Grayson: Palin 'an inspiration to quitters all over the country'

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) isn't one to back down from a fight. In fact, he seems to be cherishing his ongoing spat with Fox News contributor Sarah Palin.

It began with a recent appearance Palin made in Grayson's Orlando-area district, where she discussed 2010 candidates who "want to take out" Grayson. She added, "Piper is with me tonight, so I won't say anything about Alan Grayson that can't be said around children."

Appearing on CNN Monday, Grayson smiled the moment host Rick Sanchez mentioned Palin's name, fully armed and with fresh zingers following his humorous and scathing attack last week on the divisive former Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor

Asked about his labeling of Palin as a "dingbat," Grayson rejoined, "What I said was that scientists were studying very carefully...the migratory patterns of the wild Alaskan dingbat."

He reiterated Monday that he'd "welcome the opportunity to debate her on the issues as soon as she learns anything about them."

And he wasn't done there.

"I think that she's an inspiration to quitters all over the country," Grayson continued. "I think that she's an inspiration to every student in school who cheats -- you know that hand writing businesses, that was really original."

It was a clear reference to Palin leaving her job as governor midway through her first term, as well as getting caught peeking at crib-notes during last month's Tea Party speech.

The Florida Congressman dismissed the notion that she's "even a political figure anymore," terming her "a reality show personality." He claimed that she "just wants to make money, that's it."

Also in the CNN segment, Grayson defended the "Public Option Act" -- also known as the "Medicare You Can Buy Into Act" -- that he introduced two weeks ago, by asserting that individuals must have the opportunity to buy into a public insurance plan.

Medicare is "only available to one-eighth of the population," he said, which "doesn't make any sense. It's this enormously valuable public resource that we own and we pay for, and we have to use for the benefit of everyone."

This video is from CNN, broadcast March 22 and uploaded to YouTube.