Rep. Allen West demands 'vile' Rep. Wasserman Schultz 'shut the heck up'

Congressman Allen West (R-FL) sent a nasty letter to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Tuesday afternoon, calling her "the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the U.S. House."

The email was provoked by a speech Wasserman Schultz gave on the House floor Tuesday, in which she referred to West while attacking the “cut, cap and balance” legislation proposed by Republicans.

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"The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries," she said after West had left. "Unbelievable for a member from South Florida.”

Wasserman Schultz added that the legislation would have a terrible effect on the U.S. economy and should be named, “duck, dodge and dismantle.”

West was not pleased with her criticism, to say the least.

"If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up," he wrote in his email. "You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!"

West copied members of House Republican and Democratic leadership on the email, which was first obtained by Politico.

"I don't think that Congressman West is upset at the Congresswoman, but rather with the fact that she highlighted that he and other Republicans are once again trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, children and the middle class," Wasserman Schultz's aide, Jonathan Beeton, said in a statement sent to Politico.

"As someone who lives in Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz's Congressional district, Congressman West knows that we have hundreds of thousands of seniors in South Florida who have paid into Medicare throughout their lives and now rely on this program to keep them healthy and active."