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Democrats With Guts
Congressman Alan Grayson's fighting talk gave Republicans a taste of their own bitter medicine on healthcare reform
Far from surrendering to immediate Republican outrage and demands for apology, Grayson stood firmly by his stance, teasing his opponents that he'll apologise, but "to the dead and their families" for government's failure to improve the system. In fact, Grayson has since stepped up his rhetoric in a recent media blitz, calling Republicans "knuckle-dragging Neanderthals" and "a lie factory" whose only approach to policy is obstructionism. By failing to produce a counter-proposal in the following days, Republicans have effectively proven Grayson's point.
This kind of pugnacious spirit is common among Republicans but very rare among Democrats, which is largely why Democrats so often get trampled in legislative battles where they have the upper-hand politically, intellectually, morally, historically and in opinion polls. Grayson's star power has surged since his remarks. While the GOP has designated him public enemy number one, Grayson has lit up the Democratic base.
What's unique about Grayson is that he's passionate about championing liberal causes, and he forcefully calls out the lies of his Republican opponents and the vapidity of today's conservative movement. With the significant rightward shift of the Democratic party in the last few decades, progressives are hardly represented in American government any longer. Though there are a few notable exceptions, none have quite the determination Grayson showed this week.
In the last 30 years, Republicans have yanked America further to the right than was once conceivable. Democrats have been complicit in this. Many Democrats sat idly by – if not supported – Republicans starting unnecessary and destructive wars, violating the Constitution and international law, redistributing wealth upward from the working poor to the rich, letting tens of millions lose their health care, and actively ignoring the threat of global climate change.
Democrats have effectively allowed Republicans to morph the word "liberal" from an adjective into a smear. This continues today, despite the fact that conservatives have steered America to one of its darkest places yet. President Obama's self-consciously conciliatory approach plays right into this meme. The zeal with which Republicans continue to promote their agenda, despite its immense failures, provides a stark contrast to the tepid Democratic spirit.
This is why Grayson is not a typical Democrat, and why he's exactly what Democrats have needed for a long time. The party dominates the House, has a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, and boasts a popular president – yet continues to get pushed around the bullied by the GOP, which is less popular than ever and has no serious proposals for solving today's problems. What gives? A lack of fortitude.
Capping an era of great political cynicism and unprecedented domination of money in politics, progressives have lost their footing and have tumbled behind conservatives, facing an increasingly steeper mountain to climb as Democrats continue to capitulate to the perpetrators of these quandaries. In an age where campaign contributions from wealthy, narrow interest groups are so critical to political survival, the incentive for ordinary Democrats is to play the game, not change it.
With the Democratic party slowly morphing into a watered-down Republican party, progressives have grown increasingly cynical of politics. Many feel little incentive to vote or participate in the political process. A Grayson-like fervor for liberal causes can help recapture this waning enthusiasm, perhaps eventually motivating Democrats to be real progressives again.
The internet age provides as much potential for political self-harm as it does opportunity, but Grayson seems happy to take the heat in his stride. Democrats need representatives who genuinely believe in liberal values, who have the courage to fight for their beliefs, and who won't prioritise political expediency over doing their job the right way. "We need Democrats with guts," Grayson said of the whole matter. He's right.
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35 Comments so far
Show AllGo Grayson! Smack them rabid dogs on the snout.
Best thing we can do now is donate to the Grayson campaign fund. If he raises enough, maybe the other Demwits will see that you CAN get funding without selling out.
After canning Van Jones, Rahm is probably trying to figure out how to get members of Congress to resign who fall out of line with the DNC.
Proof that republicans recognize his growing popularity can be seen in the increased sliming of Grayson by rovian trolls on this site. I read one who had to go out of his way to slander the Florida Dem, inserting his name into a discussion which didn't involve him.
Expect more such responses on this thread.
I hope that Grayson won't be flying in small aircraft anytime soon.
q
Proof of a double standard.
If "you lie" (the point was true) deserved censure then "die quickly" (which isn't true) certainly does.
Think people don't notice the dishonesty? They do.
What the hell are you talking about? What is it in this article that proves double standard? Of course people notice dishonesty but may not be taken seriously for it. I don't understand your second sentence. Would you please explain what any of this has to do with the article. I appreciate your posts and there are some things I can agree with your posts on but this post of yours is totally confusing.
The censure for Wilson was not for the words he used but for his failure to respect the President while the President was addressing Congress.
Grayson had the floor when he made his snarky but very accurate observations. He violated no protocols.
q
Re quickstepper October 6th, 2009 12:40 pm
Your reply to Henry8 is correct, but still highlights a double standard. Remember Rep. Kucinich's attempt to read his articles of impeachment into the record? He was censured and ordered to apologize for stating quite accurately that Shrub had lied us into two wars of aggression.
It's been fact checked every which way, and the idea (immigrants get free healthcare in Obama's bill) "you lie" was referring to is false. Geez, you righties are simply amazing in your refusal to listen to facts.
Oh, I think you have it exactly backwards. And, typically, that is why the Republicans and corporate interests are able to lead the public around by its nose. The gullible are so only because they choose to believe only what agrees with their pre-conceived notions. When faced with conflicting factual information, you respond, "You lie!" Juvenile. Ignorant by choice. But, worst of all, determined that the rest of us must share your opinions.
I want to continue to participate in politics--but not Democratic politics. Let's park some votes with the Greens. I'm mad as Hell about our corrupt political system. We need to define ourselves as a voting block, leave the Democratic pary and refuse to return till they give us what we really want- electoral reform, fair trade, no wars, SinglePayer Health care.
The Greens can become the party we've been waiting for but not without support!
You know, people say to me, "When the Greens are actually a viable party I'll support them."
That's a catch 22 and it'll never happen unless we challenge them, i.e, make them lose! If Republicans win, maybe then we can have a real political movement in this country. The Rs have a very low approval rating. We'll get lots of help.
A friend of mine, A Democrat, used to say about Clinton. "His hands are tied. He can't do the things he really wants to do!" It's always something, eh?
(mangled quotation alert)
"It's not so much a surprise to hear a pig singing badly, but to hear one sing at all."
The sight of a D with the appetite for getting down in the dirt with the Rs is rare enough as to seem a mirage. The Charlie Brownlike optimist in me wants to believe that Grayson isn't just another prop in the dumb show we call politics, but my inner callused cynic wants more proof in the form of deeds.
And yes, he's playing a dangerous game if sincere. I'm sure he's aware of that.
Imagine if we had Grayson in charge of healthcare reform instead of that sellout Obama. I bet we would have a much different bill running thru the Senate and House.
Change we can believe in.....what a fraud!!!
'we need democrats with guts'-- Grayson says.
Is this a psy-ops ploy?
Surely Grayson knows his party is sold out beyond repair.
If he was serious, he'd leave his party; he'd be working to get all true congressional progs to leave with him; to create a new party, or join and reanimate the Greens.
Those are the only 'guts' that could make any difference now.
I think it's a little much to ask a fisrt term newbie to undertake the task you suggest. I think it much more productive for him to continue to assail the abject failure of the Republican party, much of which rubs off on rightwing Democrats. That was what the last and best Progressive senator Robert La Follette--a Republican--often did during his very long career. But the cautionary note in your post is warranted; we should watch what he says regarding Afghanistan and his stance on the Climate Crisis before we deem him "radical" enough for the Greens.
Grayson and Kucinich for Pres/Vice Pres. I don't care what party they adorn. Green is probably better, but with not enough clout yet. I have told my Democratic Senators [Murray and Cantwell] and my Democratic Rep [Rick Larson] that I will campaign against anyone who does not actively support single payer health care. That includes Obama.
MichaelC
Michael,
Grayson does not support single-payer healthcare. He supports a "public option" which is whatever Obama and Congress want it to be. Obama wants to mandate that all people buy health insurance which benefits insurance companies and taxes everyone for it. The same people who could not afford health insurance (not just the extreme impoverished) will be forced to buy insurance and be fined if they don't pay.
Dennis Kucinich co-signed John Conyers' HR676 single-payer medicare for all health care.
Single-payer or single term, Obama. Otherwise, Grayson 2012!
I like your thinking on that!
From openleft.com
"Sure, Alan Grayson has a spine. But does he have a brain?"
"Underneath the fearsome rhetoric on the Holocaust, Grayson -- just like the Dem leadership -- refuses to even consider draining the moral cesspool of health care for profit. In fact, he wants to keep the cesspool brim full by guaranteeing the insurance companies a market: forever. That's what the mandate does, and that's why the mandate is a bailout. Did Grayson really have his heart on-line when he advocated for that policy?"
In other words Grayson is against public insurance and that disqualifies him as a supposed carrier of lots of essential organs... BTW, here is the "fearsome rhetoric":
"Take a look at this. Read it and weep. And I mean that, read it and weep, because of all these Americans who are dying because they don't have health insurance. Now, I think we should do something about that and the democratic health care plan does do something about that. It makes health care affordable for those who can't afford insurance and it saves these peoples' lives"
Oh really? We have to do SOMETHING, for those who CAN'T AFFORD insurance? How brave? Sounds like the hopy-dopey of Obama The Fearless... and his grayson Sancho Panza.
Thank goodness, arktig. Someone else that sees through the grandstanding rhetoric.
Grayson is either trying to kiss Obama's you know what or they had it all planned to get the brainwashed public into backing Obama. Those bad, bad, Republicans!
Grayson supports mandating health INSURANCE for all, not single-payer health CARE for all.
Do people really think the Democrat party doesn't have their own Karl Rove?
I think his name is Rahm Emanuel.
Obama taught us a lesson, fancy rhetoric is cheap, what really matters is firm commitments to the right solutions. And that's very rare.
I don't care about Democrats with guts ---- because I don't care about Democrats (period).
Democrats (and Republicans) are irrelevant --- because their parties are dead.
Christopher Hitchens infamously said after the Clinton regime failure, "the Democratic Party is not so much dead as actually, visibly, palpably rotting on the slab."
This is now true for both of the ruling-elite corporate/financial Empire's irrelevant, dead, faux-parties, which have previously survived only as paid pawns and stooges to this EMPIRE.
With the un-ending, slaughter and crimes of imperialist wars 'abroad', and the economic oppression and legal tyranny 'at home', which is exactly what you would expect from the ruling-elite corporate/financial EMPIRE that now controls 'our' country by hiding behind the facade of its two-party, 'Vichy' sham of democracy --- or what Dylan Ratigan, the fabulously honest host of MSNBC's "Morning Meeting", simply, and accurately calls, "Corporate Communism" -- the two 'Vichy' parties that enabled this Empire are now dying with the Empire itself.
We are all temporarily entrapped in an EMPIRE which cheats, lies, bribes our supposed 'representatives' in government, controls 'corporate law' (whatever that un-Constitutional oxymoron means), and covertly oppresses our own citizens economically, while overtly jabbing the 'Tip of the Spear' in the face of any other humans in the world who get in their way.
What an EMPIRE.
But through the coming Second American Revolution against Empire we'll soon get back our country.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
SAHIL:
ARE YOU GUYS OVER IN THE UK NOT FAMILIAR WITH DENNIS KUCINICH?
"Though there are a few notable exceptions, none have quite the determination Grayson showed this week."
DENNIS KUCINICH CO-SPONSORED HR676 WITH JOHN CONYERS, SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE FOR ALL.
GRAYSON DOES NOT SUPPORT SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE. HE IS SIMPLY TRYING TO DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND OBAMA'S PLAN "PUBLIC OPTION" TO MANDATE HEALTH INSURANCE FORCING EVERYONE TO BUY INSURANCE AND FINING THEM IF THEY DO NOT PAY.
JUST BECAUSE HE SPOKE UP AGAINST REPUBLICANS AND HE'S A DEMOCRAT DOES NOT MAKE HIM FOR THE PEOPLE.
ARE YOU PEOPLE FALLING ALL OVER GRAYSON THE SAME ONES WHO VOTED FOR OBAMA? WAKE UP! CHECK YOUR FACTS!
I want that man to be PRESIDENT!
For anyone able to spare $20.10 go to Rep. Greyson's website and donate money here:https://graysonforcongress.com/
When one of the few, true Representatives we have does his job (brilliantly!) and STANDS UP FOR THE PEOPLE HE REPRESENTS, we should send that Representative a flood of money.
It is in our best interest to support the Congress men and women who go to work for THE PEOPLE everyday.
THANK YOU, Representative Grayson!
Republicans deserve to be called out on their OBSTRUCTIONISM.
PLEASE show the rest of our party how it's done!
GREYDOG:
YOU WANT US TO GIVE HIM MONEY FOR WHAT?
PUTTING ON A SHOW AND SUCCESSFULLY BRAINWASHING YOU INTO BACKING HIS AND OBAMA'S MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE SCAM?
DO YOU PEOPLE EVEN LISTEN FULLY OR READ COMPLETELY WHAT IS BEING SAID?
GRAYSON IS NOT WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.
OH, HE STOOD UP TO THE REPUBLICANS? GIVE THE MAN A MEDAL.
THE REPUBLICANS WANT NO HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM.
THE DEMOCRAT PARTY WANTS TO GIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES A GIFT AND STEAL FROM THE PEOPLE BY FORCING THEM TO BUY INSURANCE AND TAX EVERYBODY FOR IT.
THIS MEANS THE PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, WOULD BE FORCED TO BUY IT AND BE FINED IF THEY DO NOT PAY.
THIS IS THE "PUBLIC OPTION" OBAMA AND HIS COHORT GRAYSON SO BRILLIANTLY HAVE BRAINWASHED YOU INTO BELIEVING YOU WANT.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR FACTS.
Neophyte congressperson Grayson makes one, single, notable challenge to the oligarchy-duopoly -- on the issue of health care/insurance reform -- and then boom!, that subset of consumerist-trained, instant gratification progressives, who are just as dysfunctional as rank-and-file Republicans, want Democrat Grayson for Higher Office in 2012.
What's the matter with you dummies?
Hasn't your similar, desperation-driven gullibility toward the rhetoric of duopolist Obama, who so recently beguiled and then betrayed you, taught you anything at all?
Can your memories be that short, that short-circuit-able?
Only those politicians (would-be or sitting) who from the outset tell the provable truth about the structural corruption of the US system, are worth placing our elective hopes in.
Frankly, not even Kucinich, when running for re-election in his district every two years, does this; which is why he, too, remains an ineffective organizing locus for national progressive values.
Ralph Nader is the only high visibility, non-Marxist politico who dares to tell the truth about the US system's appalling vileness.
Nader never gets elected, true. But that is likely due to smaller, already elected, similarly-inclined politicians never speaking and acting as honestly as Ralph.
He has virtually no official help at cutting the mustard.
Well, Grayson did get my attention, terry a. And I'm interested to see where he goes with it.
But I'm not scrambling to donate, or find a Grayson bandwagon to jump on, for exactly the reasons you detail.
I've noticed many occasions in which those on the leftish side turn into lemmings when they behold anyone who Speaks Truth to Power, or seems to.
Apart from the great honking example of Obama, more fleeting examples come to mind: I've often written about the overwhelming enthusiasm shown at a progressive site I frequented at the time to US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald when he first announced the Scooter Libby investigation. The comments just LIT UP with attaboys; Fitzmas was coming! Libby was only the first step to seeing Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House!
It wasn't just the natural hope or relief appropriate to the possibility of justice being served; it was an infatuation with the person. And this lionization persisted despite subsequent indications that Fitz was not the methodical but inexorable Avenging Angel he was made out to be.
And Fitzgerald wasn't even a politician.
Another example is Ray Nagin, New Orleans mayor. Folks may remember a video during the brunt of the levee failure flooding/Katrina catastrophe; Nagin, highly emotional and obviously speaking extemporaneously, bluntly called out the Bush maladministration and demanded help with a mix of anger and despair that was poignant to behold. (I Googled for a link, but there's too much Nagin/Katrina stuff to plow through.)
Just as you note about Grayson, the comments erupted with a "Nagin for President" chorus even though no one had even heard of him until that occasion. I found the video moving also, but, as with the Fitzgerald cheerleading, I was astonished by the instantaneous "plebescite".
It's certainly a measure of the despair that bubbles just below the surface of such reckless optimism. Sigh.
· Yr Obd't Servant
Blue Dog and DLC Democrats have guts but they're using it for the wrong interests.
"Democrats with Guts" -- a new recipe for haggas.
Stuff them with oatmeal and onions. Boil alive.
-TIA
Well, we're just talking words here. The guy hasn't actually done anything. Besides, Grayson is one of 256 Democratic House members. You've maybe got a handful more (Kucinich comes to mind) that bother to push back. Still, if that's the kind of ratio we've got, why be hopeful?
This article just isn't facing up to what it admits: the Democrats typically vote WITH the Republicans, favoring corporations, plutocracy and repressive measures on the whole.
So, please - spare us the hero talk. Simply put, the majority of the Democratic Party's leadership in the House and Senate regularly sells out its voter base. And that's never more clear than in the case of healthcare funding.
Please stop voting for them.
-TIA
Obedient Servant pretty much nails the psychology of our electoral process just above.
Hope/Despair cycle. This is why a duopoly is more successful than a one-party system. Every two or four years you get to "choose" which one is gonna screw you after the last one you voted for screwed you.
***
The article's second sentence:
"On the floor of the House of Representatives, he [Grayson] summarised the Republican health care plan as: "Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly."
Do the Republicans actually have a health care "plan"? My understanding is that some months ago they touted a skeleton of one (I recall it came from Ohio's John Boehner) after severe criticism. Meanwhile, in point of fact the existing health care system, through Medicare and Medicaid, spends a huge portion of their budgets on "end-of-life" care keeping people on life support, an expenditure very lucrative to various portions of the health care "industry." Remember Schiavo?
Thus to the extent that Republicans want to retain the status quo, Grayson's "...if you do get sick, die quickly" allegation is worse than disingenuous.
What we really need is the spirit of old Chief Dan George in Little Big Man (Dustin Hoffman, 1970): "Today is a good day to die." What we need is a more mature comprehension of the human condition. We spend trillions to resuscitate Zombie Banks and billions to keep essentially dead people on life support. (This is the issue of the "death panels"...)
On this score, Rep. Grayson is a flash in the pan. Just as Americans are incapable of coming to terms with how we make war and kill other people, we are incapable of coming to terms with our own mortality, and we are paying big bucks (to somebody else) for it.
The health care debate has so far avoided the ethical issue of when is it time to pull the plug. (The question may be addressed somewhere in the thousands of pages of pending legislation but it sure has not come out in the Media.) This question alone addresses many billions of dollars whether or not there is a "public option."
Democrats with guts? Good luck with that!
-30-
Watch what Democrats do, not what they say. And that goes for Grayson as well. Words on the House floor mean nothing.
And he's just 1 among 300 Republican clones in his party anyway, he has no power. I wouldn't call him a Democrat with guts, there's no such thing. In fact he's hurting the cause, he's giving the impression there's a difference between the parties, when a two year-old can see that there isn't, there never was and there never will be.
I've never known lip service to equal guts. Let's see what Grayson does to back up his statements. Until then, he's another John Murtha for all I'm concerned.
http://www.mindwafers.com/3/post/2009/10/pilf-town-stay-healthy-for-your-countrys-sake.html
In Pilf We Trust