McCarthyism returns

EDITOR: I couldn't believe the audacity of Republican Congresman Allen West, calling Democratic representatives communists ("Woolsey, others called communists," Thursday). Can it be that these so-called communists are actually mainstream American thinkers and that his views are so out of touch that he has to blame others for his fears?

The right wing has constantly been out of touch with the vast majority of the people. Congressional members such as West continue to spew their ridiculous rhetoric to the American public with impunity. They don't want health care, Social Security, food stamps or welfare to help those who really are in need.

Here's an idea for West. Maybe he should give back his pay raises, maybe he should not be able to retire with full benefits after only one term. His rhetoric is that of McCarthyism, and that is somewhere we don't need to go. One last question, if Democrats are communists, does that make West a fascist?

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Santa Rosa