Why Steve West must not win the 15th District

We’ve all seen the ballots where a candidate has none or weak opposition in a political race. Missouri as well as Clay County’s Republican leadership failed their Missouri voters in general and Republican voters in particular by their “asleep at the wheel” attitude when it comes to candidate Steve West.

West made headlines in August when he came from nowhere to win the GOP primary.

Only after his win did folks realize who he was. But, with a little digging, party officials could have figured it out and put forth a legitimate candidate that represents the values of the Republican Party.

West’s particular brand of hate includes anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, attacks on homosexuals and outright racism against anyone not his particular color of off-white.

Even his daugher will have none of it.

In an interview with the Kansas City Star, Emily West is encouraging voters to just say “No” to her dad.

“A lot of his views are just very out there,” West said. “He’s made multiple comments that are racist and homophobic and how he doesn’t like the Jews.”

West told the Star she grew concerned when she drove through the Clay County House district over the weekend — which covers Gladstone and a part of Kansas City, North — and saw lots of yard signs in support of her father.

“I think it’s just insane that people are putting out his signs,” she told the newspaper. “You see his signs everywhere. I don’t understand how people can put out his signs knowing the comments that he’s made.”

Anti-Semitism is in the headlines this week as the nation mourns the 11 killed in their Pittsburgh synagogue.

Though the media would have Americans believe such hatred, ignorant or insensitive comments are the purview of folks on the right, you’ll easily find other “Steve West’s” on the Democratic side if you take the time to look. Hate and ignorance know no political boundaries.

America’s liberal college campuses are rife with anti-Semtism and hatred. Just look at what’s going on these days. That sentiment often rears its head as anti-Israel. It also extends to violence against people trying to share a pro-life message.

The Missouri Republican Party issued a statement in August saying that West’s “shocking and vile comments do not reflect the position of the Missouri Republican Party or indeed of any decent individual.”

“West’s abhorrent rhetoric has absolutely no place in the Missouri Republican Party or anywhere. We wholeheartedly condemn his comments.”

West told The Star on Monday that he is “absolutely not anti-Semitic.”

Of his radio show, called “The Hard Truth with Jack Justice,” West said: “Some of the issues I discuss are hard-hitting. All of my shows are well documented. At the end of every show, I call everyone to Christ and Christianity, because that’s the only answer.”

Israel was a topic on West’s local radio show on Oct. 15. In discussing the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, the candidate complained that the United States has been “loving on these people.”

“This is the kind of relationship that we have with Israel,” he said. “We have this alliance, but it’s not a reciprocal alliance… for Israel, it’s what can they get out of it.”

He went on to say, “They have been running this assault on America. They have been giving us gay marriage, pornography, abortion, everything that’s anti-Christian…This is what they do. This is how they corrupt a Christian nation, because they are an anti-Christ people.”

Rep. Jon Carpenter, the Democratic incumbent running against West, said this week that many people supporting West may not know what he stands for.

He’s right.

“Mr. West has engaged in the most radical and hateful anti-Semitism and bigotry that I’ve ever seen,” he said. “The events of the weekend were a tragedy. Clearly, hate and bigotry are on the rise in this country and it’s up to each of us to do our part to stand up against that.”

But if you are pro-life, what are you to do? West says he is pro-life but Missouri Right to Life did, or could not endorse him because of his dangerous views.

Carpenter on the other hand is pro-abortion and has received endorsements of pro-abortion organizations in this or past election.

The pro-life community cannot support West, even though it would help sustain a pro-life majority in the Missouri House. But they cannot support Carpenter who supports the killing of unborn children.

This is an instance where the best vote is a write-in candidate rather than not voting at all.

Rarely has Metro Voice made endorsements. We typically believe that by providing information, you can make a wise choice and select candidates that espouse positions that line up with Biblical principles.

This time, however, we must do more.

If you love life–unborn, Christian, Jewish and all of God’s creation whether they be black, brown or any color of the rainbow we must not let Steve West represent the 15^th District in the State House.

And, in the outside chance West wins, he should immediately be removed form office for his statements.

–Dwight Widaman has been the editor of Metro Voice for 28 years.