Posted on 10/25/2013 2:09:19 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
(ORLANDO, Fla.) -- Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., is defying criticism from Republicans and fellow Democrats for comparing the Tea Party to the KKK, saying he is “calling them out on their hate” and that it “needs to be done.”
Grayson ramped up his attack on the Tea Party after he was rebuked by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel as well as from the GOP.
But Grayson was unapologetic.
“I’m calling them out for their hate,” Grayson said. “That’s not wrong. That needs to be done. It’s the only way to end it.”
He also went a step further Wednesday, attacking the Tea Party for being engaged in hate speech, prejudice, discrimination, racism and even warned that they could resort to violence.
In an interview with Orlando ABC News affiliate WFTV, Grayson said, “I think the Tea Party should expel those members who engage in hate speech…. So many members of the Tea Party have engaged in hate speech against the president, against the first lady, against numerous members of the Congress and against me. And we could give you examples of that.”
The WFTV reporter then pointed out to Grayson that the imagery in the email could be offensive, but the congressman said, “No, that’s the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts.”
Grayson cited former President Harry Truman: “Do you remember what President Truman said? I don’t give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.”
Taylor Budowich, executive director of the Tea Party Express, accused Grayson of engaging in “hate speech.”
“Congressman Alan Grayson has lost it,” Budowich told ABC News. “For years now, he has been widely recognized as a nut, but this most recent hate speech is frightening, to say the least.”
He said that Grayson’s controversial comments contrast with President Obama’s calls for “civility and bipartanship.”
“There needs to be an adult in the room that stands up for civility and tells these guys to knock it off. I would hope that would be President Obama. Unfortunately, he has been MIA, while his party’s disgusting rhetoric spins out-of-control,” Budowich said.
The email, sent out by Grayson’s reelection campaign on Monday included a graphic image of two Klansmen standing near a giant burning cross. The cross is used to help spell out "tea party" in burning flames. Clicking on the image takes viewers directly to an ActBlue webpage, where they can donate directly to Alan Grayson for Congress, the congressman’s 2014 re-election campaign.
“No, it doesn’t go too far because the essence of both unfortunately is an undue openness to racism, to bigotry, to prejudice,” Grayson said in regards to the email. “In fact generations ago, the KKK was the home of that sentiment and all too often today we see the Tea Party being the home of that sentiment.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee condemned Grayson for his remarks and called on the DCCC to do the same.
“There’s no excuse for the hateful words and imagery used by Congressman Grayson,” NRCC spokesman Matt Gorman said in a statement. “House Democrats should swiftly and strongly condemn him and return the money he has raised for them. This hate-filled rhetoric has Americans fed up with Washington.”
Israel told ABC News he disagrees with Grayson’s recent comments about the Tea Party.
WFTV also asked the often controversial congressman if the comparison between the Tea Party and KKK was unfair since the KKK would often use violence and intimidation to project their message, and that the Tea Party has not acted violently. But, according to Grayson, the right wing political group is not far from using violent measures.
“Not yet,” he said. “You may recall that there were people that brought automatic weapons to president’s speeches. What were they trying to convey? They were members of the Tea Party.”
“I stand by the unfortunate truth that the Tea Party has been all too willing to open itself and be a home to bigots, and prejudice now, for years. That’s the unfortunate truth we all have to live with. I stand by that,” he added.
Allen West gets the boot, but this POS gets another term. Florida voters: GFY.
he is simply a communist instigator, trying to upset the right. What an possessed idiot.
where do you go after insanity? Harry Reid’s slot?
Is there any chance that this ignorant asshole can be unelected in 2014?
“Rep. Grayson Ratchets Up Tea Party-KKK Flap Saying ‘the Truth Hurts’”
Now that there coming from a demonrat rat is funny, I don’t care who you are.
Greyskull is wildly popular with the left because he gives voice to the insanity that most lefties want to utter but are afraid to.
He’s mean, crass, and craven - everything a dhimmicrat would ever want!
Alan Grayson would have plotted to kill Frederick Douglass to shut him up.
Note: Allen West and O’Reilly predicted Grayson will lose in 2014.
Let’s hope that’s the last we see of this mentally unstable turd.
The thing is, Grayson shows more hatred through his outrageous behavior and comments than anyone in recent memory. His political success has been based on hating conservatives. How can he spew his crap and then think he has the right to “call them out” . It really is laughable and I HATE HIM.
Alan Grayson would have plotted to kill Frederick Douglass to shut him up.
I think he is not quite happy with his position in life and is actively campaigning for Grand Imperial Wizard.
BTW I’m tweeting this stuff directly to Alan Grayson in hopes of stirring his psychotic ass up.
That guy is mentally ill.
Yep. He is going off the rails again. He got real nutty a few years ago and lost his seat in the House. This is an encore performance.
Who knew Vladimir Zhirinovsky
emigrated and became a Florida democrat?
His face looks like someone already did that!
Ah that’s wonderful, as if I don’t have enough liberal whackoffs pissed at me already. Who knows maybe he will finally be able to accept that the KKK are HIS people and acceptance is the first step on the path to knowing yourself.
How in the hell did this crazy bastard (who was thrown out of office in 2010) get that seat back? I know, redistricting, but jeez, can people really be that f***ing stupid?
His new district is packed full of Hispanics. Grayson is just a little preview of what will happen all over if amnesty passes.
There was a head on collision between he and Henry Waxman in the rush to kiss Obama’s ass.
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