Associated Press
Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.)
Grover Norquist's pledge doesn't leave signatories with much in the way of wiggle room. Republicans who sign it -- which includes the vast majority of Republicans in the House and Senate -- commit to voting against any and all tax increases, and opposing the elimination of tax deductions unless they're matched with other tax cuts.
It is, incidentally, a one-time, life-long pledge. Those who sign it are making a promise that's supposed to last their entire career -- they don't re-commit before every election.
Since the pledge is obviously incompatible with sane policymaking and efforts at bipartisan compromises, a growing number of Republican policymakers are either abandoning the commitment or looking for new ways to get around it. Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.) won't win any awards for political courageousness, but he does earn points for creativity (via David Nir).
"The Congressman signed the pledge as a candidate in 2010 for the 20th Congressional District.... Regarding the pledge moving forward, Congressman Gibson doesn't plan to resign it for the 19th Congressional District, which he now represents (the pledge is to your constituents of a numbered district)."
Oh, I see. Gibson signed the pledge as a candidate in the 20th district, but now that his district number is different, the congressman no longer sees his earlier pledges as binding.
As best as I can tell, the statement issued by his office wasn't intended as a joke or an attempt at satire.
In case anyone's curious, Gibson didn't move or change districts; it's just that the state redrew the boundaries a little and shuffled the numerical deck. New York's new 19th includes slightly more of the Hudson Valley than the old 20th. It's why, if I had to guess, Norquist won't be swayed by the congressman's efforts to break his pledge.
Leave a Comment:
Sooner or later someone is just going to be in front of a camera say "It's Stupid" and all of a sudden the Emperor will have no clothes and that's going to be the end of Mr. Norquist and his "Pledge".
Agree, Dragoon. This is just the craziest thing I've ever seen. He's not elected, he holds no office in any of their organizations, and he isn't their employer. If they all stood up at once and defected, where would Grover be? He'd be up a crick with his pants around his ankles, is where he'd be. He has to keep them in line one by one. They're making his job too easy.
OK. On three, everyone. One. . .two. . . .
#1.1
Fire!!!!!!!!
JL in Montana, Sorry....got carried away.
JL in Montana - you forgot to add the banjo music in the background.
Can we just call Norquist's pledge and those who sign it for what it really is TREASON against the Oath of Office and the citizens of the districts that elected these people into office! Now how do we treat traitors to the government......
In my opinion, such as it is, just as unforgiving as Grover is about his pledge, I and all my friends are just as adamant about the oath of office that these Pretenders at political office like to claim as their mandate. When you swear an oath of office you're supposed to represent all the people who elected you. Who the hell is Grover Norquist, I never voted for him as the concience of any party, mule or elephant. And you are right, these people are traitors to their office and the American way. They're traitors, just as much as business owners who send their corporations, and jobs out of the country. Rich nabobs, who keep their money in foreign accounts are traitorous as well. Are they third world despots banking their money in a safe place for the great getaway? Is there a safer place than America to keep your dough? Oh, sh*t, I forgot about taxes they are forced to pay as a citizen of America, just to live here. All these, higher level traitors should have to leave our country and take their families with them and NEVER come back. They'll find out how really great it is elsewhere, the sooner the better. They've been trying to go backwards as hard as they can. They think everybody's rich.
We really need to vote out all treasonous congressmen and women who choose to pledge their allegiance to Grover (It's Over) Norquist rather than to this country and its people. This is insanity, the man is a damn lobbyist and he has our government by the short hairs? WTF?
This needs to END.
The Republican 'Pledge of Allegiance'...
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of The United States of America; secondary to my allegiance to The Republican Party; and, most importantly, my allegiance to the billionaires who fund Grover Norquist.
Sad old vet, #3,
That is just beyond belief, isn't it!
It just makes me sick.
Decisions, decisions... Do I vote to continue tax cuts for those earning less than $250,000? Or do I let the Bush tax cuts expire and have taxes go up for the bulk of the voters in my district? And where does this pledge come into it?
So what if I try to weasel out of it with this flimsy excuse? At least next election, I can tell most voters I voted to lower their taxes, just not "that other rich guy..."
Maybe it will work...
I pledge fidelity to our ultimate social contract - the U.S. Constitution!
To those Republicans who have thought it a great idea to get on the Grover Norquist Clown Bus by taking his life long pledge:
You idiots! You've been elected to office in the greatest nation of the world, and all you got going for yourselves is some particular pledge to some particular dweeb with sinister eyes? Cowards worry about being primaried, while brave political souls push forward and lead!
Yes, Norquist's impact on the Republican Brand? Why he's the sole reason most of the entrenched Republicans are looking a bit like a pack of pusillanimous peckerheads!
Yeah, I said it again! -Kevo
These very same Republicans literally vilified President Obama for "cutting" 716 Billion from Medicare, now they're screaming for him to cut 400 Billion from Medicare!
Is there no end to their destructive hypocrisy? I don't think they will ever quit.
Just go over the cliff.
To the average citizen, (or maybe the average political junkie) the whole pledge is offensive. It's interfering with moving the economy forward. Norquist is a just lobbyist, while Boehner works for the public.
I wish a lot of things when I think about this pledge. How it's suddenly Democrats' fault that we have this big deficit, when much of it could have been avoided if we never had Bush and his two wars. I think of several ways we could shrink the government starting with firing much of Congress. Let them leave! The GOP House isn't doing anything anyway.
I'm going out on a limb here, but my guess is that if you reneg on his little pledge, your house will not burn down, you won't get cancer, you won't lose your job, and you'll probably sleep better at night. Norquist only has the power you choose to give him. So come on, Republicans, buck-up little buckaroos, and tell Grover (what? named after a muppet?) to take his pledge and put it where it will do the most good, then flush.
The whole (and real) threat behind Norquist is the threat of 'being primaried' by a billionaire funded 'grass roots' teabagger. It is very much a real threat that has been acted upon 'successfully' by Norquist's funders. 'Successful' is measured by repuknicans being cowered, not by the success in getting the teabagger elected.
SadOldVeteran, #7.1,
Were you aware that the T-party was not just founded by The Koch brothers, but is funded by them?
The T-party is just a shill for advocating the policies of the Koch brothers.
Yep,the pledge signers, "I speak only Kockese! To my constituents, "Go ride a cow".
I don't think even the Koch Bros. have enough money to fund 237 RWNJs in the 2014 Republican primaries but, hey, if they really, really want to...
Doug,
They could fund them out of their pocket change. Though if we (the Democrats) make certain to GOTV in 2014, their "investment" might just have a very small return.
I honestly think it's great that he's found a loophole and can say he doesn't feel bound by that pledge anymore. Whatever it takes to get the Republicans to do what needs to be done is good as far as I'm concerned.
I can think of an awesome loop hole! Old west style!
First of all the Norquist pledge is a lie “Americans for Tax
Reform” hmm… sounds good to me make taxes fairer, make collections more
efficient, etc..
But it’s not tax reform at all, it’s a kill the government scheme
to liquidate it to the point where unreasonable and unsustainable lessee faire capitalism
may go as far as to de-civilize our society, Hunger Games if you will by
denuding government’s ability to regulate.
What Mr. Norquist fails to understand is that the American
public wants government to play a significant role in our society and
civilization and have voted for it numerous times.
I believe Mr. Norquist once said “Our goal is to shrink
Government to the size where we can drown it in a bathtub.”
Quite honestly I’d like for Mr. Norquist’s lobbying group,
to shrink to that acceptable size, I’ll even start the water for him!
#9 You are correct, that is their goal: to starve government to death. Norquist is on a mission to do just that, and has many conservative groups behind him who are so wealthy that they don't care what happens to the rest of the country.
It would be like the Hunger Games if these people got their way. They must be stopped, starting with Grover.
You fill the tub, I'll cover my eyes, and put him in. More than happy to oblige a good cause. (Just don't make me look at a naked Norquist.) ugh...
Gibson represents the district we live in. We never voted for him but I'm going to e-mail his office to congratulate him for showing some backbone and common sense on this. Then I'll suggest he change his party affiliation to independent and caucus with the dems. I doubt that will fly but he has made one small step in the right direction.
What?
Question: just what office in government was Grover elected to?
Been wondering the same thing. I certainly didn't vote for him.
They abandoned their pledge of allegiance to the United States in favor of one to grover norquist. I think they should all wear a pin in the shape of grover's mug in their lapels.
And if you've broken one pledge, it should be easy to break another - right?
How the hell did that happen? I just don't understand it. No one elected him to office and he's been calling the shots for years!
This has to end.
Grover was elected to the office of, "UR Stupid". He is President and has many members who are apparently terrified of him. Does that make him a terrorist and subject to arrest?
wait...
let me get this straight. republicans are afraid of a guy who would go on television and call someone "a poopyhead."
wow, just wow.
Karl Rove is an opportunist, they should have given him his walking papers a long time ago. He's worked for the worst of the worst.He reminds me of the rat in the Harry Potter movie.He looks about 10 years older than he is, he's a leech. He has committed the sin of stealing. He is an awful poster boy role model.He needs to get out of politics, he has enough experience to be a bookee.
The Pledge is the dumbest thing ever,unless you believe that nothing else ever changes. How can you be a responsive lawmaker when you have ignorantly locked yourself into a position that ignores the possibility that change is needed now or in the future.The Pledge is pure grandstanding folly.It is also GRovers' 15 minutes of fame. Guess what? Times up!!
When you sign with the devil beware! you may get burnt.....
Norquist also belongs to a slew of organizations. They sound very Orwellian. He was implicated in a few get rich schemes involving land and the Native Americans. He's just another corrupt lobbyist who wants to be a politician when he grows up,he should not be allowed to manipulate the Government. He's a money hungry fool. What's wrong with these people,, I want to be number 1, whatever it costs, they are prisoners of their own egos.
I like the Grover on Sesame street.
The Grover on Norqueist needs a shave, a diet, an education and a purge.