Grayson causes another ruckus

Republicans are trying to tar and tie President Obama with the latest eyebrow-raising remarks from a Florida congressman.

Representative Alan Grayson called a senior Federal Reserve adviser a "K Street whore" in a radio interview last month that is now circulating on Capitol Hill.

Grayson was objecting to opposition to more government oversight from Linda Robertson, a former Enron lobbyist now working for Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, and was referring to K Street, where many lobbyists have their offices in the nation's capital.

"Here I am the only member of Congress who actually worked as an economist, and this lobbyist, this K Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics," Grayson said.

UPDATE: Late this afternoon, after criticism from across the political spectrum, Grayson issued a statement of apology, the Associated Press reports.

"I offer my sincere apology," Grayson said in a statement, just hours after his spokesman had defended his comments. "I did not intend to use a term that is often, and correctly, seen as disrespectful of women."

The Republican National Committee noted that Obama, at a Democratic fund-raiser in Miami Monday night, lumped Grayson in with other members of Congress as "outstanding."

"Alan Grayson's latest comments are disgraceful, inappropriate and disrespectful to women. Last night at the Democratic Party's South Beach fundraiser, President Obama proudly named Grayson an 'outstanding member of Congress.' Americans across Florida and the entire nation can agree that Grayson's comments are not characteristic of an 'outstanding member of Congress.' President Obama should immediately rescind his accolades and condemn Grayson's shameful comments, and Congressman Grayson should issue an apology," RNC Co-Chairman Jan Larimer said in a statement.

Grayson caused an uproar last month by saying on the House floor that the GOP health care plan is that it wants Americans to “die quickly’’ if they get sick. He refused to apologize and became a darling of liberals, appearing several times on MSNBC.