Dem super PAC's ad features 'Allen West' punching elderly white woman

Opponents are calling a Democratic super PAC in Florida shocking and even racist for its cartoonish depiction of Rep. Allen West (R-FL) punching an elderly white woman and laughing as he steals money from a black family.

The bizarre production comes by way of the American Sunrise super PAC, financed primarily by the father of West's Democratic opponent, Patrick Murphy (not to be confused with the former Pennsylvania Rep. of the same name).

The Democrat's father is Tom Murphy, Jr., CEO of Miami's Coastal Construction. indicate he's supported Democrats and Republicans alike, but threw most of his financial heft behind President Barack Obama's candidacy in 2008. Records also indicate he's repeatedly supported Mitt Romney's electoral ambitions since 2007, but those donations pale in comparison to the $250,000 Murphy gave American Sunrise to support his son's bid against West.

That enthusiasm has translated into an atrocious new ad, giving West justifiable complaints about Democrats using racism and violence against women as political cues. The ad depicts West as a cartoon-like boxer who punches out an old man, an old woman and a young woman -- apparently to make the point that he's favored budget cuts that hurt seniors and women. Then it shows him stealing money from an upset black family while he snickers like some kind of troll.

The underlying message is essentially tied to West's support for budget proposals by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), whose plan calls for more than $5 trillion in cuts over the next decade and a radical makeover of Medicare that essentially turns it into a coupon program.

"The ad being run against me by my opponent's family depicting violence against women and senior citizens is reprehensible," West told Breitbart blogger John Nolte. "It plays on stereotypes and fear to divide Americans, and it cheapens the very real and tragic occurrences of violence against women and seniors. The American people are suffering from crushing debt, horrific tax and regulatory policies, and epic unemployment. This classless ad shows a lack of regard for the issues plaguing our nation. This ad reflects the sad state of politics in our Republic with those who seek to destroy a person's character to cover for their lack of intellectual ability and integrity."

American Sunrise has only produced two other ads: one of them a bland support ad for Patrick Murphy, and the other an ad about "progressive values" that conveys all the sincerity of a late-night cable television pitchman.

Reached by Raw Story, a spokesman for Murphy's campaign insisted there would be "no comment on outside media."

This video was published to YouTube on July 31, 2012.

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Photo: Screenshot via YouTube.