Tea party hero and anti-Muslim bigot Allen West (R-FL) spoke in Palm City, FL on Tuesday, and busted out a old right-wing favorite: McCarthyism.

The conservative tea party icon also got in shots at Democrats and President Obama, who spoke Tuesday at Florida Atlantic University. West said Obama was "scared" to have a discussion with him. He later said "he's heard" up to 80 U.S. House Democrats are Communist Party members, but wouldn't name names.

And here's Tailgunner Joe, singing the same song in 1950.

"The State Department is infested with communists. I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department."

Someone should ask West to produce the names of the Democrats in the House who are Communists or tell us where he's "heard" that number -- or STFU.

Making unsubstantiated claims about large numbers of Communists in the government used to lead to disgrace. That this wackadoo is considered a possible veep pick tells you everything you need to know about the fetid state of the Republican Party.