Tea party Rep. Allen West (R-FL) said on Friday that he would accept the Republican vice presidential nomination if it was the "right fit."
Earlier this week, failed GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin first floated West's name at a possible "rogue" pick for 2012. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), an early supporter of Mitt Romney, agreed that West would be "good" in the VP slot.
On Friday, West told CNN's Kyra Phillips that he had "never been out on a dinner date" with Romney, but he'd be willing to join the ticket.
“Yeah, well, right now, you know, the focus is, of course, being a good Congressional representative,” West explained. “But if someone were to make that call to me, which I really doubt is ever going to happen, you would have to make sure that it is something that God would ordain for you, and you’d have to talk to your wife, my wife and my two daughters about. But we have always stepped up to the plate to serve our country. And if it’s the right fit, then I will do so.”
West also accused Phillips of leading him down a "rabbit hole" by asking about same sex marriage.
"I think that right now there are a lot of people who try to take you down a rabbit hole to discuss things that really aren't that important," the Florida congressman insisted.
"Are you saying gay marriage is not important?" a shocked Phillips pressed.
"I think if you poll the American people, Kyra, I don't think they're going to bring up gay marriage as one of their top concerns," West replied. "I think the best thing you can do to help me and to help out America, let's stay focused on the things that are critical for the American people right now, and not try to create some situation [where] you take me down to a rabbit hole."
"No, no, I'm not trying to do that," Phillips insisted. "I'm talking about millions of gay Americans."
"They should be concerned about the four years of trillion dollar deficits that we have had in the federal government," West shot back. "That's what we should be focused on, Kyra."
In the past, West has made his opposition to marriage equality clear by calling same sex marriage "an oxymoron" that could eventually destroy society. He has also suggested that gay men and lesbians can change their sexual orientation like flavors of ice cream.
Watch the video below from CNN's Newsroom, broadcast on April 6, 2012.
(H/T: Politico, Think Progress)
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