Allen R Scharf

WASHINGTON -- As many as 80 House Democrats are communists, according to Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.). West warned constituents at a Tuesday town hall event that he's "heard" that dozens of his Democratic colleagues in the House are members of the Communist Party, the Palm Beach Post reported.

In an appearance Wednesday night on Fox News, Rep. Allen West (R-FL) said that the Democratic Party has kept African-Americans on a "21st-century plantation," with liberal black politicians being like the "overseers" who would rule over the slaves -- and likened himself to Harriet Tubman, the most famous member of the Underground Railroad movement, who helped over 70 slaves escape to freedom and inspired many others by her example.

Facing a backlash of criticism, Tea Party hero Rep. Allen West (R-FL) remains defiant saying he won’t apologize to DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) for his disparaging email in which he called her “vile, unprofessional, and despicable” and “not a lady.” West also told her to, “shut the heck up.” After refusing to apologize on Fox Business Netowrk, he does blame his lack of civility and decorum on something other than himself — and it’s not the English language or a lack thereof.

Some are pointing fingers at the Tea Party for the U.S. downgrade, saying their refusal to allow higher taxes kept Congress from reaching an even larger debt agreement. Even Massachusetts Senator John Kerry (D) had some harsh things to say on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press.’ After listening to those comments, Florida Congressman Allen West (R) says, “I find those comments to be the absolute most insidious thing I’ve ever heard. I think what you continue to see from the Left is them looking for someone to blame. It’s very simple. When we go back to 2007 when the Democrats took over the House and the Senate, the debt at that time was $8.6 trillion. Today, we see the debt at $14.5 trillion. They have to look at themselves and tell themselves they are the ones totally to blame.” In discussing Tim Geithner’s decision to stick around until President Obama’s reelection, West drew an unlikely comparison. “When you open that refrigerator, the lights don’t come on. So, I really think that he should move on and we should have someone else.”