Norquist Defends McCain After Fiorina's Tax Raising Remarks

America's foremost anti-tax crusader is coming to John McCain's defense, after a high-ranking adviser to the Senator suggested that he would - if the conditions proved right - raise taxes on wealthy Americans.

Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform, said he was confident that McCain would not raises taxes should he become president.

"The one thing about McCain is that when he looks in the mirror he sees a guy who keeps his words I believe he will keep his word," Norquist told the Huffington Post. "McCain has made it very clear, repeatedly on air and on TV, read my lips no new taxes, no tax increases."

Such a vote of confidence carries significant weight in conservative circles, not just because Norquist and McCain have clashed in the past, but because there is still a healthy dose of skepticism concerning the Senator's economic policies (tied mainly to his one-time opposition to the Bush tax cuts). Top adviser Carly Fiorina added fuel to that fire when, in an interview with Bloomberg News, she said if a bipartisan coalition is "creative enough," a tax increase on wealthier Americans could be on the table.

"That is not McCain's position and he has made it very clear he will oppose and veto any tax increase. And you couldn't have a bipartisan measure that raises tax rates because 42 senators have all signed a statement not to raise the rate," said Norquist. "I assume that anyone who is speaking for the campaign will do so in a way that is consistent with McCain's position and if she is either misquoted or misspoke that should not in anyway reflect on McCain's consistent position on this subject."

Supplementing his remarks, Norquist had an aide send over documentary evidence of the three times McCain promised on national television to veto any tax increase.

"With the campaigns permission we have sent those three to everybody and their brother," Norquist noted. "So the presidential candidate McCain has made it clear, he has made it very clear, that he not only opposes any tax increase but will pursue three significant tax cuts."

Update: McCain aide, Taylor Griffin, has also distanced the Senator from Fiorina's remarks, telling ABC News:

"The lesson of history is that too many specifics at this point polarize the debate, that is the argument Carly was trying to make. However, John McCain does believe that we can fix Social Security without raising taxes. As president, John McCain will call on Congress to develop a bi-partisan solution to Social Security -- and if they won't, he will."

Comments

[KOisGod]

Dear Carly Fiorina,

You are a woman. Unless you follow the Neo CON female example of Condi, a yes girl, your opinion should not be heard. You are window dressing, a token female. Please study the good republican women, who know their place and don't aspire to voice an opinion. I.E. Laura and Cindi.

You can pick up your check at the payroll desk on Friday, budgets are tight, and stamps cost money.

Thank you,

Your RNC

[LAB11]

McCain vs McCain-----again!

[CaptainVideo]

So first Gramm gets thrown under the bus. Now Ms. Golden Parachute gets thrown under the bus. Will the last member of McCain's economic team to depart please turn out the lights!

[CaptainVideo]

Looks like no Vice Presidential slot for Ms. Golden Parachute.

[joebiz]

Ok, fair enough. Let's assume Senator McCain does not raise taxes and even gets cuts taxes. There are many questions that should be asked: Who will benefit from the cuts? How is the revenue going to be replaced? Who will bear the burden the most with these cuts? Are there programs in place to cut government costs, waste, and fraud? Will the country be better off with these cuts?

[CaptainVideo]

"The lesson of history is that too many specifics at this point polarize the debate,"

The problem with too many specifics is that if voters find out what McCain really wants to do, he will be dead meat.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

i.e., "We reserve the right to flip-flop."

[loax]

Where have we heard that line, read my lips???...Oh yeah, that was King George Bush the first, right?

[dormar206]

this guy do not like black

[CaptainVideo]

Well McCain flip flopped once on taxes. He might very well flip flop again.

[Indy11]

The Bush tax cuts expire in 2010. If McCain is president, he will have to compromise with Congress on new tax rates that are higher than the current rates (but lower than pre-Bush). He would claim that he is not breaking his word, arguing that he is lowering taxes.

[CalexenderJ]

Fiorina and McCain are not on the same page at all, I think she's trying to talk herself out of VP consideration.

[karela]

The top 1% of wealthiest Americans have a collective wealth of $19 trillion dollars. The other three hundred million of us have a collective wealth of $17 trillion dollars. It's the one percent that McCain is so worried about that he is planning massive tax cuts for them that will amount to trillions over the next ten years. Meanwhile, the nations money woes land squarely on the back of the poor and middle class. Compare Leona Helmsly's famous comment that "Only the poor pay taxes" with the stark fact that an 80 year old woman living on $20,000 a year still pays taxes to the extent that she has to do without necessities in order to comply. There are 300,000,000 of us. The only way they can do this to us is if they can fool and distract us to such an extent that we actually vote for them and against ourselves.

[belief08]

karela;

And where are we headed right now? The ReThugs have the old folks so scared out of their minds, that they don't realize they are harming themselves. This is how they get swindled out of their money, they are preyed on by the deviants and they feel it is old had.

Mr. & Mrs. McSame just sold anheiser-busch for billions. So, do you seriously think these people care about the little people and their taxes. No, he is going to protect what they have and as well as people like them.

He won't care about Social Security, he gets full pension. All this man knows is war, he will leave everything else to surrogates and of course, he will believe everything they tell him because he doesn't know. This is why we are where we are today; Bush listening to others and believing what he is told without doing the research himself. That's the difference between them and Obama, he will do the research for our sakes.

I am in this with Obama until the end, because I know this country will be better and safer with him.as the President. His kids have to live here as well, so; that's an added incentive for keeping this nation safe. So for those skeptics that don't think he will do all he can to keep us safe, keep that in mind.

[zull2]

McCain's friends just never seem to get along. Too bad for all of them that the only friend McCain listens to is George W. Bush.

[mindlessmissy]

These rich folks are getting quite sweaty in their pants lamenting the possibility of an O. administration ...

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

"We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals - and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship"
-- Grover Norquist

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/we-are-trying-to-change-the-tones-in-the-state/378425.html