BET Wire: Did Rep. Alan Grayson Cross the Line With Tea Party/KKK Comparison?

Plus, Rep. Alan Grayson compares the Tea Party to the KKK.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

1 / 14

In Case You Missed It - Republicans and Democrats have harsh words for the rollout of Obamacare; Newark Mayor Cory Booker will become a U.S. senator on Halloween; a Florida lawmaker compares the Tea Party to the KKK – and more. – By Joyce Jones (Photo: Twitter via Ben Howe)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2013/10/Politics/102213-politics-ted-cruz-houston-texas.jpg

2 / 14

Nigerians to Cruz: Apologize! - After Sen. Ted Cruz joked that "Nigerian email scammers" are running the malfunctioning healthcare.gov website, Nigerian-Americans want an apology. “We deplore the statement, and we demand an apology, and we demand it be withdrawn,” Ambassador Ade Adefuye told Politico. (Photo: Donna Carson/REUTERS)  

Crossing the Line - Florida Rep. Alan Grayson is under fire for a fundraising email that uses a burning Ku Klux Klan flag to represent the "T" in Tea Party. DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said it was "disappointing" and former congressman Alan West called on Black leaders to denounce the email. Grayson is unmoved. “If the hood fits, wear it,” he said, adding that the far-right faction has a history of making racist remarks.  (Photo: Twitter via Ben Howe)

3 / 14

Crossing the Line - Florida Rep. Alan Grayson is under fire for a fundraising email that uses a burning Ku Klux Klan flag to represent the "T" in Tea Party. DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said it was "disappointing" and former congressman Alan West called on Black leaders to denounce the email. Grayson is unmoved. “If the hood fits, wear it,” he said, adding that the far-right faction has a history of making racist remarks. (Photo: Twitter via Ben Howe)

For Sale: Jesse Jackson Jr.'s D.C. Home - Former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is having a hard time coming up with the money to repay the $750,000 he stole from his campaign coffers. That means his home in a posh Washington, D.C., neighborhood will have to be sold. Previously listed for $2.5 million, the house features five fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen and a rooftop Jacuzzi. In November, Jackson will head to prison to serve a two-and-a-half year prison term.   (Photo: ABC)

4 / 14

For Sale: Jesse Jackson Jr.'s D.C. Home - Former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is having a hard time coming up with the money to repay the $750,000 he stole from his campaign coffers. That means his home in a posh Washington, D.C., neighborhood will have to be sold. Previously listed for $2.5 million, the house features five fireplaces, a gourmet kitchen and a rooftop Jacuzzi. In November, Jackson will head to prison to serve a two-and-a-half year prison term. (Photo: ABC)

No Excuses - President Obama addressed the embarrassing technical glitches that have made it difficult for consumers to shop for coverage in the health insurance marketplace. No one is "madder" or "more frustrated" than he is, the president said, and he vowed that the problems would soon be fixed. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

5 / 14

No Excuses - President Obama addressed the embarrassing technical glitches that have made it difficult for consumers to shop for coverage in the health insurance marketplace. No one is "madder" or "more frustrated" than he is, the president said, and he vowed that the problems would soon be fixed. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-New York) - "It’s important that the district attorney has an obligation to bring the facts to New Yorkers and the American people to see how they could have possibly stretched the imagination to reach that decision. And more important, to find out what side was the district attorney on. Was he seeking truth and justice in terms of the homicide, or was he there to protect [the police officers]?"   (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

6 / 14

Et Tu, Rangel? - Republicans aren't the only ones expressing negative views about the health care rollout. Former White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that someone should be fired. Rep. Charles Rangel summed it up this way, Politico reports: "It's screwed up."  (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Give It More Time - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) is working on a bill to delay for one year the penalty individuals must pay for not getting health insurance when the Affordable Care Act kicks in, TPM reports. He does not support the law's individual mandate but voted with Democrats against efforts to delay it during the government shutdown.  (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

7 / 14

Give It More Time - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) is working on a bill to delay for one year the penalty individuals must pay for not getting health insurance when the Affordable Care Act kicks in, TPM reports. He does not support the law's individual mandate but voted with Democrats against efforts to delay it during the government shutdown. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Hannity Gets Obamacare Worker in Hot Water - After speaking on-air by telephone with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Obamacare hotline staffer Erling Davis was fired because she wasn't authorized to speak with the media. Hannity has promised to pay the single mother of two $26,000 for one year and help her find a new job.(Photo: Twitter via Sean Hannity)

8 / 14

Hannity Gets Obamacare Worker in Hot Water - After speaking on-air by telephone with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Obamacare hotline staffer Erling Davis was fired because she wasn't authorized to speak with the media. Hannity has promised to pay the single mother of two $26,000 for one year and help her find a new job.(Photo: Twitter via Sean Hannity)

What Surrender? - House Republicans also are committed to delaying a tax penalty faced by anyone who does not meet the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. "The rollout of Obamacare is nothing short of a debacle, and the American people are now fearful of their healthcare," said Majority Leader Eric Cantor. "With so many unanswered questions and the problems arising around this rollout, it doesn't make any sense to impose this one percent mandate tax on the American people."   (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS)

9 / 14

What Surrender? - House Republicans also are committed to delaying a tax penalty faced by anyone who does not meet the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate. "The rollout of Obamacare is nothing short of a debacle, and the American people are now fearful of their healthcare," said Majority Leader Eric Cantor. "With so many unanswered questions and the problems arising around this rollout, it doesn't make any sense to impose this one percent mandate tax on the American people." (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS)

No Joke - “The whole point of websites is to design them so that it is nearly impossible to not sign up for something,” said comedian John Stewart in a scathing criticism of healthcare.gov. Citing sites like Amazon.com that can trick people into buying six seasons of Night Court on DVD, he asked, “How are Democrats gonna spin this turd?”   (Photo: Courtesy of the Daily Show)

10 / 14

No Joke - “The whole point of websites is to design them so that it is nearly impossible to not sign up for something,” said comedian John Stewart in a scathing criticism of healthcare.gov. Citing sites like Amazon.com that can trick people into buying six seasons of Night Court on DVD, he asked, “How are Democrats gonna spin this turd?” (Photo: Courtesy of the Daily Show)

ADVERTISEMENT
Treat Not Trick - Outgoing Newark Mayor Cory Booker will be sworn in as New Jersey's junior U.S. Senator on Halloween. Vice President Biden will administer the oath of office to the new senator, who will be the first Black senator from New Jersey and the first African-American elected to the upper chamber of Congress since Barack Obama in 2004.(Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

11 / 14

Treat Not Trick - Outgoing Newark Mayor Cory Booker will be sworn in as New Jersey's junior U.S. Senator on Halloween. Vice President Biden will administer the oath of office to the new senator, who will be the first Black senator from New Jersey and the first African-American elected to the upper chamber of Congress since Barack Obama in 2004.(Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Under Pressure - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before Congress about the problem-plagued rollout of the Affordable Care Act. “Hold me accountable for the debacle. I’m responsible," she said.(Photo: Kevin Dietsch /LANDOV)

12 / 14

In the Hot Seat - Administration officials have some explaining to do about the technical glitches that have made it difficult to enroll in health insurance exchanges. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will testify before Congress about the health care law's rocky rollout on Oct. 30.  (Photo: Kevin Dietsch /LANDOV)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Dietsch /LANDOV

Knows When to Fold 'Em - Hours after New Jersey officially became the 14th state to legalize same-sex marriage, Gov. Chris Christie abandoned efforts to challenge the new law. The move could cost him some support if he runs for president in 2016, but he said the court decision allowing same-sex marriage "left no ambiguity."(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

13 / 14

Knows When to Fold 'Em - Hours after New Jersey officially became the 14th state to legalize same-sex marriage, Gov. Chris Christie abandoned efforts to challenge the new law. The move could cost him some support if he runs for president in 2016, but he said the court decision allowing same-sex marriage "left no ambiguity."(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Arrête! - The French government is angry with the United States over the disclosure that the National Security Agency spied on digital communications in France between last December and January. Such action is "totally unacceptable," a French official said and called for it to end.  (Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images)

14 / 14

Arrête! - The French government is angry with the United States over the disclosure that the National Security Agency spied on digital communications in France between last December and January. Such action is "totally unacceptable," a French official said and called for it to end. (Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images)