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The Spectacle Blog
“Who says that? Who thinks like that?” This was ex-Green Jobs Czar Van Jones’s response to a quote he attributed to Grover Norquist saying we should “shrink America’s government to the size that we can drown it in a bathtub.”
Norquist is a Spectator contributor and the president and founder of Americans for Tax Reform, a taxpayer advocacy group. He is also credited with (or in this case, blamed for) the creation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, whose signers-a collection of political candidates and incumbent office holders-have promised not to vote for tax increases.
Needless to say, Jones was horrified by Norquist’s “bathtub” comment, and he spent a good portion of his July 6th speech at the Campus Progress national conference climbing onto the Norquist-bashing bandwagon.
Equally horrified by Norquist’s tax pledge, which a number of Republicans have signed, Jones characterized it as a commitment by signatories that “…no matter what happens to our country, they will never vote to increase tax revenues for America’s government.”
Jones went on:
Now look, I used to serve in government. I signed a pledge; I took an oath to the Constitution of the United States….and to the American people. I didn’t sneak around behind the door and sign another one to somebody else. But you have Republicans who have signed this tax pledge to this man…
Jones is wrong, though, to suggest that Norquist’s pledge supersedes any politician’s oath of office, or even to assert that the pledge is a promise to Norquist. In reality, although Norquist’s organization monitors the pledge and its signers, it constitutes a commitment made by individual candidates to their constituents.
Jones further accused tax pledge signers of having “dual loyalty”. They profess loyalty to the country, he said, “but they have another agenda that is not about preserving the American dream.” This agenda, according to Jones, is based on Norquist’s goal of drastically shrinking government.
“You are the real patriots….Your generation has been standing up for liberty and justice for all. You’re the patriots,” Jones continued, addressing the crowd of liberal youth to which he spoke and insinuating that Norquist and company do not really have the nation’s best interests at heart.
Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota also jumped on the anti-Norquist bandwagon at the conference. Referencing Jones’ speech, Ellison charged, “These same people who want to shrink government ‘till you can drown it in a bathtub also want…mom…to get back in the kitchen and take her shoes off and get pregnant….They are offended by…strong, powerful women.”
Ellison admitted that some of “these same people” are women-Michele Bachmann, for instance-but he only described this as “sad”, not a reason to believe they are not sexists.
View all comments (12) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Lucia Rafanelli
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/07/12/pregnant-barefoot-and-drowning
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Oldefarte| 7.12.11 @ 5:04PM
Gadzooks shazam, speaking of getting pregnant while barefoot, what's up with the governmental welfare [funded by non-barefooted taxpayers working their buns off to make/earn income] mommas that produce numerous children? Does he possibly think that said barefoot-and-pregnants have a moral responsibility to wean themselves off of governmental assistance perhaps [and that maybe just maybe that's the reason why said governrment is so large]?????
ncatty| 7.12.11 @ 5:13PM
In Ellison's view, Michelle Bachman is not a real woman and Clarence Thomas is not a real black person. However, Keith Ellison is a real braying ass.
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 7.12.11 @ 5:38PM
This punk's accusing Republicans of Dual Loyalty? Ha!! Dual Loyalty? This is coming from a avowed Marxist, Crackhead, Green-Religion-Nut, and 9/11 Truther no less!! No conflicting loyalties there, huh? When will he just go away? Are Liberals that hard up for another Anti American Hero? It seems to me they've got plenty of them left!!
David W| 7.12.11 @ 5:50PM
Mr. Ellison has a lot of gaul to say what he said about Ms. Bachmann. Ellison is a man who fully (or is the fooly) supports the tenets of islam, a political system masquerading as a religion whose purists treat women as little more than breeding stock. Liberals thy name is hypocrite.
Jocon307 | 7.13.11 @ 12:39AM
Come on, Van Jones, Keith Ellison?
Van Jones is a communist and Ellison is basically a law-fare jihadi.
Who cares what these 2 think about anything.
If they are agin it, I'm for it.
Stan| 8.4.11 @ 1:46PM
I'm convinced that he's a slack-jawed dimwit. Someone told him he's smart, he was convinced by it, he's good looking and persuasive. Now he's made a career of appearing smart. Most of these people have never been or refuse to be, engaged in political discussion with conservatives that have facts and logic.
ella8| 7.15.11 @ 2:30PM
Hillarious. Rep Ellison thinks we are offended by strong powerful women. Then why are they so scared of conservative woman? I am barefoot and pregnant and let me just tell you don't mess with this mama grizzly! I will do anything to protect my family.
ella8| 7.15.11 @ 2:35PM
I think what he really means is that we are so strong that we would do anything for our families. We don't depend on the government to take care of us or our families. Who are the weaklings?
ella8| 7.15.11 @ 2:41PM
The truth is, women like Michelle Bachman are so strong and dignified, that the liberals are scared to death of her. They are used to easy women.
youfamissim | 7.20.11 @ 9:43AM
Jones betrayed his pledge. His actions and planned actions in government both betrayed defending and protecting the Constitution -- a minor fact to Jones and his employer Obama - who both view the Constitution as a collection of Negative Liberties and an impediment that must be circumvented to achieve their goals. Alinski-ites see the means to any end they desire is justified and that explains his comments. They also know their actions over the past two years have alienated them from the majority f Americans - the jig is up. Progressive had to conceal their true ambitions and wait years for incremental increases to advance their programs and plans for a Marxist state. They suspected their gambit was nigh, time was running out, so they went for the gold ring. Stimulus, Obama care, and the ensuing debt they created have galvanized the majority against them. Polling smolling - the true measure of how Americans view the debt is seen in one poll - the one where over 70% agree government must cut spending. A near identical number do NOT want debt ceiling raised. Democrats are playing with thermite and they are ignorant of how thermite ignites. Good!
yisong| 10.29.11 @ 2:45AM
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