Republican Rep. Allen West, describing himself as a "modern-day Harriet Tubman," said Wednesday he wants to lead black voters on an underground railroad away from the Democratic Party.

The Florida congressman, who is black, was responding to a raucous town hall meeting hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Tuesday in Detroit. Participants vented to Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, who in turn voiced frustration with President Obama and asked the crowd to "unleash" her and other black lawmakers on the White House.

But West, the only Republican member of the CBC, told Fox News the Democratic Party as a whole has let black voters down...