Allen West Takes Aim at Dems on Debt Ceiling

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West came out swinging on Monday against the idea of raising the federal debt ceiling. West quoted President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., against raising the debt ceiling in 2006.

I think we clearly get the picture here of duplicitous hypocrisy of the greatest degree, West noted. We are at this point due to the over $5 trillion of new debt added by the Obama, Pelosi, Reid machine. Leadership is about making the tough decisions, not situational ethics.

My message to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Senator Harry Reid, and Secretary of the Treasury Geithner is simple, added West. No raising of the debt ceiling unless we have spending control measures.

West called for a federal balanced budget amendment, cutting federal spending and the corporate and business tax rate, and automatic budget cuts in the future when the debt ceiling is close to being reached down the road.

If these four conditions are not met, I will vote no now and in the future, insisted West. Furthermore, I will work endlessly to persuade my colleagues to do the same.