'Die Quickly' Congressman New Hero For Fla. Dems

BRENDAN FARRINGTON

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Weeks after his harsh remarks toward the GOP, a Florida congressman's popularity with Democrats isn't dying quickly.

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, who said late last month that Republicans' health care plans amount to wanting sick people to "die quickly," told a wildly enthusiastic crowd of about 2,000 Democrats Saturday that the GOP should change its name to "The Selfish Party."

The first-term congressman from Orlando was given a standing ovation for his remarks at the Florida Democratic Party's annual convention. People stood in line to take pictures with him and gush over him, and a room where he was later part of a panel discussion had to be doubled in size because turnout was twice what was expected. Grayson ate up the attention. He was introduced at the panel discussion as "the rock star" and Grayson stood up and jokingly said, "I'm Barack Obama."

And as if he was an actor with a catch phrase, when Grayson began talking about health care, people in the panel discussion audience began shouting, "Say it! Say it!"

Grayson complied, "Don't get sick. And if you do get sick, die quickly." The crowd cheered.