Grayson stands by 'die quickly' remark

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., says he won't back down from his remark that the Republican healthcare plan would call for sick people to "die quickly."

"What I mean is they have got no plan," Grayson said on CNN Wednesday. "It's been 24 hours since I said that. Where is the Republican plan? We're all waiting to see something that will take care of the pre-existing

conditions, to take care of the 40 million Americans who have no coverage at all."

"That's what I meant when I said that the Republican plan is don't get sick," the freshman congressman said. "And if you do get sick, die quickly."

Republicans pounced on Grayson's floor speech delivered Tuesday, demanding an apology.

"That is about the most mean-spirited partisan statement that I've ever heard made on this floor, and I, for one, don't appreciate it," Rep. Jimmy Duncan, R-Tenn., told Politico.

Grayson did apologize Wednesday -- "to the dead and their families that we haven't voted sooner to end this holocaust in America."

Grayson said his comment is not in the same category as Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouting, "You lie," at President Barack Obama during his nationally televised speech on healthcare, CNN said.

"I didn't insult the president in front of 40 million people," he said. " When you don't have a plan, what that means is your plan is don't get sick. So what I said is true. What Joe Wilson said, on the other hand, is false."