Rep. Allen West, who said when he was elected that he was revamping the Congressional Black Caucus by "resurrecting the entrepreneurial spirit of the African-American community, particularly through small businesses," is now having second thoughts.
Faced with video clips of other Congressional Black Caucus members decrying the Tea Party this morning on Fox News, West -- the only Republican in the caucus -- said he was "reconsidering" his choice to be part of the group.
"I have to tell you, one of the things I'm starting to think about is reconsidering my membership in the Congressional Black Caucus," West said. "I don't think they're moving toward the right manner in which we're going to solve the problems -- not just in the black community but all across the United States of America."
The first clip introducing West was of Rep. Karen Bass, who said she was "pissed off" (excuse her language) because she believes media coverage of the Congressional Black Caucus was an attempt to divide African-Americans.
The segment was followed by mentions of Rep. Maxine Waters saying, "The Tea Party can go straight to hell" as well Rep. Andre Carson saying, "Some of them in Congress right now of this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me hanging on a tree."
West said it was a failure of the Congressional Black Caucus to not address the high unemployment among black people -- never mind the fact West didn't show up to any of the job fairs recently held by the caucus -- and says the Tea Party is now the scapegoat of the left.
West also said he's confused as to why everyone isn't a Tea Party supporter.
"The Tea Party really stands for some basic, core constitutional principles, and that means efficient, constitutionally mandated government, fiscally responsible govenment, national security, and our free market and free enterprise," West said. "And I can't see why anyone would not want to agree with that and align with those principles."
After the clip of Carson saying the Tea Party wanted to see people "hanging on a tree," West said we should -- wait for it -- listen to President Obama and tone down the over-the-top rhetoric.
That's when West dropped his line about possibly leaving the Congressional Black Caucus.
Check out the video from this morning's Fox & Friends below:
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