The Urban Dictionary defines the term “Obama Derangement Syndrome” as follows:
“The acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the statements -- nay -- the very existence of Barack Obama.”
Whenever the term “Obama Derangement Syndrome” enters the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, I suggest a subheading for an equally debilitating disease: “Grayson Derangement Syndrome.” There seems to be a massive and uncontrollable outbreak of that ailment on the starboard side of the American political spectrum every time that my name enters political discourse.
Alan Grayson – he drives the Right Wing crazy. Doesn’t he deserve your support for that alone? Then show your support, by clicking here.
Take last month, for instance. It fell to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to choose five House Democrats, from among 199, to serve on the House Kangaroo Court – sorry, the House Select Committee – on Benghazi. Five out of 199: not very good odds. Nevertheless, 70,000 grassroots, rank-and-file Democrats signed a petition to have me appointed to the House Star Chamber – sorry, the House Select Committee – on Benghazi. Here are some of the reasons that were mentioned:
- I do this sort of thing quite well. The most watched Congressional video in history (over five million views) is my committee examination of Elizabeth Coleman, the Inspector General of the Federal Reserve. I ask the witnesses actual questions, I require actual answers, and the public actually learns stuff.
- I serve, with distinction, on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the committee that has jurisdiction of diplomats and foreign embassy safety.
- Unlike every other Member of the House, at least as far as I can tell, I took the time and trouble to read all of the classified Benghazi e-mails and cables and memos and reports, spending many hours at a lonely classified location that I cannot disclose.
- I was a practicing lawyer for a quarter of a century, so I know a thing or two about what to do with a witness.
- I already questioned Secretary Clinton and a U.S. Ambassador on what happened in Benghazi. By everyone’s reckoning, I spent the time well. Thus I already have helped to dispel the flagrant nonsense surrounding what I called “the scandal that never was.”
So it should come as no surprise that I would be part of the conversation about who should serve on the House Benghazi Inquisition – sorry, House Benghazi Committee.
Unless, of course, you are part of what Hillary Clinton aptly called the “Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.” Their reaction was not one of surprise. It was fear. Because they know that I can stand up to them.
Who is the one Democrat whom you know that you can count on to fight back against Right Wing psychosis? Alan Grayson, that’ s who. That’s why they fear him, and that’s why we need to support him.
So as soon as my name was floated as a committee member, not by some talking head on TV but rather by 70,000 good Democrats, the attacks began, starting with – who else? – Fox News.
On the May 20th chapter of “Fox and Friends” (“Friends” of Fox News? Yuck.), Fox conceded that Democrats were “impressed” with me because I’m a “great prosecutor” and “so direct in my questioning.”
And then Fox took out the knives. The omniscient “crawl” at the bottom of the screen screamed out that I’m “known” for my “inflammatory comments.” (Unlike Fox News itself, I suppose.) The highly objective and profoundly unbiased Fox chyron then added that my possible nomination to the committee was an “OUTRAGE” and a “DISSERVICE” (all capital letters, for the hard-of-seeing).
In case the already-bludgeoned Fox viewer had somehow missed the point, Disinformation Officer Elisabeth Hasselbeck said that I’d be “a spoke in the wheel” for the committee. She wondered whether, if my “target were Republicans, would that be a good idea?” (When you know as little as Hasselbeck knows, you do a lot of wondering.)
Steve Doofy – sorry, Doocy – claimed that the petition that 70,000 of us signed “started out as a joke, on Twitter and the blogs.” (Believe me, when it comes to Steve Doocy and jokes, it takes one to know one.) Steve Goofy – sorry, Doocy – then charged that my being on the Benghazi Committee would “gum up the works” and “turn the Committee into a kangaroo court” -- “They think it’s a farce.” At which point, the irony meter exploded. Yet the Fox chyron heartily agreed with Boozy – sorry, Doocy – charging sternly that my nomination would represent the “Democrats Pulling A Political Stunt.”
And here was the most damning condemnation against me from the all-wise and all-knowing Steve Woozy – sorry, Doocy – that Einstein of the airwaves: “Republicans do not think that he is a great statesman.”
(True fact about Steve Doocy: this year, he was named “Kansan of the Year.” How very, very sorry for Kansas.)
Alan Grayson said that if he were named to the Benghazi Committee, he would be the GOP’s “worst and last nightmare.” Judging from the response of Fox News, that’s exactly how they saw it, too. Alan Grayson has the strength and courage to stand up to the Right-Wing Noise Machine. That’s why he deserves your support today, before the FEC deadline on June 30 at midnight.
As Media Matters aptly noted, the Fox “News” attack on me what Fox’s attempt “to dictate the terms of Democratic cooperation” with the House Benghazi Burlesque – sorry, House Benghazi Committee. Media Matters said that Fox News wanted to keep a tight grip on the committee, and it sure couldn’t do that if I were appointed.
Moreover, Fox News wasn’t the only right-wing propaganda organ recognizing that threat to the narrative. When MSNBC reported on the petition to place me on the committee, an online Fox News wannabe called The American Journal responded by calling me an “unhinged lunatic.” (I think that all lunatics should have hinges, don’t you?) For good measure, this dispassionate chronicle added that I was “slightly to the left of Marx and on the same mental plane as Stalin.” And during the previous month, this detached and sober diary of the American experience named me “the Most Outrageously Insane Politician Ever Elected.” (By the way, The American Journal was absolutely delighted with the actual Democratic appointees to the committee, and praised them to the skies.)
Let me put this simply: I stand up to these right-wing bullies. I skewer their calls to hatred and fear with facts and logic. I am unfazed and undazed. I am unbowed and uncowed. Which is why they know that they must ATTACK-ATTACK-ATTACK. They are on a search and destroy mission against the truth, and I am their #1 target.
The Koch Brothers have been running attack ads against Rep. Alan Grayson in his district since last November. We can’t afford to lose him. Our deadline is midnight tomorrow. Show your support right now – every dollar counts.
Perhaps in some parallel universe, parallel Alan Grayson sees these parallel vicious, personal and relentless attacks, and says, “what the hell – I don’t need this grief. I give up.” But in this universe, I recognize their desperate lies as . . . desperate lies.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” We are now at Stage Three. And, with your help, we will move on, to Stage Four. Then we win.
Courage,
Rep. Alan Grayson