TELLING SENIORS TO GIVE UP ON MEDICARE…. Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) represents a Miami-area district with quite a few seniors. That did not, however, stop him voting to end Medicare and gut Medicaid when his party’s budget plan reached the House floor.
The right-wing lawmaker probably realizes this is likely to cause consternation among his constituents, so earlier this week, West hosted a public meeting, but refused to allow voters to ask questions from microphones. Instead, the strange congressman would only responded to pre-screened written inquiries.
Last night, West gave it another try.
It can’t be easy defending your party’s plan to cut and privatize Medicare in retiree-heavy Boca Raton, Florida, but Rep. Allen West gave it his best shot on Wednesday. Questioned by constituents about the budget at a town hall, the freshman Republican warned that everyone is doomed with Medicare as is.
“I gotta tell you something: if you support Medicare the way it is now, you can kiss the United States of America goodbye,” West said, according to local station WPTV.
This isn’t going to work. Most Americans want Medicare left alone, and most voters in South Florida feel strongly about leaving Medicare alone.
In other words, the more West argues that the future of America rests on the ability to destroy Medicare, the happier the DCCC is.
Update: One of West’s constituents criticized the congresman at the event. For her trouble, she was taken into police custody and maced in jail. When Tea Partiers talk about “freedom,” I wonder if this is what they’re referring to.
