His name is Grover Norquist – The author of a pledge that over 230 Republican House members, 41 Republican Senators and more than 1,100 state officeholders, from state representatives to governors have signed. The Pledge forces these members to promise that no matter what the circumstance, no matter how dire the situation, they will not raise taxes.
Norquist appeared on Hardball with Chris Mathews yesterday and defended his position and that of the signers of the pledge. He was asked many times by Mathews to describe any scenario where he would allow the signers to do what’s right for the country instead of holding to the pledge, but Norquist managed to sidestep the question, choosing instead to bark the same old talking point that the pledge is “what the American people want”, despite recent polls that show over 70% of Americans disagree with Republicans on this matter.
America must raise its debt ceiling from $14.3 trillion by August 2nd to meet our financial responsibilities worldwide. Republicans, who for decades have tried to cut spending on programs benefiting the poor and middle class, turned down over $3 trillion in those cuts offered by Democrats because taking that offer would mean they must agree to closing some tax loopholes for millionaires.
Congressional Republicans have made a pledge of allegiance to Grover Norquist, instead of making it to the Flag of The United States of America.
There are other leaders in the GOP who work behind the scenes.
Coe (National Prayer Breakfast) and Fuelner (co-founder and current head of the Heritage Foundation) spring to mind.
Grover Norquist is either a patriot or an idiot. But he is a powerful force in the GOP, unchallenged by the media.