By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

It was wrong when Sarah Palin and some other conservatives were running around talking about "death panels" this summer, and it's wrong and tiresome now when a Democratic congressman, Alan Grayson of Florida, asserts that "Republicans want you to die quickly."

From Politico.com:

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) warned Americans that "Republicans want you to die quickly" during an after-hours House floor speech Tuesday night.

His remarks, which drew angry and immediate calls for an apology from Republicans, were highlighted by a sign reading "The Republican Health Care Plan: Die Quickly."

This is an elected, uh, leader? Spare us. No wonder public confidence in Congress is heading for negative territory.

It's true that having a prolonged illness is extremely hazardous to family finances in America. I know someone whose family was forced into foreclosure and bankruptcy because she lived too long with cancer. If that was Grayson's point, he needed to find a high road to make it.

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