Rep. Grayson Launches 'Taliban' Attack on GOP Opponent Webster
Hoping to sway voters their way this November, Democrats are rolling out an aggressive, exceedingly negative campaign strategy to smear their Republican opponents, and the trend's definitely taken hold down in Florida, where Rep. Alan Grayson has launched a hardball at virulently conservative GOP opponent Daniel Webster.
"Democratic candidates across the country are opening a fierce offensive of negative advertisements against Republicans, using lawsuits, tax filings, reports from the Better Business Bureau and even divorce proceedings to try to discredit their opponents and save their Congressional majority," the New York Times reported yesterday.
The offensive clearly includes comparing opponents to religious fanatics, as Grayson does in his commercial, "Taliban Dan Webster."
"Religious fanatics try to take away our freedom in Afghanistan, Iran and right here in central Florida," the female narrator says before the viewer hears audio of Webster saying a wife should "submit" to her husband. "Daniel Webster wants to impose his radical fundamentalism on us... Taliban Dan Webster, hands of our bodies, and our laws."Webster's campaign website stays away from gay issues, which are roiling in Florida, although he does describe himself as a "family man," so often used as code for anti-equality. Further, Webster's largest campaign contributions com from Christian Nationalist David Barton, whose organization, Providence Foundation, hopes to implement Old Testament law, like the stoning of gay people, a punishment also championed by the Taliban.
So, this leads to the larger question: does Webster deserve to be compared to the Taliban, or is this just "dirty politics?"
Watch Grayson's commercial, AFTER THE JUMP, and decide for yourself...




That's my man Alan Grayson fighting fire with fire! It's about time. I'm grateful he has the backbone but saddened by his being the only
one.
Posted by: Modern Meet | Sep 27, 2010 3:07:45 PM
Jake Orlando,
There is no such thing as bipartisanship.
Yet Another Mike,
How many gay people in this country have been murdered? How many abortion clinics have been bombed? All in the name of religion.
Posted by: Chance | Sep 27, 2010 6:59:21 PM
@Chance
The only time there is bipartisanship is when one party beats the other over the head and the beaten one submits. Unfortunately it's usually the Republicans giving the beating and the Democrats submitting (even at the possible threat of a beating).
We need more Democrats like Grayson who actually hit back instead of cowering in fear and giving in to Republican demands.
Posted by: ravewulf | Sep 27, 2010 8:41:22 PM
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936227029
The American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right / Markos Moulitsas
And mentioned above by Mr. Rettenmund.
Posted by: David R. | Sep 28, 2010 1:29:22 AM
Well, that inept teratoma paul bagala is against it, so you know it's a winning strategy. These professional pundits are the canary in the coal mine, for the most part--whatever they say to do, do the opposite. Grayson's opponnent is a frightening dominionist loony tune, and potential war criminal to boot.
Posted by: TANK | Sep 28, 2010 2:00:17 AM
whoops!
"During his time at Georgia Tech, Webster received an educational draft deferment; following graduation, he was told to report to the United States military on June 1971. The next month, while attempting to complete his enlistment, he was given a 1-Y classification and turned away from service after lifelong foot problems caused him to fail his physical exam."
Yeah, foot problems.
Posted by: TANK | Sep 28, 2010 3:06:22 AM
Actually 'fanatical' Xstianism does have similar ideology to the Taliban - read this http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/sep/28/cyber-jihad-islamic-extremist-websites
Posted by: paul canning | Sep 28, 2010 9:06:29 AM
Excellent, and richly-deserved! I wish more Democratic candidates would grow a pair!
Posted by: wimsy | Sep 28, 2010 10:44:49 AM
"Twenty-four hours after Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson launched a scalding TV attack comparing his opponent to the Taliban for his positions on women’s issues, Florida Republican Daniel Webster is pushing back.
In a statement from the campaign Monday afternoon, Webster’s wife and campaign manager derided Grayson’s ad as “shameful” and “ludicrous.”
But the response does not refute any of the charges leveled in the ad – titled “Taliban Dan Webster” - which claimed that Webster, a former state Senate majority leader and state House speaker, wanted to make divorce illegal and deny abused women health care. Grayson’s ad even claims that Webster “tried to prohibit alimony to an ‘adulterous wife’ but not an adulterous husband,’” and that he “wants to force women to stay in abusive marriages.”
Webster’s response also does not address footage in the ad of Webster saying, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husband,” and “She should submit to me – that’s in the Bible.”
In her statement, Sandy Webster said: ""Alan Grayson's latest attack on my husband is shameful. Mr. Grayson seems to have a problem telling the truth and no problem misleading the public. Dan has been an amazing husband and father, and the finest man I have ever known. Mr. Grayson should be ashamed of his nasty smears against my husband.""
Even if the facts are correct --- and I don't care either way --- it's shameful that policy differences would lead Grayson to compare Webster to the Taliban. This is the Daily Kosification of congressional elections. It's dishonest and despicable"
Posted by: that lung nam | Oct 18, 2011 11:52:01 PM