Norquist shoots down talk of GOP infighting and presidential mandate to raise taxes
Our fourth story OutFront: dissension within the ranks.
It seems that not all Republican lawmakers and conservative groups are in lockstep with House Speaker John Boehner and his approach to the fiscal cliff negotiations.
Earlier I spoke with one GOP House member who hasn't exactly been on the same wavelength as the Speaker recently, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), who has called for the immediate extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for those making under $250,000 as a way to protect most of the American public should a larger deal not materialize before the end of the year.
Most Republicans in Washington reject that idea, claiming that the economy would still be damaged by the tax hikes that the top 2% of earners would experience. Outfront tonight is Grover Norquist, whose anti-tax pledge signed by most sitting Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill has been one major point of contention in this debate.
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What is a “fiscal conservative” anyway? Is it someone that just opposes any kind of tax increase and wants to see more tax deductions? That did become the common Republican definition. For years they cut taxes and then went on spending through wars, increases in the size of government, and the collapse of the high tech bubble leading to our incredible deficits and debts.
I believe most people and businesses have to view the conservative use of their own money, at a minimum, as requiring a balance between their income and their spending. Shouldn’t “fiscal conservative” politicians be committed to balancing our country’s revenue with its spending?
I don’t understand how Republicans could legally, or in good conscience, take an “anti-tax” oath created by an unelected lobbyist – Grover Norquist. They took an Oath of Office when they were elected that should not allow for taking any other “oaths” while they hold that office. Taking other oaths cannot help but end up putting them in conflict with their obligations to the country.
Grover Norquist has stolen the souls of elected Republicans in Washington.
I saw this one thing during the Republican Primaries where James Carville was on one show or another, and they were trying to goad him into ripping on Newt Gingrich based on statements he'd made as a guest lecturer at Carville's poli-sci class at Tulane. Every time he was asked, Mr. Carville would always reply that it was nice of the former Speaker to come down to his class & how the classroom was meant to be an open range for free thinking. All things considered, I thought that was pretty admirable & also forced me to think of my own classes different.