Alan Grayson's Refusal

by: Adam Bink

Wed Sep 30, 2009 at 18:15


Alan Grayson took to the House floor this afternoon to issue an apology. But it's not the kind you think and have come to expect from run-of-the-mill Democrats. Check it out.

In The Progressive Revolution, Mike wrote about how when John Kerry told a bad joke in 2007, Dems rushed to distance themselves. When MoveOn.org ran a controversial ad, the same thing happened, even resulting in Congressional censure. When Dick Durbin compared Guantanamo to the worst atrocities in our history, he was left undefended, and instead issued a tearful apology on the Senate floor.

We can't let that happen to Alan Grayson. The NRCC just launched this website going after Grayson. He's already all over RedState, and I expect to see him all over FOX and Limbaugh and the rest of the conservative machine soon. They'd like to make him their next scalp. Like Chris wrote this afternoon, if we don't stand up for our champions- including Matt Stoller, who co-founded OpenLeft and now works for Grayson- no one will. Like Kerry, and MoveOn.org, and Durbin, Democrats will abandon him. Rep. Larson already has. We have to defend our champions in the face of the conservative smear machine.

Other Democrats would retreat hastily. What did Alan Grayson do? He took to the floor and refused to apologize, reiterated how critical health care reform is, then took to DailyKos to reiterate that he's standing firm and thank us for having his back. Now that's what I call a Better Democrat. Please chip in to have Alan Grayson's back.

Adam Bink :: Alan Grayson's Refusal

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Alan Grayson's Refusal | 25 comments
They are going to have a hard time scalping this guy.... (4.00 / 4)
...after all, the GOP was screaming about death panels for two months... they're attempts at claiming "civility" are pretty weak.

The best part is that the more the GOP gleams onto this, the more it highlights the fact that the GOP absolutely has no plan...

The appropriate rebuttal from them would be to highlight their own plans... of course, they have none, so their "pot calling the kettle black" rings hollow!


REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

I'd like to add.. (4.00 / 7)
...that it's clear that Grayson WANTS the controversy... Why would he back down?

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!
[ Parent ]
No, they made a horrible blunder (4.00 / 5)
1. What he said was true. And it will resonate with people at the GUT level.

2. He is already well known for his stance against the thieves and the Federal Reserve. Attacking him is like attacking Van Jones, it hurts them with the Ron Paul types they need to win.

[ Parent ]
I certainly hope he does not back down. (4.00 / 3)
And I think his comments were quite reasonable. But why is a contribution the appropriate way to "have his back"?
If I had to say it in two words, it would be these: (4.00 / 4)
Rahm Emanuel.  You can bet dollars to doughnuts that if Grayson keeps this up, the right-wing of the Democratic Party will not support him in the midterms next year.


[ Parent ]
I HOPE Rahm Sees MY $10 as a (4.00 / 2)
FUCK YOU RAHM - YOU SELL OUT PIECE OF SHIT.

of course, what do I know? I'm just a 49 year old peee-on who made $51,000 ONCE in his life, and lot less the rest of my days. ya know, that bottom 160,000,000 living on under 50k in money income, outta 210,000,000

I ain't 1 of hte annointed DC'ers who've been losing, FOR 30 YEARS, to the lackeys of the fascist string pullers!

(SEE STABUS, money income, individuals, 2006)

Robert Murphy
Precinct Committee Officier
Ballard.  

It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way

[ Parent ]
You talked me into it. I'll give too. (4.00 / 1)
But I will be crushed if he caves.
[ Parent ]
Guts (4.00 / 7)
Finally.  
Love It (4.00 / 3)
I would love it even more if Dem leadership stood behind him and at least offered a counter amendment against those Republicans, listing each and every one, in the House that accused the Dems of killing people.
Not worried about Grayson (4.00 / 8)

 But I AM worried about the rest of the Democrats.

 It's so entrenched and ingrained in the Democratic leadership to cower and curl into a fetal position at the slightest raised Village eyebrow that I expect a full-court press on Grayson from the rest of the party to kiss the Republicans' butts.

 And the ONLY time Democrats show anything resembling consistent aggressiveness is when they're dumping on progressives.

 Grayson's a tough cookie; he's already passed the first test. But he's going to need all the support he can get from us.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

Instead of backing him up, they'll force a cave within 24 hours. (4.00 / 1)
"I expect a full-court press on Grayson from the rest of the party to kiss the Republicans' butts. "

Unfortunately the Democratic Party is an unprincipled amalgam that stands for nothing. Most Democratic officeholders understand exactly what that means.

[ Parent ]
You know what, though? (4.00 / 4)

 I wouldn't put it past Grayson to publicly abandon his identification with the Democratic Party if it came to that.

 He's obviously not afraid of Republicans. Why would be be afraid of Democrats?

  Not saying he WOULD do that. Just pointing out that it's a nonzero possibility.

   

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
I think (0.00 / 0)
The reason I am worried is that he comes from a tough district.


Me on Facebook
Me on Twitter
[ Parent ]
Well, I'm sure he knows this (4.00 / 5)

And HE's certainly not worried.

In fact, I think we've stumbled upon a very good possible reason why the establishment Dems will pile on him -- if his popularity goes UP within his district as a result of this (and it very well might), it would destroy one of the conservadems' handiest excuses for not doing anything useful.

And that's the last thing they want.

 

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
Furthermore... (4.00 / 4)

 President Obama shows no indication of any desire to get off the "bipartisanship" hamster wheel anytime soon.

 The odds are fifty-fifty that he'll drive the bus over Grayson, the way he never did over Max Baucus, a man who was (and is) toxic to his (stated) goals.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

The Progressive Ron Paul! (4.00 / 4)
Alan has street cred amongst libertarians with his "Audit the Fed" campaign. Get him out there with Ron Paul et al. and have him peel away the libertarians from the GOP!

Remember, the original Progressive Era would not ave been possible without farmers! Reach out!

And don't forget to donate (4.00 / 1)
he won't betray you like 90+% of the Democrats.
[ Parent ]
I'd like him to peel me away from the Democrats. (4.00 / 1)
n/t.
[ Parent ]
Now, This Is MY Idea of "Changing The Tone In Washington" (4.00 / 6)
Know what I mean?

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3
Why can't we have more of this? (4.00 / 5)
The media is in a frenzy because of one man. Imagine the other 250 reps going on offense.

There's a lesson to be learned from the SFC hearings yesterday surrounding the public option. It's patently obvious they have no answer to logical, sustained attacks. It was awesome seeing Grassely cave at Schumer's medicare questions. They are far easier to corner when out in the open. They can be drawn out with just these kinds of attacks, where their lies and double standards can be exposed. Republicans are effective hiding on Fox News.

Awesome framing by Grayson. He got their attention by using simple, effective concepts. Get this guy on the Obama communication team.  

Unfortunately... (4.00 / 3)
Awesome framing by Grayson. He got their attention by using simple, effective concepts. Get this guy on the Obama communication team.  

  ...being mean to Republicans is a surefire way to stay OFF the Obama communications team. Such as it is.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
I thought that too (4.00 / 1)
He never once gave in to right-wing frames. He was an excellent lawyer (I lived in Orlando until August) and knows exactly how to argue aggressively and win. He uses his opponents reactions against them because he already knew pretty much what they were going to do before he even acted.

Also, he's not afraid to be an asshole at the right time. His sense of timing, composure, and when to be a jerk are spot on.

We need many more like him. Can we like, clone this guy or something?

[ Parent ]
I'm unemployed and broke. (4.00 / 2)
So I can't donate money.  But I can and will make telephone calls to members of the House.  Who would I need to call?


Larson for starters ... (0.00 / 0)
since he's saying Grayson should apologize
[ Parent ]
I would offer a small correction (4.00 / 1)

Mike wrote about how when John Kerry told a bad joke in 2007, Dems rushed to distance themselves.

I would say rather that "when John Kerry told a joke badly" instead.  Not that the original joke would have been hilarious or anything, but the problem was that he flubbed it, not that it was bad in its intent.

Alan Grayson's Refusal | 25 comments
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