Why Does Grover Norquist Wield Power over Republicans?

npr.org

Grover Norquist has an inordinate amount of influence on the Republican Party, a fact that should concern the American public.  Approximately 95% of Republican members of Congress signed his "Tax Protection Pledge" prior to the last elections.  Why worry about that?  Voters should question why so many Republicans cater to the wishes of an unelected official with respect to the tax code.  Norquist can spew his venomous attack against raising taxes, but he can't be voted out of office because he doesn't hold one.



America's citizens should have grave concerns about a lobbyist who has such a stranglehold on so many members of Congress because he doesn't answer to the people.  According to politico.com, Norquist dismissed statements made by Senator Lindsay Graham, Senator Saxbey Chambliss, and other Republican congressmen that they would consider tax hikes as “impure thoughts” and said he wasn’t concerned that any of them would actually vote to raise taxes.

To emphasize his stance, he stated, “I’m not planning on losing the tax debate we’re having right now. But the tax issue will be more powerful in 2014, 2016 than today.”

Ham on Wry finds his quote deeply disturbing.  Note his use of the word I as he mentions not losing the tax debate.  Norquist suffers from "delusions of grandeur" in his own assessment of his role in the tax debate and of himself.  I wasn't aware that he was in a position to win or lose, since he's not a sitting member of Congress or a member of the administration.

Norquist wears an ever-present frown in most of his pictures, revealing a person who takes himself far too seriously.  Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans have supported that notion.  Voters must inform their representatives and senators to do what's best for the country and break the hold Norquist has on them.  It's dangerous for anyone to wield that kind of power over elected officials.  We can't afford to adopt Alfred E. Neumann's mantra, 'What, me worry?"