McCarthyism tries to make a comeback

McCarthyism could be making a comeback if one Florida congressman has his way. Congressman Allen West (R-Fla.) told supporters at a town hall meeting on Tuesday that he believes over 80 democrats in the legislature are members of the Communist Party.

That’s right. He didn’t say they were Communist leaning. Oh, no. He said they were actual members of the party.

“What percentage of the American legislature do you think are card-carrying Marxists or International Socialist?” the moderator of the event asked West.

“It’s a good question,” answered a seriously faced West, before grimacing and looking up at the ceiling while composing his answer.  “I believe there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democrat Party who are members of the Communist Party. It’s called the Congressional Progressive Caucus.”

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said he objected to “being associated with Stalin or Khrushchev.” But should we really believe Frank? He looks pretty convincing as a communist if you photoshop a Stalin moustache onto his face. Perhaps that’s why he goes facial hair free — he doesn’t want to attract attention to his secret membership.

“It is exactly the opposite of those of us in the Congressional Progressive Caucus who are in support of freedom, in support of democracy, in support of people’s basic rights and civil liberties,” Frank told The Huffington Post. “Communism is really a reference to some of the worst human rights abuses of our time … It is meant to delegitimize people and allow no basis for debate. It’s a very nasty label.”

This is a nasty label indeed. Even Libero Della Piana, a vice-chairman of the national Communist Party said he thought West’s allegations were “absurd.” Della Piana said there are no Communist Party members in Congress. “I just think it’s an absurd way to cast a shadow over his colleagues. It’s kind of a sad ploy,” he said. “It’s just guilt by association taken to an extreme.”

Tags: Communism