Inflammatory Democrat Alan Grayson Merely 'Not Known for Subtlety' According to Times Headline

Rep. Grayson has accused the Republicans of wanting sick people to die quickly and compared them to Neanderthals and the Taliban. But you wouldn't get a hint of that from the Times' awkward, uninformative headline.

Published: 10/6/2010 11:24 AM ET

By Clay Waters

Damien Cave's profile Wednesday of the leftist "firebrand" Rep. Alan Grayson, Democrat of Florida, didn't avoid the inflammatory Grayson's controversies, most recently a campaign ad calling Republican opponent Daniel Webster "Taliban Dan" that has severely backfired on Grayson. Cave also remembered Grayson's infamous quote during the Obama-care fight: "The Republican health care plan is this: 'Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.'" Grayson has also called Republicans "knuckle-dragging Neanderthals."

But the headline, "A Florida Lawmaker Not Known for Subtlety, and Proud of It," is not only awkward but also incredibly mild, especially compared to the paper's constant criticism of a candidate on the opposite end of the political spectrum who has a habit of similar, but milder and less ideological, outbursts -the "blustery," "angry" Carl Paladino, Republican candidate for governor of New York. For example, a September 29 Times article was headlined: "Paladino, Angry Crusader Against Albany, Has Aides With Tainted Pasts."

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