Some political wounds never heal, as former President George H.W. Bush and the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform are proving.
Just an hour after Secrets posted Bush’s criticism of ATR’s anti-tax pledge, the group headed by Grover Norquist directed us to a Facebook post slamming Bush for being a “fool of history” for reneging on his 1988 campaign promise, “read my lips, no new taxes.”
Secrets had earlier quoted Bush telling Sunday’s Parade that pledges like ATR’s no tax promise most Republicans sign on to are too rigid. “Circumstances change and you can’t be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It’s–who the hell is Grover Norquist, anyway?”
Norquist, considered to be one of the most powerful influencers inside the Beltway, especially among Republicans and conservatives, reminded supporters via Facebook that he is having the last laugh.
The Facebook page shows Bush in a wincing stance beside a quote about why he changed his mind on raising taxes, a move that helped to cost his reelection in 1992. It’s a warning to Republicans who might be considering a similar change of heart on taxes as the spending and tax crisis dubbed “Taxmageddon” nears in December.
Said ATR: “With Taxmageddon set to happen at the end of this year, congressional Democrats are once again pushing a ‘grand bargain’ that would have Republicans agree to raise taxes on American families and employers in exchange for imaginary spending cuts. Any lawmaker willing to consider such a deal is poised to become another fool of history.”
