Grayson apologizes for 'whore' comment

[ProSense]

Grayson apologizes for 'whore' commentPosted: October 27th, 2009 06:56 PM ET

From CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Florida Democrat Rep. Alan Grayson issued a written apology Tuesday evening for a comment for a month-old comment that has stirred controversy on Capitol Hill in recent days.

During a September radio interview, Grayson called Linda Robertson, an aide to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who has also worked as a lobbyist, a "K Street whore."

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Grayson said his comment was inappropriate.

"I offer my sincere apology," Grayson said in the statement, "I did not intend to use a term that is often, and correctly, seen as disrespectful of women.

"This characterization of Ms. Robertson, made during a radio interview last month in the context of the debate over whether the Federal Reserve should be independently audited, was inappropriate, and I apologize."

Just hours earlier, a spokesman for Grayson had defended the comment in a statement to CNN.

"She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy," Grayson spokesman Todd Jurowski said in the earlier statement. "She had the audacity to attack a congressman who used to be an economist. She's a career lobbyist who used to work for Enron and advocates for whatever she gets paid to promote."

The freshman Democrat recently grabbed the national spotlight after saying in a speech on the House floor that the Republican health care plan is "Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly."

[SPedigrees]

1. When will dems learn not to apologize. It makes them look weak. nt

[DainBramaged]

2. This is DU, it will be cheered here

:banghead:

being weak and all 'right thing to do' is why they (the Pukes) shit all over us since 1980, except folks around here don't get it.

[anigbrowl]

13. When will other Dems learn to read properly. And no, it doesn't make one look weak.

Only weak people think that way. 'don't back down, never apologize' is a stupid philosophy. There are times when apologizing can strengthen your position, and this is one of them.

Had you read it carefully, you'd have noticed that he was apologizing for the sexism inherent in his remark, without giving the representative a pass for her politics.

[Garbo 2004]

18. Sounds like he apologized to women for use of the term, rather than Robertson specifically. nt

[AllentownJake]

3. Now why the fuck did he do that

She was a whore.

[Common Sense Party]

5. Maybe he wanted to show more class than the Repukes

[AllentownJake]

Oh when the fuck will we ever learn

People respect balls not class.

[Common Sense Party]

9. Do you have a list of people that Grayson should call whores?

Maybe he could grow some new balls, then, in your estimation.

[AllentownJake]

11. Fucking weak willed idiots

She was a fucking whore. A whore is someone that sells their talent for an unworthy cause.

[anigbrowl]

14. Speak for yourself

Lots of the Republicans have balls, big brass ones. I don't respect them in the least, you can find balls on a stray dog.

[Common Sense Party]

15. I was going to say, by his definition, Palin and Bachman have bigger

balls than Grayson. Does anyone respect those two nutcases?

[anigbrowl]

16. Snerk, you said 'nut-cases', heh-heh.

[cali]

22. that's just a stupid broad statement. and it's utter fucking bullshit.

[arthritisR_US]

10. speaking from a woman's perspective, I'd have to agree with you. But,

perhaps he owes an apology to prostitutes and such for insulting them with the likes of her ;-)

[Peregrine Took]

4. Second apology. Two too many. He has come crashing down to earth with

the rest of the cowardly Dems.

[cali]

23. Anyone who can come to that conclusion is simply looking to find fault

pathetic.

[NYC_SKP]

6. I hope he was apologizing to whores (prostitutes) for comparing them to lobbyists. nt

[dysfunctional press]

7. well- it is kind of an insult to whores.

how would YOU like being compared to a k street lobbyist?

[ellie]

8. Yes, he meant to say

"bloodsucker."

[Joe Fields]

12. "K Street whore" does not = "You Lie!"

Every motherfucking republican backed that slimeball Joseph Wilson, when he broke rules calling out the president during a joint session speech, but Alan Grayson's colleagues shrink like cellophane to heat when the great congressman from Orlando APPROPRIATELY calls that hired gun what he called her. And Anthony Weiner, though I have a great deal of respect for him, was absolutely wrong in calling Grayson out, especially the way he did it. They all, every democrat up in D.C., should have just kept their mouths shut. They sound like chickenshits.

And I am disappointed in representative Grayson for caving in.

[gateley]

17. I think if the whore would have been a male, he wouldn't have apologized --

my first thought was that he was going to get some sexist crap thrown at him, and his apology indicates that it WAS a gender thing. Damn.

[denem]

19. "I offer my sincere apology." 'The term K Street' 'is disrespectful of sex workers'.

[lonestarnot]

20. Is that a krack whore?

[SoCalDem]

21. I appreciate his enthusiasm, BUT

he needs to remember that he's in the spotlight, and should choose his words a bit more carefully.Colorful, brash, and even crude language is used all the time, but usually in a "safe" place, with people you trust.. with people who will not record you and then run to a microphone to tell us how "shocked they were" :rofl:.
Getting down & dirty is fine, but when it's on national tv and makes you look like a 15 yr old swearing in front of grannie.... it just looks bad, and makes him look uncouth & childish.

Alan needs "snark" lessons.. His ideas & beliefs are just fine:)

[bluestateguy]

24. My only regret is that he didn't call Karen Ignagi that word

Lobbyists are whores. It is not an honorable profession.

[eridani]

25. I see whores and sex workers are two entirely separate categories

After all, there are things that sex workers won't do for money.