Pelosi: Grayson Shouldn't Apologize

Republicans are calling on freshman Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) to apologize for denigrating their party's health care plan on the House floor, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) thinks they ought to look in the mirror instead.

"Apparently Republicans hold Democrats to a higher standard than they hold members of their own party," Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference on Thursday. "There's no reason for Mr. Grayson to apologize. If anyone should apologize, everyone should apologize."

Grayson has taken fire from Republicans since he said on the House floor Tuesday night that the opposition party's proposed health care reform amounts to "don't get sick" or, failing that, "die quickly." The Florida Democrat did not back down Wednesday, calling Republicans "knuckle-dragging Neanderthals" and expressing sorrow only that delays to reform cost more American lives every day.

"I think we should be on the offense, not the defense, and that's where I plan to stay," Grayson told reporters.

Pelosi said she holds everyone in Congress to a high standard of discourse, but she argued that health reform is too important to be "distracted" by Republican efforts to force an apology from Grayson.

"Points have been made. Now it's time to take the debate to health care," Pelosi said. "This is urgent and we won't be distracted from our course of action."

GOP Rep. Tom Price of Georgia filed a resolution Wednesday that would censure Grayson for his comments, but Republican leadership has yet to decide whether to pursue that course of action, according to a Republican Study Committee aide. If House leadership opposes the measure, it is unlikely to pass.

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Comments

[imfedup]

03:11 PM on 10/05/2009

Censure him for what? This is tame compared with what they say every day.

[Patrick Garin]

06:34 PM on 10/02/2009

Why should he apologize for telling the truth!!!!!

[kenudy]

01:04 PM on 10/02/2009

Bravo! Mr. Grayson. Florida is very lucky to have a man who says it like it is. Maybe some of the "Moderate Dem's" will catch some backbone from you.

[Zelyony1750]

02:55 AM on 10/03/2009

Go Congressman Grayson!
Now besides he and Senator Bernie Sanders, who also has great courage, where are the other ones who need to stand up for the people?
I just sent Mr. Grayson a letter that I'd vote for him; I live in Orange County; but he lives in O.C. Florida, and I am here in O.C. CA
We need to go after the companies that are cheating us out of our tax money through corporate misconduct. Friends, contact your elected representatives; see who stands for honesty! Go to POGO.org
Peace!

[Alethea]

11:43 AM on 10/02/2009

I just watched his segment on the Ed Show and he said that "if it's a question of losing my job or saving these 45,000 American's lives, I'll save 45,000 American's lives."


THANK YOU!!!!!! I have been waiting this whole time to hear those words come out of someone's mouth. I'm going to go contribute to his campaign right now just for that.

[Imlistening]

11:00 AM on 10/02/2009

Senator Nancy Pelosi rocks! I want to be like her when I grow up.

[Clearing-Brush]

10:28 AM on 10/02/2009

Here is what these Republican "legislators" said.

Sen. Ginny Brown (R-FL): "the Democrats plan said to Americans DROP DEAD".

Sen. Paul Brown (R-FL): "the Democrat's plan is gonna kill people"

Sen. Virginia Fox (R-NC): "....seniors will be put to death"

I DEMAND THEY OPOLOGIZE NOW! Then we'll talk about Grayson.......

[Utopian007]

10:06 AM on 10/02/2009

The Republican way is to take the inconsequential things and blow them up to confuse the discussion. Unfortunately they can't really argue that Grayson isn't correct. Truth as a defense.

[S Andersen]

09:20 AM on 10/02/2009

"I think we should be on the offense, not the defense, and that's where I plan to stay," Grayson told reporters.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/pelosi-grayson-shouldnt-a_n_306338.html

Go Grayson!

(And I refuse to edit out the clipboard advertising HuffPo is forcing on us every time we copy 'n paste)

[brendabfromfl]

08:59 AM on 10/02/2009

Feel free to flood the Florida Today with posts in support of Grayson as came out on the Opinion/Editorial page and said Grayson blundered. Here is a link to the site:

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091002/OPINION/91001021/1004/Our+views++Grayson+s+blunder

I don't think Grayson blundered. I think he stood up for what he believed in. And good for Nancy Peloisi for saying that if Grayson should apoligize, so should a lot of other people.

It's about time, someone stood up for the regular Americans. (and while I'm thinking about it, feel free to email Boehner and tell him you're a regular American and you support public options - don't try to call though as his message box is full :-))

[S Andersen]

09:16 AM on 10/02/2009

Thanks Brenda. I'm with you and I will follow your advice.

[vlm1948]

10:42 AM on 10/02/2009

Did both, thanks.

[lstl4]

08:45 AM on 10/02/2009

No he shouldnt apologize because what he said was true, and the republicans need to be held accountable for not doing their jobs. They were hired to take care of the people and they are only concerned with their interests. They are working for the insurance companies who helped to put them in office. I have to include Baucus, who is a democrat also. If we get a watered down health care reform bill, I will blame the democrats because they have the power to put the bill through without the republican votes. Some, not all, of the dems are a bunch of spineless, weak and uncaring jerks if they dont fight for us. I would like to commend Weiner, Rockefeller, and Grayson for speaking out and trying to get a good health care reform bill out there. Frankly, I dont really care if this increases the deficit because if we would get out of the middle east and start taking care of our own people instead of interfering in other countries, we would have the money.

[-0013]

10:05 AM on 10/02/2009

The Democrats control both houses of Congress. If they wanted to pass healthcare legislation they could and could do so without one GOP vote.

Channel your rage correctly.

[Disdain]

10:38 AM on 10/02/2009

That is the one little detail that the libs love to pretend does not exist!

[Zelyony1750]

03:08 AM on 10/03/2009

Amen! I agree with you! I really think that for years and years big business people and those in office have created deals that cheated people in other countries out of their rights/lands/funds and the result was 9/11. Why are we always telling other countries what to do? There are plenty of projects that we can do to fix up our own backyard! Just look at the bridge in Minnesota and let us not forget New Orleans! And here is something else to ponder on:
Our elected officials all have some kind of medical plan; whatever type each one has is the same type every citizen should have;
I mean is that not a reasonable idea? It seems that way to me. What do you say, neighbors?
Peace!

[Imzadi]

08:35 AM on 10/02/2009

Dang straight!

We need more like him!

[chayefsky]

04:35 AM on 10/02/2009

Mr. Grayson, the country owes you a pat on the back. BTW, I was listening to C-Span this AM and people were asked to say whether or not Grayson should apologize. The overhwelming response was "No!" and that includes people who identified themselves as Republicans.

[stagebandman]

03:33 AM on 10/02/2009

Don't apologize. Unless you have disgraced yourself, or broken the rules (Wilson), NEVER apologize. Dick Durbin really disappointed me when he apologized for his statement comparing Abu Ghraib to a Gulag. Why? Because he was RIGHT! He may have friends across the aisle, but let them sit and stew. NEVER APOLOGIZE. Time to fight fire with fire. Hit them where it hurts. Rep. Grayson was on every news show, and it's about time! We need more, many many more, like him.

[respected]

03:30 AM on 10/02/2009

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6673445

[jafsie]

08:45 PM on 10/04/2009

Thanks for that link! :)

[NSeagle78]

02:55 AM on 10/02/2009

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) should be promoted to the second highest position that a democrat can hold. Just let him replace Harry Reid.

The President should not have to do the dirty work. Thank you Mr. Grayson SIR.

[Imzadi]

08:53 AM on 10/02/2009

I agree with your sentiments.

Just an FYI - Grayson is in the HOUSE, so he couldn't replace Reid. Pelosi is Speaker of the House.

[ali s]

11:42 AM on 10/02/2009

While I do agree that Rep. Grayson ought to be promoted, sadly it won't happen for quite a while. Being a freshman, he has no seniority. He'd make an excellent majority leader in the House, because the current one (Steny Hoyer), like Reid in the Senate, isn't a very strong one.