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Ear to the Ground

Rep. Grayson vs. the Tea Party

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Posted on Aug 24, 2010
grayson.house.gov

Florida’s Rep. Alan Grayson, the freshman congressman from the substantially conservative Orlando area, has already managed to make a name for himself over the course of his first two years in office by insinuating himself into some of the bigger political debates on the national stage. Recently, as David Weigel illustrates in his Slate mini-profile, Grayson has become a favorite target of conservatives in his native stomping grounds by painting the tea party movement in a decidedly less-than-flattering light.  —KA

Slate:

Grayson was a lawyer and telecommunications executive before he got into politics. (Consequently, he’s worth more than $30 million.) He studied politicians like Huey Long and historians like Zinn, and decided he could win by being blunt, liberal, and profligate. In 2010, he’s one of the few Democrats nationwide trying to outmatch the passion and organization of the Tea Party movement.

Outmaneuvering the Tea Party takes a multipronged strategy. Grayson has tried to work on the problems that inspire the movement while dismissing the movement itself as racist, stupid, and crazy. For example, he says, he has found common ground with Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. “I agree with him on the wars,” says Grayson. “I agree with him on civil liberties. We’ve worked together very effectively regarding the Fed.”

And now here comes the dig. “Many people, improperly, lump together libertarians and the Tea Parties. That’s really wrong. Many of the libertarians are physicists, and many of the Tea Party people don’t bathe. There’s really not much in common there!”

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By Eddie Thompson, September 5, 2010 at 2:21 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I’m a libertarian “Ron Paul” Republican who lives in Grayson’s district. I will be voting
for Grayson for the reasons he mentions above. The war, the Fed, the Patriot Act.  A
lot of us in Campain for Liberty will be voting for Grayson.  Some will be voting against
Webster more than voting “for” Grayson.  Point is many libertarians will be voting for
Grayson because Webster is soft on our issues.

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MarthaA's avatar

By MarthaA, September 2, 2010 at 2:36 pm Link to this comment

Congressman Grayson is a benefit to all citizens of the 90% Common Populace, including the Professional Left, as he is a liberal fighter for the democratic way for all citizens, not just for the conservative elite few at the top, as he ferrets out the Ponzi Schemers at the top of the pyramid that are destroying our democracy.

Aware citizens know Congressman Alan Grayson is on their side and will vote for him to retain his seat in Congress.  If I lived in Florida I would definitely vote for him, but I can’t, because I am in Oklahoma, but I do send money to his campaign, as any member of the common populace should.

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By ofersince72, August 29, 2010 at 2:14 pm Link to this comment

Roy,  I knew we could find some common ground…

Great Post ! ! ! !

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By call me roy, August 29, 2010 at 1:01 pm Link to this comment

Pudknocker Irony alert: Wacko congressman, Alan Grayson critic of Iraq security contractors, rescued in Niger by security contractors During yesterday’s Senate hearing on government oversight of security contractors, an interesting tidbit emerged. In his prepared testimony, Fred Roitz, executive vice president of contracts and chief sales officer for Xe (a.k.a. Blackwater), disclosed that his company evacuated a congressman from Niger during a recent military coup. Turns out it was none other than Rep. Alan Grayson, the Florida Democrat who has made his reputation by going after military contractors. Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski confirmed that Grayson was spirited out of the country on a Xe helicopter, and offered this statement to Schulman: “The flight was arranged through the State Department. The congressman did not know, and frankly did not care, who owned the plane.” It is easy to feel sorry for Alan Grayson. He looks like Luca Brazzi and makes as much sense as Lucy Ricardo.

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Peetawonkus's avatar

By Peetawonkus, August 26, 2010 at 7:31 am Link to this comment

Grayson: better than Republicans. Better than most Democrats. Still not good enough for what we need.

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William W. Wexler's avatar

By William W. Wexler, August 25, 2010 at 10:24 am Link to this comment

Alan Grayson is just saying what most people think. I guess if he’s worth 30 million he can afford to.

My only beef with him is that he should try to stay a bit further away from the culture war issues, even though it’s gratifying to see someone with the balls to address the GOP with their vicious smear machine at Fox News riding herd.

-Wexler

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tropicgirl's avatar

By tropicgirl, August 25, 2010 at 9:41 am Link to this comment

A lot of people in Florida are getting sick of this blowhard. First of all, he has not
taken any sort of heroic votes. Just the party line with a big mouth.

He has unquestioningly supported Obama, one of the most destructive presidents
in modern times, and insulted people of all groups in the process, misreading
things as usual.

Secondly, he’s taking on the wrong people in Florida. Now trying to back-pedal.
Too late.

Smart to come out today with some more legend-spinning about himself, since
Grayson put his finger up last night, in Florida, to see which way the wind was
blowing. Not his way.

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By berniem, August 25, 2010 at 9:18 am Link to this comment

Grayson may not be perfect or even ideal; but anyone who calls the slime on the right out and and exposes their bigotry, greed and ignorance verging on stupidity has my support and will do nicely until the totally virtuous arrives.

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By kerryrose, August 25, 2010 at 5:20 am Link to this comment

Grayson is the only politician who I have supported financially.  He is the only Democratic politician who frames progressive ideology in terms of morality and justice without the mealymouth garbage that we have grown used to from the Democratic establishment.

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By ofersince72, August 24, 2010 at 10:17 pm Link to this comment

When the article got to the part that said

  Read More…

My sides were already hurting, so I didn’t.
Iran sanctions…voted for
Militerizing border ...voted for
continued war spending ..for

The Democrat Savior of the Year Award….. Mr. Grayson

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By Hammond Eggs, August 24, 2010 at 8:11 pm Link to this comment

Grayson was a lawyer and telecommunications executive before he got into politics. (Consequently, he’s worth more than $30 million.)

Unnecessary to read any further.  At least not in the age we are currently living in.

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Robespierre115's avatar

By Robespierre115, August 24, 2010 at 7:43 pm Link to this comment

Grayson’s a joke. He claims to be a fighter for truth and justice and yet supported Israel’s war on Gaza and keeps supporting Israeli occupation policies. He was recently on Antiwar radio and was completely cornered on the issue of Israel.

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MarthaA's avatar

By MarthaA, August 24, 2010 at 7:15 pm Link to this comment

Go Grayson!  Congressman Grayson has guts and is cleaning up the Right-Wing REPUBLICAN corruption.  Go Grayson!

 

 

 

c

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