If Grover Norquist Speaks, Does Anyone Still Listen?

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new-grover-headshot.jpg So Grover Norquist thinks that Fred Thompson is the “worst” GOP candidate out there. His major sin? He has refused to sign a pledge from Norquist’s group, Americans for Tax Reform, refusing to ever raise taxes. Also, he has said that rich people might have to pay higher premiums for Medicare and is opposed to federal tort reform.

Norquist’s remarks apparently came during his regular Wednesday off-the-record meeting in D.C. with the grand poobahs of the GOP, which used to be the place to be in D.C. if you wanted to know what was going on in politics. In the old days, such a pronouncement would leave a candidate shaking in his boots. But ever since the news broke that Norquist had been deeply involved in some of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s Indian tribe schemes, and Democrats took over Congress, he seems to have been relegated to the sidelines, at least publicly. It will be interesting to see how much his attacks on Thompson will really matter. After all, Thompson’s positions are pretty fiscally responsible, something Republicans used to care about…

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