Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) compared the tea party to the ku klux klan in an email sent to supporters, featuring an image of a burning "T," USA TODAY reported.
The email refers to a previous interview Grayson had on MSNBC with Al Sharpton following the end of the government shutdown, where the congressman said "The Tea Party is no more popular than the Klan." He also posted the script of the interview on Twitter in addition to a link with the donation page.
"Ask yourself this: Who else in American public life today is as honest and as blunt as this? Congressman Alan Grayson deserves your support, like no one else," the end of Grayson's message said. "He, and only he, is saying the things that you are thinking, and so much need to be said."
Republicans are not taking his comparison lightly. Matt Gorman, a spokesman for the House GOP campaign committee, criticized Grayson for using "hateful words and imagery" that should be denounced by Democrats in the House.
Jennifer Burke, the outreach coordinator at TeaParty.net, also condemned the comparison.
"Race is not an issue and actually [this ad] diminishes real racism in the country when you criticize members of the tea party as racist any time they disagree with the president or the progressive movement," Burke said.
In a written statement, Grayson defended his comments and wasn't apologetic.
"One could go on and on, because there is overwhelming evidence that the Tea Party is the home of bigotry and discrimination in America today, just as the KKK was for an earlier generation. If the shoe fits, wear it," Grayson said, citing doctored images of President Barack Obama in tribal garb surfacing on the Internet or labeling him as Muslim.
He also referred to incidents of tea partyers calling members of the Hispanic community "wetbacks" and calling former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is openly gay, a "faggot."
