Allen West Says Future Republican President Should Get Credit For Today’s Stock Market Gains

[Galraedia]

As the improving economy has robbed conservatives of the chief talking points against President Obama, some have resorted to creative explanations for the upswing that avoids giving any credit to the current occupant of the Oval Office. Tea Party darling Rep. Allen West (R-FL) employed this tactic recently, wondering if “someone [is] playing around” with positive unemployment data, and he did so again today, this time to explain away the bullish stock market.

The Nasdaq topped 3,000 today for the first time since 2000 and the Dow finished strong, up 217 points at 13,177 — its highest level since the end of 2007.

But on Fox News this afternoon, West said the markets were only up because traders think Republicans will win big in November. Host Neil Cavuto seemed taken aback by the suggestion and pressed West for clarification, but the Congressman stood by his claim:

CAVUTO: What do you think about that? That the markets say you’re wrong, that the pick up is alive and well.

WEST: Well, I would think maybe the markets are maybe looking five to six months down the road, when we have a change in leadership in this country –

CAVUTO: Wait a minute, you think that this is built on a Republican either capturing the White House or Republicans capturing the Senate? … That might or might not be a stretch, but it is out there as a factor. You think that’s a genuine factor? You think that the markets are getting bubbly in anticipation of a Republican taking the White House?

WEST: Oh, absolutely. Well, I think that there is a hope that may be out there, is that we can get a person that has practical viable solutions for job creation here in the United States of America in the presidency.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/03/13/444030/allen-west-stock-market/

[Historic NY]

1. So then perhaps they are responsible for high gas prices again too Alan.

[elleng]

2. And I am Marie of Rumania!

(Dorothy Parker)

[Lint Head]

3. Please Allen commit yourself to an insane asylum. You are delusional.

And a coward.

[hifiguy]

4. How is this man still walking around loose?

Are there no lunatic asylums?

[LynneSin]

29. How are there people who actually voted for this dimwit

I mean it's one thing for him to be a dumbass but there are people who voted to have him as their voice in DC.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

31. They (Florida's 22nd District) weren't going to vote for him again in 2012, so....

....Brave, brave Allen West decided to cut and run to a more friendly GOP District (who I hope still rejects him).

[hifiguy]

32. Fair point, Lynne.

The people who vote for a SHPOS like West manage to find their way to the polling place even though extrinsic evidence suggests that they are too stupid to use toilet paper that does not have one-word instructions printed on each sheet.

[B Calm]

5. Screw facts, they believe!

[toddwv]

6. Well, they blamed Obama for the recession before he was even inaugurated.

why do further ridiculous statements by these idiotic ideologues come as a shock?

[Justice wanted]

7. B.S. Crap.

[pinboy3niner]

8. No, it's for reals! He has the proof right here...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

26. Let's not forget, he has super-secret top level security clearance.

Even higher than the President!

Says...Allen West!

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/sep/24/allen-west/allen-west-says-he-has-clearance-even-president-un/

[RevStPatrick]

9. Uh... Wrong, Allen!

If anything, and I'm sure this isn't a factor either, the markets are reacting to the probability that Obama will be easily reelected, and none of the Krazy Kar Klowns will be in a position to wreak even more havoc on the economy....

[lastlib]

10. So by his logic, we should give Bill Clinton the credit for market gains in Reagan's presidency....

...after all, the markets were just looking ahead to a change in leadership!

Insanity, thy name is Republican!

[JI7]

11. and Blame Obama for 9/11 , Katrina disaster ,etc

[wendylaroux]

13. they haven't yet? n/t

[JHB]

16. No, they blamed Clinton for those. n/t

[LynneSin]

30. BTW I read where Obama is to blame for Pearl Harbor

I'm series!

[kenny blankenship]

12. 2007 DJIA ATH result of Fed bubble blowing.

2012 Q1 levels ALSO the result of Fed bubble blowing.

Go ahead and clap, fools. Go ahead and squabble over who gets the credit for the 1% making out like bandits, stuffed by FREE Fed gambling chips, and that after having hollowed out our industrial base and shipped our jobs overseas, while the real economy continues to waste away. Go right ahead.

[orwell]

14. Except "the market" doesn't care aoubt no stinking "job creation"...

...only job destruction.

Job destruction means more unemployed proles competing in a race to the bottom for smaller and smaller wages.

Smaller wages mean higher profits.

That is why the Cons are solidly against the working men and women across the globe. They take their marching orders from management.

[louis-t]

15. Hmm, so he doesn't remember Dow at 10,500 when bush took office

and 8,500 when he left? Stupidest people in the room.

[Kalidurga]

17. Finally a Republican said something that hasn't shocked me...

sure I am LMAO, but not shocked. I mean this is the party that has accused Obama's family of putting in a fake birth announcement in the Hawaiian paper cause they were raising him to be President someday.

[JBoy]

18. That's the plot of the less-popular movie sequel "Stealing it Forward".

[pinboy3niner]

19. *snort*

[Politicalboi]

20. Stocks dropped when Bush took over

California used to be the 5th biggest economy in the WORLD till Bush took the helm. Now it is in 8th place I believe.

[Enrique]

21. yeah, thats the ticket!

[mathematic]

22. West should stick to unfalsifiable claims

The prediction market Intrade has Obama at over 60% chance to win. That's the highest it's been since early last year and it's only been increasing since last fall (unsurprisingly). Therefore the evidence contradicts his claim.

Heck, it's actually consistent with the opposite of his claim: the markets are increasing in anticipation of another Obama victory. (In reality they're both responding to the underlying improving economy).

http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/contract/?contractId=743474

[sendero]

23. Stocks are up.

.... because the Fed is printing money and for no other reason. So, give Bernanke credit if anyone.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

24. This is the same guy who claimed Democrats had Nazi-like propoganda.

No, Allen, unlike you, I will not compare you to Goebbels.

I will, however, compare you to this guy:



Look, he even likes to walk around in a military uniform JUST LIKE YOU!!!!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

25. Allen West is a dishonarable douche and a sociopath. nt

[Major Nikon]

27. This whole teabagger thing has lowered the collective IQ of the GOP

Which I didn't even think was possible.

[LynneSin]

28. Seriously I have dirty socks smarter than this idiot

Really, I do!