Alan Grayson Slams Senate Rival Ron DeSantis

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., ripped into U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., as they continue to run to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in 2016. 

“I was shocked, shocked to find that the Tea Party Express has endorsed my Republican opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Rep. Ron DeSantis,” Grayson emailed supporters on Tuesday. “Since joining Congress, DeSantis (R-Misanthrope) has: fought to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood and deprive millions of women of cancer screening, AIDS treatment and life-saving care. Fought to cut the food stamp program for low-income Americans. Voted for an amendment to prevent climate change initiatives. That’s right -- DeSantis is against women, low-income Americans and the planet. No wonder the Tea Party loves him! Also, DeSantis has a zero percent rating from the Alliance for Retired Americans, which has awarded me a 100 percent rating for my votes for seniors. DeSantis hates the elderly, too! 

“And just who is this Tea Party Express, you may be wondering? Some Florida grassroots organization? Nope. It’s a California-based group that receives funding from the billionaire Koch brothers,” Grayson added.  “In the past, I’ve been attacked for pointing out exactly who these Tea Partiers really are: the ugly, racist fringe of American politics. My critics say I’m being unfair. But you don’t have to take my word for it. In 2010, Tea Party Express chairman Mark Williams wrote a letter in praise of slavery, writing from the perspective of ‘Colored People’ to Abraham Lincoln. ‘We Coloreds have taken a vote and decided that we don’t cotton to that whole emancipation thing,’ Williams wrote. ‘Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the reward. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People and we demand that it stop!’ 

And Ron DeSantis wants their endorsement? He’s welcome to it! I won’t take a dime from the Tea Partiers or their billionaire puppet masters,” Grayson closed.