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Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Posted: 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Alan Grayson Redux 

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By Jamie Dupree

The most interesting job in Washington, D.C. might be that of Todd Jurkowski, a former TV reporter who is the press secretary for Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), the Congressman who keeps getting himself into the news, and not always in a good way.

On Tuesday, Jurkowski had to issue another written statement from Grayson, this time expressing regret for comments Grayson made about Linda Robertson, a Federal Reserve adviser, whom he referred to as a "K Street Whore."

For those unfamiliar with the term "K Street", that is a major road in downtown Washington where lots of lobbyists have their offices.

Grayson had jabbed at Robertson, a former Enron lobbyist and Clinton Administration official, after she was hired at the Fed.

"Here I am the only member of Congress who actually worked as an economist, and this lobbyist, this K Street whore, is trying to teach me about economics."

Jurkowski initially jumped on the live grenade for his boss, as he defended the "K Street Whore" remark, charging that Robertson was a career lobbyist who "advocates for whatever she gets paid to promote."

Not long after that, Jurkowski was issuing a statement with attached files that were labeled "Robertson apology."

Grayson drew fire during the day from a number of women's groups, who ripped his "whore" remark.

That followed quotes from fellow lawmakers in both parties, including one Democrat who said that Grayson was "one fry short of a Happy Meal."

Here the statement released by Grayson's office on Tuesday evening:

"I offer my sincere apology to Linda Robertson, an adviser to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.  I did not intend to use a term that is often, and correctly, seen as disrespectful of women.

"This characterization of Ms. Robertson, made during a radio interview last month in the context of the debate over whether the Federal Reserve should be independently audited, was inappropriate, and I apologize." 

Hopefully Mr. Jurkowski will now have enough time go home, put down his blackberry, and pour himself a tall, stiff drink.

Before he has to start thinking about how to put out the next fire.

 
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