Dec 01, 2011

Grover Norquist To Advise House Republicans On Messaging

Today, House Republicans will welcome conservative lobbyist Grover Norquist to “huddle” with them and provide his advice on their messaging. Nearly every member of the Republican caucus has pledged allegiance to Norquist’s tax pledge and for the last 331 days the House Republican agenda has been synonymous with his desire to protect tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil even if it comes at the expense of Medicare and causes a payroll tax increase. Norquist’s past advice on messaging includes that “bipartisanship is another name for date rape” and “Social Security … [is] a lousy program.”  

“It’s hard to imagine what more House Republicans could learn from conservative lobbyist Grover Norquist after they’ve already embraced his hyper-partisanship and his reckless protection of tax breaks for Big Oil and billionaires, at the expense of Medicare and causing a payroll tax increase,” said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Maybe this should be less a training session for House Republicans and more a chance for the former students to acknowledge they’re now the masters.”

Highlights of Norquist’s Messaging Advice

“Social Security should be reformed not because the system is going broke but because it's a lousy program.” [Los Angeles Times, 12/12/04]

“We are trying to change the tones in the state capitals - and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship.” [Denver Post, 5/26/03]

“Bipartisanship is another name for date rape” [Denver Post, 5/26/03]

Background

'Random person' Norquist to huddle with GOP lawmakers. “The ‘random person’ House Speaker John Boehner dismissed for his lack of influence over congressional Republicans will be on Capitol Hill Thursday to speak to GOP lawmakers on messaging skills.” [MSNBC, 11/30/11]

236 House Republicans Signed Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform Pledge To Oppose Closing Tax Loopholes for Big Oil companies or tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. [Americans for Tax Reform Pledge Signers, accessed 12/01/11]

“Boehner calls Grover Norquist ‘some random person’” [Washington Post, 11/03/11]

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