It’s not only Republicans who can make wild, inflammatory statements about healthcare reform. Rep. Alan Grayson, a first-term Democrat from Florida, proved that on the House floor Tuesday night.
Grayson came prepared for a floor statement, bringing with him a set of visual aids that documented what he said is the Republican plan for healthcare reform.
“It’s a very simple plan,” Grayson said, showing off his first sign. “Here it is, the Republicans’ healthcare plan for America: Don’t get sick …. I think the Republicans understand that that plan isn’t always going to work, it’s not a foolproof plan. So the Republicans have a backup plan in case you do get sick. If you get sick in America, this is what the Republicans want you to do — if you get sick, America, the Republican healthcare plan is this: Die quickly. That’s right, the Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick.”
Republicans on the floor called for an apology; Grayson declined to make one.
There’s room to criticize congressional Republicans for not proposing a plan of their own — there are a few bills out there, but the leadership has been smart enough not to put the official GOP brand on them. But Grayson’s claim doesn’t even compare to that; in its own way, it’s no different from all the talk from the other side of the aisle about “death panels” in the Democratic proposal.
