Allen West in 2022 TX Governor's race
On Principles & Values:
I don't serve Trump; I serve God, country and Texas
West said he would not be deterred by an incumbent having the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Trump has already backed Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection. "You know, I don't serve President Trump.
I serve God, country and Texas," West said. "So that does not affect me whatsoever."
Source: Texas Tribune on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jun 4, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Was CEO of think tank that went bankrupt
In 2015, West was hired as chief executive officer of the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis, a free market think tank credited with hatching such GOP policy advances as Health Savings Accounts and Roth IRAs.
In less than two years, the nonprofit was bankrupt. A chief financial officer hired during West's tenure embezzled more than $600,000, and the board ended up accusing West of mismanagement.
Source: Dallas Morning News on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Liberal women have been neutering American men
In April 2011, West told a conservative women's conference that liberal women "have been neutering American men and bringing us to the point of this incredible weakness?--?to let them know that we are not
going to have our men become subservient. That's what we need you to do. Because if you don't, then the debt will continue to grow; deficits will continue to grow."
Source: ThinkProgress.org on 2022 Texas Governor race
Jul 29, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Denounced "new religion" of same-sex marriage
West warned of threats to freedom of religion. Some want to banish religion from the public sphere, he said. Former President Thomas Jefferson's concept of separation of church and state has been warped, he said. "We have a
new religion that's being put forth, it's the religion of same-sex marriage," he said, denouncing punishment several years ago of a Colorado baker who refused to sell wedding cakes to a same-sex couple.
Source: Dallas Morning News on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Gay marriage is an oxymoron
- Compared being LGBTQ to a person choosing a favorite ice cream flavor.
- Attacked the military's allowance of openly lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members because of his belief that people can change their sexual orientation.
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Said the LGBTQ community "recruits" students through high school LGBTQ clubs.
- Said "gay marriage is an oxymoron."
- Suggested the Supreme Court's marriage ruling "could lead to civil war."
Source: GLAAD Accountability Project on 2022 Texas Governor race
Jul 29, 2021
On Civil Rights:
We should be censoring American news agencies
In response to the whistleblower website Wikileaks releasing thousands of pages of diplomatic cables, West declared: "And I think that we also should be censoring the American news agencies which enabled [Julian Assange] to do this
and also supported him and applauding him for the efforts." West later claimed he only called for "censuring" the media. Either way, it would be a First Amendment violation.
Source: ThinkProgress.org on 2022 Texas Governor race
Jul 29, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Opposes Green New Deal; protect petrochemical industry
On issues, West in the video vowed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, "to ensure that Texas is for Texans." He also promised to oppose the "Green New Deal" and protect
Texas' petrochemical industry from possible harm by the federal government. "That means we stay energy-independent and we fuel America," he said.
Source: Dallas Morning News on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2021
On Gun Control:
Supports permitless concealed carry of handguns
West accused Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican and staunch gun rights advocate, of blocking legislation to allow people over 21 to carry a handgun without a permit. Patrick fired back saying that despite "just plain lies from outside agitators"
the bill was on its way to a vote. Still West persisted, accusing Patrick of adding poison pills to the legislation. Patrick's political team said that wasn't true, and the measure was later passed by the Legislature and signed by Abbott.
Source: Houston Chronicle on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Health Care:
Protested Governor's pandemic-related business closures
Governor Greg Abbott's bid for a third term will be the marquee contest in two years, and Beto O'Rourke or Julian Castro were among the names most discussed as potential Democratic challengers. But Abbott could also face a credible primary opponent, and
the new Texas GOP chairman, Allen West, has stoked speculation that he could step up with his striking splits with the governor on his coronavirus response.Until recently, Abbott has enjoyed broad statewide popularity. His approval ratings dropped
this summer and he faced backlash from a handful of hardline conservatives in his party amid his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Much of the speculation about an Abbott primary challenge has centered on West, who has not ruled it out while
grabbing attention with moves like suing Abbott over his extension of this November's early voting period and protesting outside the Governor's Mansion over pandemic-related business closures. [West publicized a GOP resolution urging "Open Texas NOW."]
Source: Texas Tribune on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Nov 23, 2020
On Health Care:
Opposed TX governor for COVID restrictions & accommodations
He took issue with Abbott's public health restrictions during a surge in coronavirus hospitalizations, decrying "the tyranny that we see in the great state of Texas." West joined with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in unsuccessfully suing
Abbott over his decision to add an extra week of early voting to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. West joined with Miller again at a rally outside Abbott's residence in Austin calling on him to "Free Texas Now" from COVID-19 restrictions.
Source: Houston Chronicle on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Homeland Security:
Accused of torturing Iraqi informant; firing gun near head
West is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. His tenure ended after being accused of using improper methods to obtain information from an Iraqi detainee in 2003.
West was interrogating an Iraqi policeman who was believed to have information about a plot to ambush West and his troops. When the informant didn't talk, West watched four of his soldiers beat the man.
Then, Army prosecutors said, West threatened to kill the man and fired a pistol near the detainee's head to get him to talk. "I know the method
I used was not right, but I wanted to take care of my soldiers," West testified.
Source: Houston Chronicle on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Immigration:
Texas's sovereignty threatened by Mexico
Echoing a developing theme in the gubernatorial race thus far, West said, "Because the sovereignty of Texas has been threatened when you have 1,200 miles that you share with a foreign nation that is really destabilized and
controlled by a criminal terrorist organization in the cartels, we've got to do better and take responsibility as Texas and not wait and make ourselves dependent upon the federal government, and especially this administration."
Source: The Texan on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Likened Democrats to Nazis, Socialists, Communists
During his brief tenure in Congress, he made headlines when he said Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels would be impressed with the media tactics used by Democrats. He called
President Obama "a low-level Socialist agitator," according to news reports. He claimed to know that up to 81 members of the Democratic Party were members of the Communist Party.
Source: Houston Chronicle on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 6, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Branded Texas GOP with motto used by QAnon
West quickly steered the GOP into unnecessary controversy regarding his adoption of a motto for the party--"We Are the Storm"--that's also used by followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory. The phrase comes from a popular meme: "Fate
whispered to the warrior, 'You cannot withstand the storm.' The warrior replied, 'I am the storm.' " (West has described the quote as a reference to Psalm 29, which talks about the voice of God being heard through a storm.)
Source: Texas Monthly on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Dec 1, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Religious coexistence "would give away our country"
During a March 2011 town hall, West talked about the "Coexist" movement, saying of their bumper stickers: "Every time I see one of those bumper stickers, I look at the person inside that is driving. Because that person
represents something that would give away our country. Would give away who we are, our rights and freedoms and liberties because they are afraid to stand up and confront that which is the antithesis, anathema of who we are."
Source: ThinkProgress.org on 2022 Texas Governor race
Jul 29, 2021
On Principles & Values:
2020 election: Only one view of Constitution (pro-Trump)
After the U.S. Supreme Court jettisoned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's ludicrous lawsuit challenging election results in four other states, West reacted as I feared he would, including this: "Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together
and form a union of states that will abide by the Constitution." He believes his interpretation of the Constitution is the only one that matters when it comes to something as pivotal as the selection of a president of the United States of America.
Source: Austin American-Statesman on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Dec 11, 2020
On Social Security:
Called Social Security "21st century slavery"
During a short-lived exploration of a congressional bid in Dallas in 2019, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee called him a "certified wacko," noting that he had called Social Security "21st century slavery," claimed he had
a higher security clearance than the president, and had used his time in Congress to argue that terrorism is inherent to Islam, and that Islam is "not a religion" but a "totalitarian theocratic political ideology."
Source: Dallas Morning News on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2021
On Tax Reform:
Claims Texas tax system based on principles of Karl Marx
[On property tax]: "I find it quite unconscionable," West added, "that our system of taxation here in Texas is based upon the principles of Karl Marx: number one being a progressive tax system and number two the fact that he believes that there should
be an elimination of private property.""When you are taxing people, based upon their property, and it continues to increase, Texan really never have the opportunity to own their homes and all their property."
Source: The Texan on 2022 Texas Gubernatorial race
Jul 4, 2021
Page last updated: Mar 09, 2024