Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) released a statement Tuesday backtracking from a quote in Politico that fellow Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) is one fry short of a Happy Meal.
Weiner made the comment after an audio recording was posted on YouTube of Grayson calling a former Enron Corp. lobbyist and current aide to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke a K Street whore.
Alan Grayson is a friend and an extraordinary Member of Congress, Weiner said in a statement. No obviously playful comment from me should distract from the important role Rep. Grayson has played in focusing on the true and tragic costs of our broken health care system. He is a leader and a patriot.
Grayson has recently become one of the Democrats most controversial Members. In September, he delivered a firey floor speech in which he charged that the Republican Partys plan for health care was dont get sick, and if you get sick to die quickly. He later used the remark to raise thousands for his re-election campaign.
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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