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Subscribe to RSSHouse Speaker John Boehner dismissed Grover Norquist as a "random" person on Thursday despite a week's worth of frequent references to the antitax activist on Capitol Hill.
The name of Norquist, the Americans for Tax Reform president, has been on the lips of just about every political figure who's expressed frustration at his influence over Republicans, and their unflinching resistance to tax hikes in any form.
The reason is Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," the manifesto Norquist first drafted in 1986 which opposes increases in taxes. Boehner and another 235 House members have signed the pledge, as have 41 senators. The vast majority of signatories are Republicans, and only six Republicans in each chamber haven't signed the pledge. (All of the GOP's presidential candidates but Jon Huntsman have also signed.)
But today, when asked by NBC News about Norquist's sway over the GOP conference, Boehner downplayed the relationship.
“We are doing everything we are doing to get our economy back to work. It's not often I'm asked about some random person in America," the Speaker said of Norquist.
NBC News: Random person?
"Our focus is about creating jobs, not talking about somebody's personality."
NBC News: What he stands for, is that a positive influence in your conference?
"What he stands for???"
NBC News: Yes, his no tax hikes under any circumstances pledge, is that positive for your conference?
"Listen, our conference is opposed to tax hikes because we believe tax hikes will hurt our economy and put Americans out of work."
Boehner’s reference to Norquist as a “random person” struck many on Capitol Hill as odd; privately, GOP aides will often discuss Norquist’s influence on GOP politics and admit its significance.
The test of Norquist's sway, though, will come in the next few weeks, when the bipartisan, bicameral supercommittee is set to make its recommendations as to how to achieve as much as $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction. Republican members of the panel are under pressure to agree to new revenues through tax reform, a prospect which Norquist has already decried.
Democrats and even some Republicans feel he has undue influence on deficit discussions because Republicans worry if they support any type of tax increase, Norquist’s group will attack them come election season.
Already, proponents of those kinds of reforms have begun to test the fealty of the GOP to Norquist.
Alan Simpson, the former Republican Senator from Wyoming and former co-chairman of the president’s fiscal commission said, “If Grover Norquist is now the most powerful man in America, he should run for president. There's no question about his power. And let me tell you, he has people enthralled. That's a terrible phrase. Lincoln used it. It means your mind has been captured. You're in bondage with a soul.”
Yesterday on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said of Norquist’s influence on Republicans: “They are in a thrall -- they're in submission to a man whose singular focus keeping taxes low for wealthy, they fear his political retribution.”
That was the second shot Reid had taken at Norquist. Earlier in the week, he said: "My Republican friends, these poor folks, are being led like puppets by Grover Norquist ... They’re giving speeches that we should compromise on our deficit, but never do they compromise on Grover Norquist. He is their leader.”
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BoehnerBoner is just another worthless POS republican that lies every time his mouth moves. The republican party as a whole is so power hungry they will do or sign anything that they think will keep them in office.Where are the jobs you promised Boner?
DEMAND ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RESIGN. ---p a p a r a z z i n c . c o m
There is but one oath - to support and defend the Constitution of the US. The raising of revenues is in Amendment format, and the Government has the right and the ability to raise revenues, as well as cut spending, lessening regulations, allowing states to make or break their own fiscal issues, but most of all - the US government and the Electorate should not allow the dictates of GN and his Economic Manifesto to take roots. Remember, Mein Kampf and Das Kapital? I hope you do. Those who have sworn allegiance to this sitting soon-to-be pariah have placed their duties to their citizens in the basement and placed GN and their stubborness in the living room, forcing the USA to continue its suffering. Cut spending and raise infrastructure action - idiotic, untenable and will not work. You increase jobs in one sector and destroy another sector in the process, just to get your bullying, whining defeatist agenda adopted.
Disgracefu misfeasance and treasonable in essence.
If there ever was someone that would be the king of nothing IT is/was Boehner. This guy in the 10 months as leader has become the WORST Speaker in my life @ 82 yrs. He and his girl friend Cantor have brought the house to its lowest level of disgrace than all the other leaders the house has had.They have denied trying to pass any help to the poor and needy have denied cost of living raises to Disabled veterans all in favor of wall street and the defense industry .Yes these are the same veterans that the GOP sent to foriegn lands to get killed and maimed while Boehner found a way to get out of his Navy obligation and Cantor is just another Pro Israel character that is only interested in making sure America sends Billons to his homeland while Americans are unable to get medical or living assistance while his homeland is feasting on American dollars. The coming uprising in the forth coming election should put the house back in a position to recognize that America should be our first priority.Get rid of Boehner and let him buy his own booze and cigars until he is caught in his other shady goings on.
Had enough? DEMAND ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RESIGN. -p a p a r a z z i n c . c o m
Need more convincing? DEMAND ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RESIGN. --p a p a r a z z i n c . c o m
Start over, new elections. this IS the solution...
Koch bros, Norquist; there's at least a couple thousand of these entitled wealth hoarders. See, they've never had to work to get to where they are. They've never longed for basic necessities. Their Ivy League educations were paid for at birth. They don't even know what its like to hold a @!$%#ing shovel in their hands. They're nancy boys who've been giving all they have in life, and the only thing that they work for is more. More wealth and more power. They want nothing less than a country completely divided between a few very rich plutocrats and the rest of us. They are not working for your liberties, they are working for their own selfish ends, because it's the only thing these sociopaths care about.
And they've bought every single Republican and more than a few democrats. Bow to your Oligarchs America.
bone-a, destroying america one family at a time....
....and then Boner wept........
ALL of us are random.
Boner, You lie!
You know what the most insulting thing about this is. That buffoon Boehner thinks we are idiots and will buy his bull about Norquist being just another person.
These GOP thugs play us as a bunch of no nothing idiots!
They don't belong in their place in office and their history will bare them having accomplished nothing!!
Losers on our salary!!
It's an inconvenient truth. If you sign a pledge and you don't uphold it...what does that make you? Not trustworthy. And as a politician that is supposed to be working for the benefit of ALL people, when you sign a pledge to a special interest group, what does that make you? It should make you a previous Senator or Representative after the next election.
I think the real news media need to call out John Boehner, Eric Cantor and every Republican who signed that Grover Norquist pledge everyday. You guys have access to congressmen and senators and they need to explain why they would sign a pledge that is keeping this country from moving forward and preventing passing of a jobs bill. Why is it that Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O'Donnell are the only ones that are calling these republicans out. Get off of the Herman Cain story and focus on why Republicans are sabotaging this country so that they can defeat President Obama.
Boehner is an ass...... end of discussion.
All that you hear coming from The Republicans is the "Jobs Creators" and cutting corporate taxes to zero and Capital gains taxes to zero to create more jobs in this country. The simple truth is that jobs in this country are created by us. The ordinary citizens. Jobs are created when WE spend money on goods and services. Not by the amount of taxes that corporations pay. Which is less than a lot of us pay. Every corporation in this country exists at the pleasure of our purchasing power...without CUSTOMERS...there is no corporation. The Republicans have it backwards about who the REAL job Creators are and about who's best interest they should be protecting. Time for a change.
Norquist DOES have power as the 200+signed Congressional pledges show, regardless of what Boehner or the Constitution state. The real problem is that the jerks who pledged to him have no loyalty to the American people. I know of no other group with this kind of power, who REFUSES to work together to resolve critical issues--oh, except the NBA!
I see it as they may simply AGREE with his philosophy.
Hence, they signed the pledge.
Remember, there are still several who have NOT signed it.
"The vast majority of signatories" are GOP.
Well, well....how many DEMS have signed it?
Hmmm.
Obamaniacs were enthralled in 2008 too.
Many STILL are.
It's a terrible phrase. Lincoln didn't know him though.
Does this mean the Tea Party is only a Random Person? That means he is a victim of chance, not choice; that he is a follwer of circumstances raather than a true leader of them. Men make circukstances,and circumstaces make men.
Anyone who has signed the pact, should be brought up on charges. It is an egregious misuse of their position and oath they made to their constituents who are not all millionaires.
If he's so random then un-sign the pledge and get back to the work WE sent you there to do.
Boehner and the Republicans have created no jobs and spend all of their time complaining about President Obama's personality.
Boehner's inane comments were followed by a round of derisive laughter from the press corps. Hey Johnny, they weren't laughing with you ...
Speaker Boehner takes the term "disingenuous piece of @!$%#" to a WHOLE new level.
I shake my head in disbelief. How can we continue to allow our elected officials to be led around by the short hairs of some back-door power hungry, non-elected by the people, far-right leaning individual? It's on both sides. Our elected officials are puppets to back-door deals and money.
I've not seen a anything come out of our congress that is forward thinking and pro-active to resurrect the economy...nothing but knee jerk, poorly thought out legislation that causes more hurt than help. Time after time after time.
If your stance is nothing other than making sure the President doesn't get re-elected while your constituents (except for the 1%) crash and burn then God (Your God!) save us all because you're selling us down the river.
We have to get ALL the special interest money out of elections. End the E-bay system of government or we can never change the course we're on. Just changing the names or party's will do NO good until we change the system. To bad the people that can do that are the ones that benefit the most so I'm not overly optimistic.
Grover Norquist is not some random person. He is the Master Puppeteer, and the Republican Party are nothing but a bunch of brainless Pinochio's , doing his bidding when it comes to taxes!
Amen my brother Amen!