Alan Grayson Strikes Back

alan-grayson-nb20
Norma Molin / Courtesy of Orlando Magazine

You know what Washington's like. Why do you want to go back? I'd be down on the floor every day calling them out for the crazy stuff they do that nobody ever finds out about because they're not witnesses to it.

What do you make of the so-called supercommittee's failure to do its job? I'm not sure that they should do their job. I don't like their job. Their job is to cut Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. I'm sorry, it's just a farce. The real two-party system in America is the Meanies and the Weenies. The Meanies want to take away your benefits, and the Weenies want to compromise with them.

Why isn't the leadership of your party focusing on these problems? You'd have to ask them. I'd love to see them solve some problems. Show me a problem that they've solved. But I'm really not interested in demoralizing my own supporters.

Are you heartened that President Obama has started to articulate that message? I don't know what to say to that. You've left me speechless.

Would Mitt Romney be worse than Barack Obama? He'd be less bad than some of the other candidates who are running for the Republican nomination.

Any thoughts on the other Republican candidates? I never in my wildest dreams imagined that Ron Paul would have a viable candidacy. Newt Gingrich is like Rudy Giuliani—the more you know him, the less you like him. I'd be concerned that if Gingrich was president, he'd find a way to cheat on the country.

What are the odds that Obama will be reelected? I think he'll probably be reelected.

How much money will be spent against you? Last time the Koch brothers spent around $2 million, the health-insurance companies spent around $2 million, and the Republican Party spent around $1 million.

You obviously have high name recognition. There are many people who live here and know me and wish they didn't. And the only person who's better known than me is the president and Mickey Mouse. But I don't think Mickey's going to run.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go