Allen West Speaks At Lincoln Day Dinner, Quotes Confederate General

[Capt. Obvious]

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), the Tea Party favorite and one of only two African-American Republicans in Congress, closed out an address to local Republicans by solemnly invoking the name of a Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson, at a county GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner.

West spoke on Saturday to the Broward County GOP dinner, as something of a farewell address — he is switching to a nearby district, after his own was redrawn in a manner that made it more Democratic. During his address, West denounced liberals and progressives for wanting to “enslave” Americans into dependency on government programs, such as food stamps.

At the end of the speech, West invoked the name of the famous Confederate military officer: “So, as I close tonight, I want to remind you of the great farewell speech of Confederate General Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson — when he bid farewell to his brigade, as he was elevated by Robert E. Lee.

“And he said to his brigade that they would always be first in his heart. Broward County will always be first in my heart, and I will never forget you. God bless you all, and God keep you. Thank you.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/allen-west-speaks-at-lincoln-day-dinner-quotes

Did he make this quote up? I can't find it attached to Stonewall Jackson.

[Dawson Leery]

1. Come to Connecticut, Republicans around here now quote Jefferson Davis.

i.e Easton First Selectman Thomas Herrman.

[The Blue Flower]

2. Whether Jackson said it or not isn't the point

The words themselves are mundane. The fact that he quoted a Confederate general is noteworthy.

[jaysunb]

3. A chicken praising Col. Sanders

assholery elevated to a new level.

[spanone]

12. bwaahahahahahaa

[southernyankeebelle]

4. Remember he'll get his ass beat again. Sweet justice.

[gateley]

5. The guy drives a Hummer. That says it all. nt

[11 Bravo]

6. Jackson's farewell words to the Stonewall Brigade: "You were The First Brigade ...

in the Army of the Shenandoah, The First Brigade in the Army of the Potomac, The First Brigade in the Second Corps, and are The First Brigade in the hearts of your generals."

By the way, Lt. Colonel West, Jackson was also never kicked out of either the Confederate OR the Union Army for any violation of military law. Don't you wish you could also say that?

[Capt. Obvious]

13. Thank you

There's a band named Stonewall Jackson (with a heart song) and tons of blogs posting about West's speech.

It was tough to narrow down.

[white_wolf]

7. Why mention Jackson at all?

The words are pretty ordinary and aren't anything special. He could have easily said that Broward County will always be in his heart without mentioning Jackson.

[Enrique]

8. it only makes sense as a dog whistle

Here's the quote from the speech

http://www.factasy.com/civil_war/blogs/senator/stonewall_jackson_his_address_first_brigade

"In the Army of the Shenandoah you were the First Brigade. In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade! In the second corps of the army you are the First Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of your General; and I hope, by your future deeds and bearing, you will be handed down to posterity as the First Brigade, in this our Second War of Independence. Farewell!"

There's nothing really there which especially applies to West's situation. On the other hand, the invoking of the Confederate hero has obvious meaning to Florida rednecks. And at the Lincoln Day dinner no less. It's like he's saying "I know we Republicans have to celebrate Lincoln these days, but between you and me he was on the wrong side."

[Bolo Boffin]

9. "And at the Lincoln Day dinner no less."

Yeah. Wow. Just wow.

[Capt. Obvious]

14. Thank you as well

Yeah, that's weird all around.

[provis99]

10. he's just another self-hating black man.

No different than Alan Keyes, J.C. Watts, Clarence Thomas, or Ward Connerly.

[jaysunb]

22. Amen ! n/t

[longship]

11. Ask West if he flies the Confederate flag, too.

That might jog his brain a bit.

Ask him if he sings Dixie on the fourth of July.

Ask him if he sings Campdown Races (Doo-Dah, Doo-Dah).

Then, ask him why he aligns himself with the Teabaggers.

[WI_DEM]

15. He's an Uncle Tom.

[Zalatix]

20. More like Uncle Ruckus.

[tanyev]

16. The GOP loves to make a big deal about being "the party of Lincoln".

It's kind of like George Orwell's Ministry of Truth.

[mojitojoe]

17. A mild misquote.

But it begs the question, if West loves Broward County so much then why is he carpetbagging in another district?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

18. Did he shuffle his way off stage in tribute like the good "boy" he is for his masters?

Literally, he is the living embodiment of Uncle Ruckus from Boondocks. What an embarrassment to his race.

[mojitojoe]

19. Does anyone else see the irony...

..of West complaining about liberals and progressives “enslaving” people through government programs and then quoting a man who enslaved people in real life? Thomas Jackson was a slave owner much of his adult life and was a slave owner the day he died.

[DCKit]

21. No irony.

As a privileged member of the 1%, he too would be entitled to own slaves. If he owns shares in one of the private prison corporations, he already does (own slaves).

[cali]

23. he had turn to a Confederate General to find that banality?