Allen West betrayed

Can anyone with a modicum of common sense understand why the Republican
Party of Florida allowed Congressman Allen West to be gerrymandered out
of his congressional district?

It would make sense if this were Massachusetts or California. If a
Democrat-majority state had tried to force Rep. West out, we could
easily see why. But this is a battleground state, and one whose
Legislature is run by his fellow Republicans.

{mosads}While some might think that it might be better to have someone safe, someone timid, in such an environment, I disagree wholeheartedly. It is precisely in such tight races that we need someone who can motivate the base to show up on Election Day, and someone who can get people excited. If GOP candidates don’t look any different from the Democrats, what would be the point of voting for them?

Florida is going to be perhaps the most important state in this year’s elections. It is the fourth-largest in the union, and a toss-up swing state where Republicans have a huge majority of the congressional delegation. Its only rival in electoral significance is Ohio. Do Republicans want powerful voices representing the party in these states, or weak ones?

His only fault is that he didn’t embrace the Republican establishment when their views were contrary to those of the Tea Party.