Elections

Former Rep. Alan Grayson runs red light, injures two in car crash on his way to fundraiser

David Martosko Executive Editor
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On Saturday in Orlando, Fla., former Florida Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson ran a red light in his Mercedes-Benz and slammed into a public transit bus. Two Floridians were injured, according to WESH-TV2.

Grayson served just one term in the House of Representatives before losing a re-election bid to Republican Daniel Webster. He is running for Congress again this year, and was on his way to a noontime $1,000-per-plate fundraising event featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. when he caused the collision.

During his short time in Washington, Grayson became a lightning rod for his controversial comments about the U.S. health care system.

During one House debate in Sept. 2009, he alleged that Republicans’ idea of a health care plan was, “Don’t get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.” A month later, he called the United States’ lack of a socialized medicine system “this holocaust in America.” Grayson, who is Jewish, later apologized to the Anti-Defamation League.

In Dec. 2011, Grayson appeared on MSNBC with Martin Bashir and referred to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as “a stupid person’s idea of what a smart person looks like.”

His 2012 campaign website is CongressmanWithGuts.com.

Neither Grayson nor his passenger was hurt in the accident on Saturday.

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