WASHINGTON (CNN) – Florida Democrat Rep. Alan Grayson issued a written apology Tuesday evening for a comment for a month-old comment that has stirred controversy on Capitol Hill in recent days.
During a September radio interview, Grayson called Linda Robertson, an aide to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who has also worked as a lobbyist, a "K Street whore."
In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Grayson said his comment was inappropriate.
"I offer my sincere apology," Grayson said in the statement, "I did not intend to use a term that is often, and correctly, seen as disrespectful of women.
"This characterization of Ms. Robertson, made during a radio interview last month in the context of the debate over whether the Federal Reserve should be independently audited, was inappropriate, and I apologize."
Just hours earlier, a spokesman for Grayson had defended the comment in a statement to CNN.
"She actually questioned his understanding of the difference between fiscal and monetary policy," Grayson spokesman Todd Jurowski said in the earlier statement. "She had the audacity to attack a congressman who used to be an economist. She's a career lobbyist who used to work for Enron and advocates for whatever she gets paid to promote."
The freshman Democrat recently grabbed the national spotlight after saying in a speech on the House floor that the Republican health care plan is "Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly."
Related: In Grayson, liberals see health care hero
–CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Ok correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this seem a little redundant? Alan Grayson issued a written apology Tuesday evening for a comment for a month-old comment. Maybe they need to proofread before posting.
He should've apologized. However, the Dems need more folks like Grayson. He speaks his mind and does not kowtow to the right-wing. Obama could learn a LOT from him.
Sorry doesn't cut it...do what you would demand of the republicans...resign!!!
Grayson is outrageous, he represents the worst of politics, extremism, personal attacks. We're never going to fix our nations problems with people like this in congress. Can we please find moderate and independent people who will compromise and find solutions to problems rather than partisan attacks?
Grayson is known as the ACORN Congressman. This says it all! Time for Obama to publically denounce this man and stop telling us he is a "great public servant".
Grayson is an embarrassment to the state of Florida and to the country. He should resign immediately.
Some transgressions cannot be forgiven with a simple apology. Nothing short of a resignation would suffice. So, Grayson must resign. That's what a man would do.
Alan Grayson is literally a psycho. He needs to be institutionalized–now. Luckily, he'll be a one-termer. Millions of Americans have received pink slips in the course of Obama's endless recession. Grayson–and dozens of other congressional DemocRats–will be receiving theirs in the course of the next year.
I am sick and tired of national figures saying and doing what ever they want and then coming out and apologize later and everything is all better now. If i had gone in to my work and said those words about a female co worker i would not have a job and i would probably be ina law suit right now. Why is there such a double standard for politicians? He should be removed from office. If he is a representative of the american people who is he supposed to be representing. I can;t wait for the day when integrity and honor enter back into politics.
What this man said and did is forgivable (everything is) but I don't truly believe he is sorry. He strikes me as a mean bully who just puts people down if they disagree with him. I feel sorry for his consituents both those who voted for him & those who did not.
And because he's a dem that makes it all better ! What crap
Just imagine if this was a Republican that made the comment; cnn would've made it a headline for the past month...
sincere apology? as in you're sorry someone called you on it?
This man is too ugly, in too many ways.
The guy is a nut. Time for even you liberal democrats to turn your back on this creep.
I'm glad to see that the representative did the right thing and apologized to all the D.C. escorts for likening them to lobbyists.
Does this man have any daughters?
I guess he grew up in a household where talking about women this way was tolerated.
A real apology. Good. This isn't one of those "sorry if what I said offended you" fake apologies.
if you did not intend to, why did you? what was your intention? or is it simply that someone powerful "enough" called you on it? one more example of the foolishness of our elected officials.
Sounds like Mr Grayson has a mouth big enough to put not only his foot in his mouth but his butt too.
The voters should remove this Rep from office in his next election. His behaviour is unacceptable.
Trouble is: Grayson is right.
Too many are are part of the machine that helped create the problem in the first place, including Ben Bernanke.
Maybe you have to be part of the machine before you can fix it, but so far, Not too impressed with this crowd and helping the avg person.
The ONLY reasons that Grayson apologized........................
He has been hearing from sane, intelligent Republicans, Independents, and moderate Dems from Florida---telling him to shut up and to quit embarrasing them.
Fox News did reports about this on almost all of their shows today........Letting their millions of viewers see for themselves what an IDIOT this man truly is.
Alan Grayson is a disgrace to his party and the House of Reps. He needs to take a course in keeping his mouth shut.
I think this guy is a Glen Beck or Rush Limbaugh wannabe. OR He went off his meds.