WASHINGTON — Maine’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, 1st District, 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 today 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 says “I am not now and never have been a member of the Communist Party.”

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