A "high fives" and "shout out" to Representative Allen West: Speaking truth to power...

In a recent interview on WMAL radio in Baltimore, U.S. Representative Allen West (R-FL), spoke truth to power:

One of The Motley Monk's faves, Mr. West used plainspeaque to address the deal the Republican House leaders brokered with the White House to extend the payroll tax for two months.  West said:

I was very upset about what happened with this payroll tax cut extension.  We developed a good piece of legislation that took care of us for one year.  It was paid for and would not decimate social security, unemployment insurance and also a two-year "doc fix" and then, all of the sudden---I get back from DC on a Wednesday---the next day, on a Thursday, we have a conference call and we're told were going to accept the Senate, what, two-month extension, which is absolutely pathetic policy.  We can't do tax policy that way.

Evidently, all is not well within the House Republican majority and January 17, 2012---the day the House Republicans return to DC---looks like the beginning of the D-Day Invasion.  West said there will be "some serious discussions" because the Republicans need to be "on the same sheet of music."  West said:

(W)e really felt that our leadership did not stand against the Senate Republican leadership, who kind of sold us down the road with 40 members of the Senate GOP voted for this, you know, pathetic politics.  It was not policy.  And now we are going to start this Kabuki dance all over again.

This interview not only reinforces but also increases the respect The Motley Monk has for Representative West.  Like him and his political views or not, speaking truth to power---especially as a new member of Congress---is the wrong way to curry favor with the congressional "makers" and the "shakers."  But, then, why should Representative West care about all of that if he is placing what he believes is in the nation's best interests ahead of what is politically expedient for him?

The Motley Monk respects plainspoken public servants---liberal or conservative, left or right, Democrat or Republican---to all of those slick "makers" and "shakers," even if they happen to be the Speaker of the House and his Majority Leader.


Let the discussion begin...