GRAYSON: The Story That No One Will Tell

[kpete]

Rep. Alan Grayson

The story that everyone wants to tell is that the Democratic Party is disheartened and disintegrating. Teabagger Republicans are juiced up and on top. Or so the media says, over and over again.

But the House candidate who raised the most money in the entire country during the last FEC reporting period -- $860,000 in three months -- is not a teabagger. He is not boosted relentlessly by Fox News. He's not even a Republican. He doesn't think that the Earth was created 6000 years ago, that President Obama was born in Kenya, or that global warming is a hoax.

This House candidate also, remarkably, had the largest number of contributors. Over 15,000 individuals contributed, many of whom have given time after time, whatever they could. The House candidate who raised the most money did so without French-kissing lobbyists, without flattering the idle rich, and without reaching into his own pocket.

The House candidate who raised the most money, from the most people, is an outspoken populist who tells it like it is on the war, on jobs, and on health care. His website is called CongressmanWithGuts.com. In the 100,000 e-mails that he has received this year, the most common refrain is, "You are saying what I've been thinking."

I know who he is. Because he's me.

more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-grayson/the-story-that-no-one-wil_b_453619.html

[tomm2thumbs]

1. ride'em Grayson - our guts include brains!

keep 'em runnin' scared - that's a familiar look for the GOP - they have cultivated it nicely

[voteearlyvoteoften]

2. Rec for Alan Grayson

Enough already with sp and her bs speechifying at the baggers ball.

[dotymed]

63. Please Alan

Do something to re-instate the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE we need it now more than ever.

[rgbecker]

66. Grayson and Franken for 2016!

[BrklynLiberal]

77. Wow! That would be a dream come true!!!!!!!!1

[thunder rising]

3. And so modist it makes me blush. (I love's me some Grayson!)

[SusanaMontana41]

67. Get in line!

n/t
:thumbsup: :loveya:

[steve2470]

4. And he comes from my area, which is Fundie Central

See: http://grayson.house.gov/District/

then see: http://www.ccci.org/about-us/contact-us/index.htm">Campus Crusade for Christ International

[Bluenorthwest]

9. That is great, because on DU they always tell me that

in 'red' areas, they HAVE to run ConservaDems or the Republican wins. Seems that Rep Grayson and the voters of your district make that theory suspect.

[steve2470]

10. I wish he was my Rep. I'm stuck with Mica.

Yes, your point is well taken though. Central Florida is a LONG WAY politically from Massachusetts and Northern California.

[bvar22]

20. A Firebreathing Populist ....

...who "sticks to his guns", takes his message to the People, and avoids the "wedge" issues can WIN anywhere.

From the same article:

The fact that an unapologetic progressive Democrat could amass such support, not by trading favors for money, but by striking a chord with so many ordinary people, refutes the pervasive meme of Democrats divided and despondent. Particularly when it's a Democrat who says that "you can't beat a Republican by being one." Particularly a Democrat who quotes Harry Truman and Howard Dean: "If you run a fake Republican against a real Republican, the real Republican will win every time."

Freshman Democrat Alan Grayson, number one in the country. The story that no one will tell. It doesn't fit their preconceptions. So you're just not going to hear about it."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-grayson/the-story-that-no-one-wil_b_453619.html

"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[Chulanowa]

81. Anyone who tells you that is an idiot

That line of thinking is what led to so many Democratic losses.

Next time you hear someone feeding you - or anyone - this line, explain the following to them.

If you are a conservative voter, you are usually going to cast your ballot for the most conservative person on the ballot. That person is never going to be a Democrat. Offering staunch conservatives a "conservative lite" when they can get the full-bodies flavor they crave fro mthe other team, simply will not work. Rather we need to challenge these staunch conservative areas with an equally staunch liberal presence. it will not win at first, but since we're losing anyway, there's no harm there. However a strong liberal presence in a staunchly conservative area begins shifting the paradigm, and pulls the region in question back towards the middle as this candidate and his operations make connections and work with the people. If conservatives in conservative areas who are represented by conservative politicians are as unhappy with what htey have as they say they are... then maybe it's time to offer a powerful alternative.

:)

[suzie]

88. That's simply such utter horse puckey that it's difficult to even respond to.

If you run candidates that have absolutely no chance whatsoever of winning, you will simply lose really big.

The next time around, there will be fewer candidates who will step up and try to run. Which will give the Republicans a completely safe seat where no one even challenges them.

In the real world, what you advocate will actually pull the region much farther right, since no moderate Republican will be needed, because there won't be a Democratic challenger.

[Chulanowa]

89. We're already running candidates with no chance

Why vote for a Republican-lite Democrat... when you can vote for an actual Republican for the same price?

A;; that this does is alienate the Democratic base, who see a choice between a Republican and a Republican wannabee, but no Democrats.

[suzie]

91. So, running no candidates at all and ceding elections completely to Republicans?

That's your solution?

Because, as I stated above, that's the political reality that happens IN THE REAL WORLD.

[Chulanowa]

92. No. Run liberal candidates

Break the vacuum.

[suzie]

93. Let me try once more.

Out in the real world, not that of internet forums where it all sounds so perfect that candidates will magically appear, people do not run for offices when they don't perceive that they have a chance of winning.

And even though those who talk about it on the internet believe that liberal candidates have every possible chance to win in conservative districts, the people who actually live in those districts and have the credentials to run in those districts have a different perception.

[fasttense]

5. The corporate media is just the communications arm of the RepubliCON party.

It has been for a long time. It's not just Fox fake news, its all of them. A few hours a day on MSNBC you can catch some truth and maybe if you turn to the comedy channel you will catch a little more. But all the others are just shills for RepubliCONS corporate agenda.

[pleah]

6. K&R

[Liberal In Texas]

7. K&R cause it's a Grayson post.

:-)

[MannyGoldstein]

8. See - Actual Democrats Are What The People Want

This gives me some actual hope!

[nyc 4 Biden]

11. kayandare for Al Grayson.

keep up the good fight. i'm one of those 15,000.

[jgraz]

12. Yep, me too.

:patriot:

[BumRushDaShow]

13. K&R

:applause:

[Number23]

62. Yep. Thank you Rep. Grayson for trying to kill the defeatest meme that Dems are "disheartened"

and "defeated" which does absolutely nothing but put a smile on Republican faces and become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I understand why Republicans push that theme; truly do NOT understand why any Democrat would.

[spanone]

14. k&r... wake up democrats!!!!!

[Vidar]

15. K&R.

[L0oniX]

16. "If you run a fake Republican against a real Republican, the real Republican will win every time."

Yea ...keep moving right ya fucking DLC lovers, centrists and dino's ...see where it will get you!

[laughingliberal]

53. You'd think that would be obvious by now. nt

[KaryninMiami]

17. Love that guy- happy to be one of the ones who donated. Go Grayson. NT

[progressoid]

18. yer damn skippy!

k/r

[Cowpunk]

19. Let the church say hayyyymen! NT

[Goldstein1984]

21. I hope this man builds his reputation and his position of

leadership until he becomes a force capable of threatening the corrupt system with extinction. If this man stays on his current path, I think he could be a national leader of the disenfranchised.

I live in Alaska, but count me among his supporters.

Some may take offense at this, but I see in Grayson what I admire in Hugo Chavez--a willingness to say what is true and necessary, rather than what is polite and traditional.

[Mithreal]

22. I have contacted his offices a number of times to thank him. Please do so too.

If you are not already.

[crazyjoe]

23. or at the very least, he figured out a way to get alot of money from pissed off liberals...

[Lorien]

25. It wasn't hard to figure out: he just did the job he was hired to do. nt

[OnyxCollie]

24. K&R for Rep. Alan Grayson. nt

[onestepforward]

26. K&R. Love Grayson! n/t

[Swamp Rat]

27. Geaux Grayson!!

:kick: KICK ASS ALAN!!!

[Subdivisions]

28. I knew it was him in the second paragraph =) n/t

[rd_kent]

29. We need more to be like Grayson AND Franken!!!!

[Plucketeer]

30. One of the few real heros from the left.

He's gotten moola from us and will get more as we can afford it!

[penndragon69]

31. Who DAT !

Grayson and Franken for President.

[MissDeeds]

59. Great ticket

No matter who gets top billing.

:toast:

[inna]

68. Grayson is actually electable (not sure about Franken).

What's interesting is that Grayson appeals to the Independents and he's even likely to get some cross-over Repub/Libertarian votes because of his alliance with Ron Paul...

Just sayin'.


(And btw, a HUGE thanks to "the secret admirer"!! :loveya: :bounce: :loveya: :) :hi: :D )

[LatteLibertine]

32. Speaking of Alan Grayson

"I am looking forward to debating Rep. Gingrey about health care reform. Watch Dylan Ratigan's show on MSNBC this afternoon at 4:10."

also

"Help me win @firedoglake's Fire Dogs vote to help my reelection efforts. Vote here: http://bit.ly/csvhsd (Pls RT)"

From his twitter account-

http://twitter.com/AlanGrayson

[kayakjohnny]

33. Thanks for that nugget.

Cheers.

[bertman]

34. We need a LOT more like Rep. Grayson. Rec. nt

[Fla Dem]

35. He needs to send a copy of that article to every Dem in the House & Senate

And while he's at it he should enclose a note telling them to grow some. Yes the gals too.

[Triana]

36. And I'm one of those contributors. GRAYSON FOR PRESIDENT!

Well, at some point, anyway. If not 2012 maybe 2016.

[orbitalman]

37. K&R More Graysons nt

[RedRoses323]

38. I'm in love with Grayson.,,,,,

:loveya: :loveya:

[DesertDiamond]

39. !!!! GO GRAYSON!!!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!

[Political_Junkie]

40. K&R

Love this man!

[Blue Owl]

41. Grayson, eh?

Promote that man...

[Uncle Joe]

42. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.:thumbsup:

[Oceansaway]

43. K&R...n/t

[fascisthunter]

44. One Smart Democrat there

[FailureToCommunicate]

45. Let's hope he decides to become Senator Grayson!

[omega minimo]

46. Acting like a real American

[laughingliberal]

47. A real, honest to gawd, progressive Democrat raised the most money last reporting period!

Calling the DLC...are you listening?

[lib_wit_it]

60. He was the first politician I'd given money to since November 08. We are getting by, but the house-

painting work is just not there as it had been. And even when he gets work, my husband is up on a ladder most of the day without health insurance. Grayson gives us some hope.

[Autonomy]

48. We've been saying it a lot lately

and coverage that 600 people at the Teabagger convention got proves it: the media is trying to create a horse race where none exists. A real, unabashed liberal will get the majority support overall.

[Richard D]

49. 2016

make it so . . . .

[icee]

50. This guy needs to be on top, and not just in money-making. I mean

the top of the Party, as President.

[AzDar]

51. I LURVE him.

:loveya:

[LawnKorn]

52. K&R

[veganlush]

54. K& R and I will be sending more money on Friday!...there's hope!

[90-percent]

55. Accolades

Give them the truth they think is hell, Alan!

-90% jimmy

[Tutankhamun]

56. K&R M$M fails us again.

If only everyone were media savvy enough to understand the differences between real news and corporate news.

[meowomon]

57. I'm stuck with blue dog Alan Boyd. ggrrr

I love Grayson. We're liberal enough up here in Tallahassee to elect anyone other than Boyd. Maybe some day.

[Mike K]

58. Grayson's success should serve as a clear and -

- undeniable indication of what a significant percentage of voters want, which is belligerently outspoken rejection of the usual rhetoric. His is precisely the kind of attitude Progressives want their representatives to put forth.

[Canuckistanian]

61. Where the hell are others like him?

He should be cloned, but we can't wait unitl the babies grow up to be Congress members or Senators.

Maybe there's something about the water in the Bronx where he was born and grew up.

Either way, there MUST be more like him who step up to the plate and do THE RIGHT THING.

[agent46]

64. Tea Party folks

The Tea Party folks should look up "Real American" in the Dictionary. They'll find the words "Rep. Alan Grayson" after the colon.

[deacon]

65. k + r n/t

[Awesome80s]

69. WhoDat?? WhoDat??...Grayson, DatWho!!!! Geaux Grayson!!!!!

This man is IT. He has all my support. Regards from Vice City, Miami!:toast:

[defendandprotect]

70. Can we run Grayson for president ... ???

[amborin]

71. K&R

[Warpy]

72. Some of those dollars were mine

I will support those pols who are supporting me. I am lucky to have two Senators and a Representative who are supporting me, so I will support them.

The DNC and DCCC can go hump themselves, though. I will not support my enemies and they will, just because those conservatives have chosen to run as Democrats instead of Republicans.

[laughingliberal]

83. Kudos. If I had money, I'd send it to him. I thank you for supporting our progressives

and not supporting our asshats.

[liquid diamond]

73. Grayson is the man.

He's one of the few democrats with a spine and takes action!!

[cjbgreen]

74. Please ...

Be the real deal, not perfect, just honest!

[gateley]

75. Captain Cojones! (credit to Tweety) nt

[BrklynLiberal]

76. I am so in awe of this man!!!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[GeorgeGist]

78. A Teachable Moment

for anyone who wants Obama to succeed where Reagan failed.

[KathieG]

79. I'm so glad Grayson is my rep! He is a breath of fresh air in my typically ultra-conservative area.

[Divine Discontent]

86. my rep too, sorry your part of the map is ultra-conservative, I would say overall he's got a good

bunch of areas, we just have to get out there for him in any way possible through election day.

[saracat]

80. 2012

[kas125]

82. I posted that link to my congressman's FaceBook

page last night and told him that he should go to Grayson and take a lesson or two!

[Jamastiene]

84. FUCK YEAH!!!

K&R

That's what I'm talking about. Support...meet good Democrats willing to stand the fuck up.

:thumbsup:

[Greyhound]

85. K&R. This is how he wins in a red state, not by pretending to be republikan-lite

but by being a real, unabashed liberal!

[winyanstaz]

87. I like Grayson...him and Kucinich are my heros...

and keith and Maddow too :) oh yes..and Jon :D

[Delphinus]

90. Wow!

I love it! Alan Grayson speaks truth. We need an entire Congress full of men and women like him.

[MrMickeysMom]

94. This is brilliant...

... Makes me almost want to return to live in Orlando (not quite).

I salute you all down there because what you have IS a populist and a person who can show the rest of us what it takes to do it.

Love you...