A Communist Graduated From West Point. Now Republicans Want Answers
by Staff
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy this week, demanding that the U.S. military take disciplinary action against a West Point graduate who promoted Communism on his uniform, cheered anti-American traitors on social media and appears to generally despise the country he enrolled to serve.
Conservative view notes: "The U.S. Army is probing a West Point graduate’s pro-communist posts on social media. His father has condemned his political views on social media, and this graduate’s West Point professor has now been placed on administrative leave."
Mentored by an Islamist professor at the Academy
The Independent Sentenal Reports: "Dr. Rasheed Hosein, a professor of Middle East history who was responsible for the academic development of Lt. Rapone, has been placed on administrative leave. Hosein only mentored two students during his stint at West Point with Rapone being one of them. Hosein was hired at West Point during the Obama 2011 purge of the military...Rapone’s father is a Democrat treasurer in Pennsylvania who supposedly disavows these beliefs. "
“I respectfully request the Unites States Army immediately nullify [2nd Lt. Spenser] Rapone’s commission and pursue all available disciplinary options under the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” wrote the Republican senator. “Rapone should be required to pay back in full the cost of his education and the United States Military Academy should consider revoking his degree.“ It is extremely concerning that someone who so often expressed such hostile views towards the United States’ system of government was able to obtain a commission,” Rubio continued. “Rapone’s revolutionary ideas were harbored long before he was commissioned as an Army Second Lieutenant. Were West Point administrators or faculty aware of his views and behavior?”
Rapone went viral this week when he came out of the closet as a Communist sympathizer and a supporter of “Antifa” in the U.S. He is now the subject of an internal Army investigation – an investigation that is also taking a close look at a West Point professor who may be responsible for radicalizing the young man in 2014.
Breitbart reports: "According to a Facebook post by Rapone’s father, which has since been deleted, Rapone applied to West Point right out of high school but was rejected. He then enlisted in the Army, deployed to Afghanistan as an Army Ranger with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was “released for standards,” which means he was released from the regiment due to not living up to standards, conduct, or performance — a black mark on his record."
Currently serving in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team for the Army, Rapone drew gasps when he began posting photos of himself promoting various Communist messages such as “Communism will win.” He also posted pictures glorifying Cuban dissident Che Guevara and Karl Marx. In tweets, Rapone praised another internet Communist for his bashing of Defense Secretary James Mattis: “Was so pumped for you to go in on Mattis in latest ep. Definitely the most vile, evil f**k in the current administration.”
In a Reddit post, Rapone gave credit to convicted traitor Chelsea Manning for inspiring him to infiltrate the military with his anti-American ideology. In remarks to The Daily Caller this week, Rapone’s sponsor to West Point, former Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Penn) said he was disgusted by what the young man had become.
“Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point,” Altmire told the news site. “At the time, he was an outstanding, well-rounded student who came from a good family. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions.”
The story of Rapone’s radicalization is yet to be told, but it cannot be in dispute that he is a disgrace to the uniform and an active danger to both the U.S. and those who serve with him in the military. The sooner he is given his walking papers, the better.