Representative Eric Massa (D-NY) described Senator Charles Grassley’s “Pull the plug on Grandma” talking point as “Treason” (0:41 on the video).

It’s refreshing to see someone pushing back on Republican rhetoric, but there is a reason that treason is the only offense specifically outlined in the Constitution: it’s there because the Kings of England repeatedly misused the charge to go after politically inconvenient people.

So it’s nice to see pushback, but I am far more comfortable with how Barney Frank handles it.

Of course, Massa is a Democrat, which means that he will likely apologize in the next few days.