A few months ago Alan Grayson said the following: “Here I am, the only Member of Congress who actually worked as an economist. And she’s, this lobbyist, this K Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics.”
Recently, Grayson was on the Dylan Ratigan show and said, “Well, I have the benefit of working as an economist for 4 years before I was elected to Congress, and that does give me insight into how all this works.”
[The quote above is at 6:40 in the video clip below.]
Originally, I thought he worked as an attorney, and was the President if IDT Corporation.
Well, I called his office to find out the truth. The person I spoke with over the phone said three times that he definitely is not an economist. He definitely did not work as an economist. He is a lawyer. I asked about his Wikipedia page that said he worked as an economist for 2 years.
The person I spoke with, said the Wikipedia page is not true, he never worked as an economist.
His staff member specifically said Grayson would NEVER say he worked as an economist because it is not true. Am I missing something or has Grayson been padding his resume?
NOTE: The staff member refused to give me his name.
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UPDATE: Here is a comment below from Todd Jurkowski, Alan Grayson’s Press Secretary:
“As the Congressman’s Press Secretary, I can confirm that Congressman Grayson DID work as an economist for 4 years prior to attending law and graduate schools. I question the validity of the “unnamed” source from our office. However, what you were (supposedly) told is not accurate.”
Let me assure you that I asked the man I talked to from Grayson’s office multiple times over the phone whether or not he EVER was an economist. In fact, I brought up the Wikipedia page, which he said was not true.
The staff members said more than once with absolute confidence that he never worked as an economist. Had he said otherwise, I never would have written this post. Perhaps the reason Grayson’s staff are not allowed to give out names is to be able to deny anything said over the phone at a later date.
UPDATE #2: I spoke with Grayson’s Press Secretary via email. He wrote the following:
The Congressman worked at the Dept. of Transportation in Cambridge for roughly 4 years, starting in 1978.
His primary focus was modeling innercity traffic.
I do not doubt that you spoke to someone, but I have an issue with citing an unnamed source (most likely an intern), who probably does not know of what he speaks. That’s why I have a job.
Anyway, feel free to verify this correct information and update (or remove) the post. It is inaccurate.
Thanks for connecting with me.
Like I said before, the post never would have been written had I not been told by a staff member. Moreover, I asked for his name, which he refused to provide me. I will keep this post up (as is standard blog practice) in the event anyone linked to it so that they will realize there is an update.
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Surely you jest. Grayson has a long history of level-headed, nuanced criticism based on his years and years of experience as an economist and would never be so unprofessional as to lie about what he's actually done in the past.
As the Congressman's Press Secretary, I can confirm that Congressman Grayson DID work as an economist for 4 years prior to attending law and graduate schools. I question the validity of the "unnamed" source from our office. However, what you were (supposedly) told is not accurate.
Your comment is posted above.
yes lawyers are economists. i, as a cpa, knowing no cpa's write tax law and that lawyers do, and that it is now april 16, can attest to the fact that:
a) lawyers (in congress) dont make good economists
b) lawyers (in congress) dont make good tax law
c) lawyers (in congress) can't add and subtract
please folks, dont ask a teacher. go find a CPA. ask them who pays taxes. how much they pay. and ask them, ask the CPA to run for congress against every lawyer. ok?? please.
sorry good lt. but here's this from grayson own website
"Then he went to graduate school at Harvard. In only four years, he received a law degree (with honors), he earned a master's degree in Government, and he finished the course work and passed the general examinations for a Ph.D.
After graduate school, Alan worked as a judge's assistant at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. He worked with Judges Ginsburg, Bork, Scalia, and Starr. He then joined Judge Ginsburg's husband's law firm, where he represented government contractors.
In 1990, Alan left the practice of law, and started a new business – IDT Corp. Alan was the first President of IDT. "
funny no reference to a degree in economics.
He was also the 1975 Winter Carnival Queen at Dartmouth.
Heh. Thanks for bringing to light the fact that Grayson is an even bigger tool than previously thought. Well done.
Dude, this post was linked on Hot Air! Congrats!
And I thought he was just a frothing, garden-variety political slimeball. Now I find out he's and economist (maybe)?
What next? Pedophilia?
And I thought he was just a frothing, garden-variety political slimeball. Now I find out he's an economist (maybe)?
How low can he go?
I think that this explains it all:http://righthandedpitcher.blogspot.com/2009/10/co...
More on Grayson's "economist" days:
"During 1988, when Grayson had just turned thirty and while working for the Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson law firm, he spent four days in the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. What the cause of this stay was is yet unclear, although testimony from co-workers suggests that Grayson was extremely combative with fellow employees, including slapping a female intern in the face."
http://righthandedpitcher.blogspot.com/2009/10/co...
C'mon, only a seasoned economist could hold such a nuanced labor policy position such as mandating 2-week vacation benefits for all workers (based on that dandy time he had at Disney World). His obvious expertise in that field is all the assurance one needs that such a policy would be devoid of job-killing disincentives and other unintended consequences. Move over, Krugman!
Note: All comments must include the word "nuanced".
Thank you
The Wikipedia page has been updated to remove the "worked as an economist for two years reference. It also says
Grayson is also a known liar, having proclaimed several times publically that he had worked as an economist despite not holding a degree in economics nor ever holding a professional position as an economist.
thanks for looking into this lee. it seems that today's modern politician is at liberty to just make up reality whenever it suits him/her.
His economic expertise must be why the economy is going so gangbusters and the Porkulus was such a roaring success.
This is just another case in point of the 'vast right wing' conspiracy.' Who are you going to believe… Alan Grayson or your lying eyes and ears?
His biography on his grayson.house.gov site says he "took economics classes at Harvard and worked as an economist after graduation"….but doesn't say where.
But he did stay a Best Western last night.
Obviously, Grayson is a specialist in whatever he needs to be on any particular day. It's the nature of the elitist.
You found him out! He also lied when he said he was normal.
Alan Grayson, the ideal American icon.
Alan grew up in a poor, farming family in Hardin County, Kentucky. Learning to write using a stick of charcoal on the head of a shovel. Being unable to afford college, Alan invested heavily into Bone Density Scanners, but later lost much when the X-ray was invented. Discouraged but not hopeless, Alan searched until he impressed a business man to make his entry into the stock market. After a few years in the stock market, Alan came upon an opportunity he'd always dreamed of: a transfer to the economics department, where he would work hard for the following four years.
Not content to stop climbing the ladder, Alan moved to Florida where he ran for office. Winning against the odds against William Seward for the RNC nomination, Alan would overcome racism and become president, despite not getting a single Southern vote. Soaring popularity would become the hallmark of Mr. Grayson's presidency, with lows in the 80s and highs of over 100%. After 8 years, Alan declined the offer of Congress to change presidential term limits for him and went back to the proverbial farm. And by farm, I mean leading the U.N. for four years, solving world hunger through scientific research (for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize), ended war and human conflict, and eradicated disease from the Earth.
Finally, happy in his humble Florida home in retirement with his wife and children, the people of Florida begged him to become a congressmen and save the failing state of Florida. Which he did.
Lee, you can confirm that I am the Press Secretary by calling me. I was in the office all day on Friday. Lame excuse. I tried to send you a note, but your security system is not working. I tried many times to type in the code, and it would not accept it. Email me your number and I will call you to discuss this, if you care to be factual. If someone in our office told you wrong information, we will deal with that internally. Publically, you have a responsibility to get the facts straight. What you are saying about his work experience is false, and easily verifiable.
It is changed. Let me assure you that your staff member was adamant over the phone. He was a male from your Washington, D.C. office. I was traveling, and still am during the time you attempted to contact me and didn't find your response until 10:00pm last night.
Thanks for the follow up. Feel free to call me or email me to discuss this.
Lee,
Alan Grayson also lied about his recent visit to Perkin's to disrupt a local republican meeting. He told Local Fox and the Orlando Sentinel that he was attending a scheduled HOA meeting and that he happened to notice a republican meeting taking place and decided to go over and ask a question. However, after speaking to the HOA members, it is obvious that Grayson totally lied about the HOA meeting. He deliberately came to Perkins to bully and intimidate the republicans.
To pretend that Alan Grayson is not mentally unstable is a disservice to the citizens of district 8.
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