The Blog

"Grayson's Dark, Sarcastic Sense of Humor"

10:53 AM, Oct 1, 2009 • By MICHAEL GOLDFARB
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On Tuesday Florida Rep. Alan Grayson got into trouble for saying, on the floor of the House, "If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly." Grayson also brought a helpful chart that read: "The Republican Health Care Plan: Die Quickly."

To mere dabblers in politics this might have seemed offensive, over the top, even a violation of the decorum of the House of representatives. But as New Republic reporter-researcher Marin Cogan explained for less sophisticated observers of Washington:

Grayson is being tongue-in-cheek; unlike the Republicans, who took up the death panel lie in earnest, no Democrat is seriously saying that the Republicans want you to die. Grayson's dark, sarcastic sense of humor is well-established with anyone who has followed his career.

Some hours later this update was added:

Update: Now he's calling the health care crisis a "holocaust in America."

So wonderfully dark, sarcastic, and humorous...

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