powers at be, may now be on a mission, of sorts, where if they can't silence him then they'll simply make him go away. The plan is to simply eliminate his congressional district. Either I haven't be paying sufficient attention, or this was whole plot was kept well under my radar, but I gotta tell you, I'm pissed!

So here we are at a time when, as a result of the 2010 census, Florida will pick up two additional House seats, so why is that anyone's district is in need of being eliminated, least of all Mr. West's. It seems to me that if we need to get rid of anyone's district how about we start with the snake-shaped district of Corrine Brown's? That loud-mouthed, pain in the ass has been a constant embarrassment for Florida ever since she first won election. But nope, instead it has been somebody’s bright idea that because we have an outspoken black conservative with a high national profile, his reward is to now have a rather substantial sized national target painted on his back going in to 2012. Like I said, as part of reapportionment which is a result of the 2010 census, Florida gained 2 Congressional seats. Despite that, it appears that the Republican-controlled Florida legislature seems to have somehow managed to make Allen West’s seat much more difficult, if not impossible, to defend.


Via Shark Tank:


"Over the past several weeks, many Republicans have voiced their disappointment towards the Republican legislature after the release of the preliminary redistricting maps. Much of the ire concerns the proposed boundaries of Congressman Allen West’s 22nd Congressional District that would be redrawn to include far more registered Democrats/
  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.
  According to Weatherford, those preliminary maps will not change- at the most, any additional changes would be minimal, and those changes would not make any appreciable difference from the preliminary maps. In addition, Weatherford stated that a deal was struck between him, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and Senator Don Gaetz to finalize these maps and push them through as soon as possible. Weatherford also said that the proposed maps are in legal compliance with both the Voting Rights Act and Amendment 6.
  So based on Weatherford’s comments, the 22nd Congressional District is now very much in play for the Democrat Party, and West is at an even larger disadvantage than he was previously- it will be a very difficult and expensive seat for Republicans to defend."


Ya know, this is just one more example of all that is wrong with the Republican Party and gives us a very clear indication what it's apparent priorities are. And it would seem that it is to make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for conservatives voices to be heard in Washington. Rush also made mention of the fact that the man behind this scheme is someone with very strong ties to GOP candidate Mitt Romney. Now I have not yet had the opportunity to validate that information, but Rush is usually right about such things. And that may impact how I choose to vote in the primary. So while at one point I was planning on voting for Romney in tomorrow's primary, I'm beginning to question the wisdom of that decision. Anyway, the Florida Senate passed their plan on January 17th and the Florida House passed theirs on last Friday. I am not really sure what, if any, distinctions exist between the plans with respect to Rep. West’s district. At this point the maps will be subjected to legal review for compliance with the Voting Rights Act and Amendment 6.


So if you're like me in that you live here in Florida and are as big a fan of Rep. Allen West as I am, I would ask that you contact your state Representative and Senator to let them know, and in very clear terms, exactly how you feel about any action that would harm Rep West's chances of gaining re-election. And who knows it may already be too late, and if it is, then shame on them. I've contacted those who are supposed to be representing me and let them know that my vote is now up for grabs. And I am concerned about just how far up the food chain this goes. Getting rid of one of the most high profile Tea Party Congressmen could be a directive coming all the way down from Washington. Nothing would surprise me at this point. He is a smart and articulate conservative who has apparently become public enemy number one to the Republican establishment. This is something that we cannot allow to happen. We need more voices like Rep. West's not less. He is the perfect example of what we should be looking for in selecting those we wish to represent us in Washington.