Mitch Perry
(UPDATE) In the wake of damaging allegations that the ex-wife of Orlando area Congressman and Florida Senate candidate Alan Grayson repeatedly went to police with accusations of domestic abuse over a two-decade period, two progressive activists groups who had previously endorsed him in the Senate race withdrew those endorsements on Tuesday.
“After today’s revelations of years of police reports about allegations of domestic abuse involving Alan Grayson, we are no longer willing to support and are formally withdrawing our endorsement of him in the race for U.S. Senate,” said Charles Chamberlain, executive director with Democracy for America and Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green, co-founders of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
Grayson is forcefully denying the charges made in a story reported by POLITICO.
The political website reported earlier that Lolita Grayson called police on her husband at least twice in Virginia and two more times in Florida, sought medical attention on at least two occasions and said that, in one instance, he had threatened to kill her, based on police reports.
Grayson’s attorney, Mark NeJame, issued this statement late Tuesday afternoon:
“It is unfortunate that these discredited and utterly false allegations have had their intended effect — to smear an innocent victim in a vain effort to derail a Senate campaign and distract voters from the issues that matter to them. Over the years Alan has been a good father and tried to protect his five children, the oldest three of whom have all sought refuge from their mother by choosing to live with their dad. We’re confident that the voters will see through this deception just as they did in 2014.”
Nevertheless the report is extremely damaging to Grayson, locked in a tight battle with Jupiter Rep. Patrick Murphy for the Democratic nomination for Senate next month. Though there hasn’t been much public opinion taken of late, the race is considered to be extremely close, despite the fact that virtually the entire Democratic Party establishment has lined up behind the 33-year-old Murphy, and despite a series of negative revelations regarding Murphy’s resume and business experience.
In their statement today, DFA and PCCC are calling on Grayson to give all money donated to his Senate campaign by DFA and PCCC members to an Orlando-based organization to help victims of domestic abuse.
Meanwhile, Grayson got into a clash with a POLITICO reporter at an event related to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that was hosted by POLITICO.
One comment
Pam Keith
July 26, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Here is the skinny on the debates:
WFTV Channel 9, in Orlando is televising a debate the second week of August. We have been informed that the station “reached agreement” with Murphy and Grayson to keep me out of the debate. As far as we can tell, it’s the only debate Murphy has agreed to. The decision was not based on polling, as I am polling above 10% and neither opponent is polling above 30%. This is particularly important as more than 30% of voters remain undecided and are likely to make up their minds based on the debates and Editorial Board endorsements.
To say that I am deeply offended would be an understatement. There is no doubt that Murphy and Grayson are well aware of my public speaking skills. I upstaged both of them at the Florida Democratic Party Convention in Orlando last October, as noted by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times. While the decision to limit the debate to just them was obviously aimed at me, the decision is an utter and irredeemable disrespect to all voters, and to African American and women voters in particular. Patrick Murphy has been exposed as disingenuous and untruthful. Alan Grayson is now dealing with yet another incident of confrontational behavior, as well as allegations of spousal abuse. Democratic voters ought to be informed that they have a choice other than these two men.
But no matter the issues with Grayson and Murphy, the bottom line is this: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD WHITE MALE CANDIDATES BE ALLOWED TO EXCLUDE THE ONLY WOMAN, AND ALL CANDIDATES OF COLOR, FROM THE DEBATES. This immoral act flies in the the face of the values that our party portends to espouse. That Channel 9 Orlando would participate in such a BLATANTLY RACIST AND SEXIST act boggles the mind. Such decisions not only serve to keep voters ignorant of their choices, but also discourage minorities and women of color from running for high office IN THE FIRST PLACE.
If you are as outraged as I am about this decision, please let your voice be heard. Channel 9 Orlando is a Cox Media affiliate. The street address is:
WFTV
490 E. South St.
Orlando FL 32801
407-841-8380
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