America’s Newsmakers: Grover Norquist
Are free trade, small government, and tax cuts still winning positions for Republicans?
On free trade by Democrats, Norquist says, “The Democratic Party went into opposition” and decided they “could not win without Big Labor’s money.” Norquist says that it is far from clear that running on protectionism pays off. He notes, “There are more free traders elected going back to Ronald Reagan.” As for limited government, Norquist says, “A Republican who argues ‘My big government is better than your big government’ is going to lose.” He continues, “If Republicans win it will be on an anti-tax and energy message.” He also isn’t buying the notion that tax cuts have lost their political relevance as top marginal rates have come down from 50% to approximately 35%. He says, “This election is about whether 35% goes to 50%.” Norquist counsels that like the villain in a western, Democrats always tell the hero to “put down the gun and talk” when the discussion moves to taxes. Democrats, Norquist says, “want Republicans to drop the tax issue and have the election.” McCain, Norquist advises, needs to “focus on the tax increases and spending increases Obama’s publicly committed to. Obama is the first Democrat since Mondale to promise to raise your taxes. Even John Kerry ran on a tax cut.”
What about Republicans running for Congress?
Norquist says, “They should run on the same thing: lower taxes and fewer regulations.” He reminds voters that Ronald Reagan ran on a platform of “Give us freedom and we’ll do the rest.” He says, “What part of that doesn’t apply?”
What about VP picks for McCain — who would excite and who would horrify conservatives?
Norquist says that in the “excite” category he would put Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. He also says Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty would be “just fine.” On the other end, he warns strenuously against Joe Lieberman, cautioning that he is “left of center on everything but the war.”
Is this a winnable election for Republicans?
Norquist does not miss a beat: “If they run on taxes and spending.”
Jennifer, you forgot to ask Grover how well he sleeps on his mattress of jihadist cash. Or how convicted Al-Qaeda fundraising kingpin Abdurahman Alamoudi bankrolled Grover’$ Islamic Institute to buy Alamoudi’s way into DC (along with his various friends, including convicted Palestinian Islamic Jihad US head Sami Al-Arian). As has been documented by the St. Petersburg Times, the Virginian-Pilot, Frank Gaffney (“A Troubling Influence”), Paul Sperry (“Norquist’s Muslim Protégés”) and others, Grover Norqui$t is personally responsible for the greatest infiltration of Islamic extremists into the US government than any other individual. Faisal M. Gill, Khaled A. Saffuri, Kamal M. Nawash, David Hossein Safavian (convicted in the Jack Abramoff scandal), Suhail Khan.
Thanks Grover Norqui$t for selling you country to our enemies so you could renovate your condo!
Ms. Rubin, it would be interesting to hear Mr. Norquist’s response to substantive questions about the jihad in America. The issues have been raised, they should be addressed. If Mr. Norquest is unwilling, or if he places restrictions on interview questions, he should not be given a platform.
Mr. Norquest suggests that Senator McCain can “crush Obama ” on the economy, but he
could “crush Obama” on national security as well, even though Senator McCain is terribly weak on immigration. At least McCain doesn’t favor Obama’s position of unilateral disarmament! Perhaps you could interview Mr. Norquist again, emphasizing national security.
Mr Norquist makes sense on taxes and government spending, but I too am uncomfortable with Mr. Norquist’s islamist apologetics.
“…even though Senator McCain is terribly weak on immigration.”
You are exaggerating. John McCain is weak on immigration—but not terribly so. He still advocates the control of our borders before anything else. Barack Obama is far worse on this issue. He would open the food gates to help Democrats win future elections. McCain deserves a C- while Obama earns a F.
Is Grover Norquist for a flat tax? The article doesn’t say. And the comments on his connections with Jihadists disturb me as Obama’s connections with convicted crook, Tony Rezko, a Syrian. and by extension, with problematic Middle East connections.
Jennifer:
No questions about Islamism for Grover Norquist?Shame on you for ignoring the elephant in the room. What’s the matter, cat got your tongue or has Pajamas Media folded to the spector of Political Correctness?
Interesting that he didn’t say diddly about energy. That supports what others are saying about this guy’s islamist connections.
It’s the price of gas, stupid. Not tax gimmicks. Drill here, not in his paymasters’ country.
Ms. Rubin, your failure to drill Mr. Norquist on his notorious Islamist connections shocks me, as it clearly does for other readers of PJM. His undeniable connections to Islam are not exactly a secret, yet you appear, (just as the MSM) to be participating in a bizarre whitewashing at all costs of Islam and apologists for Islam. Why does PJM act like the MSM in this regard? Isn’t PJM’s raison d’etre supposedly to counter the group-think and constant apologetics for radical leftism, Islam, and fascism in general, which has become emblematic of our corrupt media in America?
In my opinion, Mr. Norquist is a dangerous menace to the security of America, serving as he does as a high-ranking Islamic stooge in right-wing power circles. I believe his role in the continuing obfuscation of Islam’s centrality in all the Jihad nightmares unleashed by the Islamic world borders on treason. He, along with the growing list of other possible traitors, traitors who are pigging out at the trough of Islamic loot have sold us to our worst enemies. Surely a probing question or two on the subject is warranted? Or does Grover Norquist set the agenda and tell you what you can and can’t discuss? If so, then your readers deserve to know that he has controlled the nature of your questioning in that regard as well. Or is PJM in the business of making Eason Jordon-type deals with our enemies?
Very moving Documentary which has led to the creation of the first Transmedia Woman’s Council. Please join the discussion and help me program WCNTV with with the type