Update, 4/19: Got comment from Wasserman Schultz's camp. Added to the story.
Original post, 4/17:
Between January and the end of March, South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz donated $73,000 to Democratic campaigns across the country. It's not surprising -- she's chair of the Democratic National Committee, and $25,000 of that cash was in a bulk transfer to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But on March 23, records show, she made one $2,000 donation to a challenger in Florida -- Patrick Murphy, the Democrat who's running against Rep. Allen West.
"Whether it is his support for the Ryan budget... or his propensity for outrageous statements that place him on the fringe of Washington, Allen West has repeatedly shown that he is out of touch with the values of Floridians," said Wasserman Schultz spokesman Jonathan Beeton, in an email. "We need a responsible and reasonable voice for Floridia's 18th Congressional District in Washington, and Patrick Murphy has shown time and again that he is someone who will get to work while working together."
Before we'd heard back from Beeton, Murphy campaign manager Anthony Kusich said essentially the same thing -- that the contribution could be attributed to a combination of Murphy's promise as a congressman and Wasserman Shultz's long, antagonistic relationship with West.
"Obviously she has some history with the congressman," he said. "I think she probably would have supported us anyway, but it doesn't help when someone belittles you in public like that."
Belittle is a kind word to describe what West has done to Wasserman Schultz since he's gotten into office -- he has repeatedly spit sneering, meaningless insults at her and the rest of Democratic leadership, electing to use name-calling instead of cogent policy points. If you had a campaign committee, an email like the one sent to Wasserman Schultz last summer might make you send a couple of grand to help knock him out of office too:
From: Z112 West, Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Cc: McCarthy, Kevin; Blyth, Jonathan; Pelosi, Nancy; Cantor, Eric
Subject: Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz
Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!
I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior......which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.
You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!
Steadfast and Loyal
Congressman Allen B West (R-FL)
(The email is cc'd to Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Republican House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and West's chief of staff, Jonathan Blyth.)
At a fundraiser in January, West also told "my dear friend the chairman of the Democrat National Committee" to "get the hell out of the United States of America. Yeah, I said hell."
Murphy raised more than $350,000 in the first three months of the year, including the $2,000 from Wasserman Shultz and another $2,000 from Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, whom West also told to get the hell out of the country.
While Murphy is still far behind West's $3.3 million war chest but ahead of many politicians challenging incumbents. He's raised more than $1.7 million total and has about $1 million on hand going forward.
Here are the rest of Wasserman Schultz's political contributions:
