U.S. Rep. Allen West is no stranger to controversy. He's defended former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's race code and even lashed out at President Barack Obama. Now, the conservative tea party icon is getting a shot in at the Commander-in-Chief by saying Obama's "scared" to have a discussion with him.

While speaking at a Jensen Beach crowd of 100 with more than 15 protesters in attendance, the congressman argued that changes in his state won't matter "if Washington officials don't address a mounting deficit." In an even stranger twist of subtext, West later said that "he's heard" up to 80 U.S. House Democrats are Communist Party members—but wouldn't name names. It wreaks of McCarthyism, but as Allen West contends that big national issues, such as gas prices and the debt crisis, are the subjects Americans need to focus on, it equally seems as if West's motives are to get into the White House. Where's the Drop Squad when you need it?