"The Greatest Good For the Greatest Number"

[Alan Grayson]

A few weeks ago, Congressman Alan Grayson appeared on former Governor Jennifer Granholm's national TV show. If you want to hear how a real Democrat talks about executive orders, gun control, immigration reform and other issues, then listen up:

Fmr. Gov. Jennifer Granholm: Fortunately for us, Florida's liberal firebrand, Alan Grayson, is back in Congress, after a two-year hiatus. He's joining us from Orlando, near his Central Florida district. Welcome back inside "The War Room," and welcome back to Congress!  I know I'm a little late saying it, but welcome back.

Congressman Alan Grayson: Thanks. You know, I gave a speech about that scenario you just mentioned [before this interview] -- what would happen if the President brought about world peace. I said the Republicans would condemn him for destroying the defense industry.

Jennifer: [Laughter.] See? Perfect! Exactly. Sort of like we're seeing today. [Regarding Republican threats to impeach President Obama for using executive orders,] you're a lawyer, do these new Republican "impeachers" need a constitutional lesson about executive orders? And that the Executive Branch does have some degree of authority?

Alan: Well, it's interesting that they wanted to impeach him before he actually said what the orders were. But I'm betting that as long as they can't impeach him for being black, he's really not in any danger.

Jennifer: [Laughter.] What are Central Floridians telling you -- I mean this gun issue is a very hot topic today -- what are you hearing from people in Florida about assault weapons [and] gun show loopholes? What are you hearing?

Alan: Well, there are a small number of people who are absolutely bent on avoiding any sort of gun control. We do a lot of polling locally. There is about three to five percent of the district that believes there should be no form of gun control, ever. They associate that with the Second Amendment, although that's not what the Second Amendment actually says, and they believe what they believe. None of them actually vote for me. I'm not going to change their minds anytime soon. And that's okay. I mean, it takes all kinds. I think most people -- certainly as reflected in our polling and the people I speak to -- most people are looking for some sort of practical solution. They don't want to see dead children on their TV screens anymore. They for sure don't want to see dead children in their neighborhoods. I think that those people represent the "silent majority," if you will. The people who have common sense. Those are the people whom I try to represent.

Jennifer: I would imagine that's what the bulk of Floridians feel. Former Florida Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough had an interesting tweet today. He said, "The House can pass comprehensive gun control legislation now and have Speaker Boehner shape it, or wait two years for Speaker Pelosi to do it." Interesting. Is he right? Do you think the Republicans may be blowing their majority by appearing too extreme on this?

Alan: Well, no. They're blowing their majority by being callous, bigoted tools. That's how they're losing it. I don't see them losing it over gun control.

Jennifer: Although, I must say, the polling on the gun control issue is pretty amazing. The National Journal is reporting that the Republican National Campaign Committee [is]... trying to figure out what their agenda is, going forward. They've pinpointed seven Democratic House Members that they're going after in 2014, and you're actually not on their list! At least not yet, before this interview.

Alan: No, listen, winning by twenty-five makes the point. And that's not twenty-five votes, by the way, even though it [was in] Florida. I'm talking about twenty-five percent.

Jennifer: No, yeah, it was a beautiful thing. So, because you have been so clear, and so strong, and so proudly progressive, what advice do you have for your new colleagues to keep their seats?

Alan: Well, I think you have to vote in the best interests of the common man. I don't know how else to put this. "The greatest good for the greatest number." I don't see any other way to do the job. I will tell you this: To try to placate the NRA, it doesn't do anybody any good. The NRA did not endorse a single Democratic Member of Congress in Florida, and we have twenty-seven Members. They didn't endorse a single Democrat. They're not going to be on your side, no matter what. The same thing is true of the Chamber of Commerce. The same thing is true of Karl Rove, and the money he spends. The same thing is true of the Koch Brothers. They're just not going to be on your side, no matter what you do. And [so] you just have to do the job according to your conscience. That's the way I did it. When I was first elected [in 2008], I had a district that had not been represented by a Democrat for thirty-four years, going back to Watergate. I did the job the way that I thought was best. And you know, in the [2010] wave election, being inundated with $5.5 million in sewer money, which at the time was the biggest independent expenditure by special interests against any Democratic House Congressman anywhere in the country, ever (they've since broken their record), I lost. But now I'm back, because the people want somebody who is willing to fight for them.

Jennifer: Yeah, exactly right. Now, speaking of that, your district is about forty percent Hispanic, if I got that right. Where is immigration reform on your list of priorities?

Alan: I think people sometimes make the mistake of referring to Hispanics as some kind of homogeneous group. In my district, Hispanics are roughly evenly divided between Puerto Ricans, who of course are all citizens, and other Latin Americans, some of whom are and some of whom are not. So I don't think that you would see [all] Hispanics necessarily having the same intensity of views on this issue, whatever their national origin may be. That being said, I'm a strong supporter of immigration reform. I support the nine-point program that was put out by Congressman Gutierrez (who happens to be Puerto Rican, by the way) from Illinois, a couple of months ago. I think the country desperately needs immigration reform. It doesn't make any sense for us to have ten-million-plus people living in the shadows, dragging down prevailing wages, not having any protection of law. That just doesn't make any sense. So we have to find a solution to the problem. And once again, here again, the Democrats have a plan. The Republicans don't. I think for any problem you can think of, the Republican plan is "don't do anything." "Keep your fingers crossed, maybe things will get better." It's just as true of immigration as any other problem facing the country today.

Jennifer: We'll see if in fact, it is just window dressing that [some Republicans] appear to be supportive of [immigration reform] in this go-around. Your colleague in the Senate has got a plan that it seems your colleague in the House has jumped onto, Paul Ryan. But, does it get to a comprehensive plan or not, that's really going to be the next battle up, I think. I really appreciate you coming inside "The War Room." I'm really glad you are still an outspoken voice on behalf of the greatest good for the greatest number. Thank you, Representative Grayson.

Alan: And so are you. So are you. Thank you, too.

There it is -- no shilly-shally, wiggle-waggle, dither, waver, dodge, stall or stumble. Just the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If you want to see the video, or show your support for our Congressman With Guts, then click here.

[Bill USA]

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