Republicans fully intend to mobilize against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the freshman Congressman who accused Republicans of wanting sick people to "die quickly," then apologized to the dead of the "holocaust" that is the health care crisis, and called the GOP "foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging neanderthals."
However, the GOP doesn't actually have a candidate yet -- but they're getting ready for it. The NRCC has set up a fund to contribute to the yet-to-be-determined GOP nominee, and have set up a new anti-Grayson site, AlanDisgrayson, to rile up their base.
Grayson was just elected in 2008, defeating incumbent GOP Rep. Ric Keller in a district that had previously been voting Republican. The district voted twice for George W. Bush, by 53%-45% in 2000 and 55%-44% in 2004, but then swung in 2008, voting for Barack Obama by 52%-47%. Grayson, who self-financed with over $2.6 million, won by an almost-identical 52%-48%.
The Republicans think they can win this district back. "We've always viewed Grayson as one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country, probably top five," a national Republican source told us. "Nationally that is starting to become, now everyone realizes why."
The source told us that ever since Grayson won in 2008, two names have topped the GOP's list of potential challengers. The first is former state Sen. Dan Webster, who briefly ran for Senate in 2004 before dropping out of the Republican primary, and was considered by Gov. Charlie Crist for the recent appointment. "He's kind of a conservative icon down there," the source said, "but also respected by the other side of the aisle, seen as a very clean elder statesman."
The other top prospect is Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, who has high name recognition and the ability to raise a lot of money. However, Crotty has been hammered in the local media due to toll increases on a local bridge, and potential ethics questions.
Beyond those two, other potential contenders include state rep. Steve Precourt, state Sen. Andy Gardiner, and unidentified people in the private sector who might be able to match Grayson for self-financing.
So did the GOP miss an opportunity by not having a candidate yet? Remember that Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-SC) "You lie!" outburst triggered a spontaneous netroots push for donations to Wilson's Democratic opponent Rob Miller. But in this case, there was no opponent for people to give their money to.
"Whenever we do have a candidate -- and right now when we don't, with this fund -- I think it will be a boon to them even if they get in two weeks from now or a month from now," the source said. "I think donors down there, donors in D.C., small-dollar donors across the country -- this is not something that will be forgotten soon. And when a strong, credible candidate emerges, I believe they will be able to take advantage of this incident. Not to the extent that Rob Miller or Joe Wilson did, but to an extent that will be helpful."

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mike from Arlington
October 1, 2009 2:06 PM
Show your support. Tell Pelosi to back Rep. Grayson.
http://www.speaker.gov/contact
Everytime the pubs bring him up, bring up the half dozen Republicans that have suggested Democrats want to pull the plug on grandma, set up death panels and ration care to the elderly, etc.
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lousgirl84
October 1, 2009 2:52 PM in reply to mike from Arlington
Pelosi has already taken sides with Grayson
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/pelosi-grayson-shouldnt-a_n_306338.html
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jenesq
October 1, 2009 2:18 PM
How much garbage did we have to listen to about death panels, killing grandma and Trig Palin, socialism, birtherism, Obama/Hitler, etc. ad nauseam? Pardon me if I don't give a rat's patoot about hurting the GOP's pwecious widdle feelings. They HAVE been acting like a bunch of knuckle-draggers lately.
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Walter Mitty
October 1, 2009 2:18 PM
Grayson will be defeated. Bomb throwers need to come from safer seats.
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rbeats
October 1, 2009 2:28 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
You are exactly the type of person who is destroying the Democratic party, and this country.
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rumpole
October 1, 2009 2:35 PM in reply to rbeats
I sincerely hope that was snark.
I'm not so sure. My own view is that the more a politician was willing to demagogue insurance companies and the republican defense of htem, the better that candidate will do.
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Walter Mitty
October 1, 2009 5:10 PM in reply to rumpole
Not when Grayson comes from a R+2 district and self-funded his first campaign.
Folks are tired of the grandstanding, the screaming, the demonizing.
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Walter Mitty
October 1, 2009 5:12 PM in reply to rbeats
Yeah, that's it. I'm not a moonbat progressive who wanted their own Bush to force their far left ideals on the rest of the country.
I'm glad we have adults in the White House. Grayson and his cheerleaders are just adding to the poisonous political atmosphere.
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lousgirl84
October 1, 2009 2:48 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
I hope the bomb hits you
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Schmed
October 1, 2009 3:04 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Your pessimism is no longer amusing. Perhaps your gloomy outlook would brighten if you retracted your head from your....dark place.
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Unnamed Former Party Official
October 1, 2009 2:34 PM
http://www.actblue.com/page/graysonapology
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
October 1, 2009 2:36 PM
Whether he knows it or know, this guy's running an experiment on whether being a colorless low-profile barelydem is really the "safe" thing to do in a close district in a snakepit like Florida.
It's worth finding out, one way or another.
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lousgirl84
October 1, 2009 2:47 PM
I am happy to say I am one of those contributors. I called his office yesterday to thank him and show support and they were delighted to be receiving our phone calls. His number is 202-225-2176
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Jerry G
October 1, 2009 3:15 PM
I'm a registered Republican who voted for Grayson. I guarantee I'll vote for him no matter which Republican stooge runs against him. I, and lots of my neighbors, are fed up with our Republicans , like Christ and Bush who promise us the moon then stab us in the back every time a vested interest drops $$ in their kettle. All of us in Florida are paying double for our land-line phones since Bush sold us out to the phone companies just before his last term was up. Some of us have good memories. Grayson hit the nail on the head; as Dole just confessed, the Republicans simply oppose health care when they have no positive ideas to contribute.
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ejg3
October 1, 2009 4:08 PM
IS knuckle dragging a pre existing condition for being a Republican?
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afisher
October 1, 2009 4:11 PM
Well, thus far, the National GOP has failed in Florida, they are backing their own hack instead of a very popular govenor...because he took money from ARRA, without all the bitching and moaning like Jindal, Pawlenty and Perry.
And now, they are going to find another hack to run against Grayson...not all Floridians are seniors and when Health Care Reform is passed and Medicare doesn't end, they will realize they were being played by the GOP, who do you think they are going to vote for....old does not equal dumb!
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politics101
October 1, 2009 6:50 PM
There are a few people that will take on Grayson. 1) Dan Webster 2) Lou Holtz 3) Armando Gutierrez 4) Toni Jennings and guess what all of them will be able to beat him.
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uneasyone
October 2, 2009 3:00 AM
Just figured it out folks. IT WAS A TRAP!
It was a huge joke on Republicans intended to make them laughingstocks. Damn near worked, too. Unfortunately, it was triggered prematurely by leftie bloggers innocently intending to defend Grayson by pointing out that Republican officeholders have hurled virtually identical inflammatory accusations at Democrats in recent months!
He is a Harvard Phi Beta Kappa who has hired Matt Stoller - a really net-savvy blogger. They cooked up a beautiful plan.
"die quickly" = (from a Republican) Dems telling old people to "drop dead"
"holocaust?" favorite meme of the anti-abortion crowd. Grayson even remarked regarding Rs indifference to "living, breathing, people."
What finally nailed it down for me was the CNN clip where he called Republicans "nattering nabobs of negativism." That was Spiro Agnew's most famous line ever!
Folks, he was praying that the Rs would try to censure him! He was prepared to show that he has been quoting Republicans throughout.
Unfortunately, well-meaning lefties like us triggered the alarm over at fascist central, the Rs withdrew their resolution, and they are going to try to let it quietly go away. Had that resolution been debated, it would have been a national joke.
I am going to repost this now at the bottom of every Grayson thread I can find. Don't feel obliged to rec every one, lol.
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