WASHINGTON – Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine isn’t taking kindly to being called a communist.

Republican Rep. Allen West of Florida said this week that he believes 75-plus House Democrats are members of the Communist Party. He was referring to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, to which Pingree belongs.

Pingree tweeted Thursday that she’s a “proud progressive, not a communist.”

In a formal statement, she said name-calling does “nothing to help members of Congress bridge their differences.” And just to be perfectly clear, she said, “I am not now and never have been a member of the Communist Party.”

West’s claim echoed Joe McCarthy’s unsubstantiated 1950s charges that communists had infiltrated the top ranks of the U.S. government.

Addressing a town-hall meeting Tuesday in Florida, the freshman lawmaker was asked how many members of the American legislature are “card-carrying Marxists.” West said “there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democratic Party that are members of the Communist Party.”

West’s office said Wednesday that the congressman stood by the comments and was referring to the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the largest group within the House Democratic caucus, of which Pingree is one of five vice chairs.

The caucus, founded in 1991, includes 75 House members and one senator and describes its goals as economic fairness, civil rights, environmental protection, energy independence and global security.

Pingree is married to S. Donald Sussman, majority share owner of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram.