Posted on 11/26/2012 11:54:57 AM PST by CNSNews.com
As the fiscal cliff looms, a growing number of Republican lawmakers are abandoning their pledge to the American people NOT to raise taxes.
It was reported last week that Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) broke from his conservative colleagues when he stated on WMAZ-TV, "I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge."
Chambliss was referring to the Taxpayer Protection Pledge created by Grover Norquist at Americans for Tax Reform. The pledge asks candidates and incumbents to bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases.
The promise, made to the American people states the following:
1. Oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and
2. Oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) joined Chambliss in renouncing the pledge he took, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday:
"A pledge you signed 20 years ago, 18 years ago, is for that Congress. For instance, if I were in Congress in 1941, I would have signed a... declaration of war against Japan. I'm not going to attack Japan today. The world has changed. And the economic situation is different."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also said on ABC's "This Week" that he is ready to violate the anti-tax pledge:
"I will violate the pledge, long story short, for the good of the country. When you're $16 trillion in debt, the only pledge we should be making to each other is to avoid becoming Greece."
Former GOP Presidential candidate and Arizona Senator, John McCain hinted on "Fox News Sunday" that he is also open to violating the pledge. McCain told host Chris Wallace that while he was strictly against raising marginal tax rates, "[W]e can close a lot of loopholes." He identified the deduction on charitable giving and the home-mortgage deduction, specifically.
Even Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH) has said that he is willing to accept "more revenue" as part of a fiscal cliff deal. In a statement given the day after the reelection of Barack Obama, Boehner said, Republicans are willing to accept "new revenue, under the right conditions" to reach a bipartisan agreement.
The question now is: Will the Republicans who took this pledge honor their commitment to the American people, or will they surrender their promise under the guise of doing what is "for the good of the country?"
To quote an ancient Chinese proverb: "In a broken nest, there are few whole eggs."
poor Grover. End of the gravy train.
Is ‘doing what is good for the country’ really a guise, or is it just facing reality?
I’m starting to wonder if they are also going to reneg on their last recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Yep.
None of these people should ever expect to be trusted on anything again.
With all due respect, the question is NOT whether or not to raise taxes.
Instead, the question is whether:
(1) to raise taxes by default, when the Democrats push America over the “Fiscal Cliff” — which will allow the Democrats to blame the Republicans for causing the economic catastrophe that results, which Obama wants to do —
or
(2) for Republicans to “allow” the Democrats to raise the taxes they say they “need” to “fix” the economy — which will allow Republicans to blame the Democrats for the economic catastrophe that results: “We told them that raising taxes in a recession would make the recession WORSE!”.
Which scenario will produce a better election result for America in 2014?
Ready or not, the 2014 campaign has already started....
Spineless vaginas.
Well — elections have consequences.
Oh wait — he was elected on a no tax hike pledge.
Never mind.
OK, so where are the democrats off the “Don’t touch Entitlements” reservation?
I don’t see how option 2 is possible as you know darn well (according to MSM sources who do not wish to be name), ALL problems are due to Rs. All that is good has been crafted by the mind and hands of Lord Obama.
These guys are barely Republicans without any principles but their own self-agrandizement.
They know full well that spending IS the problem and new higher tax rates will NOT solve THE problem whatsoever!!!
Email any friends, acquaintences or relatives (even business associates) in the jurisdiction these RINO's represent and ask them to help pull the covers on these chicken crap actions... If they haven't got time to call their slimey rep, ask if you can call instead at their request of your friends, acquaintences or relatives.
Always find time and opportunity to express your pleasure with any representative you find standing up to the new/increased taxes/rates as an affront to THE PROBLEM of SPENDING, not too little taxation.
Even non-Tea Party members and supporters know we're Taxed Enough Already and cuts in spending must not be just on the last increase.
We should all be more interested in cutting the budget back to Clinton levels, rather that going back to Clinton taxation levels. There's a huge and far more meaningful difference!!!
Weak willed wusses.
We need a major tax cut! Especially in this bad economy.
I despise all DemocRATS, but I hate most of the Republicrats!
I’m surprised it only took three weeks after the election to cave in.
You want Republicans win elections in the future? You want to see Reagan-sized landslides again? Then make people realize that a vote for Democrats comes with a price tag. If Obama wants to raise taxes, let him. This will create what the libs call “a teachable moment”. And if the tax increases are structured in a way that disproportionaly hurts the Democrat constituencies (New York liberals, Hollywood, etc.), so much the better.
I am saying right now that there ain't no way as long as they retain the name Republican. If the RINOs want to save their jobs...look for some of them to switch to Democrat.
...the 47%, ignorant, uneducated and oblivious, are still out there and now that they have proved their numbers, their numbers can only increase.
This will be a great exercise on "separating the sheep from the goats" ...
Unfortunately, your post assumes truthful and unbiased reporting of the situation by the media.
We all know it’s STILL Bush’s fault, right?
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