Posted on 11/09/2007 7:27:33 AM PST by Josh Painter
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, has launched an attack on GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson for Thompson's refusal to sign Norquist's pledge against raising taxes. Team Fred spokeswoman Karen Hanretty explained her candidate's position in an e-mail:
Fred Thompson’s record of cutting taxes and pushing for reform speaks for itself. This is the approach he will take as president. He is bound by that principle and does not make a practice of signing pledges.That answer was not good enough for Grover the Security Pushover (more on that further down the column), who told Ronald Kessler of Newsmax:
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.The worst Republican running, on taxes? Norquist should have at least checked out Thompson's record on taxes before making a total fool out of himself. Had he bothered to read the tax-minimalist Club for Growth's white paper on Fred Thompson, for example, he would have learned that:
Over his eight years in the Senate, Fred Thompson generally supported broad-based tax cuts while opposing tax increases. These include:Or Norquist could have consulted with the libertarian CATO Institute's Michael Tanner, who wrote in American Spectator:Voted for the 2001 Bush tax cuts, repeal of the Death Tax, capital gains tax cuts. to require a supermajority to pass tax hikes, to reduce the amount of Social Security benefits subject to taxation and against waiving the Budget Act to allow for a cigarette tax hike.
Thompson was a forceful proponent of tax reform, lambasting the IRS as “mismanaged” and “wasteful,” and a strong supporter of the flat tax. In fact, Thompson was the only senator to vote to table an amendment proposed by Senator Dorgan that took the flat tax off the table during a budget debate. “The problem with the Dorgan amendment is simple,” Thompson declared in a press release the following day, “it puts you on record against a flat tax. I think a flat tax is one of the options that should be considered as part of the debate on comprehensive tax reform.”
During his eight years in the Senate, Thompson had a solid record as a fiscal conservative. The National Taxpayers Union gives him the third highest marks of any candidate (trailing only Reps. Ron Paul and Rep. Tom Tancredo). He generally shared McCain’s opposition to pork barrel spending and earmarks, and voted against the 2002 farm bill. He voted for the Bush tax cuts and has generally been solid in support of tax reduction. He has consistently supported entitlement reform, voting to means-test Medicare and supporting personal accounts for Social Security.BTW, The National Taxpayers Union that Tanner references voted Fred Thompson the winner of its presidential straw poll back in June:
Every attendee of our Conference was given a chance to vote for any of the declared Presidential candidates, Republican or Democrat. After counting the votes, we can announce partial results.Had he taken the trouble, Norquist could have investigated how Fred Thompson was rated by other interest groups concerned with budget, spending and tax-related issues:Fred Thompson was the winner with 25.7% of the vote. Ron Paul came in second place with 16.7%. Rudy Giuliani placed third with 12.5% Mitt Romney garnered 9.0% of the vote to snag fourth place. The top five was rounded out by John McCain, who received 5.6%
Fred Thompson supported the interests of the Americans for Tax Reform: 90 percent in 2001, 90 percent in 2000, 85 percent in 1999 and 70 percent in 1998.On that same website, Sen. Thompson's individual votes on fiscal issues are plainly displayed for Norquist and everyone else to see.Thompson supported the interests of the National Tax Limitation Committee: 97 percent in 1999-2000, 89 percent in 1997-1998 and 97 percent in 1995-1996.
Thompson supported the interests of the National Taxpayers Union: 84 percent in 2001, 80 percent in 1999, 70 percent in 1998 and 78 percent in 1997.
On a similar website, a more intellectually curious Norquist could have read some key Fred Thompson tax quotes...
“The US tax code is broken and a burden on US taxpayers and businesses, large & small. Today’s tax code is particularly hostile to savings & investment, and it shows. To make matters worse, its complexity is a drag on our productivity and economic growth. Moreover, taxpayers spend billions of dollars & untold hours each year filling out complicated tax returns, just so they can send more money to Washington, much of it for wasteful programs & the pet projects of special interests. We need lower taxes, & we need to let taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned dollars—they know best where & how to spend them. And we need to make the system simpler & fairer for all. To ensure America’s long term prosperity & economic security, I am committed to: - Fundamental tax reform built on the principles of simplicity, fairness, and growth - A new tax code that gets the government out of our citizens’ pocketbooks, while enhancing US competitiveness abroad - Dissolution of the IRS as we know it.” - Fred Thompson Source: Campaign website, www.Fred08.com, “Issues” Sep 20, 2007...and votes:“We have a tax code that’s hopelessly out of date and out of step for our times now, punishes the things that we say that we want more of and makes us less competitive in the world.” - Fred Thompson Source: Fox News “Hannity & Colmes” interview Jun 6, 2007
While serving in the US Senate, Fred Thompson was a consistent proponent for lower taxes and a more simplified tax system. He hasn’t changed his mind. Thompson says, “We need to reject taxes that punish rather than reward success. Those who say they want a “more progressive” tax system should be asked one question: Are you really interested in tax rates that benefit the economy and raise revenue—or are you interested in redistributing income for political reasons?” Source: The Fred Factor, by Steve Gill, p.166-169 Jun 3, 2007
“Taxes are necessary. But they don’t make the country any better off. At best they simply move money from the private sector to the government. But taxes are also a burden on production, because they discourage people from investing & taking risks. Some economists have calculated that today each additional $1 collected by the government, by raising income-tax rates, makes the private sector as much as $2 worse off. To me this means one simple thing: tax rates should be as low as possible.” - Fred Thomspon Source: Speech to Lincoln Club Annual Dinner, Orange County CA May 4, 2007
“There is reason to smile this tax season. The results of the experiment that began when Congress passed a series of tax-rate cuts in 2001 & 2003 are in. Supporters of those cuts said they would stimulate the economy. Opponents predicted ever-increasing budget deficits and national bankruptcy unless tax rates were increased, especially on the wealthy. In fact, Treasury statistics show that tax revenues have soared and the budget deficit has been shrinking faster than even the optimists projected. Since the first tax cuts were passed, when I was in the Senate, the budget deficit has been cut in half.
Critics claimed that across-the-board tax cuts were some sort of gift to the rich but, on the contrary, the wealthy are paying a greater percentage of the national bill than ever before. The richest 1% of Americans now pays 35% of all income taxes. The top 10% pay more taxes than the bottom 60%. Because of lower rates, money is being invested in our economy instead of being sheltered from the taxman.” - Fred Thompson Source: Fred Thompson editorial in The Wall Street Journal Apr 14, 2007
Voted NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. Vote to expand the standard deduction and 15% income tax bracket for couples. The elimination of the “marriage penalty” tax would be offset by reducing the marginal tax rate reductions for the top two rate bracket Reference: Bill HR 1836 ; vote number 2001-112 on May 17, 2001Finally, a Grover Norquist who was honestly interested enough to learn Fred Thompson's thinking on taxes could have read some of Fred's writing on the subject here, here and here.Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. Vote to increase the tax deduction for college tuition costs from $5,000 to $12,000 and increase the tax credit on student loan interest from $500 to $1,000. The expense would be offset by limiting the cut in the top estate tax rate to 53%. Reference: Bill HR 1836 ; vote number 2001-114 on May 17, 2001
Voted YES on eliminating the ‘marriage penalty’. Vote on a bill that would reduce taxes on married couples by increasing their standard deduction to twice that of single taxpayers and raise the income limits on both the 15 percent and 28 percent tax brackets for married couples to twice that of singles Reference: Bill HR.4810 ; vote number 2000-215 on Jul 18, 2000
Voted YES on across-the-board spending cut. The Nickles (R-OK) Amdendment would express the sense of the Senate that Congress should adopt an across-the-board cut in all discretionary funding, to prevent the plundering of the Social Security Trust Fund Status: Amdt. Agreed to Y)54; N)46 Reference: Nickles Amdt #1889; Bill S. 1650 ; vote number 1999-313 on Oct 6, 1999
Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. Senator Kyl (R-AZ) offered an amendment to the 1999 budget resolution to express the sense of the Senate on support for a Constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to pass tax increases. Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)50; N)48; NV)2 Reference: Kyl Amdt #2221; Bill S Con Res 86 ; vote number 1998-71 on Apr 2, 1998
Fred Thompson Strongly Opposes topic 11: Repeal tax cuts on wealthy
But no, Grover Norquist is not interested in Fred Thompson's actual philosophy and record on taxes. He's only interested in his self-aggrandizing tax pledge.
Meanwhile, Norquist has some issues of his own which put him at odds with most conservatives and other patriots in this country.
Instead of attacking Fred Thompson on taxes, one of the former Senator's strongest issues, Norquist should be explaining his relationship with his strange bedfellows, many of whom want to see the United States of America brought down in a bloody jihad.
Besides, pledges against raising taxes are no guarantee that they will not be increased, as we all learned from the case of a one-term former president who once said something about reading lips. Bush 41 and Ronald Reagan both learned the hard way that sometimes, faced with an uncooperative congress, a president's stated principles may get compromised to achieve his larger goals. In Reagan's case it was spending the Soviets into the collapse of their empire. In the case of the elder Bush, it was done in the name of deficit reduction and to head off a recession. Fred Thompson, taking to heart Santayana's advice to learn from history, is not likely to push for further campaign finace reform, although he is still dismayed by the corruptness of a politician taking big money from donors and then passing legislation favorable to those same donors. And, despite his refusal to sign Norquist's ultimatum, neither is he likely to raise taxes as president. Perhaps Thompson is also taking to heart a lesser-known piece of advice from Santayana: "Our character...is an omen of our destiny, and the more integrity we have and keep, the simpler and nobler that destiny is likely to be."
I find it interesting that none.........absolutely none of the candidates talk about the Fair Tax or the Flat Tax. I guess either idea is dead to them.
Unfortunately, too many good conservatives here do not look at Fred as a different kind of candidate running a different type of campaign. They only see he is not doing the 'normal' things in a campaign.
Aside from the ones who absolutely hate him, and there are quite a few, there is a huge following that will support him.
I was looking to Duncan to rise above the group, but his campaign management has booted that to the curb. Not his fault, but I would have had a team that understands how to run a campaign.
Well done!
BTTT
Excellent Post! I love it. Go Fred!
Excellent article. Go Fred!
I don’t trust any candidate not willing to take a no-new taxes pledge. Failing to do so is nothing more than an attempt to leave the door open to raise taxes.
Thompson doesn't sign pledges to anyone. Period.
Like it or hate it, that's the way he is.
Duncan is a terrific representative, and a good man.
I don’t like extortion, whether it’s perpetrated by union goons, or liberal and conservative activists.
We need more people like Fred in the House and Senate, along with HIM in the White House!
Thanks, Josh, for the great work! From what I’ve seen, if Grover Norquist is saying Thompson is a bad candidate and resorting to lying about his record, that’s a huge plus for Fred!
See below — Norquist and his Americans for Tax Reform are a massively pro-amnesty, pro-open borders group. And they don’t like Thompson, even though Thompson’s excellent record on taxes is well-docmented. That, to me, speaks volumes.
Check this out — it appears Norquist may not appreciate that Thompson has been focusing on illegal immigration and talking about how bad the amnesty bill was.
Americans for Tax Reform Supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Nation’s Broken Immigration System Needs to be Fixed This Year
PR Newswire - New York
Date: Apr 6, 2006
Abstract (Document Summary)
WASHINGTON, April 6 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Senate is currently debating legislation to strengthen and improve our nation’s dysfunctional immigration laws. Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) strongly encourages the Senate to support comprehensive immigration reform solutions that fix the entire broken system — not merely enforcement options alone. There are many parts of the immigration system that are broken, and enforcement alone will not fix the problem.
Advocates of enforcement alone are blind to the realities of the current US labor market. Undocumented workers represent one out of every twenty laborers in America, and nearly a quarter of new workers coming on line every year. To ignore this vital component of the labor force perpetuates a broken system that is disconnected from the real world.
And more:
7/25/05 - Cornyn-Kyl Immigration Bill Advances Comprehensive Reform Another Step
Plan has some problems, but moves the ball down the field
WASHINGTON — Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist today praised the introduction of S 1438, the “Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005,” co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), even as he expressed some serious reservations about plan details.
S 1438 would institute border security upgrades, help employers comply with immigration rules, create a temporary worker visa program, and would require currently undocumented workers to return home before being granted any legal status.
“Senators Cornyn and Kyl are to be applauded in introducing a bill that recognizes that border security without acknowledging the needs of our labor markets actually leaves America less secure,” said Norquist. “The only way to truly keep our borders safe is to put a system in place the overwhelming number of workers we need can actually use in the real world.”
Cornyn-Kyl contains one element that is fairly impractical. It would require the 11 million undocumented workers already in America to return to their nation of origin (largely Mexico), and process through a newly-streamlined work visa/border checkpoint system.
“That provision is highly impractical, would never happen in the real world, and would encourage undocumented workers to avoid, not comply with, the new law,” continued Norquist. “Can you imagine the prospect of 11 million hardworking laborers having to go across a border just to sign a piece of paper, only to return to their current jobs? That’s just the kind of bureaucratic run-around people leave their home countries to avoid.”
http://www.atr.org/content/html/2005/jul/072505pr-cornyn-kyl.htm
And MORE
Support for amnesty
Grover Norquist and ATR have openly supported amnesty for the nation’s 12-20 million illegal immigrants. In a statement issued February 9, 2005, Grover Norquist called for Congress to “support President Bush’s common-sense plan” to give “foreign laborers [i.e., illegal immigrants] guest worker cards” and “to match willing [foreign] workers with willing employers.”[2]
In another statement issued in May of 2006, ATR declared that it would consider a vote against S. 2611, the 2006 amnesty proposal, to be a vote against taxpayer interest. The release stated:
“ATR reserves the right to vote for final passage, a procedural motion, or any amendment to this bill. In particular, amendments that seek to dilute the comprehensive nature of the bill will be strongly-considered. These include but are not limited to measures to restrict the temporary worker program or measures to make it more difficult for illegal workers to earn legal status. ATR is also sensitive to amendments which put onerous restrictions on employers without giving them the ability to acquire a legal workforce sufficient to meet labor needs.”[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Tax_Reform
The problem is, these pledges never turn out to be binding -- candidates who take such pledges (including some candidates currently running for president), inevitably find a way to weasel out of it anyway.
Personally I put a lot more stock in these candidates' records rather than what they say. And Thompson's record as a friend of taxpayers is very strong.
Ron Paul: $34 billion
And I thought that Ron Paul was the definition of small government?
Shrimp is expensive.
I’m sick of all of them.
Agreed. I appreciate it when they keep quiet, but I know there is lots of pressure on them from their "public" to reveal what candidate they like. I know Rush Limbaugh has been taken to task for not endorsing a candidate, but I rather like that he hasn't. I love to think Rush is thinking to himself, "What the hell is the matter with all you people who don't see that Thompson is clear and away the guy for this win?" I've listened to and read enough of Rush to know who I think he's voting for in the primary. My fantasy is that Rush lets it slip in time to push Thompson to victory.
I know that there are other listeners who think the same but plug in the name "Hunter" or "Romney" or whatever. And that's okay with me.
I can absolutely understand, ESPECIALLY in the context of what I read from all sides of "conservatism" social and otherwise on Free Republic, WHY he's keeping mum. No matter which candidate he chose, he'd bear the bitter wrath of former fans six ways to Sunday, judging by Free Republic. Every other call would be from a shrew lady conservative ready to give him hell for not supporting her favorite, whoever that might be. Maybe Rush figures it's smarter to keep his mouth shut. The only thing I've heard from him regarding primary candidates was his reference to feeling "like the guy who Romney threw under the bus" (comparing to Romney's lame media comment on the "phony soldiers" drive-by attack to Romney's abandonment of the ol' toe-tapper guy).
I'm kind of relieved Rush has kept quiet because it lets me think whatever I want about him! I wish Hugh and Laura and Hannity and Medved and Coulter had been equally reticent.
But here's what a hypocrite I am ... I'll confess ... I was really gratified when I heard KFI talk radio host John Ziegler puzzle over the fact that it's taking so many so long to figure out the deal with Thompson -- that he's really the only viable conservative in the race. Ziegler isn't well known (7-10 p.m. weeknights, L.A.'s KFI AM 640 talk radio), but over the past year or so I've listened, he's nearly always damned Hilariously politically incorrect, outraged, honest, funny, and RIGHT ON THE MONEY. He gets great guests, too, weird ones and famous ones -- he's a blast. His taking the same opinion on Thompson as mine just made me like him more.
Thompson was a forceful proponent of tax reform, lambasting the IRS as “mismanaged” and “wasteful,” and a strong supporter of the flat tax. In fact, Thompson was the only senator to vote to table an amendment proposed by Senator Dorgan that took the flat tax off the table during a budget debate. “The problem with the Dorgan amendment is simple,” Thompson declared in a press release the following day, “it puts you on record against a flat tax. I think a flat tax is one of the options that should be considered as part of the debate on comprehensive tax reform.”
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/2007/09/fred_thompsons_record_on_econo.php
Shows how ridiculous these ratings are, doesn't it?
From Write It Right: a Little Blacklist of Literary Faults, by Ambrose Bierce (1909):
Funds for Money. "He was out of funds."It seems that even a hundred years ago, there was common confusion.
Funds are not money in general, but sums of money or credit available for particular purposes.
And the way money is spent by Congress is ridiculous, having to allocate the amounts and then divvy it up. Once losing a vote in Congress to spend the money, is it any crime for a representative to try to get an appropriate portion spent on projects his constituents have requested?
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