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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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It is sad for Grover that he had no life in high school. That is when he began to write his manifesto on taxes. All of Congress needs to rethink to whom they owe their fidelity-Grover or the voters that put them there. What about the oath they take when they are sworn in, the one that says "To preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of The United States of America, so help me GOD". Why is not one member of Congress screaming about the violence the police are wreaking on the Occupy participants? The severe dismissal of the First amendment rights should be a rallying cry for every elected official, federal, state and local. That was all we read about when in Egypt and Libya people were being abused by their governments. What about all of Congress standing up for the rights of our own citizens for once. Thank the Lord the conversation has been moved from deficits to the real issues-joblessness, income inequity, greed..there should be one more, poverty. I just read that one in 15 is now classified as severely impoverished. What a shame, and shame on Congress for not having the heart to deal with any of this and act like they believe in the oath they took and not in the oath they signed in allegiance to Grover.
What a hypocrite...Americans, most all of us are in the worlds top 1%...noboby is stopping anyone from sharing their wealth world wide. If you really believe, send them half your annual earnings...because under our Capitalistic system, you will likely still be in the top 1%. That is the issue, step up to the plate yourself and quit blaming others.
Your not independent your ignorant. Simple mathematics shows there are not enough jobs for the number of unemployed. Get off that ridiculous line of thinking that these people are lazy and looking for a handout.
I blame people like you, I am under no illusions that you are not a true FOX watcher and believer. I don't go off on people like you but I will make an exception in your case. Why don't you offer some real answers? These unrelenting snyde remarks of people like you make me sick. I earned under $32,000. last year, I am not able to give much, but I give to organizations that I believe in, do you? You are not an independant either, you are an undercover tea party shill. If you are so opposed to the left, why are you on the MSNBC SITE? I have an idea for you, go to the FOX site where your narrow minded comments will be cherished for what they are- hateful un-American sputum.
The Republicans have spent every moment since Obama's Jan 2009 inauguration purposely obstructing any effort to help the country survive the near depression perpetrated by the Bush administration.
At every turn they ignore or evade questions regarding their evident hatred of America's citizen majority with an average income of $40,000. These are the citizens who provide the tax income that supports the country while the 1% continue to call in their markers from their GOP lackeys.
Now that there is a ground swell of protest here and around the world ,Republicans seek to change the subject or decry the protesters as "un-American". Their candidates look more like a class from clown college than seekers of the nations highest office. Their former Presidents hide in the shadows rather than be forced to answer for the wars that they are questioned as war criminals by world rights organizations.
Who was Grover Norquist again?
the Norquist pledge seems to me to be in direct opposition to the oath house members and senators take upon entering office; specifically the "purpose of evasion" clause in supporting the US Constitution and fulfilling their duties to the US electorate.
It's very odd for Boehner to refer to him as a random person when just about every single republican confirmed his tax plan as the current fiscal bible.
Past odd, it's weird.
Eh Boehner- Norquist is the guy who tells Republicans if you dont sign the pledge he will kick them out of office like he did to Bush the elder.
But then you lie about just everything else so why should this come as a surprise?
Boner actually said "our focus is on creating jobs?" You've got to be kidding boner- your only focus is on keeping the unemployment rate high, the economy in a funk, and getting a TeaPublican elect as president. You have done NOTHING to create jobs!
The U.S. government is so broken, so bloated, so corrupt, so self serving, it's disgusting. People in the government could care less about the American tax payer, it's all about how much money they are getting paid to give favors to those that pay them. Creating opportunities for the big corporations to smother the little guy till there is no more competition, no more unions, no more accountability.
How much they can grab while in office, pathetic. Just look at the benefits they've given themselves, gross.
There is so much waste in the government, they could cut, if they had the courage and were honest enough, then tax increased wouldn't be an issue, SS and Medicaid wouldn't be threatened.
Unless there is a major shift back to honesty, America is doomed and I think those in government see this and this is why it's "get as much as you can, while you can" soon there will be nothing left. Then those they have borrowed from are going come calling wanting to be repaid but there will be nothing left and they will be plenty angry and who can blame them.
Too hell with the health of the citizens, the education of the citizens, the well being of the elderly citizens. It's war, war on drugs, boarder wars on immigration, war in the middle east, war in Africa. War against the poor and old, by the rich. Soon it will be war against the citizens in the streets. Calling them the instigators.
So true, political courage is non-existent, it's all about gaining and retaining power.
Totally agree!!!
Grover who ?? Really ?? I think it is strange though how they never refer to Grover as a lobbyist,which is in fact what he is. So our republican friends are putting a lobbyist before their constituents. That seems to be a bit risky. Now for the big question,how is Grover tied to the Koch brothers....Stay tuned !!
"Taxpayer Protection Pledge"
Interesting name for something that's not really about protecting taxpayers.
Which is more sad? The misnomer of Norquist's manifesto, or Boehner's laughably clumsy attempts at evasion?
I have it from a good source that the repubs are already in panic mode. They are begging the dem's in the super committee to let them give a tax increase a different name and say its not really a tax increase so Grover the cookie monster and the Koch boys won't turn their sights on them. So how about the "temporary remittance action program" or as it will be forever known to the repubs who get thrown out...T.R.A.P.
cowboy - what you say doesn't surprise me in the slightest.....
If there is any sweet irony left in the world, ol' Grover will drown in a bathtub.
Any public official - Republican, Democrat - that signed this pledge should be impeached and thrown out of office! Clearly this is a violation of their oath to the American people.
Awesome, even this swindler is distancing himself from Norquist. Though, I wouldn't doubt he called Grover (or Limbaugh) right afterward to beg forgiveness.
Democrats also have a loyalty oath to a person outside of the govt- Karl Marx.
But their loyalty to Marx has bankrupted the nation, usurped the limits placed upon the Federal Govt by the Constitution, and sought to make the Federal Govt another Stalinist Totalitarian govt.
Is that your final position or do you want to re think that we might all be communists or maybe Kenyan or Muslims terrorists.
Bet you couldn't stop yourself from laughing while you were writing that post......I know I couldn't stop myself from laughing while reading it....
Keep thinking that Larry and continue to vote against your own self-interests
Larry you are a very sad excuse for an American, may I suggest a move to Greece.
Bwahahahaha!!!!
Oh Larry.... (smh)
liberals are marxists. It's just that some are afraid to admit it, and some are ignorant of the facts that the ideologies they support are marxist
Marx absolutely believed and taught that socialism was the transition to communism from Capitalism. Go to his 1844 “Critical Notes on the Article ‘The King of Prussia and Social Reform,’” his 1874 “Notes on Bakunin’s Book Statehood and Anarchy,” in “The Second Draft, Writings on the Paris Commune”, and of course his Critique of the Gotha Program .
Marx sees the Dictatorship of the Proletariat as the socialist transition to full communism. From Critique of the Gotha Programme
Here's a definition from “New Youth” the marxist website that is appropriate to most Democrats
“In Marxist terms, socialism is generally regarded as the period of transition between capitalism and communism - the transition to a system in which we can truly have "from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". So genuine Marxists can be interchangeably called socialists so long as they have as their goal the abolishment of capitalism and the establishment of genuine worker controlled, democratic socialism.”
http://tinyurl.com/dfejl3
http://www.newyouth.com/content/view/117/60/#difference2
All of these are from the Communist Manifesto and are core liberal Democrat policies and beliefs
A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. (eminent domain)
Abolition of all rights of inheritance. (estate tax)
Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly. (Federal Reserve)
Centralization of the means of communication and transport in he hands of the state. (FCC & Dept Of Transportation)
Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. (AIG, GM, Dept of Agriculture, OSHA, EPA)
Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. (unionism)
Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country. (urbanization)
Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc (John Dewey a communist and founder of American Public Schools -Dewey considered "the great task of the school" to be "to counteract and transform those domestic and neighborhood tendencies" which he specifically and accurately identified as "the influence of home and Church." In order for Dewey's "progressive" agenda to advance, the moral authority of "home and Church" would have to be undermined and replaced with the authority of the state.)
“The bourgeois family will vanish as a matter of course when its complement vanishes, and both will vanish with the vanishing of capital. (homosexual marriage, feminism)
“seek to end all religious belief and practice (which is a common sentiment here by the socialists)
Blah blah blah conspiracy, lie, blather, conspiracy.
Dude your tinfoil hat is on way, way too tight.
NORQUIST FOR EMPEROR! Why not? The Republicans have already dumped their promise to support and defend the Constitution by signing his stupid pledge, and signing on with the Tea baggers pledge - they do not care about the constitution. They have stopped 400,000 needed jobs - necessary jobs - like teachers, firemen, police. Now all we need is Bachman for EMPRESS and they can sign the LET THEM EAT CAKE pledge.
Does anyone know if it is possible to get a referendum put on a ballot in all 50 States to impose term limits. I believe it would be a good starting point to rid ourselves from career politicians on both sides of the political spectrum.
Any elected representative who signs a pledge from a private citizen is abrogating their constitutional obligation to America and should be disqualified from office. How dare these spineless fools pander to the likes of Grover. Who the hell does he think he is? It just proves the Republicans have no mind of their own.
Well, here is a newsflash for you Republicans who cannot think and act for yourself...........!!!!!!!
COME ELECTION SEASON, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE RE-ELECTED ANYWAY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT NORQUIST'S GROUP ATTACKS YOU. WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT THE "PEOPLE" (REMEMBER THEM!) CAN'T WAIT FOR ELECTIONS TO ROLL AROUND SO THEY CAN GET RID OF THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU !!! WHAT A DISGRACE YOU ALL ARE!
Well Linda, who peed in your cornflakes this morning? What will occur is another round of mid-term type elections, with more fiscal conservatives in office.
And tell me how Obama will run on his record for this election? Or will he take the low-road to slam his opponent with anything he can dig-up to deter the truth from happening?
The obama record isn't a great one, is it?
winemaker-4308406
Tell you what......meet me here after the mid-term elections and let's see how things have turned out. You must be a quite a "wine drinker" as well because your thinking is somewhat screwed up. President Obama does not have to resort to taking the low road....his opponents have that road so crowded right now there is no need and that really is not his style. All President Obama has to do is state the "truth".....the people will decide !!!!
Linda- be sure and post when Obama starts telling the truth
The A.P. is reporting that Grover was seen packing his belongings and getting into a van with Bert and Ernie and they were last seen heading away from the Capital at a high rate of speed down Sesame street. It was believed that Mr. Rogers was driving the getaway car,however some sources report that it was actually Mitt Romney at the wheel...Mr. Rogers,Mitt Romney,whats the difference. I'm sure they will get their's because.....in God we trust.
Finally! OYD got it right. The Reagan boom was due to government spending - not tax cuts. The tax cuts only made the rich richer and doubled the debt.
Looks like it is time to bring back the BULL MOOSE party . I know it didn't work for TEDDY R. The old rough rider believed in GUN BOAT DIPLOMACE . Truth is all who came after him also did and still do .
If we did it would scare the hell out of the REPBs, the DEMs and the TEA BAGGERS . Honest compatishion with no strings attached. What a novel idea !!
bob
I am surprised that the house didn't have our motto changed to "in Grover we trust".
Yeah, some random guy who made all you neocons/teabbaggers sign your lives away with that no tax crap. What a load beoner is!
careful,he'll start crying.....
Bohner is about as random as anyone could get' he cant go to the restroom without asking the Tea Party and now the Republicans are so scared of losing the election that they have Paul Ryan making speeches about Obama when they should know by now that voters have no use for Ryan whatsoever. They need to be scared for the Republican party is right in the bottom of the barrel.
So tell us crying speaker tan man -- do you honestly believe anyone is stupid enough to believe this crap??
If you're a libbie, then you will only believe in the talking points from the media and the administration. I think many American voters have seen through the ruse of the Democratics and their excessive spending.
A replay of the mid-terms!
If you're a teatard, then you will only believe in the talking points from the Fox Noise and the junkie Limbaugh.
But tell us winemaker -- are you so stupid that you believe what crying speaker tan man said about Norquist?? .
How the F are people still voting for these puppets who continue to preach trickle down economics and sign Grover's plan? It is a myth and has does nothing but help pile on our debt. The Iraq war was about making money for the rich and so were the Bush tax cuts. We would not be in over our heads in debt if neither of those two things ever happened.