Surprised?

As the health care debate continues to rage, civil discourse appears to still be lacking. This time, it is the Democrats who are guilty. Just a couple of weeks after Representative Joe Wilson shouted the words, "You lie!" during President Obama's address to Congress, Representative Alan Grayson describes the Republican health care plan as one asking Americans to simply not get sick, and if you do, then die quickly. Grayson, of course, does not see the comparison.

What Grayson fails to recognize is that not only is he on par with Wilson in terms of lack of civility, but he may be far more off base. Yes, Republicans may have exaggerated the provision in H.R. 3200 regarding end of life counseling, which has been coined as death panels. But at the very least this stemmed from a legitimate concern that both the Republican party and many Americans shared. Alan Grayson, however, has nothing to exaggerate here. His comments are baseless, offensive, and worst of all, counterproductive. Coincidentally, whereas Joe Wilson was ordered to apologize both before the House and to President Obama directly, Grayson has been ordered to make no such apology for his antics, or withdraw his statement.

Democrats would be wise to distance themselves from Representative Grayson and turn their attention back to the work that needs to be done to pass health care reform.

More information can be found in this article by Anthony Del Pellegrino.