In response to a heated email from Florida Republican Rep. Allen West, Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz suggested Wednesday on MSNBC that the freshman congressman had “cracked under the pressure” of having to defend the GOP’s “cut, cap, and balance” proposal.
“[I]t is not really surprising that he cracked under the pressure of having to defend that,” Wasserman Schultz told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell. “As a constituent of mine, he actually lives in my district, yes. As a constituent of mine it’s important for him to understand that when we are in debate on the House floor members are going to go back and forth. If he feels that concerned and gets that churned up over having to defend his position, then he probably should reconsider his position.”
Tuesday, in response to criticism on the floor from Wasserman Schultz of his position on “cut, cap, and balance” West sent the Florida Democrat an irate email calling her “the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
According to Wasserman Schultz the email did not bother her. (Rep. West stands by vicious attack on Wasserman Schultz)
“I was unfazed by his email. It is not surprising, given the pressure that Republicans are facing – I mean they are defending ending Medicare as we know it,” she said. “Congressman West represents thousands of senior citizens which is what I was pointing out, and they would face significant increased costs from the Republicans’ Medicare bill and ‘cut, cap, and balance’ bill.”
The Democratic congresswoman added that if he cannot defend his position he should reconsider it.
“There was a little bit of heat applied in debate on the House floor yesterday and he doesn’t appear to be able to deal it,” Wasserman Schultz added. “Like I said he should reconsider his really unacceptable position…. so that maybe the next time he won’t react so defensively.”