Anti-Tax Crusader Grover Norquist
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-12-03/anti-tax-crusader-grover-norquist
Tax policy has never been easy -- for politicians to agree on or for Americans who are not accounting experts to understand. Now we have the so-called fiscal cliff looming over the nation, and the Obama administration and Republican leaders are at a stalemate on how to avert it. Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist has played an outsized role in the debate. Most Republican members of the current Congress have signed Norquist's anti-tax pledge. But with November elections over and the fiscal cliff just weeks away, some pledge-signers have begun to waver. Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform joins Diane to talk about one of life's two certainties: taxes.
Guests
Grover Norquist
president of Americans for Tax Reform.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Democrat of Maryland and ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee.
Rep. Ted Yoho
Republican congressman-elect of Florida.
Video: Inside The Studio
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, talked about the so-called fiscal cliff and his no-tax pledge. Norquist said President Barack Obama's proposal to avoid the fiscal cliff is "unserious," and he proposed broadcasting the negotiations on C-SPAN. "I think he's trying to take us off the cliff and blame other people," Norquist said about Obama. About the public negotiation, Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen replied, "It would be good if Speaker [John] Boehner actually put his plan on paper like the president has so the public can see what it is." Norquist also responded to a listener's question about why he continues to refer to policies enforced under President Ronald Reagan's administration, even though more than 30 years have since passed since Reagan was president.
Comments
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Hey HA,
First, you need to learn your scripture a little better. Jesus did not call the "rich" "whited sepulchres". Whom he addressed was:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees ..." So stop making stuff up. By the way, other parts of scripture condemn those who misrepresent what the scripture says as you have done.
Wanna see Jesus words in action? Read the Parable of the Loaves and Fishes. When the apostles came to Jesus after he had been preaching all day complaining that it was too late in the day and the people would not be able to get food for themselves, Jesus said, "OK, here's what we're going to do ... we're going to tax everyone on a progressive schedule, collect the money, form a committee to decide what to buy and then go get food and distribute it as we see fit. Got it, boys?"
Well, actually, his words were a bit simpler than that. He said, "YOU give them something to eat." Get it?
"In one place He pointed out that a destitute widow gave more to the temple than all the wealthy. He made it crystal clear that WE are supposed to SHARE with everyone and said zip about the specifics of doing that."
Ha! You condemn yourself with your own words, AH! Studies show that Conservative Christians are FAR more generous WITH THEIR OWN MONEY than liberals, no matter what their station in life! Liberals, unfortunately for you are generous only with OPM. And yes, you're going to be held to account for that.
Joy-Ann Sanz-Agero wrote:
"I agree with Dennis and others who have stated the same. I barely listened to this show after I heard who the guest was, because I had heard the previous show this year with him as your guest. Well, Ms. Rehm, why?"
Because we're now into six pages of comments - mostly from people on the left. Get it?
THX1138 wrote:
"The hippies and flower children of the sixties who once rebelled against "the man" have become the man ...."
Awesome post, dude!
Diane,
I just listened to Mr. Norquist adamantly state that the Pledge many Republicans have signed is a pledge to the American people, not to Mr. Norquist. That is one of the most arrogant statements I have ever heard. Mr. Norquist doesn't speak for me, has never been elected to speak for any constituency, and his Pledge was soundly rejected by a majority of Americans in the recent elections. Additionally numerous recent polls show a supermajority of Americans support higher tax rates for the highest income individuals.
I strongly support raising the top rates for unearned income such as capital gains, dividends, and carried interest as well as for earned income such as salaries and wages. The highest income Americans realize much of their income through such unearned methods, for example from exercising stock options.
One who believes that Grover Norquist "speaks" for all.....or even most Americans probably also believes in the Tooth Fairy.
I just love these very rare one on one shows D.R. puts on with conservative guests. The self imposed ignorance and closed mindedness that the left displays on these occasions is really entertaining and enlightening. It's almost unbelievable they themselves don't see it.
The following is not original with me, but I wish it were:
President Obama ordered the cabinet to cut $100,000,000.00 ($100
million) from the $3,500,000,000,000.00 ($3.5 trillion) federal
budget. I'm so impressed by this sacrifice that I have decided to do the same thing with my personal budget. It's gonna be hard, but I plan on showing what a good American I am and do the same thing! It's our patriotic duty after all.... I'm going to bite the bullet, too!!!!
I spend about $2,000 a month on groceries, household expenses, medicine, utilities, etc., but it's time to get out the budget cutting
ax, go through my expenses, and cut back. I'm going to cut my spending at exactly the same ratio (1/35,000) of my total budget.
After doing the math, it looks like instead of spending $2,000 a month, I'm going to have to cut that number by six cents. Yes, I'm going to have to get by with $1999.94, but that's what sacrifice is all about. I'll just have to do without some things, which are, frankly, luxuries, six cents worth!
"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation... One is by
sword... The other is by debt."
John Adams 1826
Bruce Ewert wrote:
"his Pledge was soundly rejected by a majority of Americans in the recent elections"
Soundly rejected? I would remind you Bruce, that bills with respect to the country's finances originate in the House of Representatives. Which body, the majority of Americans left soundly in Republican hands.
Does Grover Norquist know that Ronald Reagan's presidency ended in 1989?...The Reagan Era is dead...over...Kaput! Policies of THAT time are no longer relevant and former presidents don't get to dictate policy from the grave.
Grover's own irrelevance became clear when he sounded the alarm about PIZZA TOPPINGS!
Diane, please stop inviting this man on your show for your own relevancy. He, like so many conservatives, is still living in the 1980s when it was fashionable for the affluent and the comfortable to expect to always get what they want.
LET'S MOVE ON!
Listener in IN
At 48:30 in the interview Norquist said that pizza shops have 34 million different toppings. I think that puts everything he says into question. Norquist has been listening to Rush too long and can no longer tell fantasy from fiction(lies).
MARKMAFF wrote:
It seems hypocritical to say that the President won't negotiate when Grover Norquist holds pledges from republican congressmen promising not to negotiate on taxes.
.......Excellent point.That is the modus operandi of the Republican Party . They get their way by rigging the system in their own favor, like the unregulated banking system.
Diane,
When do those of us who have a different view on taxes get equal time? How about a conversation with:
Joseph Stiglitz,
Dean Baker,
or William Black?
Thanks.
What is up with the Reagan nostalgia? 1. You cannot effectively compare the current state of our economy to the economy at the time he was in office. 2. Reagan fathered trickle down economics, raised taxes on low and middle income folks, decreased taxes on the rich, eradicated wage and price controls (which is why we get paid significantly less then we used to in comparison to the cost of goods and living), and profoundly increased defense spending. It only worked for the rich and even then, only in the short-term.
Grover's partisanship is disgusting. I am tired of hearing bias attacks aimed at specific people. Honestly, the other guests on the show were much more tolerable.
LeFabe wrote:
he gets air time because NPR is funded by corporations and people like Pete Peterson. It'd be nice if Diane had the honesty to admit this.
.....Now there's a "voice of reason". Thanks for mentioning this LeFabe.
Until President Obama was elected no congress ever considered holding the debt ceiling hostage and threatening the credit rating of the U.S. What changed, was the color of skin of the occupant of the White House. The fact is that threatening the credit rating of the country and the full faith and credit of the United States gives aid and comfort to America's enemies. There's a word for that in the Constitution. (Hint Art III Sec. 3). It should be noted that Ronny Raygun, Grover's lost unrequited (as far as we know) love, asked Congress to raise the debt ceiling 18 times during his administration which they did as a rubber stamp. It should also be noted that David Stockman, Reagan's chief economic adviser now derides "Reaganomics" and says that 'supply side/trickle down economics doesn't work, couldn't work, was never going to work and certainly won't work now. He considers the current pack leading the republican party to be insane. Finally, and I can't stress THIS too strongly, Raygun set this country back from the course of energy independence by at least 30 years.
CLIFFORD wrote: "47% of working American`s don`t pay Federal Income Tax."
Double-check your facts, please.
The actual figure was 47% of HOUSEHOLDS don't pay Federal Income Tax. Nearly half of those are RETIRED seniors on Social Security. Many of the rest are made up by the unemployed and underemployed, and those people pay every other tax you can imagine: payroll taxes, property taxes, gas sales and sin taxes, etc.
Your belief (if you even really believe it) that "47% of working American`s don`t pay Federal Income Tax" is why low-information Republicans vote against their own interests so readily.
Jokr8790 wrote:
"Ronny Raygun"
Lefties, you complain that Grover Norquist refered to President Obama as "Mr. Obama" instead of "President Obama", but "Ronny Raygun" is ok? They are ALL due the same respect of office, whether you like them or not. Get it?
Now, Joker, to school you on President Reagan and the debt:
National Debt
1980 : 1T
1988 : 2.6T
2008 : 10T
2012 : 16T
See the difference and why the Tea Enough Already Party and people like Grover Norquist are upset?
"It should also be noted that David Stockman, Reagan's chief economic adviser now derides "Reaganomics" and says that 'supply side/trickle down economics doesn't work, couldn't work, was never going to work and certainly won't work now."
Diane, perahps you could have Mr. Stockman on to explain how private sector trickle down economics is different than Federal Government "tax and trickle down economics".
Respectfully,
As I understand it (I was rather young at the time, so this is something I read recently), the debt was about $800M when President Reagan took office. I also understand that it tripled under his presidency. Do you dispute these numbers?
Also, as I understand it, most of the deficit spending under Obama is of the kind that the majority of economists agree are necessary during such a steep recession, and that the majority of the DEBT was his administration putting the previous administration's foreign wars "on the books." A 60% increase in the first four years under President Obama is a lot, but it's not 300% or even 150%, compared to President Reagan.
http://phys.org/news/2012-09-national-deficit-outlook-unchanged-obama.ht...
Just as there was no other entity in the world with the money to restructure GM at the time, I think it's safe to say that economists agree that only one entity can spend enough money to get an economy growing again, and that's the Federal Government. I also understand that the two biggest flaws in President Obama's stimulus were a) too much of it were tax cuts and b) it was too small. This 60% increase, then, when put into its proper context, looks rather less irresponsible, does it not?
"Marilyn KA wrote:
Recognizing there are many who may disagree with me, I question the true patriotism of those who signed the Grover Norquist pledge. He has not been elected by the American people and yet many have pledged their allegiance to HIS cause. This gives them the "out" to making the hard decisions we need from our elected officials which, is my estimation, is an act of cowardice.
December 3, 2012 - 10:25 am"
Did you hear Congressperson Yoho running on about being his own Man, refusing to take the Pledge, Blah, blah, blah until MISTER NORQUIST started to question him??
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
Does anyone know how I can find the song played during the first break? I can't find information anywhere on the songs played on this show.
"MSMaryland wrote:
It totally ticks me off that certain people (like the congressmen) continue to disrespect the President by addressing him as Mr. Obama instead of PRESIDENT OBAMA.
December 3, 2012 - 10:32 am"
Well, that's some progress, I suppose. They refused to call George Washington Carver Mister and were relieved when they could call him Doctor.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
Listening to the show, Ms. Rhehm did an excellent job pressing Norquist on the the "Pledge", which he claims is not to him but between the American people and the people that represent them.
One flaw, in that though, it is Norquist's Pledge, between himself and himself to promote himself.
#FREEREPUBLICANS from any pledge NOT to RAISE TAXES http://www.facebook.com/pages/FreeRepublicans/221584381244060
Now is the time to ask your republican congressional representative and senators, to free themselves of any pledge to Grover Norquist not ever raise taxes.
We saw in summer of 2011 what the rising uncetianty of debt default and threat of fiscal austerity did to our economy (caused a major downturn). Every republcian in congress (and probably everyone running) has made a pledge to Grover Norquist, a major, influencial political financer and power broker, that they will not raises taxes under any cicrumstances.
Regardless of how you feel about much we can cut from the federal budget, the numbers show we can't do it by budget cuts alone, and tax revenue must be raised.
Tell YOUR candidates now, in the election season, that you want them to BREAK THAT PLEDGE, and not let the threat of fiscal default be anonther disruption to our economy again.
Make this a campaign issue. Spread the word. Let your candidates know!
Congressman-elect Yoho-
I believe you meant "President" Obama. Please show some respect, sir.
nitanaemon wrote:
"I believe you meant "President" Obama. Please show some respect, sir."
Sir, I respectfully request you read my post from 4:30 today.
ecgberht: I personally have always called our presidents "President," no matter if I like or agree with them or not. But when people in the public eye, especially republicans, refer to our president as Mr. Obama it is no mistake. They mean to show disrespect. And the TEA Party eats it up.
CaptainHowdy777 wrote:
"Respectfully, As I understand it (I was rather young at the time, so this is something I read recently), the debt was about $800M when President Reagan took office. I also understand that it tripled under his presidency. Do you dispute these numbers?"
I don't dispute them ... the FACTS do - even assuming you meant 800B, not 800M.
http://cdn.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/2012/04/Federal_Debt.png
Note the rise between 1981 and 1989. That is the Reagan era. The right edge of the graph is the four years of Obama.
"Also, as I understand it, most of the deficit spending under Obama is of the kind that the majority of economists agree are necessary during such a steep recession"
Really?
"Shovel-ready was not as ... uh .. shovel-ready as we expected." -Barack Obama
"...and that the majority of the DEBT was his administration putting the previous administration's foreign wars "on the books."
Utter nonsense. The wars represented "spent money", therefore are part of the debt under any administration. What you are confused about is that President Bush did not include them in his budgets. President Obama has not offered a Constitutionally required budget that the Congress would pass since he became President.
"A 60% increase in the first four years under President Obama is a lot, but it's not 300% or even 150%, compared to President Reagan".
If percentages make you feel better about the difference between 1.8T and 6T in real dollars, then whatever. But in real dollars, which is what matters, the debt has mushroomed under this President. Look at the graph once again.
Part deux:
"Just as there was no other entity in the world with the money to restructure GM at the time, I think it's safe to say that economists agree that only one entity can spend enough money to get an economy growing again, and that's the Federal Government."
Utterly ridiculous in addition to incorrect. The entity that spends the most is the PRIVATE SECTOR. It outspends the FG about 5 go 1.
"I also understand that the two biggest flaws in President Obama's stimulus were a) too much of it were tax cuts and b) it was too small."
Ah, the Kruggman school of wasteful spending! Yes, of course, what we needed was more tax money to waste on un-shovel-ready jobs. You should look up the details on just where the stimulus money was actually spent. It's quite enlightening.
"This 60% increase, then, when put into its proper context, looks rather less irresponsible, does it not?"
Well, I think I've put it in its proper context, CaptainHowdy. And in its proper context, it's been a bloody disaster. Consider what we got for our 6T. Still near 8% UE, 15% U6, and barely 2% growth. You should stop going by "as I understand it" and start doing some research on your own.
nitanaemom wrote:
"ecgberht: I personally have always called our presidents "President," no matter if I like or agree with them or not. But when people in the public eye, especially republicans, refer to our president as Mr. Obama it is no mistake. They mean to show disrespect. And the TEA Party eats it up."
Good for you - and I'm not being a smart-a$$.
The good thing is that when George W Bush was President, we never heard things like "Bush", "Georgie", "George Jr", "George II" coming from the left. They were always perfectly respectful. Not to mention:
http://doctorbulldog.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/8130george-w-bush-monke...
and this ...
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushpic8.htm
You must be very proud.
By the way, your ascription to the Tea Party is without any merit or evidence. Did you take a poll? The "collective" views that the left ascribes to the Tea Party, an amorphous group that opposes big government and high taxes, is really disturbing. But if it makes you feel better, live with the meme, nitanaemom.
Grover Norquist is a lobbyist. Like most Lobbyists he works for the wealthy and powerful. His pompous know-it-all style is classic right-wing-think-tank. He says his focus is on the American public, and although I've not been able to find a copy of the actual pledge online, what I have found makes it clear his focus is not on helping the middle class. He wants to protect his corporate and wealthy friends from paying their fair share of taxes. He is NOT an elected official, but because our government has sold its soul to industry, he has enormous influence in Washington. This shows how little regard government has for 'we the people'. The recent election has apparently ramped him up as opposed to knocking him off his "Citizens United" throne.