NY Times Freudian slip, suggests Lt. Colonel Representative Allen West (R-FL) 'probably feels ready to retire'

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1/4/11, "Interview with Rep. Allen West," American Thinker, Ethel C. Fenig

"One of the new representatives of the forthcoming Congress who won in the November Revolution is US Army (retired) Lt. Col, Rep Allen West (R-FL), one of two Republican black members of the House.

Deborah Solomon of the New York Times had a few snarky questions for West; he quickly put her down. Here is a sample but really, you should read the whole thing for learning, for enjoyment, for pride, for hope for the new 112th Congress.

Do you consider President Obama a good leader?

Not really.

(snip)

Even though you're a Republican,

• did you feel a sense of pride when President Obama was elected?

I don't look to a man to get pride in myself. It's not about having a black president, it's about having a good president, and I think that's the most important thing. This country needs a good leader, and I don't care if he's purple or green but yes, there are some people that saw in him a sense of pride.

(snip)

You haven't started your new job. But you probably feel ready to retire.

No. I have not yet begun to fight, as John Paul Jones said."

Commenter to AT post above:

• "Posted by: tonymarini

• Jan 04, 09:19 AM

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This Solomon person is a poor "journalist" indeed. She went into the interview with Rep. West with the most hurtful of intentions, with the intent of trying to embarrass or put him into a difficult position. The interview consisted of insincere questions by a biased, insincere interviewer.

• But this technique of ambush journalism is what we've come to expect

• for conservatives or Republicans

by media who are slaves to an ideology and shills for this administration. The Obama question evokes the question: Why would Col. West be expected to feel pride in Obama just because the two share the same skin color? As Dr. King noted, it's not the color of one's skin but the content of one's character. This point is lost on liberals like Ms. Solomon, who appear to be stuck on stupid -- or

• so steeped in racial stereotypes that they don't see the person,

they only see the person's race. But Allen West is a special man. He has principles and he has accomplishments. And he is a bright, critical and discerning thinker. He wasn't going to get sucked into the trap being set by Ms. Solomon -- hell, he was in the crucible called Iraq, so his encounter with Solomon was trivia in comparison. As @JRD noted,

• the interview was edited and condensed...so we will never know the extent of the smackdown that Col. West put on Ms. Solomon.

But from what the NYT did print should make conservatives everywhere and his constituents in particular feel comforted that his voice will be prominent among the

• new conservative realists in the Congress."

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