from Alan Grayson

[elleng]

Dear Ellen,

I mentioned yesterday that the DC newspaper Politico has reported that roughly 20% of all of national spending by conservative outside groups against House of Representative members actually has been targeting one member: me.

Politico said that my district, in Central Florida, has become “Ground Zero” for “outside group” attacks.

“Ground Zero” was an interesting choice of words by Politico. The term “Ground Zero” was coined by the U.S. Army in 1945, to refer to the point on the ground directly below an atomic blast.

In the case of Hiroshima, the main military target (actually not at Ground Zero, but nearby) was Japan’s 2nd General Army HQ, which commanded the defense of all of southern Japan. The atomic bomb at Hiroshima certainly destroyed Ground Zero. It also:

killed 70,000 people immediately;
injured another 70,000, roughly half of whom later died from their injuries;
destroyed five square miles of the city;
with the exception of roughly a dozen structures (parts of which were left standing), completely disintegrated every building in downtown Hiroshima.
That’s the kind of utter destruction, in a political sense, that Politico is talking about.

Help us fight back! Support our campaign with a contribution.

Here in Central Florida, at Ground Zero of the attack by these outside right-wing groups, the only way to avoid the attack is to turn off your TV. (They haven’t figured out a way to turn on your TV from outside your home. Yet.) And what you see on TV is relentless character assassination.

This is what passes for reasoned discourse on the right these days. The O’Reilly/Hannity/Beck/Limbaugh right.

Here at Ground Zero, we are facing what Bill Clinton called “the politics of personal destruction.” The kind of destruction that was seen at Ground Zero in Hiroshima, and for five square miles around.

Because these shadowy groups want to choose – no, dictate – the winners in November’s election.

And we need to fight back.

So please help our campaign.

Truth,

Alan Grayson

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/grayson_counteroffensive?refcode=email_1012

[robcon]

1. He should have fought back honestly.

His ad about Taliban Dan, and his misquoting about his opponents speech and position was terrible.

[xiamiam]

2. other than that he is close to the most truthful and progressive member of congress..

what focus on one ad which was redone rather than the unbelievable courage of this representative..i dont understand unless you have an agenda

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. +1

[Catherina]

23. I don't trust him one bit. This guy is all for war with Iran

GRAYSON: I met with Howard Kohr, the head of AIPAC , twice last week.

PJV: And what was the gist of the conversation?

GRAYSON: The gist of the conversation was that Iran is a tremendous threat to Israel and needs to be stopped. And I agree with that.

PJV: And what about what is going on in the Gaza Strip; was there any conversation about that?

GRAYSON: Yes, we talked about that. I think what AIPAC often tries to do is to educate Members of Congress who frankly follow this a lot less closely than I do. In my case, I read Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post online four or five times a week, so I am pretty familiar with the circumstances and why the war took place. As a famous Israeli once said, the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

...
PJV: What other parts of the world do you think we should be paying more attention to than we are?

Iran. I think that short of occupation, short of sending ground troops for an extended period of time, we need to do everything that we can do to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons – and that includes military action.

In North Korea the cows have already left the barn, probably, but that is what we should have been doing in North Korea for the past let’s say eight years or so.

We need to do whatever it takes – both we and Israel need to do whatever it takes -- to prevent the people in charge in Iran now from getting nuclear weapons.

And, in fact, if we turn back the calendar, I would have been in favor of doing whatever it took to prevent Sadam Hussein from getting nuclear weapons. Of course, now we know that there were no nuclear weapons and there were no weapons of mass destruction at all. But I thought that the Osirak attack (by Israel on Iraq) in 1981 was justified and I think that a similar attack today against Iran would be justified. If such an attack took place and Israel were to do it, I would immediately issue a statement saying that I support Israel and its right to ensure its own existence.

...

http://www.pjvoice.com/v45/45301grayson.aspx

I don't buy his phony act one bit. This is how we get used over and over again by wolves in sheeps clothing. I won't give any support to people who support inhumane policies in the mid east. His statements in support of Operation Cast Lead turned me off to him forever.

More from him: http://dissentradio.com/radio/10_06_04_grayson.mp3

[blondeatlast]

4. You throw out the bathwater, not the baby. One ad, and you are ready to

ditch a real liberal with guts?

[zipplewrath]

5. Let he who has not sinned

He definitely has learned the art of taking a punch and coming back for more. Unlike so many who cower at the first sign of trouble, he's done well at fixing it and moving on. It remains to be seen if this is a successful methodology. One would tend to prefer the guy that makes a mistake trying, as oppose to the guy who makes a mistake BY NOT trying.

[elleng]

12. GOOD ONE!

'prefer the guy that makes a mistake trying, as oppose to the guy who makes a mistake BY NOT trying.'

[baldguy]

6. -1000

As has been repeatedly pointed out, the ad accurately portrayed Webster's beliefs. Get over it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. if you think 'Taliban Dan' was over the top

you severely underestimate the fundie/Dominionist opposition who, if they ever did gain power, would make the Taliban look like the amateurs they are.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. If it wasn't over the top, why did Grayson's campaign stop running the ad and

delete if from its YouTube account?

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. Because of people like you who paint attacks on insane fundies

as attacks on all christians?

There is a difference between being impolitic and being wrong.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. The only people whose opinions matter on that are the voters of his district

I would imagine that Grayson's campaign weighed the sentiments of district voters much more heavily than those outside the district.

[Kingofalldems]

19. Republicans don't like Grayson, do they?

:shrug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

20. As we can see right here, no they don't. -nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. Probably not, which is unfortunate, considering that his district has a lot of Republicans in it

It may be difficult for him to get reelected due to that.

[asjr]

9. He fought fire with fire. Sometimes that is the

only way.

[Dappleganger]

14. What...

aren't going to call for him to RESIGN now???

Spineless.

[Fla_Democrat]

18. It's not the what, it's the who

Useful tip for keeping things in perspective in politics.


:smoke:

[mstinamotorcity]

7. Sir with all the republican

planned attacks you should have a line of donations in Florida. I wish you the best in conquering the republican hate machine.

[elleng]

15. Won't happen without our help, mstina.

[mstinamotorcity]

17. elleng just

stay with the truth. It always wins out. Use your copier and list some things republicans say and accompany it with a link and print it up, Start leaving the information all over town. In grocery stores,car wash,cleaners,doctor office, auto repair shops.any where you can mistakingly leave it wherever possible where it may be picked up and read. Don't for get to "ask Ten" The ask Ten is where you ask ten people in your immediate circle ( we found the number to be about ten) to request an absentee or early vote ballot. They can vote from the comfort of their home. Easy. Don't forget to have the local election commission number in your phone handy. So when they say yes you can dial the number and hand them the phone. I am up to twenty. Immediate circle-spouse,grown children,sisters,brother,grandparents,aunts,uncles,close friends. Good Luck. Oh yes you are my 1000 !!!!!!!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[elleng]

24. No 'just' here, mstina.

My state's blue, my district's red, dems barely running anyone. Of course I talk us up whenever I can, but we ALL MUST CONTRIBUTE in those races where our $ can make a difference, imo. Unfortunately, $ is the name of this damn game.

[mstinamotorcity]

25. Don't give up just remind people of whats important

Your voice can and will make a difference. Yes money is the name of the game,but words are effective also. And the truth stands alone, lies must be propped with more lies.And after you discard the lies, there is still the truth standing firm. You keep talking us up whenever you can because if you reach one person it will be one more who knows the truth. Just remember what you are trying to accomplish. This is why I votehttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9300703 Wishing you and your state and Rep.Grayson the best of luck.

[Dappleganger]

13. Thank you, Koch brothers...

you have lowered politics to another dimension in hell.

:mad:

[Winterblues]

16. Koch brothers,,,try China and/or Drug Cartels and anyone needing to launder some money.

:shrug: Democracy was only an illusion anyway, but even that will disappear after this year..