The freshman lawmaker who's quickly gained a reputation for inflammatory statements called Linda Robertson, an adviser to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, a "K Street whore." (Washington's K Street is where many lobbying firms are located, and Robertson used to represent Enron.)
"I did not intend to use a term that is often, and correctly, seen as disrespectful of women," Grayson explained Tuesday.
The Florida Democrat made the remark in a radio interview last month, but the recording didn't catch fire online until Monday. In their reactions, Republicans and Democrats didn't mince words.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Andy Sere denounced Grayson as "a vile and vulgar man" who has no business in Congress. "Disgraceful, inappropriate and disrespectful to women" is how RNC co-chairwoman Jan Larimer described the comment. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Washington Republican, said Grayson was "out of control."
Calling Robertson a whore was "absurd," said Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey. Fellow Democrat Anthony Weiner of New York described Grayson as being "one fry short of a Happy Meal" -- although he later praised his colleague as "a leader and a patriot" for pushing health care reform. (President Obama hailed Grayson as an outstanding member of Congress at a Miami fundraiser Monday night.)
Grayson's office initially defended his comment. Spokesman Todd Jurkowski said Tuesday it wasn't a personal attack -- that the congressman was just criticizing Robertson's career as a lobbyist. Jurkowski also cited one dictionary definition of a whore as someone who compromises principles for personal gain. Huffington Post's Howie Klein joined in, arguing Grayson was right about lobbyists.
But hours later, Grayson sent an e-mail offering his "sincere apology" to Robertson.
Grayson isn't in the habit of apologizing for his frequent incendiary comments. He first made headlines last month with the charge that Republicans want sick people to "die quickly." The Jewish lawmaker also described the health care crisis as a "holocaust," called Fox News and the GOP enemies of America and portrayed former Vice President Dick Cheney as a vampire.
