Here’s Congressman Allen West with the folks of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Reminder: the Republican Convention is on in earnest as of today, having escaped the ravages of Hurricane Isaac which is on its way to New Orleans (Please, God, not again…).

Allen Bernard West (formerly battalion commander of the 2d Battalion 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division), is the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 22nd congressional district.

Lieutenant Colonel West was fined and relieved of command in 2004 for the way he had handled an Iraqi suspect.

At his military hearing, near the end of his career, West was asked if he would act differently under similar circumstances in the future, and he testified, “If it’s about the lives of my soldiers at stake, I’d go through hell with a gasoline can.”

At a town hall meeting in Palm City, Florida, in April of 2012, West was asked what percentage of the American legislature are card carrying Marxists or International Socialists. West responded that he believed “there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party that are members of the Communist Party.” He then clarified that he was referring to the Congressional Progressive Caucus. They may not be actual Marxists, but they might as well be, is what he meant.

In July of 2011, West brawled with Democratic Representative and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, emailing her in response to comments she had directed at him in a speech on the floor of the House, calling her “the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives,” adding that she was “not a Lady,” and advising her to focus on her own congressional district.

You don’t want to get caught in the crosshairs of Lieutenant Colonel Allen West.

On the economy, West is a flat tax guy, anti abortion and anti gay marriage. He is the only Republican member of the African American Caucus.

On Israel he is a straight friend. He concluded a speech on the topic with: “There are battle lines clearly drawn, I know where I stand, and that is to support the State of Israel. The lessons of history have been learned by me and I offer one simple retort, ‘Not on my Watch.’”

We wish the RJC and the RNC a fine, exhilarating convention. The Jewish Press is getting ready to endorse the Republican ticket come November, and I, for one, can find at least one excellent reason why the Republican convention should outclass the Democratic one: No Jimmy Carter speeches!