Allen West Slams Mitt Romney's Outreach To Black Voters

West continued to stump for Romney, even while Romney was dissing his own "Black Leadership Council"

There was so much red meat in Brotha Allen's speech yesterday at the Conservative Political Action Conference that it's hard to keep up. However, why are we only now hearing these Romney's-poor-outreach insider stories from black folks who were linked to Romney's campaign? Y'all could've dropped a confidential "leak" to Booker Rising (since yours truly is a contributing writer to a few other media websites, and thus I'd have run with it). From the Daily Beast, about the conservative Republican: "West was controversial in Congress, with a propensity toward accusing Democrats of being communists. But he saved his friendly fire this CPAC for Republicans’ failure to reach out to minorities, with special blame set aside for Mitt Romney. 'Governor Romney missed that opportunity [to reach out]. I was on his African-American leadership council and never got a phone call from him,' West told me, walking down the hallway at Maryland’s Gaylord hotel. 'Never got a phone call.'"

The article continues: "Romney’s campaign announced his Black Leadership Council to some fanfare during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. West served as co-chairman along with Tim Scott and Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who resigned her position abruptly this week amid an investigation into a $300 million charity fraud. At the time, Romney announced his Black Leadership Council in a statement — rather than in person — saying, 'I am proud to have the endorsements of so many leaders in the black community. They know all too well that the economic downturn that has continued to hammer our country has been even more devastating for black Americans. Together, we will work to end that downturn, and we will not rest until all Americans have the jobs they need, the quality education they are owed, and the opportunities they deserve.'"

More about Mr. West's criticism of Mr. Romney: "Pretty words, but West says the leadership council never met with Romney or anyone on his senior campaign staff. 'No. Never did,' said West. 'We had a good foundation of people that could have helped out, but, you know, once again, that’s ‘outreach.’ Doesn’t mean anything unless you actually show up.'"