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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Typical Demoncrat stupiditry
I continue to be appalled and disgusted by the behavior of the people we have elected to office. They say and do whatever they feel like doing. What happened to common decency, morality, courtesy? They are supposed to be our leaders, our role models. Their behavior is sickening!
who is this guy and why does he remind me of Joe McCarthy? Although I have to agree with is characterization of Bernanke, which also applies to the rest of this crew, including Paulson and Geithner.
He should probably print out a bunch of those and invest in a rubber stamp. I suspect he's going to make a lot of letters like that. He can start with his constituents...
Can not dispute the truth in this
"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."
This guy's one-and-done. There's no way his district reelects him. He has alienated half of his constituents and embarrassed the other half.
What else can you call a lobbiest? If the shoe fits wear it.
Just another majority democrat who hates this country and the people in it by name-calling everyone who doesn't see it "his way or the highway". We're seeing this all too often with the democratic party, from the President on down. And people should remember this when they vote. You want to see real change, this is really the bottom line, now. Vote against politicians that use this kind of name-calling/lying/over-exaggerating/anti-american/pro tyrannt rhetoric because they are just embarassing to the men and women who have died or are dying for our country so they can run their mouths like this. Vote them all out. Should be easy commercials for republicans and independent and even those honest democrats who have the guts to not resort to these types of tactics.
His mouth is as big as his ego!
This guy acts like a complete buffoon. Duh, bubba
This guy is priceless! The GOP couldn't ask for better
Idiot, No Use Arguing with the Neanderthol.
What do you Rep. Grayson call yourself and your buddies when you use a woman that fills that description???
Grayson should apologize for his existence.
If it talks like a Neanderthal, and looks like a Neanderthal, it is probably a Neanderthal.
When are Karl Rove and Sarah Palin going to apologize for the outrageous and offensive things THEY have said?
Just another looney leftie, its becoming a circus more than ever in DC since the Dems took control. Wait until they don't pass anything on healthcare!!! Then we won't have to repeal it after AMERICA kicks all these far left nut jobs to the curb in 2010 and 2012.
I love how they stand by there comment's.
Stay classy D-Bag
Grayson's comment is classless and disgusting! Politicians should at least respect the Party they represent if they don't have enough dignity to respect themselves. Why would any respecting Democrat lower himself to Republican's standards?
This man is undisciplined, disrespectful and attention-driven. If he wants to be controversial in this manner, he should get himself a television show on msnbc.
Florida, respect yourself and oust this guy!
This guy is turing into a real Shock Jock.
I am a Democrat and a liberal one at that but I am appalled by Rep. Grayson. I know he thinks he is doing liberalism a favor by breaking the Republican monopoly on uncivil behavior and vitriol. He is not. We should be quite happy to have Republicans have a monopoly on these attributes. We don't need our own form of birthers or Glen Beck. Most of us would like to have 2 political parties interested in good governance and serious discussions of issues, but we'll settle for one.
NOOOOOOOOOO.
You gave in!!
At least you say whats on your mind! But remember, only Republicans have the market on sleaze! We can't say the things they do. The hypocrits!
This guy is an idiot.