Since the release of Lincoln, the Steven Spielberg drama focusing on the 16th president's tumultuous final months in office, there's been plenty of discussion about the iconic leader: his political legacy, his relationship to slavery, even whether he was a racist.
But one thing didn't come up until just recently: how much he and Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) have in common. The congressman, who just lost his re-election bid to Democrat Patrick Murphy, says his defeat doesn't necessarily mean the end of his career because — you guessed it — Abraham Lincoln served only one term in Congress.
Few (if any) have compared West, known for his "fiery and outlandish statements," to Lincoln before, but he was quick to make the link in an interview with NPR's Michel Martin when the host asked him about his plans for the future:
"Look, you know, God closes a door so that he can open up greater doors. I will continue to, you know, stand up and fight for this country. That's my goal," West said. "And always remember, Abraham Lincoln only served one term in Congress, too."
After a hard-fought battle that often took a turn towards bitter, West narrowly lost to Murphy in Florida's 18th congressional district. After two weeks of challenges from West's camp, including recount demands and accusations of improper vote counting, the Tea Party favorite conceded to his Democratic opponent.
"I pray he will serve his constituents with honor and integrity, and put the interests of our nation before his own," West said in a statement.
Read more at the Huffington Post.