Let 'em have it, Alan!

US Rep. Alan Grayson

Night before last, US Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL), took to the floor of the House and let fly with some tough rhetoric aimed at Republican obstructionists in the health care debate. Quoth he:

It’s my duty and pride tonight to be able to announce exactly what the Republicans plan to do for health care in America… It’s a very simple plan. Here it is. The Republican health care plan for America: “don’t get sick.” If you have insurance don’t get sick, if you don’t have insurance, don’t get sick; if you’re sick, don’t get sick. Just don’t get sick. … If you do get sick America, the Republican health care plan is this: “die quickly.” --Rep. Alan Grayson, Sept.29, 2009 (Watch it here.)

The Republicans, as usual, were quick to beat their breasts and wail at how they had been wronged. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) called on Nancy Pelosi to officially rebuke Grayson. I've got a feeling that that ain't going anywhere. (Could there be any more perfect example of Republican mimicry than the name "McHenry?"It sounds like the McDonald's version of the name of the original Confederate, Patrick Henry.)

I'm not in the least surprised at their hypocrisy, but for those of you who have actual lives, who aren't obsessed with the ins and outs of partisan drama, I'll show you just a few examples of the rhetoric that the Republicans have been throwing around in the last couple months:

Last week Democrats released a health care bill which essentially said to America’s seniors: Drop dead. --Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), 7/21/09

They’re going to save money by rationing care, getting you in a long line. Places like Canada, United Kingdom, and Europe. People die when they’re in line. --Rep. Steve King (R-IA), 7/15/09

[The Republican plan will] make sure we bring down the cost of health care for all Americans and that ensures affordable access for all Americans and is pro-life because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government. --Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), 7/28/09

That’s exactly what’s going on in Canada and Great Britain today…and a lot of people are going to die. --Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), 7/10/09

One in five people have to die because they went to socialized medicine! … I would hate to think that among five women, one of ‘em is gonna die because we go to socialized care. --Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), 7/15/09

(You can see a video compilation here.)

I've come to expect hypocrisy like this from Republicans. Haven't you?

Well, I think it's about damn time that Democrats start fighting back with some tough rhetoric of their own. Good for the goose, good for the gander, and all that. And a little stridency might just stiffen the spines of some of the mealy-mouthed cowards in the Democratic caucuses.

When you consider Alan Grayson's remarks, along with those recently made by Representative Barney Frank, and President Jimmy Carter, it looks like there are others who feel the same way I do. The tea-baggers are a loud minority... but they are a minority, as evidenced by the last national election. If they want to rant and scream, let them rant and scream. But we can serve them the same sauce.

So, continuing in that vein: Ann Coulter was on CNN recently. She admitted to being "a little bit jealous" of Glenn Beck. And why not? He's more of a woman than she'll ever be!