EMILY's List: GOP Silence On Allen West Tirade Is Deafening

"American Women Hear The Message Loud And Clear"

WASHINGTON -- Over a day ago, Rep. Allen West sent Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz an outrageous email in which he called her names, told her she was "no lady," deserved no respect, and should "shut the heck up." Rep. West copied Republican leadership on this e-mail.

"Allen West's outrageous behavior ought to be condemned by every member of the Republican Party as having no place in American politics," said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY's List. "There has been total silence from his GOP colleagues, Party leadership, the RNC, and Republican presidential contenders -- and American women hear the message loud and clear. Republicans are trying to take away everything from family planning to Medicare, and they're clearly incapable of leadership that works for women and their families. That's why women are ready to replace guys like West with Democratic women -- like Lois Frankel -- who are ready to behave like adults and work for real solutions."

Yesterday, when pressed by a reporter on whether West's rant might make him appear anti-woman, West cited the fact that he had daughters as evidence of his lack of misogyny and then claimed to have apologized to Rep. Wasserman Schultz. Later, and despite audio tape proving the contrary, West's office said he had not apologized. He also sent out a fundraising email based on his comments.

"It is stunning that as West twists in the wind not a single member of his Party has condemned his sexist tirade," said Schriock. "The clock is ticking and American women are watching -- do Republicans think this kind of outrageous behavior is productive?"

In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List raised more than $38.5 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With a community of more than 900,000 members across the country, EMILY's List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has worked to elect 86 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices. In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List had the largest number of members and donors in our 25 year history.