Rep. West: Progressive Caucus is Communist

[The Esteemed Gentleman]

Rep. Allen West is making news after he told a townhall meeting that the House had roughly 80 members of the Communist Party in it. When asked for a precise number, West said he believed 78 to 81 Democrats in Congress were also Communist Party members. He then followed up by saying that these members don't hide it and that "It's called the Congressional Progressive Caucus."



I'm not sure there will be any McCarthy witch hunts this time around, although the communists seem to be upset to being associated with Democrats. Still, when 61% of "liberals" and 53% of Democrats say they have a favorable view of socialism, I suppose it'd be easy for someone like Rep. West to say something like this matter of factly.

Which leads me to this question: Is this really that big of a deal? I mean, Bernie Sanders is 100% open about his socialism (granted, I know the two are not the same even if they are associated as being so) and he's hardly a threat to the republic. So why is this getting such an aghast reaction? Because West used the "C" word? Because of McCarthy's ghost? I see West's remark as wildly hysterical - that he has that much animosity toward his colleagues and that he must be such an ineffectual legislator because of it - and don't pay them much mind, but am I alone in that feeling?

[DosEquis]

It is just more fear speak. The party of no ideas once again grasping to the only thing they can think of, political name calling. Even the wealthiest of democrats remembers how they earned their fortune. We are in no danger of becoming a totally socialist or communist country, even if there were 500 democrats in congress and 100 democratic senators. You might see single payer healthcare, increased taxation on wealthy people and oil companies, but thats probably about it on a socialism side of things.