Retired Lt. Gen. Allen B. West is no stranger to Manhattan after graduating from Kansas State University and serving at Fort Riley. He shook hands with Kansas Republicans on Saturday afternoon following his address at the Hilton Garden Inn. (Staff Photo by Andrew Shores)
Unity and opportunity was the theme of an address by a popular conservative speaker at Saturday’s luncheon during the State GOP convention in Manhattan. Retired Lt. Col. Allen West spoke in front of hundreds of members of the Kansas Republican party. With Republican majorities in both Kansas and Washington, D.C., West said it is time to spread conservative policies across the United States and provide America with another 240 years of success.
West is no stranger to the Flint Hills. West, an army veteran of both Iraq wars, was stationed at Fort Riley in the 1990’s and earned his M.A. from Kansas State University. West had a brief career as a U.S. representative from Florida. Since his term ended in 2013, he has served as executive director of the National Center for Policy Analysis. West also works with the National Rifle Association and commentates on Fox News. West was the subject of controversy during Operation Iraqi Freedom after firing allegedly firing a pistol at a detainee during an interrogation. Most recently, West came under fire in December of last year for a post made by an employee on his Facebook page calling for extermination of Muslims.
West, who was born into an impoverished neighborhood in Atlanta, said the party must continue to radiate the principles of individuality and achievement regardless of dividing factors the Democrat party tried to use. Radical Islam, judiciary activism, progressive socialism and failed Democratic policies are all hurdles the party will have to endure in the coming years now that Republicans have a majority in both chambers.
“We don’t want to see people in collective groups,” West told KMAN following his address. He said people of all ethnicity, religion, and sexuality are welcome in the Republican party. West accused the Democrats of creating a “nanny state” over the last eight years with various social welfare programs, and said they have divided the country. “We want to see people as individuals and empower them to pursue happiness — not guarantee happiness.”
West elicited a round of applause from the audience when he spoke about the freedom and power parents have to send their children to the school of their choices, rather than failed public schools. West detailed his childhood in Georgia, where his parents opted to send him to a private Catholic school instead of the inner city public education system.
“I think we need to empower and enable parents to make the best choice for their child, that’s their responsibility.”
During his speech, West quoted John Brown and also referred to Kansas as the “heart of America.” He said Kansas is where America’s heart beats, and the state can continue to set an example for the country by continuing its’ tradition of conservative policymaking.
West was one of just many prolific Republicans at the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday afternoon. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach was present alongside U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and Gov. Sam Brownback.
Kobach, who at one point was rumored to be in consideration for a seat on the Trump administration, defended the President’s executive order on travel and said the 9th Circuit Court had a weak argument against the President. Kobach said the President is a “great guy,” and expects him to enact legislation and agreements that favor agriculture and keep terrorists out of America.
Brownback said he is confident the state will be able to balance it’s budget and find a new K-12 education funding formula during this session. The Governor preceded West’s address at the luncheon, where he said his name will not be on any ballot in 2018.
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