Allen West, One Of Two Black Republicans Just Elected To House, Goes Against Grain

by Krissah Thompson - November 24th, 2010 - Washington Post

Allen West, a 22-year Army veteran, is preparing for Washington a bit like he would for a battlefield. His "high and tight" hairstyle will be one of the only buzz cuts in Congress. He plans to carry a camouflage bag, not a briefcase.

And on a recent morning, while others in the Republican Party's large incoming freshman class jockeyed for office space, he declared himself largely indifferent.

"I've lived in tents," said West, who in January will become the first black Republican to represent Florida since 1876.

You would think that someone writing for the Washington Post could actually write an article and put some useful information into it. Yet Krissah Thompson cannot even include the basics of who Col. Allen West is for fear you might admire him for more than her attempts to portray him as confrontational and belligerent.

In case you care, here is the basic information that would have been included had Lt. Col. West had not been a Republican this left wing radical writer was trying to smear. West holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, a Masters in Political Science from Kansas State University, and Master of Military Arts and Science degree from the US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He is an accomplished historian and defender of our Constitution. He completed the Airborne Jumpmaster course at Ft. Benning and was awarded the Bronze Star for his courage in battle.

Col. West is married to Dr. Angela M. Graham-West of Kingston Jamaica. Mrs. West holds an MBA and Ph.D. She has been described by her supporters as an amazing and strong woman. Clearly Col. West has no problem with strong women which may be why Sarah Palin endorsed him early in his campaign. Mrs. West is a financial planner and expert in our free enterprise system. Col. West is committed to free enterprise and seems quite conversant with its principles. The West's have two daughters: Aubrey, 15, and Austen, 11.

To left wing radicals like the writer Thompson, Col. West fired a weapon near a captive enemy's head. To his troops, Col. West sacrificed his career to save their lives. Because that is what the incident mentioned is all about. The lives of his soldiers. Though you would never know that if all you read was the trite recitation of selected facts from the smear written by the Washington Post's writer.

The way that West was ignored by Republican leadership in his first run for office is a perfect example of where his strength of support came from. He was one of the Tea Party movements favorite speakers and they gave him money, support, campaign workers and adoration. The left has tried to denigrate him from day one as he makes a mockery of everything they say about the Tea Party movement and Republicans in general.

To Col. West I can only say, Hoo Rah!