CONGRESSMAN ALAN GRAYSON SPEAKS THE TRUTH AND STANDS HIS GROUND

This afternoon Ryan Grim posted this story:

Alan Grayson refused to apologize Wednesday for saying on the House floor Tuesday night that the GOP health care plan amounts to "don't get sick" - and if you do, "die quickly."

"I'm not taking any of it back. I stand by what I said," Grayson, a freshman Democrat who represents Orlando, Florida, told reporters.

GOP Rep. Tom Price of Georgia filed a resolution Wednesday censuring Grayson for the comments. But Grayson said he planned to stay on offense.

"The point is that if you do get sick, you're going to have huge medical bills. Your insurance company's not going to help you and as a result of that you're going to end up having the plug pulled on you," he said. "I don't think that the Democrats have to be on the defensive for a bill that reduces health care costs, makes health care premiums affordable, makes people's health care coverage comprehensive in the sense that they can't be excluded for breaching lifetime caps or by preexisting conditions and helps all of the Americans who cannot afford health insurance today. I think we should be on the offense not the defense and that's where I plan to stay."

Will it hurt his reelection chances? "It improves them. People like elected officials with guts who'll say what they mean," he analyzed.

I know I do. Not only did he say what he meant, he had the courage to stand his ground instead of moving to the center.

He also didn't think it could harm relations between the parties. "We're way past that point. They have said no to everything. They are nattering nabobs of negativity. They've been that way since I've been sworn in," he said, echoing Richard Nixon's vice president, Spiro Agnew.

He gets it. Don’t pay any attention to their crazy talk and scare tactics. Don’t bargain with them, just go ahead and do what is right. Get the American people decent health care reform. Trying to compromise with them is the biggest mistake the Democrats have made. Just step over them and leave them laying on the floor having a tantrum like a two year old.

Grayson also took to the House floor to offer a different sort of apology - to those who have died for lack of health insurance. "I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven't acted sooner to end this holocaust in America," he said.

It is a holocaust plain and simple. People have been dying because corporations have paid off our legislators to favor legislature which benefits their large profits. It is not just that people have been dying either, people who are not dying are suffering because they need medical treatment and they can’t afford it. Many of our legislators have put money, the drug companies and the insurance industry over the people of this country. They need to be voted out the next time around.


It is so refreshing to finally hear someone speak the honest truth. I have been trying to leave a message at his office to thank him, but his phone is always busy and his email page froze up.











Howie Klein had this to say about Grayson:

I know the difference between angry and mad. And when it comes to outspoken Orlando freshman Alan Grayson, Republicans are both. He's been the bane of their -- and their big donors'-- existence on the House Financial Services Committee, where he's been working effectively to put a crimp in a status quo that has presided over a concentration of wealth in this country that leaves the top 1% with more assets than the "bottom" 90%. Grayson came to Congress promising to be a tribune for working Florida families. What drives Republicans mad is that he has been exactly that.

If Grayson made one mistake, it was blaming only Republicans for the way Congress is treating American families in the health care debate. Sure, every single Republican is catering to the special interests who line their pockets and fill their campaign coffers. But perhaps Grayson should have found a way of mentioning that it isn't just 100% of Republicans -- who, by the way, have often said that the Democratic plans for reform will kill granny, etc. -- but that there are also a significant number of corrupt, bribe-besotted Democrats -- from Max Baucus and Blanche Lincoln to most of the Blue Dog caucus -- who also are trampling on the aspirations of working people in our country.

I would certainly agree with that. It is impossible to serve two masters.

Today might be a great time to donate to Alan Grayson's campaign fund. Aside from being one of Congress' best overall members, let's keep in mind that the real reason Republicans do want people to die is because the funeral industry is a big source of funds for the GOP! Of all the current sitting senators who have gotten money from the funeral industry, McCain is #1, Alexander Lamar is #2 and Lindsey Graham is #3. Over in the House, Republican leaders Mike Pence (IN), Roy Blunt (MO), David Dreier (CA) are among the top recipients. And yes, Blackburn and McHenry have both taken money from the funeral industry. Grayson hasn't.