Allen West: Blacks should look to family — not Washington — for role models

During a Q&A session with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Florida Rep. Allen West fielded a comment from an audience member who suggested President Barack Obama is an ideal role model for the black community. However, West used the discussion to point out that African-American families used to be able to look for role models within their own families and in the absence of a father figure, many blacks wound up looking elsewhere for inspiration.

While it's great that Obama is a role model as the first black president, West notes, the black community needs to reaffirm the importance of family and finding inspiration from within:

h/t AIM