The Hill News

The only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) further distanced himself from the group following Friday’s jobs report.

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) tweeted: “Unemployment remained at 9.1%, but in the black community, it increased [from] 15.9% to 16.7%. It’s clear why CBC avoids facts & is race baiting”

West sent a letter Wednesday to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), chairman of the CBC, asking him to condemn the “hate-filled comments” that some members of the caucus made toward the Tea Party movement during August.

“Otherwise, I will have to seriously reconsider my membership within the organization,” West wrote.

West particularly condemned comments made by Rep. Andrè Carson (D-Ind.), the caucus whip, who said many Tea Party-affiliated members of Congress see African Americans as “second-class citizens” and would be happy to see blacks “h! anging from a tree.”

West said Thursday that he will wait until he speaks to Cleaver once Congress returns to session before making a decision about his CBC membership.