Despite losing in November, two former Republican congressmen from Florida -- Allen West and Connie Mack -- are looking to stay on the national stage. Both West and Mack will be on center stage Thursday when they address the American Conservative Unions (ACU) Conservative Political Action Conference.
West has shut the door on running against U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in a rematch in 2014 and has shot down rumors that he will challenge Gov. Rick Scott in the Republican gubernatorial primaries.
West announced Tuesday that he will launch a new PAC, the Allen West Guardian Fund, to continue his political activism. West is a favorite of national conservatives and has proven to be a master at raising funds from conservatives across the county.
In a message to supporters sent on Tuesday, West showed no sign of leaving the political stage.
As a member of Congress, I was only one vote out of 435. But I was one of a few who once wore the uniform of the United States military and who understood how to wield and preserve American power, West insisted. We love our great nation too much to sit back and take our loss in 2012 as the final verdict on America. Thats why I intend to use the newfound freedom Ive been given to take my efforts to defeat the Obama liberal progressive agenda to the next level.
West also gave a sneak preview of his CPAC address, promising to reveal more of his PACs agenda. When I give the opening keynote address at CPAC on Thursday, I will outline the Guardian Funds plans to double our efforts to expose and combat the Obama administration and its progressive plans, West noted.
Pledging to raise $5 million for his group, West promised to build a grassroots army to help elect 12 new hard-charging constitutional conservatives who either have a military background or are minorities committed to taking a stand against big government and President Obama for the next four years.
West also outlined some of the principles of his new group:
As a soldier, I know what America needs to secure the future for the next generations, West maintained. First and foremost, Americans want to be safe. Safe at work, safe at home, safe from radical Islamic terrorism. Second, Americans want to be free. Free to start a business and to reach for the American dream. Free to do what they are promised to be free to do in the U.S. Constitution. Free to retire without debt, without remorse, and without bankrupting their childrens future."
West ripped into President Barack Obama with a strong personal attack. Americans want to be respected and told the truth by the leaders they elect. President Obama does not tell the truth nor is he trustworthy. Hes lied about Obamacare, hes lied about raising taxes, hes lied about spending, and hes lied about putting America first."
While West will get more attention, Mack, who challenged U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and lost in a landslide in November, will also be speaking at CPAC on Thursday.
Don't miss my speech at CPAC this Thursday at 2:45 p.m., Mack posted on his Twitter account on Tuesday.
Mack hinted that he will be talking about federal fiscal issues, including his Penny Plan which would reduce the size of the government debt by1 percent each year until the budget is balanced.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this story exclusively for Sunshine State News.
