Politics and Pucks

Last week Rep. Allen West (R-FL) sent a threatening email to fellow Floridian Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) about a comment she made on the House floor about Rep. West's district having a a lot of medicare recipients. The email said the following:

Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district

...

You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!

This is unacceptable. As the House Women's Caucus has mentioned: this would be flagged as sexual harassment in any other job. It should warrant a reprimand, but the Congressman refuses to apologize. This kind of behavior is despicable, because Rep. West should know better than to do this. Rep. Schultz made an observation about your district, and she has the right to mention her observation. The only malicious intent there was, is that there are a lot of medicare and medicaid recipients in South Florida.

Besides being a misogynist, Allen West also has made me angry for another reason: he cannot take a slapshot correctly. In a video I found on YouTube, Rep. West can be seen shooting a slapshot here:



To Rep. West's credit, earlier in the video he mentioned that he remembers the Atlanta Flames, since they weren' t there for very long. However, he's holding the stick wrong while trying to take a shot! I'll forgive the bad skating form, but I cannot forgive the fact that he is holding the stick wrong, and attempting to take a shot with it. You don't take shots with a backhand! Watch this:



I hope Rep. West sees that holding the stick with the backside of the blade forward is not how a shot is taken. As for a backhand shot, you take it differently, but I think there's someone in Washington who might be able to help you both of these shots. If you watch, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) demonstrated how to do a slap shot and a backhanded shot. He might have not won the Presidency, but at least he can shoot a puck and hold a hockey stick correctly. Now that you know, don't do it again. Also, criticism on the House floor should be expected, and does not warrant sexist remarks.