Three Cheers for U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson has hit the nail on the head -- the Republican health care plan is "don't get sick, and if you do, die quickly."

A friend's brother just died unnecessarily, told by a doctor that he was undeserving of consideration for a lung transplant because he was a smoker (he'd quit) and because the family was "dirt poor" (it wasn't) and had no insurance (he had Medicaid and had worked all his life.

The dismissive arrogance and condescension of some putative "hospitals" and "dcctors" is appalling, as is the manipulation of voters by lying ads and lobbyists.

Representative Alan Grayson says what he thinks and means what he says. He's not one of the mousy scaredy-cat, wimpy Democrats who is afraid of their shadow, thinking they have to be Bush Lite to get elected.

I first met Alan Grayson on Election Night 2008 in Orlando amidst a jubilant celebration of Democrats being elected President, Vice President and to several Congressional seats. Alan Grayson had just won his election and twice teased me about wearing the same patriotic tie (mine was formerly worn by the politcal cartoonist Herblock's). Alan Grayson commiserated with our Democratic nominee for Congress, Faye Armistead, who ran a good (but underfunded race) against big-spending, other-directed Republican U.S. Rep. JOHN LUIGI MICA,

Representative Alan Grayson skillfully cross-examined and publicly skewered the General Counsel of the Federal Reserve Board over whether the Board manipulates the stock market. The Federal Reserve Board is current exempt from audits by the Government Accountability Office.

Representative Grayson is not afraid to identify "knuckle-dragging Neanderthals" and "nattering nabobs of negativism" among reprobate Republicans.

Three cheers for Florida's U.S. Representative Alan Grayson -- we need more courageous Democrats like him speaking out for Democratic prnciples.