2012

Alan Grayson Running In 2012 To Stop Democratic 'Appeasement'

Benjy Sarlin | July 12, 2011, 11:32AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Alan Grayson, the liberal firebrand best known for his combative style and otherworldly ability to raise cash, is plotting a return to Congress after being ousted in 2010.

And in case you were worried his defeat at the hands of Rep. Dan Webster (R-FL) has mellowed him out, fret not. In an interview with TPM, Grayson, stood by his famous claim that the Republican health care plan is to "die quickly," among other similar policy prescriptions.

"It's exactly like I said, the Republican health care plan: don't get sick," he said. "The Republican unemployment plan: go find a job. The Republican homelessness plan: move in with your relatives. They have no answers to anything."

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2010 elections

The Goodbyes Of 2010: Politicians Who Are Going Home

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2010, 1:52PM

Russ Feingold

As the year 2010 comes to a close and the year 2011 begins, it's time to look back on some of the politicians who are leaving office because of defeat, retirement, or the strange spaces that seem to fall in between.

These are folks who had a presence on the political scene, either long or short, but who have made their marks in different ways on the political consciousness in their arrivals, their service and their ultimate departures.

As is the fashion with these sorts of lists we do around here, the folks we've chosen to highlight include the folks that we and you, our readers, think of as being great -- and others who are so bad that they're good. Of course, there are plenty of departing pols who aren't here. This is just a sampling.

So goodbye to 2010, and goodbye to these politicians. But who knows, perhaps we'll be seeing some of them again, soon.

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2010 elections

Broad And Deep: A Quick Look The GOP's Big Victory In The House

Brian Beutler | November 3, 2010, 8:58AM

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) with members of the GOP leadership

The midwest was the key to the GOP's 60-plus seat victory in the House of Representatives. Where Democrats were able to stave off losses in the west and northeast and even parts of the south, they were creamed by upwards of two dozen seats in states like Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, where the recession has taken a brutal toll.

Dems had a significant majority going in to yesterday's election, so the greatest losses were suffered by junior members. Most of them were fully expected. But when you lose this many seats, invariably some surprises get swept along with the tide.

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2010 elections

At Election HQ, GOP Cheers Perriello & Grayson Defeats

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2010, 9:11PM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

NRCC Election HQ -- The Republicans gathered at this downtown Washington hotel are starting to feel good about tonight. And nothing so far made them feel better than taking out Reps. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Tom Perriello (D-VA).

The pair were top targets for the Republicans, just as they were national mascots of sorts for progressives across the country. And when Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) announced to the still relatively thin crowd here tonight that the pair had been defeated, a mighty cheer rang out.

Periello's Fifth District seat got a visit from President Obama on Friday, a fact that was not lost on the crowds here. "Sorry," Walden joked, to laughter from the crowd.

RNC Chair Michael Steele also took the stage -- he and Walden are the first of many speakers expected to culminate with House Minority Leader John Boehner -- and did his best to pump up the already excited crowd even further. Steele said things look very good for the GOP on the House side, and he said they had their grassroots to thank.

"To our grassroots who got up early and knocked on doors late, we thank you," Steele said. "Thank you for helping us to pull this elephant, if you will, across the finish line. To turn the elephant to face the future."

2010 elections

Alan Grayson's Political Career Dies Quickly

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2010, 8:48PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the freshman Democrat who defeated a Republican incumbent in 2008, and then became a star of the blogosphere and cable TV for his full-throated attacks against Republicans, has now gone down in crushing defeat, so soon after he burst onto the national scene.

With 160 of 239 precincts reporting, Republican former state Sen. Dan Webster leads Grayson 57.4%-39.2%, and has been projected as the winner by CNN and the Orlando Sentinel.

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Democrats

Dead Dems Walking: TPM's List Of Candidates Who've Been Written Off By Their Party

Brian Beutler | November 2, 2010, 7:24AM

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer with other House Democrats

Returns for 435 House elections will start rolling in a few hours from now. Well before they do, though, most Dems had long conceded that more than a handful of races are already lost. With these seats for all intents and purposes off the table before the polls opened, the number of truly contested seats the GOP needs to win control of the House is effectively much smaller than the magic 39.

Assuming the House does change hands, then, the big open question is how big the swing will be. There are scores of seats in play, but the battle lines have already moved past over a dozen House members who, in most cases, have already been written off by their own party.

If you're keeping score tonight, don't hold your breath for any of these Democrats.

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FL-08

Susquehanna (R) Poll: Alan Grayson Trails By Seven Points

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2010, 3:55PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

A new Susquehanna (R) poll, commissioned by the conservative Florida news site Sunshine State News, has first-term Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson trailing his Republican opponent, former state Sen. Dan Webster.

The numbers: Webster 48%, Grayson 41%, Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire 4%, and independent George Metcalfe 1%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.46% margin of error. In the previous poll from a month ago, Webster had 43%, Grayson 36%, Dunmire 6%, and Metcalfe 3%.

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Jack Conway

Six Brutal Ads That Put Conway's Aqua-Buddha Segment To Shame

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2010, 8:51AM

Kentucky Senate candidates Jack Conway and Rand Paul talk with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The campaign season was rocked this weekend when Senate hopeful Jack Conway (D) unveiled an ad raising questions about the sincerity of his opponent Rand Paul's faith in the deeply Christian state of Kentucky.

The ad quickly became the most contentious of the cycle. On Sunday, the two met for their second-to-last scheduled debate, which ended with Paul refusing to shake Conway's hand and threatening to skip their final encounter.

As is common when Democrats punch below the belt, the episode inspired an earnest round of handwringing among party members and progressive commentators, some of whom went to go so far as to call Conway's segment "illiberal" and "despicable."

Looking back on the past several weeks, though, there have been a number of ads (both Democratic and Republican) that are -- pick your adjective -- harsher, sleazier, bolder and more damning. Here are our top six.

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FL-08

NRCC's Anti-Grayson Ad Stars Creepy Clown (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 18, 2010, 3:18PM

NRCC ad attacking Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

The National Republican Congressional Committee has a new attack ad against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal who is being challenged by top-tier GOP recruit Dan Webster. And while this ad seeks to obviously turn voters against Grayson, it might especially alarm a particular sub-group of the electorate: People with clown-phobias.

The ad goes after Grayson's rabble-rousing image by having a person dressed up in clown makeup and a business suit, possibly meant to be a stand-in for Grayson. (From a distance, you can't tell if the clown actor is a man or a woman -- but the whole scene sure is creepy.) The ad also goes after the recent news over Grayson's "Taliban Dan" ad, which led to attacks that Grayson was selectively quoting Webster out of context.

"You've seen the headlines. Freshman Congressman Alan Grayson is a national embarrassment," the announcer says, as the clown comes into view. "But it's not just Grayson's behavior that's out of line -- it's his votes. Grayson backed a government takeover of health care. Grayson wanted a more radical takeover than the plan Congress passed. Grayson pushed a national energy tax that would cripple Florida's economy. We can't let Alan Grayson embarrass Florida anymore."

An interesting part of the ad, of course, is that the news quote about Grayson's anti-Webster spot being "one of the worst ads I've ever seen, one of the most dishonest," was cited to Sean Hannity -- who as we all know, is a paragon of honesty and virtue when it comes to using quotes from those he opposes.

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Alan Grayson

New Grayson Ad Hits Opponent On Women's Issues, Eschews Taliban Comparison (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 6, 2010, 4:49PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Here's that new ad Alan Grayson was talking about on CNN last night.

As promised, the spot steers clear of comparing his Republican opponent Daniel Webster to the Taliban, but it does focus on the same issues his previous "Taliban Dan" segment addressed.

The ad notes the following Webster positions:

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Acknowledges 'Taliban Dan' Moniker May Have Gone Too Far (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 6, 2010, 12:24PM

On CNN last night, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) acknowledged that his use of the nickname "Taliban Dan" to describe his Republican opponent Daniel Webster may have gone too far. But he defended the thrust of the ad, which depicts Webster as a Christian extremist.

"I know you disagree with your opponent, and -- and certainly you disagree with his views," said host Anderson Cooper. "But calling him Taliban Dan, I mean, it's equivalent to somebody -- calling somebody a Nazi or, you know, a Maoist. I mean, why go down that road?"

"Well, in a way, you're right," Grayson admitted. "We let that ad run and die a natural death. Now we're running an entirely different ad on the same point, because people need to know Dan Webster's record."

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2010 elections

Chamber Of Commerce Unloads New Ads Against Dems (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2010, 11:27AM

Ad from Vote For Business, "FL 8 Grayson"

The Chamber of Commerce has a whole bunch of new ads in key Congressional races, targeting big-name Dems.

One ad goes after freshman Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), who is known for his vitriolic attacks against Republicans. "Tired of big-mouth politicians ignoring our big problems? Alan Grayson is the most extreme," the announcer says, followed by past video of Grayson famously declaring on the House floor that the Republican health care plan was for sick people to "die quickly," and also the occasion when he crashed a local Republican meeting.

"But when it comes to Nancy Pelosi, big barker Grayson turns into a lapdog."

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Institute for Basic Life Principles

Inside The Institute For Basic Life Principles -- The Organization That Inspired 'Taliban Dan' Ad

Brian Beutler | October 4, 2010, 8:40AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

"Wives, submit yourself to your own husband."

Those words, spoken by Tea Party backed Republican Daniel Webster, were spliced into a September campaign ad called "Taliban Dan," produced by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), who is in danger of losing his conservative-leaning Congressional seat.

The problem for Grayson was that those words were taken out of context. Speaking before a gathering of a fundamentalist group called the Institute for Basic Life Principles, Webster said "[First] write a journal, second, find a verse. I have a verse for my wife. I have verses for my wife. Don't pick the ones that say she should submit to me. That's in the Bible. But pick the ones that you're supposed to do. So instead "love your wife, even as Christ loved the church he gave himself for" as opposed to 'wives, submit yourself to your own husband.' She can pray that if she wants to."

Webster's been with IBLP in its various forms for decades. After he released the full footage of his remarks, many critics indicted Grayson for dissembling. It appeared, after all, as if Webster had repudiated female submissiveness to husbands. So Grayson took his lumps. And the underlying claims in the ad -- including that Webster opposes all abortion, even in cases of rape -- went largely unaddressed.

However, the distorted remarks notwithstanding, a former member of IBLP told TPMDC last week that Grayson has every right to compare the organization's mores -- and Daniel Webster's as well -- to those of the Taliban.

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FL-08

Alan Grayson To TPM: That Poll Is Bogus, I'm Totally Winning

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 1, 2010, 10:41AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Progressive firebrand Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) told me last night that rumors of his political demise have been greatly exaggerated.

"We're winning," Grayson told me during a long phone call.

For the past week, bad news has been mounting for Grayson, first in the form of a lawsuit that re-raised rumors that he's behind a mysterious "Tea Party" in Florida -- which real movement tea partiers say is a hoax designed to split the GOP vote. Second -- and potentially worse for the first-term Grayson -- was the release of a public poll earlier this week that showed Grayson trailing Republican nominee Daniel Webster by seven points.

Grayson categorically dismissed the poll, which was published in the right-leaning Sunshine State News and was conducted by a firm owned by Republican pollster Susquehanna.

"This is a consistently biased pollster that comes up with polling that is not believable," he said. Grayson pointed to the internal poll he released last month showing him ahead of Republican nominee Webster by 13 points.

"I don't know how anybody could possibly believe we've dropped 20 points," he said.

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FL-08

Susquehanna Poll: Alan Grayson Trails By 7 Points

Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2010, 9:52AM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

A new Susquehanna (R)/Sunshine State News poll of Florida's 8th District shows fiery liberal Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson trailing his Republican opponent, former state Sen. Dan Webster.

The numbers: Webster 43%, Grayson 36%, plus 6% for Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire and independent George Metcalfe. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.14% margin of error. There is no previous poll of this race by this firm for direct comparison

The pollster's analysis finds that Grayson's unfavorable rating is at 51%: "He's even more unpopular than the president, which is not surprising given how controversial he has been with his rhetoric, overall style and TV ads."

Grayson's district has historically voted Republican, but swept him into office with the 2008 Obama wave. Since then, he has distinguished himself mainly by his over-the-top attacks on Republicans. In some ways, it seems like he's made a point of attacking Republicans with the same vitriolic rhetoric they use against Democrats. For example, he famously said the Republican health care plan is for people who get sick to "die quickly," imagined Dick Cheney as a vampire, and recently released an ad dubbing Webster "Taliban Dan," declaring that Webster is out to oppress women -- and in the latter case, appearing to take Webster's full comments out of context from the original video.

FL-08

Webster: Wives Should Submit Themselves To Their Husbands -- If They Want To (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 28, 2010, 11:03AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

This weekend Alan Grayson went live with a striking ad, bringing to light his opponent Daniel Webster's extreme religious views. The ad, called "Taliban Dan," highlights Webster's positions on divorce (against) and abortion (not even in cases of rape), but it also spliced in footage of Webster telling an audience "wives submit yourselves to your own husband," and "submit to me."

The Webster campaign points out that the remarks are taken out of context. Webster actually said husbands and wives should dedicate Bible verses to one another. Men should use them to reinforce their commitment to their wives. Women should use them to submit themselves to their husbands... if they want to.

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2010 elections

AFL-CIO Drops Millions Of Mailers In Key Races

Eric Kleefeld | September 27, 2010, 4:50PM

Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO

The AFL-CIO is continuing to throw its weight into the midterm elections, Politico reports, with a whole new load of mailers in different key races.

All in all, the AFL-CIO is dropping 3.5 million mailers into 66 races this week. Among the key picks:

• A mailer in the Connecticut Senate race, featuring a pro-wrestler in a mask, with the text proclaiming: "Don't let Linda McMahon put the smack down on Connecticut workers.

• A mailer in the West Virginia Senate race, hammering Republican businessman John Raese and promoting Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin: "After the deadliest mining disaster in 40 years, one Senate candidate wants to 'unshackle' management from safety regulations, and one is fighting to make them stronger."

• A mailer in Florida's 8th District, home to the fiery liberal Dem Congressman Alan Grayson, attacking Republican candidate Dan Webster for wanting to renew the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy: "Wall street wrecked our economy, and America's middle class paid the price. Now, Daniel Webster wants to repeat the past."

Alan Grayson

Grayson Ad Hits "Taliban Dan Webster" For Demanding Submissiveness From Women (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 27, 2010, 9:40AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

A tough new ad by Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has his Republican opponent Daniel Webster on the defense just weeks before the election. The segment focuses on Webster's extremely conservative religious views, and concludes by calling him "Taliban Dan Webster."

"Religious fanatics try to take away our freedom: In Afghanistan, In Iran, and right here in Central Florida," the narrator begins.

Though reporters and partisans argue about dubbing a Congressional candidate a member of the Taliban, perhaps the most damning portion of the ad comes from multiple pieces of footage Grayson has unearthed of Webster referencing and endorsing parts of the bible that instruct women to be submissive to their husbands.

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2010 elections

Tea Party Fakers? Dems Blamed For Co-Opting 'Tea Party' Label To Split Conservative Vote

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 27, 2010, 8:22AM

At a tea party rally.

In many ways, 2010 will be the Year of the Tea Party. The angry conservative movement has bumped off a number of moderate and establishment Republicans in the primary season, packed huge rallies across the country and provided most of the best drama of the political year. But the success and prominence of the tea party movement has led to another trend: across the country, Democrats have been accused of helping get phony "Tea Party" candidates on the ballot in competitive races, in an attempt to split the vote between the Republican and fake "Tea Party" nominee so the Dem can cruise to victory.

It all made a lot of sense at the start. Back at the beginning of 2010, the tea party movement was showing real signs of splitting off into a separate political party. This was before the tea partiers set their sights on remaking the GOP with Senate nominees like Sharron Angle, Ken Buck and Christine O'Donnell, and, in turn, the GOP embraced the movement with both arms. A few clever Democratic activists, it appears, set about to take advantage of the schism between the GOP and tea party.

Evidence of the alleged plan has popped up in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania this year. Time will tell how successful it's been, but so far it's had very little effect.

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Bush Tax Cuts

House Progressives Press Pelosi Not To Pass Extension Of Bush High-Income Tax Cuts

Brian Beutler | September 22, 2010, 9:08AM

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)

Thirty-two House progressives have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her not to allow a vote on extending President Bush's high-income tax cuts.

"[W]e respectfully urge you to bring to the floor, before Congress adjourns in October, a vote on President Obama's recently proposed tax plan: permanent tax cuts for the middle-class while allowing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans to expire, using any additional revenue to close our budget deficit," the letter reads.

The effort was organized by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, along with Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy and Alan Grayson.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Opponent Supports Indefinite Occupation In Afghanistan (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | September 17, 2010, 4:45PM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Florida Republican congressional hopeful Daniel Webster has a 2003-era view of American wars. A source sends over video footage of a Webster campaign event where he advocates that U.S. troops stay in Afghanistan indefinitely at the military's discretion, and use it to create a series of democracies in the Muslim world.

"Our national interest is this: We need a beachhead in the Middle East, that is a democratic beachhead, not a party but a form of government," Webster told voters. "And to me, if we have a democracy in several countries there, it become a beachhead. It also protects us because once that beachhead is established it can move further and further and hopefully free up the people of the middle east."

Webster was asked specifically how long he believed U.S. forces should remain in Afghanistan. He says that's none of voters' business. "However long we stay is a military decision that should not be shared with the public," Webster insisted, to a round of applause.

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Marco Rubio

Rubio Appears With Far Right Evangelical, Revisionist Historian

Brian Beutler | September 17, 2010, 11:16AM

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Republican Senate hopeful Marco Rubio is getting a little help on the campaign trail from a questionable customer.

At an event Wednesday near Orlando, Rubio was introduced to a crowd of 200 by evangelical David Barton, whose claims to fame include orchestrating the push to change Texas textbook standards to paint the far right in a positive light and helping to develop the radical Texas constitution.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson's Opponent Boasts Support From Far Right Texas Conservative

Brian Beutler | August 31, 2010, 9:00AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Alan Grayson's GOP opponent Daniel Webster has a thorn in his side. Listed in his official voter guide as a top supporter is a right wing activist named David Barton, who has already come under scrutiny for addressing two white supremacist organizations.

Barton claimed in both circumstances that he was unaware of the group's white supremacist ties. But that doesn't mean he's not possessed of extreme views of his own. From 1998 to 2006, he served as vice-chair of the Texas Republican party, which is notorious for having one of the most zealously conservative platforms in the country.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Knocks 'Taliban Dan' Webster For Supporting 'Covenant Marriage'

Brian Beutler | August 23, 2010, 10:23AM

Republican congressional candidate Daniel Webster

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) isn't taking any chances with his re-election, attacking all of his potential opponents as they fight each other in the GOP primary. But he's saving his harshest line for his likely rival, Daniel Webster -- or, as Grayson calls him, "Taliban Dan." Why? Because in 1990, Webster sponsored and supported legislation in Florida that would have made it much more difficult for people to divorce -- a policy called "covenant marriage."

In a letter to supporters, Grayson described it like this: "Dan Webster's bill reduces the institution of marriage to a roach motel: You can check in, but you can't check out."

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Florida Tea Party

Down The Rabbit Hole: Is The 'Florida Tea Party' Tied To Democrat Alan Grayson?

Christina Bellantoni | June 25, 2010, 11:55AM

Florida Tea Party official Doug Guetzloe, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and tea cups.

The pieces of the Florida Tea Party puzzle are all a bit strange, and none fit together quite right. Republicans and activists say voters are being duped by former Democrats, an anti-tax radio host and college students who took an odd alliance and made it into an official third party -- the Florida Tea Party -- to put "TEA" on the ballot for the first time this fall. State Democrats were amused by the whole thing until several links between the Florida Tea Party group and Rep. Alan Grayson surfaced, complicating everything.

TPM has tracked down all the players, from a 23-year-old who caught tea fever to a talk radio station owner who canned two Tea Party members, and one thing is clear. When it comes to tea in Florida, everyone seems to be pointing a finger at everyone else.

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FL-08

How The Florida Tea Party Might Help Alan Grayson In November

Jillian Rayfield | June 18, 2010, 5:32PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

As election day approaches, Republicans have lost some of their bravado when it comes to possibly taking control of the Senate from Democrats.

But down in Florida's 8th district, Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire is crushing the dreams of some Republican hopefuls who want to take over Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson's House seat as well.

Read more »

FL-08

GOP Candidate Advocates Racial Profiling At Airports In TV Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | May 5, 2010, 11:18AM

Florida congressional candidate Dan Fanelli (R)

One of the Republican candidates seeking to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), Navy veteran and former airline pilot Dan Fanelli, has a new ad openly advocating the use of racial profiling at airports.

"Does this look like a terrorist?" Fanelli says, pointing to an elderly white man. "Or this?" he asks, turning to a burly tan-skinned man with facial hair.

Read more »

FL-SEN

Big-Name GOPer Running Against Grayson -- Six Months After He Previously Opted Out Of Race

Eric Kleefeld | April 23, 2010, 12:18PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Republicans have landed a top-tier candidate candidate to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal best known for his over-the-top comedic insults against the Republicans. But before this new candidate, former state Sen. Dan Webster, can take on Grayson, he'll first have to make it through a crowded Republican primary -- which is itself full of candidates who got in when they thought Webster wasn't running.

Webster announced in October 2009 that he would not run, declaring at the time: "When in doubt, don't." Six months later, he enters the race saying that his family had previously not been united on the idea of running, but now are behind him.

Webster has the endorsements of former Gov. Jeb Bush and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He must still run in a Republican primary against businessman Bruce O'Donoghue, state Rep. Kurt Kelly and others who might not have run if Webster had gotten in six months ago.

2010 elections

First-Quarter Fundraising Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 16, 2010, 6:25PM

Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA)

Here are some highlights from the first-quarter political fundraising:

• In the Republican primary to face Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA), the incumbent Perriello raised about three times more than the entire GOP field combined.

• Businessman Bruce O'Donoghue, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), announced that he raised $305,000, plus $50,000 of his own money, and has $308,000 on hand. Grayson, who is well known for his attacks against the Republicans, previously announced that he raised $803,000, and has $1.5 million on hand.

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Alan Grayson

Grayson Raises Over $800K In First Quarter

Eric Kleefeld | April 12, 2010, 7:09PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal best known for his insults and punchlines against the Republicans, has sure been able to parlay his notoriety into financial support.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Grayson's campaign expects to report raising an astonishing $803,000 in the first quarter of 2010, and that he has $1.5 million on hand. (Over half appears to have come from a March 27 money-bomb online fundraiser, which took in $470,000.) Grayson's campaign said that the donations came from approximately 25,000 individual donors, with an average contribution of $32.

Beyond his grassroots fundraising, it should also be noted that Grayson himself is a multi-millionaire, and self-financed his 2008 campaign with about $2.6 million of his own money. But he could very well end up needing all of those small donors plus some of his own cash, hailing from a swing district that voted narrowly for Barack Obama in 2008, after a previous history of supporting Republicans.

Alan Grayson

Grayson Crashes Local GOP Meeting, Blasts Them For Infiltrating Pro-Obama Group (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 9, 2010, 6:09PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) paid a visit to an audience that wouldn't be a natural venue for a fiery liberal such as himself: A meeting of the local Orange County Republican Executive Committee.

Grayson told the Orlando Sentinel that he was attending a local home-owners association meeting in the same restaurant, and then went over to the Republicans to express his displeasure about a flier promoting a recent infiltration by Republicans of a local pro-Obama group.

"That's political dirty tricks," Grayson said. "I went over to find out what their side of the story was, and whether they approved of that."

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2010 elections

First-Quarter Fundraising Roundup -- Day One

Eric Kleefeld | April 1, 2010, 6:43PM

Fmr. Nevada GOP Chair Sue Lowden and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Here are some of the latest pieces of fundraising news in races from across the country, as the first-quarter money results start to come in:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who is in danger of losing his seat this year, raised $1.5 million, and has over $10 million on hand.

• Former Nevada GOP Chair Sue Lowden, one of the candidates for the Republican nomination against Reid, raised $500,000. She has pledged to self-finance to match her individual donations, so this would bring in another $500,000 for a total of $1 million.

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2010 elections

Howard Dean Pens Fundraising E-mail For Alan Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | March 25, 2010, 12:09PM

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), who is known for his fiery and comedic attacks on the Republicans, is getting some help in his re-election from former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who has written a fundraising letter for the self-proclaimed "Congressman with guts."

"Congressman Alan Grayson is a healthcare hero," Dean says, going on to explain that Grayson focused the health debate by "going on offense" against the GOP.

"He exposed the Republican healthcare plan as Don't Get Sick, and if you do, Die Quickly. Grayson changed the debate and put the Republicans on the defensive right before the first House vote in November. He's never been afraid to call Republicans out on their obstructionism and he isn't going to start now," Dean writes. "Alan Grayson is standing up for us. Now, we need to stand up for him."

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Health Care

New Public Option Efforts Surface In House

Christina Bellantoni | March 11, 2010, 2:36PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

House Democrats are mounting a new effort to get a public option passed as a separate measure once the overall health care reform package becomes law.

Rep. Alan Grayson this week introduced a public option bill and called for such a plan to increase competition in the health care system. It's a fairly simple, 4-page measure that he's dubbed the "Medicare You Can Buy Into Act."

It would do just that, allow anyone who wants it to buy into the plan. Grayson (D-FL) said that under his proposal the premiums would equal cost and the program would "pay for itself."

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Health Care

Bachmann And Grayson Debate Health Care, Corruption, And 'Weapons Of Mass Distraction' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 4, 2010, 11:05AM

Reps. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) appeared last night on Larry King Live, with the two eminently quotable legislators debating health care policy. Bachmann used the opportunity to call for an investigation of the Obama administration.

"I think that we can come together. But I think a big question that has to be addressed right now, Larry, is, what in the world is going on in the White House?" said Bachmann. "Because today, the president offered a judgeship to the brother of a member of Congress. Tonight, the president has that same member of Congress at the White House, pressuring him to change his vote on health care." She then called for an investigation.

Grayson responded: "Well, my esteemed colleague from Minnesota has just deployed another weapon of mass distraction that the Republicans use from time to time to try to change the subject away from health care."

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Alan Grayson

Report: Grayson Raised $850,000 In Last Quarter

Eric Kleefeld | January 8, 2010, 1:12PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the freshman Congressman best known for his bombastic attacks against the Republican Party, had a very good fundraising quarter in the last three months of 2009, taking in $850,000.

The last three months have really been the period when Grayson's fame took off among the liberal blogosphere, and much of his money came from online. His fundraising immediately picked up after he declared that the Republican health care plan was for people who get sick to "die quickly," which happened just as the third quarter was about to end. He also heavily promoted a one-day "money-bomb" fundraiser in November, which brought in over a half-million dollars.

Grayson now reportedly has roughly $1 million cash on hand. Grayson's re-election is not assured, as he represents a swing seat that narrowly voted in 2008 for Grayson and Barack Obama after years of favoring Republicans.

Alan Grayson

Florida GOP State Rep. Plans Run Against Alan Grayson

Eric Kleefeld | January 5, 2010, 3:47PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the fiery liberal best known for his frequent insults against the Republicans, has just attracted another GOP opponent, with state Rep. Kurt Kelly getting into the race this morning.

Republicans have had some problems finding a candidate to run against a high-profile liberal in what is very much a swing seat, with previous top prospects ultimately deciding not to run. One possible factor could be the need to raise a lot of money against Grayson, who self-financed with $2.6 million of his own money in 2008, and on top of his own wealth has been able to raise quite a bit of money from liberals across the country.

The only significant candidate so far has been real estate developer Armando Gutierrez, who moved from Miami to Orlando just to run against Grayson and is opposed by many in the GOP. With Kelly, however, Republicans could finally have what they want -- a credible candidate from the local area.

The St. Petersburg Times points out that Kelly comes in with high name recognition in Ocala, but most of the district is in Orlando -- so he still has a lot of work to do.

Tom Coburn

Is Coburn's 'Die Sooner' The Same As Grayson's 'Die Quickly'?

Eric Kleefeld | December 1, 2009, 5:21PM

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)

Republicans howled with outrage when Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) said that the Republican health care plan was for people who get sick to "die quickly." So we thought it would be fun to check in with some of them about Sen. Coburn's (R-OK) remark that seniors will be told to "die sooner" under the Dems' bill in the Senate.

I asked NRCC spokesman Andy Seré -- who has frequently criticized Grayson's (D-FL) outspoken attacks against the Republicans -- what difference there could be between the two. Seré told me that Grayson's signs and theatrical approach are important.

"I think what Alan Grayson did was go on to the floor of the House with ready-made props, in an attempt to get on TV and make noise, and followed it up with several intentionally inflammatory and hyper-partisan statements," said Seré, "So I think that is what made the Grayson comments so disturbing, it was all about him."

"Grayson accused Republicans of wanting people to die," Seré added. "That is a wildly irresponsible indictment of what's in the hearts of half of his constituents."

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Tom Coburn

Coburn: Democrats' Health Care Plan Will Make Seniors 'Die Sooner'

Brian Beutler | December 1, 2009, 12:59PM

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)

Remember how there was that big row when Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) said the Republican health care plan amounted to 'don't get sick, and if you do, die quickly'? Demands for apologies, etc? Well, Republicans may have a new Alan Grayson of their own: Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)

"If it doesn't raise costs, and we're truly going to take this money from Medicare, what it's going to do to our seniors is, I have a message for you: 'You're gonna die sooner.'"

It's hard to see how this allegation is any different than Grayson's. Let's see if it becomes the media's (and the Democrats') main point of interest for the rest of the week.

Late Update: One senior Senate Democratic aide told us: "His insights on health care are about as helpful as his marital advice to Senator Ensign."

Republicans

Top 10 Wild And Wacky Political Voices -- For Whom We're All Very Thankful

Eric Kleefeld | November 25, 2009, 6:04PM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rush Limbaugh

Here at TPM, we definitely have an eye for the weird -- and speaking for myself, I particularly enjoy the crazy stuff that right-wingers often say.

The American right often uses the rhetoric of a persecuted minority, even when they're actually in power. So having a Democrat in the White House, let alone a progressive black Democrat from Chicago named Barack Hussein Obama, has driven them to whole new heights (or lows, depending on how you count it) of rhetoric.

So let's take a look at some real stars of our current political rhetorical wars. The list is mostly Republican -- and you betchya that it was an obvious choice for the top spot -- plus one Democratic "Congressman With Guts" who gives the opposition a taste of their own medicine. We've got politicians, talk show hosts, and people who seem to be both at the same time. So sit back, and enjoy the crazy.

I'm certainly thankful to them -- for making my job a lot more interesting. If they weren't around, what would there be for me to write about?

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