Is tax-master Grover Norquist losing his stranglehold over the GOP?
In the wake of President Obama's re-election, the Republican Party's reigning anti-tax ideologue is getting some rare push-back from his associates
Grover Norquist, the head of the conservative advocacy group Americans for Tax Reform, has been called the most powerful man in Washington, D.C. He is the keeper of what is known, simply, as The Pledge, a document containing signatures of Republicans who have vowed to never raise taxes under any circumstance. Those who dare to flout The Pledge incur Norquist's wrath, which usually comes in the form of a conservative primary challenger hell-bent on kicking the RINO out. The result? "It's been 22 years since a Republican voted for a tax increase in this town," Norquist recently bragged to The New York Times.
However, there are signs that Norquist's vise-like grip on party orthodoxy is weakening. Senator John McCain (Ariz.) recently said, with no small measure of disdain, that "fewer and fewer people are signing this, quote, pledge." Sen. Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) said Norquist has "no credibility." William Kristol, the influential editor of The Weekly Standard, recently admitted that "it won't kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires." And all this is coming just weeks before what could be Norquist's greatest challenge yet: The fiscal cliff, which will see all the Bush tax cuts expire unless Congress reaches a budget deal.
President Obama, energized by his resounding election victory, has promised to follow through on his campaign pledge to raise taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year. Polls show that a strong majority of Americans agree with Obama's proposal, and Republican leaders have conceded that new revenue should be part of any budget deal, even if they haven't yet caved in on raising tax rates. All in all, Republicans are looking very squishy on what used to be a united, inviolable anti-tax stance.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Norquist insists that's not the case. He has even claimed that it would violate The Pledge to close tax deductions that raise government revenue. However, for all his confident assertions, Norquist is desperately "leading a rear-guard action to prevent defections," says Dana Milbank at The Washington Post. Indeed, it appears increasingly likely that many Republicans will violate The Pledge in some manner, either by ending certain deductions or even raising rates.
Norquist's own lofty perch in Washington is at stake. Once elected officials violate The Pledge, there may be no turning back. After all, the only reason it has such a hold over the GOP is because everyone within the party sticks to it. "If the Norquist pledge is broken en masse, as seems likely, his bizarre source of political power disappears as well," says Jay Bookman at The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Of course, it may be too early to write off Norquist, who over the years has shown remarkable tenacity and staying power. "This is not my first rodeo," he tells The Times.
Sources: The Atlanta Journal Constitution, National Review, The New York Times, Salon, The Washington Post
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published