Seeking Distance Why Conservatives are Cutting Ties with an Anti-Tax Pledge

Seeking Distance Why Conservatives are Cutting Ties with an Anti-Tax Pledge Photo from Flickr.com by Tax Credits But this influential pledge is beginning to lose considerable backing within conservative circles.  It has recently come to light that politicians who, in addition to Norquist, could best be described as conservative have begun to distance themselves from this promise. So far, individuals who have denounced it include Senators  Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Saxby Chambliss, and Bob Corker. Among the others are Representatives  Peter King and Chris Gibson, and, perhaps most notably, Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.  Sen. Corker informed  constituents  that he was “not obligated on the pledge.” Meanwhile, Sen. Chambliss confidently told a Georgia news station that “I care a lot more about my countryâ€" I care a lot more about it than I do about Grover Norquist.” It should be noted that the influence and credibility these particular politicians have in the Republican party cannot be overstated. These men are not only revered in their own party, but also among Americans who take a conservative approach to politics. So why are these individuals, who all signed the pledge with enthusiasm upon entering office, retracting their statement to never raise taxes?  The reason for this is intimately linked to the upcoming Republican fiscal cliff compromise. Politicians from both sides of the aisle are furiously seeking a solution to this ever-pressing fiscal issue, and conservatives are focusing on a plan to raise tax revenue by eliminating potential deductions as well as closing possible tax loopholes. But how is this plan connected to Grover Norquist? Under his strict rules as they are laid out in the pledge, these seemingly small modifications to the tax system count as a tax increase. Therefore, they are to remain absolutely forbidden. A Senate aide who asked not to be named recently stated that although Republicans and Democrats often take different approaches to taxation, Norquist remains totally isolated in considering the elimination of tax credits to be a tax increasethe pledge just doesnt reflect the reality of how tax policy works. It appears that this anti-tax activist is beginning to lose his considerable influence, even among people who share most of his ideologies. As Rep. Peter King of New York recently told NBC’s Meet the Press, “the world has changed, and the economic situation is different.” Perhaps it is time for everyone to realize that what worked in 1986 may not work today, and that seemingly immobile economic ideas must be altered to fit the current fiscal climate. Photo from wikipedia.com