The Democrats—wishing and hoping for a hero in the health scare debate—may have finally found their guy. Not that he’s perfect. But hey, who is? Freshman Florida Congressman Alan Grayson boldly and succinctly laid out the Republican plan for health care reform late Tuesday night. It’s his Wednesday follow-up that’s raising eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.
On Tuesday, the brash reformer, who ran on an anti-corruption platform and has apparently been making good on his campaign promises (so much so, his seat is considered one of the more vulnerable Democratic seats in 2010), with grade school poster board visual aids clearly stated the republican plan as, “Don’t get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly.”
This scathing, sound-bitable description threw the House Republicans into a fast frenzy. These characters—who have spent months stonewalling and spewing fear with the regularity of Old Faithful—quickly demanded an apology. It was the most “mean-spirited statement” Rep. Duncan from Tennessee had ever heard on the House floor. Really? What about Rep. Ginny Brown- Wade’s characterization of the Democrats’ plan as “essentially saying to America’s seniors: ‘Drop Dead’?” Or Rep. Virginia Fox calling for a Republican plan that “will be pro-life because it will not kill senior citizens.” Or Rep. Paul Braun: “Their plan’s gonna kill people?” And on and on all month long from the stop and set the reset repubs.
I know liberal and conservatives hear things differently; I’m pretty sure they’ve done a study at Harvard or somewhere to support this thesis (otherwise some scholar’s got a grant application in the mail). But I don’t think Congressman Grayson’s terse comments violated the rules of decorum of that esteemed (and dainty) body. But GOP ears were bleeding red, white and blue indignation. And so Rep. Tom Price from Georgia took to the floor Wednesday morning and demanded an apology from Grayson. Or else. The or else, of course, was a rebuke similar to the one Rep. Joe Wilson received following his infamous “You lie” outburst at President Obama.
Again, there are substantial differences between Wilson’s rude blurt hurled at the President during a speech before a joint session of Congress, and the daily rhetoric reps toss at each other in spirited political gamesmanship. But, as I said, liberals and conservatives hear things differently.
So on Wednesday Grayson apologized. Sort of. He said, “I apologize to the 45,000 people who die each year because they don’t have health insurance. I apologize to the dead and their families.” So far so good. The guy’s getting fitted for a cape, right? Well, not exactly. Grayson couldn’t resist, I guess, going for the hyperbolic flourish. He ended with, “I apologize that we didn’t vote to end this Holocaust in America sooner.”
Uh oh. Even heroes misspeak. As I heard the word leave his lips it started to run in a cinematic slo-mo; I just knew he regretted it as it slipped out, wrapped tightly in righteous indignation. He must have been sweating as visions of himself being lambasted over the Fox News spit flashed through his mind.
Maybe not. Grayson appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC Wednesday night and hardly bristled at his own faux pas. To her credit, Maddow—undisputedly the most even-tempered of all cable TV hosts—gave him three chances to rescind the Holocaust reference. He bobbed and weaved in classic pol style. But by the third time, she cornered him, practically spoon-fed him the right answer. “Do you think you should have used the word ‘Holocaust?” she gently pressed. Finally, Grayson gave in, conceding, “It probably wasn’t the best choice of words.”
And it wasn’t for obvious reasons. The Holocaust is such a loaded term for so many people. Using it in this context offends many and only serves as a distraction from Grayson’s solid facts, his stats, his sentiment. It allows Republicans to dodge their own culpability by making him, his perceived insensitivity, the issue.
But Grayson seems undaunted. After his meek concession to Maddow, he launched into a diatribe about the kind of politicians Americans want and need. “People want Democrats with guts. People want Congress to solve their problems… or at least work on them.” Somewhere along the line he called the repubs, “foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals.” Okay, so we’re back fitting Grayson for his cape.
The thing is: as one who has called for folks on both sides to ratchet down the rancor, I can’t pull a double-standard (I don’t, after all, work for FOX News). So, if it’s not helpful for the republicans to offer rabid rhetoric, the same applies to the democrats. But I admit to rooting for Grayson, seeing him as a sort of chunkier, brazen 21st Century Mr. Smith taking on Washington. And wishing there were more like him.
Another excellent article – it gives new hope that there are still some people out there with intelligence! Thanks Amy Beth for telling it like it is or should be…….
He’s the exception that confirms the rule.
LOL CrackITjack. electronic cigarette Great philosphy!
Democrats have been very weak considering their majority. I am heartened to see Congressman Grayson employing strong tactics.
Great article.
I’m a liberal. More liberal than most Democrats.
The outpouring of support for Alan Grayson is ludicrous, since we got fairly angry when Joe Wilson did it.
A pox on both parties.
You may be a liberal, but if you don’t see a difference between what Grayson did and what Wilson did, you’re thinking like a congressional Republican. Wilson heckled the president during the president’s speech. That was rude and it was petty. Grayson stood on the floor of the House and said his piece, and he’s elaborated and defended what he said several times since. The health care status quo in this country is killing people and bankrupting people, and anyone stonewalling reform is at the very least acquiescing in those deaths and bankruptcies. Grayson is telling the GOP to grow up and take responsibility for their actions and inactions. About time, I say.
Really? Why do you people support this guy? He is using baseless rhetoric and visions of death just like the Republicans you apparently despise. It is basically just scare tactics.. he uses no facts or figures or even really talks about the issue at hand. The only difference is that he is in favor of reform instead of against it. He obviously dropped the word Holocaust to give his words and cause more attention in congress and the media rather then focusing on substance and his argument. Poor choice of words? As if senators make apologies and important speeches without planning them first? Come on now. I don’t support either side in this debate, but hypocrisy is pretty entertaining.
From the article, and I quote:
“….People want Congress to solve their problems…”
They do? Only a politician can create a problem then lobby against it… Here’s the catch 22 with having Congress fix health care – they can’t. The post office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security – ALL are in the RED, with NO HOPE OF RECOVERY. How will health care be any different? It won’t.
Federal spending must be cut… and they need to truly free up the health care market or else the US Gov’t will cease to operate. Not today, not tomorrow, but in our lifetime.
Google “IOUSA” and find out the non-partisan facts. It’s not a Republican problem, or a Democrat problem… it’s an American problem… needs to be fixed by individual Americans.
hol·o·caust (hl-kôst, hl-)
n.
1. Great destruction resulting in the extensive loss of life, especially by fire.
The use of the term was appropriate.
Yes his term works in a functional sense but you cannot argue the connotation that it has.
For example.. There was nothing technically wrong with MCcain using Obama’s middle name of Hussein in the campaign. But it has that connotation to it that is pretty widely accecpted in the states. Thus he decided not to do so.
There is a difference between a holocaust and The Holocaust. Grayson didn’t capitalize his use of the word, only the print media (including this site) has done that. The only reason Grayson made a mistake when he used that word is that it has allowed republicans the opportunity to debate semantics rather than health care. He should not apologize for any of his statements, and the longer we continue to have this argument the longer we wait for meaningful debate and action on healthcare reform.
What you’re saying is just a nonsense. Can we see if Holocaust was capitalized or not on his teleprompter, papers, or whatever?! Liberalism is a mental disorder, Dr. Savage is right!!!
I am a liberal democrat.
People who rally behind this guy are just complete morons. Last thing I want to see is my party sink to the low levels of ‘death panels’ and ‘rationing.’
DOUCHE!
I would like to respectively suggest that the very REASON Grayson took to floor was to cite a new study that says OVER 40,000 Americans are DYING each year because of NO INSURANCE. Now, if it is NOT YOUR KID DYING, well it may not be a holocaust to you. When it is your wife or your child or parent suffering and dying without proper diagnostics, medications, surgeries, skilled care, etc., then it is, in fact a holocaust. Rachel Maddow was wrong to attempt to beat Grayson into an apology and he was wrong to cave. But I forgive them both. Democrats are, by nature, thoughtful and contemplative and conciliatory when contrasted with typical Republican cockholsters. Republicans are too stupid to see the death they cause. The only thing they understand is ferocity and violence. Nothing else will get their attention. Republicans are never going to listen and they are never going to stop unless we stop them. Grayson is ONE GUY, and there are precious few others, who knows how to crush Republicans. Democrats would be wise not only to encourage him, they need to emulate him.
Oh, and you supposed liberals and democrats in this thread, if you do not understand the difference between interrupting a session of Congress where the floor has been give to the President, on the one hand, and a speech in the house where a Congressman HAD THE FLOOR, then you are not much of a liberal. Liberals are distinguished by the fact that they know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to rules of order and parliamentary procedure.
Shame to congressman Alan Grayson! Shame for using Holocaust in his rhetorics. But the worst is that he don’t fully realize the significance of the Holocaust. To compare his fake numbers with the millions of Jews who died in the Nazi gas chambers is just disgusting. Poor Jews and various minorities got caught in in both German and Soviet socialistic madness… Socialism sucks! Personally I don’t want such short-minded person to represent me here in Florida! Better to have someone independent with better functioning brains!