WaPo: Rep. Frank Wolf unloads on Grover Norquist
By Shaun Kenney | Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 | PolicyThis is a long simmering and long overdue condemnation of ATR’s Grover Norquist:
Wolf, who has also been active on terrorism issues for many years, then ticked off a host of criticisms:
One, Mr. Norquist’s relationship with Jack Abramoff. Mr. Abramoff essentially laundered money through ATR and Mr. Norquist knew it.
Two, his association and representation of terrorist financier and vocal Hamas supporter Abdurahman Alamoudi. He also is associated with terrorist financier Sami Al-Arian, who pled guilty in 2006 to conspiring to provide services to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Three, Mr. Norquist’s lobbying on behalf of Fannie Mae.
Four, Mr. Norquist’s representation of the Internet gambling industry.
Five, Mr. Norquist’s advocacy of moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States, including 9/11 mastermind Khaled Sheik Mohammed.“Simply put,” Wolf summarized, “I believe Mr. Norquist is connected with or has profited from a number of unsavory people and groups out of the mainstream.”
This has been an ongoing fight within the Washington Beltway conservative movement, whether it has been CPAC, moving now to the Weyrich Lunch, and now moving onto the floor of the U.S. House.
Most of what is public available will shock fiscal and social conservatives. At the end of the string, there’s a dollar bill — and Muslim money (even from susceptible sources) spends just as well as your money.
Grover Norquist has some ‘splainin to do.
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
Share this post
About the author
Shaun Kenney is the Chairman of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, former Communications Director for the Republican Party of Virginia, and an active blogger since 2002. Shaun lives in Thomas Jefferson's backyard with his wife, six children, and a modest attempt at a farm in Kents Store, Virginia.
Comments
11 Responses to "WaPo: Rep. Frank Wolf unloads on Grover Norquist"
Well good for Representative Wolf, and frankly, good for Bearing Drift and Shaun for printing this. While little is new, and Norquist continues to be a scoundrel of the first order, it is surprising for a republican to hit back at this guy who has been verbally terrorizing republicans who dare to act in interest of the citizens of the United States. Wolf will of course have a target on his back, but the moment a few others join with him, perhaps Norquist will be finally exposed for what he really is; that is, a charlatan.
Yes, and who is ATF lobbying for when they lobby for defeat of HR 1380? Big oil or taxpayers?
I find it interesting, Wally, that people like you who are so vocal about ending tax breaks for Big Oil support new tax breaks for Natural Gas. You can’t have it both ways.
No surprises in the material – just that Wolf took it so public. But, good for him, sunlight is the best disinfectant, right?
Which Va representatives signed the pledge with Norquist? Anyone we know?
I’m not saying that Norquist deserves protection, and he certainly is a lobbyist of the first order and in need of “sunlight – the best disinfectant”. But…
In the same monologue Wolf was lamenting that Norquist and his “no-tax” pledge were “paralyzing” Congress. How appropriate is it for an elected representative to spout off about an individual private citizen like this? Wolf has a vote in Congress; Norquist is holding a pledge on a piece of paper. Who really has the power to “paralyze” Congress?
Kind of like Dick Durbin encouraging Bank of America clients to find another bank from the well of the Senate. Methinks they doth protest too much?
Just another excuse: “Grover made me do it.”
Grover isn’t “an individual private citizen” — he’s the president of Americans for Tax Reform, a GOP insider, and a fairly prominent operator within Beltway circles.
Worse, he’s cozying up to the wrong folks… and it’s fracturing the conservative movement.
In ask again.. which VA representatives signed Grover Norquists pledge. This is not a trick question and I take no joy in answering it myself. You signers know who you are.
Wait a second Shaun; I agree that he is a scoundrel, but it is not him who is fracturing the conservative movement. It is republicans who are pandering to the far right and who refuse to acknowledge that tax reform is required who are fracturing the conservative movement. Conservative used to mean fiscally responsible; now it simply means anti tax. These are different principles. Any elected official who signs a pledge from some other organization fails in my view to be capable of acting in the best interest of his constituents, his district, and his nation, yet regretfully, that is what has happened to some 90% of the republican members of Congress.
Mike, Congress needs to be put in “time-out” from spending our money. Whether the issue is wars or stimulus or Solyndra or Social Security, they can’t be trusted with our money any more. An anti-tax pledge is handcuffs to a Congressman, but right now they don’t deserve a single dollar more of our money.
It’s not an absolute that “tax reform is required” like you wrote above (we all know the euphemisms for tax increases). Why don’t we try entitlement reform and baseline budgeting reform and teachers unions reform and bank bailout reform and guaranteed loans reform and bridges to nowhere reform and Congressional pension reform first, and if they don’t “bend the curve” enough in the right direction, then maybe we can come back to your discussion of “tax reform”.
Leave your response
The comments section is for meaningful discussion. Readers are reminded to post comments that are germane to the article and write in a common language that steers clear of personal attacks and/or vulgarities.
Please take a moment to review our comment policy.