Even after a glancing blow, Alan Grayson’s “guts” turn to mush

Congressman Alan Grayson says he is the wannabe Senator with “guts.”

But when the tables turn — even slightly — those guts quickly turn to mush.

Speaking with the Palm Beach Democratic Executive Committee last week, the Orlando liberal believes his loyalty to the Party has limits – particularly when it comes to his Senate opponent, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy.

“Listen, Patrick’s done some very vicious things to me in this campaign,” Grayson complained. “Now, I’m not looking for your sympathy. Politics is politics. But when you do what Patrick’s done to directly attack me personally you can’t seriously expect that that means I’m going to fall into line.

“I’m not a puppet. I’m not somebody on a string. I invite you to consider what Shakespeare said about this – ‘if you prick us, do we not bleed?’ You think about that.”

So much for Grayson’s “guts.”

When the campaign trail gets a little rough – despite being one of the first to sling mud – Grayson pleads for a lighter touch. Strange, since this is the same person who emits a litany of appellations against his political opponent: “Republicran” … “Demopublican” … “counterfeit Democrat” … “lightweight” … “a tool” … “jackwagon” … “an empty suit” and “the Invisible Man.”

In addition to personal attacks, Grayson also blasted Murphy’s fundraising efforts, in what the National Journal calls an “ugly, yearlong slog toward Florida’s Democratic primary.” He accused Murphy of accepting “mountains of sewer money” while hanging on him the label “Bought-and-Paid-For Patrick,” because – as he wrote in a recent email — “When you buy Patrick Murphy, he stays bought.”

Grayson even referred to his opponent as “nothing as a human being” and “just dumb.”

Now it appears Grayson wants to cry over too much negativity in the campaign, a curious complaint after openly mocking Murphy’s age, intellect and competence in another email where he calls him “a do-nothing, know-nothing elevated to Congress at the tender age of 29.

“Maybe Patrick’s rich daddy should buy Patrick Murphy a ticket on the Clue Train,” he says. “Because he doesn’t have a clue.”

If Grayson has the determination to launch blistering personal attacks against his opponent – he should have some “guts” to take some of what he gives – even if what he gets is only a glancing blow.

Pot, meet kettle.