Posted on 05/08/2011 4:00:22 PM PDT by youscreamIscream99
A Tea Party favorite in the House is turning against the Republican leadership’s strategy on healthcare.
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), who has emerged as an outspoken conservative voice among GOP freshmen, cast a surprising vote last week against a bill to scrap part of the 2010 healthcare overhaul. The legislation would repeal $100 million in funding for the construction of school-based health centers. West was one of just four Republicans to vote against the measure, which passed 235-191.
West spokeswoman Angela Sachitano said in an email that the congressman “believes there are bigger funding issues to be focusing on right now including the numerous developments in the Middle East, concerning Pakistan and whether there is a link to [Osama bin Laden] and the recent unity agreement with the [Palestinian Authority] and Fatah and Hamas."
He also questioned the House’s continued efforts to dismantle the healthcare law on a piecemeal basis, she said.
“He voted to repeal Obamacare, and it was dead on arrival in the Senate,” Sachitano said. “He questions what the goal is of chipping away like this if it’s almost certain that the Senate is not going to take it up.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Tis the Beltway Virus. They all get it after a few of the cocktails in DC
West doesn’t drink.
Well, if this is true, he’s out as far as I am concerned.
I guess it’s true. Total bummer.
I am not too crazy about the content of the biker magazine he writes a column for either...not the content of his column just the rest of it-I would find a link but I don’t want to bother
*sigh*
There usually is a ‘rest of the story’ moment. For example, if West wants to submit a competing proposal, he can’t do that if he votes for it. One of those weird house rules. I don’t know if this is the case, but hold off knee jerking until we see the big picture.
Don’t get it at all. Weird comments by his press woman.
“Tis the Beltway Virus. They all get it after a few of the cocktails in DC”
Yes, even the finest amongst us, once they ‘drink from the cup,’ look past the ordinary citizen who put them there. This is disappointing in that I thought West was a great hope for the average Joe.
I remember a lot of FReeper comments a couple of months ago saying a piecemeal dismantling of Obamacare was a mistake.
So West's position here is not automatically an anti-conservative position. I don't know if I agree with it, but maybe we could drop the knee-jerk reactions and debate our opinions of its merits or lack thereof?
These guys say anything to get elected then do what they want. He probably thinks he needs to “move toward the middle” like other RINOs to get re-elected. Think again traitor, you wont make it past the primary if you keep this up.
And be replaced by whom? West is solid. He is entitled to vote his own principles. On the whole, you couldn’t ask for a more solid conservative.
I think I agree with you.
Congressman West has done a lot to earn my admiration and trust. This particular instance is not going to be something that makes me abandon him. I believe that there is more to this than reported and than we are aware. And I believe there is a damned good reason for it.
And even if I learn more and decide he was wrong, I acknowledge that everyone makes poor decisions at some point. It’s perfectly reasonable that he could have made a poor decision believing it was the RIGHT one to achieve something more important. It’s going to take a lot more than 1 issue to make me turn my back on him.
“On the whole, you couldn’t ask for a more solid conservative.”
Very true. One of the few downfalls of Free Republic, is that in the eyes of many here, he’s now a sell-out, RINO or spineless ass.
Sounds like West wants repeal and the GOP doesn’t. Can you hear the RINOS falling?
What would it have hurt him to vote for the bill? (I read about needing to vote against if-makes sense but seems a long shot in this case)
comparing it to foreign aid is apples and oranges-
why didn’t he speak to his vote himself during his many tv and radio appearances?
Thanks, I just think it is too early to even see if it is a poor decision until it plays out.
>> He probably thinks ...
>> Think again traitor ...
From speculation to condemnation in the same breath.
Yep, one minute some Freepers are bitching about the GOP Congressional leadership and the next they are bitching about West for bucking that same leadership.
And I'm not even a supporter of West for the GOP nomination in 2012. I just think we need to not go off the first reaction to this story.
It’s not a good sign.
In one way, the vote is meaningless, because it won’t pass the Senate anyway.
But in another way, it shows a regretable weakness and a willingness to vote against the party—in a liberal direction.
Not good at all. I’ve said before, I wouldn’t support West for President, because he has no record. He is a freshman politician, with zero experience. I might support him as a VP, but not if he’s going to pull tricks like this.
Not good at all.
I am not buying that West has Patomac Fever just yet. These bills are often complicated and there can be good reasons to vote against them - though I see wisdom in taking Obama Care down piece meal AND attacking it full frontal.
And I agree the reasoning from his spokesperson is nothing short of screwy!
But IMO West has earned a chance to give voters “the rest of the story” on this one. I know I am going to be interested in it.
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