Americans for Tax Reform: Thompson Would Hike Taxes ["Worst" of the Republican candidates]

NewsMax ^ | 8 November 2007 | Ronald Kessler

[Spiff]

Reform Group: Thompson Would Hike Taxes

Thursday, November 8, 2007 3:05 PM

By: Ronald Kessler

When it comes to taxes, Fred Thompson is the "worst" of the Republican presidential candidates, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, tells Newsmax.

GOP hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have both promised not to raise taxes - Romney even signing an ATR pledge not to raise the marginal tax rate. Thompson, on the other hand, has not signed the pledge and has said high-income Medicare beneficiaries may have to pay more for coverage.

“Thompson didn’t sign the pledge as a senator, and he has no track record of being any good on taxes,” Norquist says. “He won’t say no to tax hikes, and in this town, that means you will say yes to tax increases.

"You can spend the rest of your life raising taxes and you can’t fix the entitlement problem," he says. "We’ve got to say taxes are off the table, and now how do you fix it? With education, we can offer school choice. With social security, it’s personal savings accounts. With Medicare, it’s health savings accounts.”

A lynchpin of the conservative movement, Norquist runs an off-the-record, invitation-only meeting every Wednesday at ATR’s office in Washington. There, roughly 150 representatives of the White House, Republican congressional leadership, and conservative interest groups gather to exchange the latest skinny on politics, strategy, and issues.

Besides the possibility of raising taxes, Thompson has called for indexing Social Security benefits to inflation rather than to wages.

Michael Tanner, director of health and welfare studies at the Cato Institute, has said that pegging Social Security benefits to inflation would preserve the program’s solvency, but could lead to a dramatic cut in benefits.

“It’s about a 25-percent benefit cut by 2040,” Tanner says.

In proposing tax increases to bail out an entitlement program, Thompson is adopting the Democrats’ outmoded solution, Norquist says.

“Thompson is leaving the door open to tax increases in a way that shouts to the Democrats, 'I can be had on taxes,' ” Norquist notes.

A board member of the National Rifle Association, Norquist adds, “Thompson has a troubled history. He is an enemy of the First Amendment on McCain-Feingold. He didn’t think through how damaging this bill would be to conservatives, to the pro-life movement, to the gun movement, to the Republican party.”

Norquist maintains the Democrats wrote the campaign finance bill to “damage” the Republican party.

“McCain pushed it because he was trying to undo the damage he’d done to his own reputation because of his involvement in the savings-and-loan scandal,” Norquist says. “Thompson had no similar excuse.”

The position Thompson took as a senator on tort reform makes him an “opponent of the small business community, and the big business community and entrepreneurs everywhere,” Norquist says. “So the tax issue is front and center. The fact that he refuses to say he won’t raise taxes and in fact all but shouts he wants to walk into a room and raise taxes to fix entitlements means that on taxes, he is the worst Republican running.”

[Nonstatist]

Fred Dole-son wants to be President, kind of.

[Perdogg]

I want the Republicans to come out in favor of the Fair tax.

[lewislynn]

Norquist maintains the Democrats wrote the campaign finance bill to “damage” the Republican party.

Oh so that explains why Bush signed it.

Norquist? Isn't he the terrorist ass kisser/traitor?...We should trust what he says because? __________

[John Valentine]

Norquist is spewing crap here. Mabye he’s senile now.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

In proposing tax increases to bail out an entitlement program

I don't think the Big Guy said this. Is this really true? As a Paul kook who'll support Fred if he's nominated, this may sway my vote.

Thompson's nominated = Well, I'll wait for the official version before going 3rd party

[Spiff]

Norquist is spewing crap here. Mabye he’s senile now.

Or maybe you are. You're the one making baseless ad hominem attacks against a respected conservative who backed up his statements with actual facts. Where's your facts?

[papasmurf]

Well, at least FRed doesn't have a record of raising them, and adding fees in place of taxes like myth romney does.

Romney Balances Budget with $500 Million in New Fees * "His first budget, presented under a cloud of a $2 billion deficit, balanced the budget with some spending cuts, but a $500 million increase in various fees was the largest component of the budget fix." Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004. Romney was rated a "C" overall by Cato.

Mitt Romney: He sure is smooth…but has a little problem with accuracy. He said that he balanced Massachusetts budget without tax increases. The truth is his proposed 2006 budget included some $170 million in increased business taxes. This increase comes on top of previous business tax increases of $140 million during his term, as well as some $500 million in increased fees and other forms or revenue. Cato

[Reagan Man]

Fred is a fiscal conservative and a federalist. He wants to limit government and cut taxes. His record in the Senate shows he was a fiscally responsible legislator.

OTOH, your guy Mitt Romney, has a track record of wanting to nationalize health care. Which makes him no better than Hillary!

[lesser_satan]

ping

[babygene]

Well, the sad truth here is that SOMETHING has to be done about SS and Medicare. Everyone else is ignoring it.

You can either:

1. Cut payments to retirees

or;

2. Raise taxes

It’s a shame that the government took 15% of wage earner’s checks during a lifetime of work and pi$$ed it away. However, ignoring it won’t make the problem go away...

[traditional1]

"Thompson's nominated = Well, I'll wait for the official version before going 3rd party"

Thompson, Guiliani, and Romney are the ONLY candidates who can win the nomination in the Republican list.

Hillary will appreciate your voting third party to assure her a seat in the Oval Office (amounts to a wasted vote when cast for "3rd Party", but hey, you can always say "I stood on principle", while Hildabeast laughs her way into a Socialist State).

[Petronski]

Slick Willard took a tax pledge? Big whoop. He’ll say anything to get elected and has a history of suddenly changing direction, whenever his finger in the wind suggests it.

[ari-freedom]

you support mccain feingold? There’s no question Bush hurt us on this as well as on immigration

[ejonesie22]

Man, facts always screw up a good rant don’t they...

[Hostage]

It’s total BS. The author ‘guesses’ FDT will raise taxes because he hasn’t signed the pledge.

IOW he’s saying, “Sign the pledge Fred Thompson or I’ll tell everyone you are going to raise taxes!”.

This is another gnat finding out the hard way that Fred Thompson will not dance to their tune.

[Spiff]

Fred is a fiscal conservative and a federalist. He wants to limit government and cut taxes. His record in the Senate shows he was a fiscally responsible legislator.

Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform disagrees.

OTOH, your guy Mitt Romney, has a track record of wanting to nationalize health care. Which makes him no better than Hillary!

You are incorrect.

[ari-freedom]

yeah I want the truth here...but I don’t care about gimmicks like a no tax pledge

[mgstarr]

Slick Willard took a tax pledge?

Is that like "Read my lips..."?

[Petronski]

“Sign the pledge Fred Thompson or I’ll tell everyone you are going to raise taxes!"

That's almost as sleazy as Slick Willard.

[Petronski]

It will be, if Willard’s Grand Ascent to Power succeeds.

[Spiff]

Man, facts always screw up a good rant don’t they...

What facts? What rant? The article about Grover Norquist's statements barely mentioned Mitt Romney and had everything to do with Fred Thompson. The only "facts" presented by the poster to which you're responding were about Romney and not about Thompson, the subject of this article. Get a clue.

[papasmurf]

"Read my lips. NO NEW TAXES!"



I've heard that crap before.

[ari-freedom]

this is what he was talking about:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071018/NEWS0206/710180408/1001

[John Valentine]

Maybe Norquist is not senile. Maybe there is some OTHER reason why he is making baseless attacks on Fred Thompson, like the fact that he’s backing someone else.

That would make him just like you, spiff. Oh, and where exactly was that fact you are referring to? I didn’t see any facts, only the stuff I initially referred to.

You may have trouble telling the two apart, judging from the quality of your posts.

[Republican Wildcat]

who backed up his statements with actual facts.

Well, they weren't put in the article - where those "facts" to back this up?

[Petronski]

Norquist climbs out of CAIR’s bed to criticize a conservative presidential candidate?

Give me a freaking break.

[trisham]

This is one of the more ridiculous articles I’ve seen posted here. Giuliani and Romney are more likely to raise taxes or fees than Thompson, and their promises mean little or nothing.

[Spiff]

Maybe Norquist is not senile. Maybe there is some OTHER reason why he is making baseless attacks on Fred Thompson, like the fact that he’s backing someone else.

First, Norquist's "attacks" were not baseless. He provided many facts in the article to back up his statements. Second, as far as I know, Norquist hasn't endorsed anyone yet.

That would make him just like you, spiff. Oh, and where exactly was that fact you are referring to? I didn’t see any facts, only the stuff I initially referred to. You may have trouble telling the two apart, judging from the quality of your posts.

My posts are rich with facts, information, charts, and statistics. Maybe you need a new set of glasses.

[mgstarr]

He can only buy so many votes.

He’ll be 3rd and out long before the convention.

[Hostage]

Thompson did say he would absolutely sign the FairTax bill if Congress passed it.

He also has made several remarks about changing the tax code ‘in a significant’ way.

He also has as a close friend and advisor in Tennessee US Congressman Zach Wamp who is an avid cosponsor of FairTax legislation H.R. 25.

There is no doubt in my mind FDT will provide significant history-making tax reform and relief to the American people.

Norquist like Dobson is just peeved that he gets snubbed by the Warhorse.

[trisham]

Norquist like Dobson is just peeved that he gets snubbed by the Warhorse.

****************

It could be as simple as that.

[papasmurf]

Hey, it’s spiff, what’dya ‘spect?

[Petronski]

Norquist like Dobson is just peeved that he gets snubbed by the Warhorse.

[ari-freedom]

argh...I don’t like the fair tax

[vigilence]

So Grover is willing to believe what some guys running for office who would say anything to get elected. Yet, once again, Fred tells the truth. I’m really getting sick and tired of one issue voting blocks. Why don’t they wake up and realize that it’s all about one thing....POWER!!

[trisham]

You can say that again.

[Romneyfor President2008]

Yeah, Fred does remind me of Dole. That’s why I don’t want to see him go up against Klintoon.

[papasmurf]

My posts are rich with spun facts, distorted information, cherry picked charts, and bogus statistics. Maybe I need a new set of glasses.

There, fixed it for ya’.

[Petronski]

Second, as far as I know, Norquist hasn't endorsed anyone yet.

Anyone who wants Norquist's endorsement better prefer outreach to Muslims over support of Israel. It would help if the candidate believed the estate tax is like the Holocaust.

Who would WANT that endorsement?

[trisham]

Nice to see you, Mitt.

[Hostage]

Well let’s hear your concerns. As long as you are open to learning about it, I have no problem discussing it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Hillary will appreciate your voting third party to assure her a seat in the Oval Office

My non-vote for Rudy or Huckabee does not mean I'm responsible for a hypothetical Hillary victory.

[John Valentine]

My posts are rich with facts

Like this "fact"? "...against a respected conservative who backed up his statements with actual facts."

We're talking about Grover Norquist here. LOL. He lost most of his respect when he started carrying water for the Saudis, and b.t.w. you still haven't pointed out that "fact" to me.

Spiff, you are entirely fact-free and enjoying your freedom with each and every post.

[OKSooner]

I want the Republicans to come out in favor of the Fair tax too.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Thanks. I kind of figured that.

[John Valentine]

Norquist hasn’t endorsed anyone - yet. But his glowing comments on the occasion of Paul Weyrich’s endorsement of Romeny leaves litle doubt regarding his sentiments.

[Spiff]

Norquist climbs out of CAIR’s bed to criticize a conservative presidential candidate?

You might want to tread a little more lightly when criticizing someone's alleged association with CAIR while you're trying to defend a candidate who hired a campaign manager with his own alleged connections to CAIR. (See Spencer Abraham)

[Reagan Man]

This is a hit piece by Ronald Kessler and isn't based on any facts that I know of. On top of his questionable relationships with radical Islamists, Grover Norquist has lost all my respect.

And I’m 100% correct about Mitt Romney and his desire to nationalize American health care --- 1/7th of the US economy.

Have people forgotten so soon? Don't they remember Massachusetts Mitt’s expansion of his state's health care programs, also known as “RomneyCare”, If they truly don't know the facts, I suggest they look up the details.

[Fledermaus]

Grover needs to get some help...his pledgitis is acting up again.