“He does not want you to have the self-esteem of getting up and earning and having that title of American. He’d rather you be his slave,” the Florida congressman said of Obama at a rally in Port St. Lucie, according to CNN affiliate WPTV.

Priebus called West “one of the most dynamic new Republican stars in our party,” and said on CNN’s “The Situation Room” that he was more embarrassed by Obama’s handling of the economy than the comment.

“I’m not the police officer of the Republican Party,” Priebus said. “Allen can say what Allen wants to say.”