Was Grayson forced to apologize because what he said was too close to a bigger ugly truth?

[yurbud]

I just read the New York Times hit piece on Grayson, and when I saw that the lobbyist in question had once represented Enron, those who lost their investments, pensions, and jobs there would probably think whore is far too kind.

But if his comment was allowed to stand, other relatively ethical members of Congress might have felt emboldened to come forward and say how they are sickened by how their fellow members of Congress are in thrall to these corporate frontmen, not just for donations while in office, but for fat paychecks when they leave office as lobbyists, CEOs, and board members, essentially going through the same revolving door Dick Cheney did with Halliburton, first doling out the political favors, then getting the fat CEO job, then going back to government service to dole out more favors, and so on.

If that message hit the public at the right angle, there would be no more blue dogs or republicans to deal with, or even a lot of nominal progressive democrats.

That message would be even more likely to resonate now given that Obama put the very moral filth that created our economic crisis back in charge of our treasury and economic policy, a little like putting Roman Polanski in charge of a daycare center.

Is this the problem or is it the supposed "incivility"?

[Eric J in MN]

1. You have one question in your headline and another above your poll. NT

NT

[yurbud]

5. maybe the headline should have been ''too close to a broader ugly truth''

[notadmblnd]

2. I think if he had said it about a man, his commnt would have stood.

However, IIRC, the lobbyist he referred to was a female; ergo, the apology.

[yurbud]

7. so it was really an apology to legitimate sex workers who didn't want to be confused with lobbyists?

[dtotire]

3. It would have better if he said she was a "shill".

Still an insult, but not as degrading.

[Caliman73]

4. I think you are right.

The use of the word "whore" to in any kind of reference to a female is insulting. I have no problem with the way Grayson calls lobbyists and politicians on their crap, but he needs to ease back from the edge a tiny tiny bit so that he does not become a cartoon. He's most effective when he is on the edge where people have to think about what he is saying. When he gets into generally insulting language he allows the disinterested to shut him out, rather than think, "Hmm, is she really a whore?"

[yurbud]

8. or the media is looking for a way to ridicule him

But his points on the republican health care plan were dead on.

[Caliman73]

9. I agree with what he said about the Republicans and the health care plan

I also agree with you that the media is definitely trying to discredit him. What he needs to do is not give them any valid arguments to hit him with and calling a person a "whore" is beyond the pale for political discourse. There are many other strong words that he could use to describe the woman lobbying for the HCI.

[yurbud]

6. not everyone knows what a shill is, so it wouldn't have the emotional impact.

or gotten the attention it did.