Soon-to-be-Ex-Rep. Alan Grayson Has a Surreal Moment on MSNBC

In a refreshing bit of theater, Lawrence O'Donnell, a host on left-leaning MSNBC, tangled with lame-duck Rep. Alan Grayson over tax rates.

Lobbing a volley of friendly fire, O'Donnell asked the soon-to-be-ex-congressman who would suffer most if the Bush tax rates were not continued.

Grayson, who is urging his fellow Democrats to reject the compromise reached by President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans, confidently replied that upper-income earners would bear the brunt of the resulting tax increase on Jan. 1.

Wrong, said O'Donnell. It would be taxpayers in the lowest bracket, who would see their rate jump from 10 percent to 15 percent.

Grayson, who generally gets favored treatment on MSNBC, was left to sputter, "I don't think that would happen."

Much frothing ensued as O'Donnell pressed Grayson to say what he would tell incoming Rep. Daniel Webster's constituents if Democrats gum up the works in the closing days of Congress' lame-duck session and end up raising everyone's taxes next year.

Delightful.