This morning on "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien," Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist addresses whether President Obama and Congress can reach a compromise to avoid the fiscal cliff.
"There's a compromise to be made," Norquist says. "Maybe we don't get as much in spending restraint as the Republicans want. But raising taxes on, you know, a little bit doesn't solve the problem of the massive spending problem that we have."
Soledad asks Norquist if the Taxpayer Protection Pledges that many lawmakers have signed puts some Congress members in a tough spot for negotiation.
"The pledge is to the American people, and to the people of their state. We share the pledge with everybody in "Americans for Tax Reform." The pledge isn't to me, even though Vice President Biden says that from time to time. It's a pledge to the American people and a commitment when you come to Washington, we have a spending problem. You solve it by spending less," he says.
"The problem is too much spending. The problem is not that the peasants aren't sending enough money into Washington. We need to reduce the total spending and we do need more revenue," Norquist adds.
Soledad asks Norquist to clarify what he would suggest to President Obama and Congress to avoid what many expect would be crippling spending cuts and tax increases as a result of going 'over' the fiscal cliff.
"Exactly what Obama and the Democrats in the House and Senate did two years ago, extend all the tax rates two years," Norquist says.
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The problem Mr. Norquist is trying to pay off the debt that two long-term wars cost us. And if I'm not mistaken it was your good buddy George W. that got us into those wars. No Grover, I am afraid the American public has spoken loud and clear–we want the Bush cuts to expire on the wealthy. Period. The same old lie of stating that job creators will suffer is over. Perhaps you have not been paying attention but jobs are not being created now. The so called job creators have had their chance–its over. They can start paying now to help get this debt under control. And as far as I know, you are just a special interest hack–not elected official. No one voted you into office sir–so it is not your place to decide what the American public needs. Just go away please.
Mr. Norquist is a very dangerous man. I am not sure how he intended "peasants" to be taken, but he has no knowledge about the importance of the audience and the diction he uses in delivering his message. This is a democracy, not tsarist Russia, Norquist. He should realize that and take his twised ideas, go inside his house, and shut the door - or find himself another country. The people who came here were almost all "peasants," if judged by lineage and wealth at the time. I am sorry that I dignified this man by responding, but he just doesn't "get" the concept of democracy and respect for all! Shame, shame! If there is a hell, he will be in the last circle!
Did anyone else hear him say "POOPY HEAD"? POOPY HEAD??? What is he ...6 years old? And why is he allowed in the Republican party when he's so obviously a closet-gay? I mean it's OK to be gay...just not in the Republican party
Grover calls taxing millionaires taxing "peasants?" Is there any distraction to which this guy will not stoop to protect the greed and corruption of the super rich? Congress needs to look at the Constitution and start working for THE PEOPLE and not working for Mr Norquist.
You've got your analogy wrong Grover and you know it. No one is asking the "peasants" to send more to Washington. It is the "noblemen" who has everything who needs to share a little more.
Poor Grover is so full of hate I truly pity him. He learned his political views as a child which is never good. Parents should allow children to form their own views. He will likely never change even though his views hurt more Americans than they help by far. He will have to answer to God one day, he can argue he was brainwashed as a small child.
There's plenty of post-election mopup work ongoing, the question is, what should we do with Norquist?
Grover, it's time for you to get out of town. Go away...
Seems obvious to me that most opinions, on here and other sites, and news shows, news articles all have a common thread. This guy is relevant how? Who exactly is he and why does he matter? Why does the media continue to get his views on what he himself created, named himself president of, (I suppose that was to elevate his importance?), and managed to bully or pleasure those who pledged to Him, into violating their oath of office by vowing to do his bidding even if it meant betraying the electorate, constitution, and the office they hold.
Saw a minute only of shrill Soledad interviewing the fiscal dwarf Norquist. Fareed Zakaria exposed and exploded N's fallacies weeks ago. Trust Soledad used Zakaria's talking points to nail Norquist.
The specious argument Norquist continues to spout in his continuing effort to control the nation is that the wealthy will create more jobs if allowed to retain low tax rates. If that's the case, why hasn't that happened. The current tax rate was passed during the Bush administration and jobs declined by millions rather than increasing as Norquist and the vast number of Republicans in the house (who've sworn allegiance to Norquist rather than the American People's interests) claim. If the jobs declined rather than grew, why would they reverse direction simply by maintaining the status quo. Norquist and the One Percent would prefer to return the rest of Americans to a serfdom status similar to that of the middle ages.
Well Said. How this self appointed President of this entity, that he created, continues to get attention and allegiance baffles me. He made a statement on Pierce Morgan's show regarding the fact that the citizens elected Obama, knowing his stance on taxes and this issue of letting the Bush Tax holiday expire etc. His response: "This isn't a kingdom." WTF? And then stated, "Thirty governors support this, most of the congress support it."...bla bla ba. I don't like to diminish into simple name calling but, Hypocrite much? He's about as relevant as Donald Trump, and shares his interest in desperately trying to quash anything Obama. Elected officials that have pledged their souls to this self promoting greed pig instead of the American Citizens, should be charged with treason for betraying their country. It's way overdue, the ass kicking they should all get followed by a nice boot lift out the door and onto their asses. This citizen is fed up with this B.S.
peasants? what a pathetic little man. Soledad should have stopped him right there and made him answer for that.
Who are being refered to as PEASANTS? Norquist is angry and lacks any decency.
so how about cutting all of the politicians salaries, that would be a nice chunk of change that would be saved.
This guy has no clue. Weed out all those who believe this patronizing prattle. It is time for a compromise. Grover, the peasants are revolting against the poisonous one percent....or did you sleep through the election?
It's called "Denial". Mostly a teapublican affliction, but can also be contracted by rich Mormons.
The government is taking in less revenue than at anytime in memory and Norquist thinks were paying too much in federal taxes. Yes the government needs to reign in spending wisely without eliminating programs that serve Americans who need assistance. We can be much more fiscally prudent as a nation however sacrifice may come in increasing revenue by raising taxes to the Clinton era. We also need to close loopholes on the tax code that benefit the wealthy and corporations.A long with serious entitlement reform on medicare and capping defense spending.
This idiot is not in a position to bargain anymore! The American People have spoken. They rejected his Republican ideas and if they are not willing to do what is necessary, we will clean house in two years...literally.
Norquist is so wrong on all accounts. The small increase he speaks of is what helped Clinton to get to a balanced budget. There is something just wrong about pledging to Norquist or to the people when that pledge is overriding the oath to the Constitute that all public officials have to take. I feel if you have signed that oath of Northquist's you are basically a traitor to the constitution. A jail sentence sounds about right to me!
Why do your news shows even recognize this person as an intelligent human being? He does not speak for the masses, nor does he speak for everyone making over $250,000 per year. I am tired of hearing about this idiot who does not have a sensible peace of brain matter in his head. He obviously looks down on people, he is racist, bigot and we listen to this person like he is some kind of authority? When are the Republicans going to wake up and see that the people do not agree with extremist ways anymore. When is the real Republican party going to shed the Teabaggers and come back to the real Republican party which I, as an independent, at least had respect for?
On CBS he also said that the majority of Americans voted for President Obama because the President's campaign called Mitt Romney a 'poopy head'. Now he's calling us all peasants? No wonder the House and Senate have been denigrated to the level of school yard bullying. The most disturbing part of this statement is that he thinks that we, as the electorate, would have responded to such childishness in response to our serious fiscal and societal issues! He truly does think we are peasants! Why are our legislators allowing him to influence them?
Who is Norquist calling peasants? Norquist does not speak for me. Any politicans who signs a pledge with Norquist or anybody else and does not do their constituents bidding does not deserve their jobs and should NOT be reelected.