Following Rep. Allen West’s (R-FL) Tuesday email to DNC chair and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in which he attacked her as “vile, despicable, and unprofessional,” and “not a Lady,” West claimed he apologized. However, now both Wasserman Schultz and West’s own spokesperson are saying he didn’t.
Roll Call reported the apology earlier in the day, however, DNC aide Brad Woodhouse responded by calling the claim “a complete falsehood.” Wasserman Schultz also told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that she in fact did not receive an apology.
Then, to complicate this escalating ‘he said/ she said’ fiasco, Angela Sachitano, a spokesperson for West also came out claiming the apology is “absolutely false.” She said that actually, West is waiting for an apology from Wasserman Schultz. Indeed, the signs are that West is actually using the incident for fundraising purposes.
Several Democratic House congresswomen also sent a letter on Wednesday to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) calling on him to denounce the remarks as sexist and unbefitting of an elected representative.
“We see this as a historic and systemic way that women have been subjected to sexism in particularly in this venue, in this political environment,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) at a presser today. “Just once again, we have been told, that in order to be a ‘Lady’ we need to just stay in our places.”
Rep. West fired out the email after Rep. Wasserman Schultz criticized him — though not by name — for supporting the GOP’s Cut, Cap, and Balance Act that would dramatically “increase costs for for Medicare beneficiaries,” troubled waters for a Florida representative.
Meanwhile Wasserman Schultz’s colleagues appeared to take West’s comments personally, defending their fellow member against the accusations.
“Allen West knows as much about being a ‘Lady’ as Rupert Murdoch knows about privacy,” said Rep. Donna Edwards.
Not content with letting West use the squabble for his own fundraising, Democrats and women’s groups are now also using it for theirs.
Igor Bobic
Igor Bobic is the assistant editor of Talking Points Memo, helping oversee the site's coverage of politics and policy in Washington. While originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor feels best at home on the beaches of Southern California. He can be reached at igor@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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