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President Obama wants to turn Americans into "economic slaves," Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., said during a campaign speech in Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

During his remarks, which included emphasizing the importance of lowering taxes, minimizing regulations on business and bringing jobs back to the Treasure Coast, West slammed President Obama, particularly on jobs.

"Self-esteem comes from doing esteemable things. Sitting at home and getting a check from the government is not going to help your self-esteem. What it will do is make you an economic slave to people living in a far, far, distant place," West said on Sunday.

"He does not want you to have the self-esteem of getting up and earning and having that title of 'American,'" the congressman said of the president. "He'd rather you be his slave and be economically dependent upon him."

West also decried the Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act. "Now we find ourselves in a situation where the tax code of the United States of America is being used as a weapon against the American people," he said. "It is being used for behavior modification. That is exactly what came from the Supreme Court decision last week."

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The Florida legislator is no stranger to controversy. In April, he stood by his remarks that House Democrats were "communists." Last summer, he called fellow Floridian Debbie Wasserman Schultz "vile" and "despicable" after she criticized his stance on the debt ceiling, and soon after ignited another controversy when he compared being gay to "liking chocolate chip ice cream."

West is campaigning for another term in the House - though now in a new district. Following redistricting, West must win over new voters in Florida's just-drawn district 18. He will face County Sheriff Bob Crowder in the GOP primary on August 14 for a chance at the party's nomination.

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