U.S. Reps From Florida Engage In War Of Words

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two South Florida representatives on Capitol Hill are engaged in a nasty war of words.

The latest beef started when U.S. Rep. Allen West, a Republican, took to the House floor to support the GOP-backed budget bill that he said would create jobs.

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"I stand in support of HR 2560," West said Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat, then made her own speech criticizing the bill. She said she believes it would cut critical services like Medicare. Without naming names, she was also critical of West.

"Unbelievable from a member from South Florida," she said.

But shortly after both speeches is when things turned ugly.

Wasserman Schultz?s spokesman said at about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, West fired off an email to her.

"You are the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the U.S. House of Representatives," the email said. "If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up."

The email concludes, "You are not a lady."

West?s press secretary, Angela Sachitano, did not deny he sent the scathing message.

Jonathan Beeton, a press representative for Wasserman Schultz, said that the congresswoman is not taking West's message personally.

He said she believes West's budget number-crunching hurts seniors and kids and West knows "the truth hurts."

But Sachitano contends it is personal. In an email to ABC News, she wrote that her boss was just reacting to the "low level (Wasserman Schultz) has chosen to stoop to attack (him)."