Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, narrowly escaped harm earlier this week after being caught up in a military coup in the African country of Niger.
Grayson's press secretary, Todd Jurkowski, confirmed to CNN that Grayson was close to the action. "He heard the gunshots. They were literally in the building next door."
The outspoken congressman was in Niger as part of a congressional delegation focused on science, technology and humanitarian relief, according to Jurkowski. When the situation began to unravel, Grayson was taken to the residence of the United States Ambassador to Niger, where he was placed under armed protection.
On Thursday, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State P.J. Crowley told reporters the U.S. Embassy was monitoring the situation and confirmed Grayson was safe at the embassy. Later that night, a Niger military official announced the country's constitution has been suspended.
Grayson has since traveled to the neighboring country of Burkina Faso, and is scheduled to return to the United States Friday evening.
The comments at the end of the CNN story perfectly describe the different ways to see this.
An anonymous commenter said, "Why was Grayson running around on junkets when we all know that we need to control our spending. His job is to represent Florida, not Niger."
Brian from N.J. said, "This is one great American! And I just LOVE that all of you tea-bagging bigots hate him soooooooo much!!!! JUST PROVES HE'S DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT."
What's your opinion? I agree with Brian. Isn't it important for Congressmen to travel in order to better understand the issues? Is the expense of these "junkets" so great that we need to worry about it?
What do you think? Please leave a comment.
Of course you agree with Brian.
ReplyDeleteWhen an honest question is asked, you think it appropriate to scream bigotry following a reference to dipping your testicles into someone elses mouth.
That's just common sense for the likes of you.
I don't really have a problem with this trip. If Grayson were, after all, abusing his position in order to get free travel, I imagine he'd have picked a somewhat different destination.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be constantly hounding Congress about that sort of thing, though, even when it is justified (as I suspect this trip is), just to make 'em nervous about pulling anything shady.
These trips and jaunts that Congress and the Executive branch like to do are wasteful as is Nancy Pelosi's booze laden Air Force jet. However, considering our spending and debt problems, attacking them for such waste is akin to degenerating a welfare and food stamp recipient for ordering a pizza instead of eating a Bologna sandwich.
ReplyDeleteUmmm, the "Teabaggers" brought the whole "testicles into someone else's mouth" on themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think Grayson is scary to the republidolts because they see someone who is effective at countering their lies using a bully pulpit.
After listening to Mitch McConnell lie about the healthcare bills for the last several months I'm surprised that they haven't already endorsed him president.
"Ummm, the "Teabaggers" brought the whole "testicles into someone else's mouth" on themselves."
ReplyDeleteTotal BS.
They refer to themaselves as the Tea Party, not Tea Baggers.
Try again.
Of all the pudknockers in Congress, this guy deserves the biggest Chairman Mao ornament. Why don't we see this story in the mass media? This guy couldn't figure out how an outhouse works, not to mention diplomatic security. When they evacuated this clown from the area, guessing his IQ, I am sure he was talked into going there by the people throwing the coup and Alan thought a coup was like a party at Hugh Hefner's in the grotto. I know Florida is having economic problems but this is the best they can do?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, That's pretty funny. You really don't like Grayson, huh?
ReplyDeleteBut, I was confused when you said this: "Why don't we see this story in the mass media?"
Doesn't CNN count for you as mass media?