Defending Rep. Allen West from criticism over recent comments that President Obama and Democratic leaders need to take their message and “get the hell out of the United States of America,” Fox News' Eric Bolling cited West's military service and reproached co-host Bob Beckel for not addressing the Florida Republican as “Representative Allen West” or “Lieutenant Colonel Allen West,” because he “risked his life for our freedom.” Bolling's sudden embrace of formality, however, stands in stark contrast with the way he talks about President Obama.

During a speech in Florida over the weekend, West stated:

WEST: We need to let President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and my dear friend the chairman of the Democrat National Committee, we need to let them know that Florida ain't on the table.

Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America.

Discussing West's comments, Beckel referred to West as a “hater” and said that West “owes an apology to a lot of people.” He also stated that West's comments were a “kind of hatred” and that they were “disgraceful, despicable,” and “disgusting.” Beckel went on to say: “I don't believe conservatives believe like Allen West does. They're smarter than he is. He represents a smaller percentage of the tea party, right-wing crowd and I don't -- I wouldn't paste the whole conservative party that way.”

Bolling then jumped in, telling Beckel:

BOLLING: Can I just point something out? You're calling him Allen West. Either call him Representative Allen West or call him Lieutenant Colonel Allen West because he was in the Army -- a war hero.

Bolling later noted that West “risked his life for our freedom.”

Just two weeks ago, Bolling referred to Obama as “Barry.” When Beckel objected, Bolling replied: “That's his name, right? Barack. Barry Soetoro. I think he called himself Barry Soetoro when he was a model in college.”

And Bolling has said far worse things about the president, including recently calling him:

• "The Socialist-Spewing Policymaker"

• "The Food Stamp President"

• "Comrade Obama"

• "Apologist For America Overseas"

And in rhetoric that was widely criticized as race-baiting, Bolling accused Obama of "chugging 40's" and hosting "a hoodlum in the Hizzouse."