Congressman Allen West (R. Fla), whose angry email to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has turned into a fundraising opportunity for the DCCC. UPI/Joe Marino |
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WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- Five House Democrats called on Republican leaders to reprimand Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., for calling Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., vile and despicable.
Reps. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, Donna Edwards of Maryland, Carolyn Maloney of New York, and Lois Capps and Jackie Speier of California, said at a news conference Wednesday that West should apologize for an e-mail to Wasserman Schultz in which he said had "proven repeatedly that you are not a lady" and called her "the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the U.S. House of Representatives."
"We see this as a historic and systemic way that women have been subjected to sexism particularly in this venue, in this political environment," Moore said. "Just once again, we have been told that in order to be a 'lady,' we need to just stay in our places."
Maloney said she and her colleagues hoped House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, will disavow West's comments, The Washington Post reported.
"If he had given those comments on the floor of the House of Representatives, his words would have been taken down and stricken from the record because his words were nothing more than personal attacks, and the rules of this Congress do not permit personal attacks," Maloney said.
West's e-mail came after Wasserman Schultz, without naming West, noted a colleague from Florida defended the Republicans' "cut, cap and balance" legislation. Democrats contend it would cap federal spending at 18 percent of gross domestic product, leading to deep cuts in Medicare and Social Security, programs that benefit South Floridians such as those in West's district.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent a fundraising letter Wednesday to alert supporters to the e-mail, The Hill reported.
The Huffington Post released audio Wednesday of West saying he has apologized to Wasserman Schultz, who heads the Democratic National Committee, but Wasserman Schultz aides told Roll Call there had been no apology, and said the Huffington Post retract its report.
A spokeswoman for West, Angela Sachitano, denied he had apologized and said Wasserman Schultz owes West an apology.
West's campaign sent out a fundraising e-mail featuring comments made at the press conference Wednesday.
