Allen West demands that Think Progress retract its coverage of his town hall.

[madfloridian]

He demands it.

Rep. Allen West Demands Retraction of 'Inaccurate' Town Hall Coverage

Rep. Allen West is disputing the account by a left-wing website, ThinkProgress, that the congressman "pre-screened" questions at his town hall meetings this week. After a small group of protesters tried to disrupt a meeting in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, a more civil gathering was conducted in Boca Raton on Wednesday evening.

Angela Sachitano, spokeswoman for West, R-Plantation, issued this statement Thursday about ThinkProgress' coverage and the events:

"The article is factually incorrect and we have already demanded a retraction.

"The facts are in both town halls:

"Congressman West did not prescreen his questions and didn't even see them ahead of time.

And I wonder if the radio host who spent 17 hours in lock up and was maced....would agree.

Wonder how the Florida media is covering this? Take a look.

Liberals take aim at Allen West

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Taking a page from the tea party activists who hammered Democrats at their town hall meetings two summers ago, liberal partisans are making signs, preparing pointed questions, and turning out for Republican congressional town hall meetings.

They're hoping to score political points and also seeking political gold — embarrassing YouTube moments.

Tuesday night was U.S. Rep. Allen West's turn.

A small contingent of protesters showed up two hours before his monthly Broward County town hall meeting. Inside, they disrupted the town hall several times.

Amazing, isn't it? Remember the Rick Scott funded town hall riots? They never got called down, did they?

There are several mainstream media posts that take the right wing point of view. NBC Miami is the winner of the most right wing article about the arrest.

Radio show host nearly causes riot at GOP town hall meeting

by Todd Wright

Hosting a radio show doesn't mean people always want to hear what you have to say.

Nicole Sandler found that out the hard way Tuesday when she was arrested for turning Congressman Allen West's town hall meeting into a scene from the Wild, Wild West.

Sandler, who broadcasts her radio show on radioornot.com and used to host an Air America show, was charged with trespassing after she refused to leave the meeting when asked by police in attendance.

She bonded out Wednesday afternoon after nearly 17 hours locked up.

Locked up for 17 hours.

I never heard about any of the "rioters" being locked up during the health care town halls.

It is amazing how Allen West is becoming a real hero to people here. It scares me.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Note the semantic back flip there.....

Congressman West did not prescreen his questions

Of course he didn't prescreen them himself. But that doesn't say he didn't have it done by his people.

Plausible deniability. It ain't just for breakfast any more.

[gratuitous]

13. Got it in one

Every time a Republican denies something, it's instructive to look at the context, and you nailed it perfectly. Nobody really said that West personally prescreened the questions, but the questions were indeed prescreened. It's exactly like T Rump vehemently denying that he failed to cast a ballot in general elections in the last 20 years. Okay, thanks Donnie; but the assertion is that you didn't vote in the primaries in the last 20 years. T Rump, like West, is hoping that people aren't paying close enough attention to notice the switcheroo.

[iwishiwas]

41. Link here. It is "3rd party" that prescreens.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x579244

[PatSeg]

46. And then there are the times when

these guys just out and out LIE. They don't seem to care if they get caught in their lies, because the crazy base will believe whatever they say anyway.

[madfloridian]

2. Here is the link to the Think Progress article.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/27/allen-west-prescreened-questions-town-hall/

I thought it was in the OP, but did not see it.

[Poboy]

3. Fuck Allen West.

[xchrom]

9. +1

[hootinholler]

14. Not even with your genitals. n/t

[CatWoman]

19. + 1000

[Angry Dragon]

4. How can someone trespass at a public event??

It seems no one is addressing that..........
And he is her congressman

[Cleita]

8. Right. Supposedly it was supposed to be a Town Hall,

for all his constituents, not a meeting for the Republican Party.

[NICO9000]

62. And oddly enough, when you watch the clip he's got a huge "TOWN HALL" meeting behind him

:wtf:

It's a good thing this guy really has little appeal to the general public (even one as stupid as ours). Those excerpts you posted were really frightening. Blaming Nicole for being assaulted by thugs is classic authoritarian behavior which - let's face it - is all these assholes know or care about. I was really impressed to see her try to assert some rights, but I know from experience that once they cuff 'ya, all bets are off. I just hope she can sue the shit out of them and finally be able to buy some health insurance.

[draa]

67. And oddly enough, when you watch the clip he's got a huge "TOWN HALL" meeting behind him

Can we sue him for false advertising?

[chollybocker]

37. His town halls are held on church property, which is private property.

See how he did that?

[SlimJimmy]

60. You can't. But you can trespass if the police ask you to leave, and

you don't. You'll notice that the other two persons in the video were not arrested. So, hint for the future. Protest and speak up at these meetings, but if asked to leave by the police, (if that happens) then leave and live to protest another day.

[City Lights]

5. KMA, Allen.

Crybaby.

[Scuba]

6. Dangerous psychotic. But only he has the clearance to know that. n/t

[Cleita]

7. Not only does he have the police acting like his SS

but it seems like the media is channeling Josef Goebbels in putting out this propaganda that it's all the liberals faults along with the lies about not pre-screening questions. The irony is that he would have been run out of Germany or killed by the Nazis because he wasn't an Aryan. It seems he and his minions need to read history.

Edited to correct error in names.

[bullwinkle428]

10. He thinks the 1st Amendment guarantees him freedom from the press.

[madfloridian]

33. I have noticed that.

He really believes he should not be questioned.

[madfloridian]

11. I am truly still shocked at the NBC Miami article. It is so biased it's scary.

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/politics/Radio-Host-Bonds-Out-After-Wild-West-Town-Hall-120812864.html

I see some in the comments are calling them out on their bias, include Sandler herself.

From the comments.

"Nicole Sandler · Host/Producer/etc at RadioOrNot.com
What shoddy reporting. NBC6, you should be ashamed of yourself. I'm pretty easy to reach, as CBS4 can tell you. They actually do real news!"

[Joe Bacon]

48. Who owns NBC?

Your corporate masters have turned commercial television into The Outer Limits. They DO control all you see and hear!

[BobbyBoring]

61. Well, it is the lame stream media

The left leaning liberul media

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I heard the radio host who was arrested on Thom Hartman yesterday

Her story was just horrific.

[madfloridian]

24. 17 hours in jail.

I could not believe it.

[Viking12]

15. You mean, Allen West: War Criminal.

[madfloridian]

16. Rolling Stone has videos of Allen's West antics. "Rep. Allen West: WTF?!"

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/video-rep-allen-west-wtf-20110428

Love it.

[RockaFowler]

17. I know Ms Sachitano

She used to work with me at Channel 5. All of her stories were biased towards Repukes. It finally caught up with her after she was introduced as Allen West's media liasson

http://www.sfltv.com/2010/11/23/wptv-either-fired-reporter-angela-sachitano-or-she-quit/

So I don't believe a word that comes out her mouth

[madfloridian]

18. Thanks for sharing that.

I am stunned at the media coverage and its bias toward West. I did not realize our state was THAT far gone. :-(

[Change Happens]

20. Ok, Allen West is my Rep. He is a mother fucker Nazi!

Can't understaND HOW WE IN BROWARD COUNTY VOTED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

[madfloridian]

21. Sure seems like a lot of folks just adore him.

It puzzles me so much.

[madfloridian]

22. Busted! Florida blogger determines that West's staff DOES screen questions.

And they try to blame someone else. They are amazingly nervy. Watch the video. Well worth it.

http://pushingrope.blogspot.com/2011/04/allen-west-screened-townhall-questions.html

[RockaFowler]

26. You are the best Mad

This man is pure evil. I don't live in his district (thank God), but I've seen him tons of times here at the TV station. The media loves him for some stupid reason. I really hope this will come back to haunt him (probably not - we have a very complacent media)

[madfloridian]

27. The media loves him, and the teaparty loves him. Senior citizens especially.

They don't seem aware or to care if he is trying to take away their Medicare and Social Security...the elderly white folks here seem to adore him. I can not figure it out.

[socialist_n_TN]

34. Ah, you know what it is MF. The old white people like him

because he's their "one of my best friends is". :) No matter how racist they are, they can't be racist because they like and voted for a black guy.

Only in the south. *sigh*

[madfloridian]

35. Heh heh

I was watching videos of his town halls. Most of them are older and most are white. They pack to his town halls, even when he goes out of district. They love him. I do not understand their loyalty to a man who is determined to take away their safety nets.

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. The media loves him because he's such an ass

Probably the best story in town.

[AndyTiedye]

50. The Tee Vee Tells Them What to Think

[proud patriot]

23. what a Jerk

[somone]

25. Stupid fucker

Stupid and dangerous.

[Aerows]

28. Amazing

that the tea partiers were hailed as patriots, and now that liberals are protesting, they are labeled "partisans".

[madfloridian]

31. Very true.

The media seems irate that "liberals" would ever object to all the nonsense.

[fascisthunter]

29. demands.... lololololo... another GOP Head Case

[madfloridian]

30. Update from Think Progress.

Update Rep. West's communications director, Angela Sachitano, emailed the following response:

"Congressman West did not prescreen his questions and didn't even see them ahead of time. Every person who entered the town hall had the opportunity to write down a question. The questions were sorted by a third party- the employees of the venue. No staff was involved with the questions. We did this intentionally so there was no bias with the questions. The decision to do this was based on getting through as many questions as possible."

Nonetheless, as the Sun Sentinel pointed out, this method of holding town halls is far different from the way West conducted them in the past, when audience members were allowed to ask impromptu questions themselves. Allowing two Calvary Chapel staffers to screen and ask all the questions eliminated the possibility of West receiving hard-hitting questions directly from constituents. In addition, though Chapel employees were the questioners rather than West's employees, it's important to note that the Chapel was no impartial observer. Indeed, the head pastor introduced West prior to the event and praised him in glowing terms.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/27/allen-west-prescreened-questions-town-hall/

Busted, letting church staffers screen the questions. The nerve is amazing.

[iwishiwas]

42. In plain words -the 3rd party screens LOVED WEST.

[louslobbs]

32. Oh, ok Allen, I'm sure they're getting right on that, we'll let you know when your demands have been

met......you fucking lunatic.
Lou

[abq e streeter]

36. And I in turn demand that Allen West and every one of his supporters KISS MY ASS

[The Wizard]

38. West is a sociopath

and those who support his kind of lunacy are delusional and dangerous.

[rasputin1952]

39. "Demand" all they want, what can they do, sue for libel?...

Someone should tell the West crew that if it's true, it's not libel. They can "demand" all they want, and because West might not have seen the questioned presented, his staff assuredly did, and made sure he had a list on whom to call on, with prefabricated answers to the things he wanted to talk about.

West is a piece of crap; barely human, and embarrassment to the Army and people in general...he's nothing more than authoritarian creep; the perfect example of a person that should never have any authority at all.

[iwishiwas]

40. Here is link to DU video...

Listen to it all.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x579244

[Jakes Progress]

43. Big battle between Texas and Florida

on who has the biggest tools in government. Tight race. Allen just may "win" it for Florida. A real tool's tool.

[bertman]

44. Let's consider this paragraph from the media's "interpretation" of this:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Taking a page from the tea party activists who hammered Democrats at their town hall meetings two summers ago, liberal partisans are making signs, preparing pointed questions, and turning out for REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS (caps are mine).


Since when is a 'Town Hall Meeting' Democratic or Republican?

A town hall meeting is supposed to be a meeting where CONSTITUENTS address issues with the elected representative. It is not a POLITICAL RALLY.

This is NAZI-style propaganda and manipulation of public events.

[madfloridian]

45. NBC Miami seems to have changed the headline. It's now the sub headline...

and a new headline that is not quite so accusatory. Must have been a very recent change, as I read the original headline again yesterday.

The headline now:

Radio Host Freed After Wild West Town Hall

The sub headline now:

Radio show host nearly causes riot at GOP town hall meeting

Talk about biased journalism, just like a minor change would matter. :shrug:

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/politics/Radio-Host-Bonds-Out-After-Wild-West-Town-Hall-120812864.html

[Joe Bacon]

49. No, no NBC. Robert Conrad did The Wild Wild West

All NBC is doing now is promoting a new Hitler--Allen West.

[humbled_opinion]

51. According to Teahadists...

This makes Liberals Racists now...

[Plucketeer]

52. SO up IS down

and Black IS White. And if Black IS White, how could I be a racist???

Questions screened by the bible-thumpers? How much more "fare un balanced" could one ask for? :crazy:

[COLGATE4]

53. Allan West can 'demand' until he goes blue in the face. This idiot

has delusions of grandeur that are close to being psychiatrically notable. But, in fact all there is is the sleazy word-weasling response that tries to make a lie into a true statement. Nothing new here folks - just another Rethuglican bully mouthing off.

[Dont call me Shirley]

54. Cowards like Allen West can never handle the truth

West's statement that he never prescreened any of the questions may be accurate, his handlers did prescreen the questions.

[MasonJar]

55. You closed that West is becoming a hero on DU. When? I missed those

threads. It is clear to me that he is just another right wing wacko.

[madfloridian]

58. No, not on DU...."here" in Florida.

[AlbertCat]

56. Why is it whenever I hear of Allen West....

... I think of Chappell's Show.....

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/chappelles_show/index.jhtml

[AsahinaKimi]

57. note the word DEMANDS...

height of arrogance...

[Zambero]

59. Why doesn't West just demand "retraction" of the First Amendment?

That would cast a sufficiently wide net for him -- no freedom of speech whatsoever at his events. It would also pave the way for more arrests since there would be no Constitutional protection for anyone who would dare criticize his views. Wait a minute, I almost forgot! There ALREADY is no Constitutionally guaranteed protection for any contrary opinions when West is addressing his costituents. Dare to express a contrary opinion and you're off to jail, pal! Ain't Teabagger "Liberty" just grand?

[Glaisne]

63. Hey Alan West

Go fuck off and die you worthless piece of shit.

[sulphurdunn]

64. Tfhe salient point is that

Congressman West retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Unless you really fuck up, Lieutenant Colonels are retired as full Colonels (called Full-Bird Colonels). Oliver North retired as a Lt. Colonel because of the dishonor he brought upon the uniform of the United States during the Iran Contra hearings. As a result he became a darling of the far-right.

West was forced into early retirement for abusive interrogation of a detainee refereed to as the "Taji" incident. West was charged with violating articles 128 (assault) and 134 (general article) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He was slated to face a courts martial. After an Article 32 investigation the charge was reduced to an Article 15 offense, to which he plead guilty was fined $5000. Something like that is the end of the line for a career officer. He resigned. He was not promoted to Bird-Colonel. Afterward, he became a mercenary in Afghanistan. As a result, he became a darling of the far-right and rode that pony right into Congress.

This guy's a bully, a piece of shit and a disgrace to the uniform of the United States. There it is. Shout it from the roof tops. Semper Fi. :patriot:

[indy legend]

65. And I demand that Allan West kiss my ass. FUCK YOU Allan West.

[indy legend]

66. And I demand that Allan West kiss my ass. F**k you Allan West