The late and beloved George H.W. Bush’s presidency became a cautionary tale in its time. Trailing in his 1988 race against Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis, Bush reassured voters: “Read my lips,” he said, “no new taxes.”

It was a fine promise. But under pressure from Democrats, Bush agreed to a tax increase, and it haunted his presidency until its premature end. There is little doubt that the broken promise played a role in depriving Bush of a second term. Now, high taxation has become so toxic to the reputation of any aspiring Republican politician that they go out of their way to sign the key pledge devised by Americans for Tax Reform not to raise the net tax burden.