Norquist offered Giuliani praise Monday, words that are sure to go over well with New Hampshire voters.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - He still won’t sign the pledge – but Republican Rudy Giuliani is on the receiving end of some very kind words from a conservative activist prominent in GOP battles over taxes and spending.
Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform said this in a letter to the former New York mayor on Monday:
“In looking at the records of all the Republican candidates, yours clearly stands out. You cut the income tax, business taxes, sales taxes, property related taxes and nuisance taxes. You are the most successful tax cutter in modern New York history and, on balance, the most successful tax cutter in the Republican field today.”
In that same letter, Norquist noted a letter he had received from Giuliani, and said: “The information you put in your letter certainly more than achieves the spirit and letter of the Americans for Tax Reform National Taxpayer Protection Pledge.”
Translation: Rudy still won’t sign the pledge, yet Norquist is trying to help the mayor deal with rivals who are trying to make an issue of his refusals in New Hampshire, where GOP campaigns are historically waged first and foremost over taxes.
Giuliani and Senator John McCain have refused to sign the ATR pledge promising not to raise taxes under any circumstances, as has Congressman Duncan Hunter.
In a presidential debate in September, Giuliani defended his refusal to sign: “It's a matter of principle. I think if you're president of the United States, you take one pledge: to uphold the Constitution of the United States.”
Giuliani’s campaign released the Norquist letter. In the past few weeks the former mayor has made a significant push in New Hampshire.
– CNN Chief National Correspondent John King
From CNN Politics
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don't know much about this norquist guy but anyone who is pushing to get rid of the irs is a champion of the people and all right by me
Has Norquist ever held an honest job?
Norquist and his lot have done so much harm to the US, that if he and his lot support somebody, I run the other way.
Remember Jack Abramoff, yes that one, his friend since their college days. The one in jail. These are all crooks, major CROOKS.
Birds of a feather flock together I guess, so no wonder Norquist praises Giuliani, a man with connections to the mob, friend of child molesters, and just a plain old CROOK.
Do you really want another crook in the whithouse?
I can't believe this guy has the gaul to say that Giuliani 'stands out in the Republican field' on taxes when Ron Paul is for getting rid of the IRS all together. Something shady is going on here, but it doesn't surprise me, since Giuliani is the one on the receiving end of the praise. The man is as bad as Hillary.
Did you look at Ron Pauls record or was it "overlooked"? Seriously. . . . .lower taxes = Ron Paul 08
The only thing getting a "cut" will be Ru911dy after he loses the primaries next spring.
He has more baggage than an airport carousel.
Actions speak louder than words. I'm sooooo confused...
Talk about seeking the lowest level ... wasn't Grover Norquist in bed with Abramoff and up to his neck other shady dealings??
One crook recommending the man who is already ethically challenged ... must be Republicans at work as usual.
Will it be a Giuliani-McCain ticket, or a McCain-Giuliani ticket? Either way, my vote is cast.
Unreal. How can they consider Rudy for anything unless of course they are looking for someone who will "playball" sort of speak. Check out Ron Paul's record on taxes AND HIS REFUSAL TO APPROVE ANY UNBALNACED BUDGET. They both count.
God, i hope no one ever pledges to this Grover Norquist guy. I am sure he wants to live in a tax free world but more importantly this guys seems like a shister of some sorts that wouldnt seem smart to be completely linked up to. Who has been some of the important people that have signed with him?
New Hampshire has changed and if the Republicans want to stick with positions that are "first and foremost over taxes" they're welcome to it. Most New Hampshire voters have a bigger picture of fiscal responsibility and that includes the immorality of passing on a nine trillion dollar debt to the next few generations. The past three Republican presidents account for 70% of the debt which proves that Republicans can't be trusted with the nation's finances.
As far as I'm concerned, this isn't at all positive. If I were a presidential candidate, I wouldn't want to be in any way associated with this thoroughly immoral extremist. Incidentally, I'm a Giuliani supporter and someone who believes in middle and lower class, not upper class, tax relief. Until several months ago, I didn't think that these were mutually exclusive categories.
This is total garbage. I've never been a fan of Norquist to begin with, but if he's serious about finding a real candidate for lower taxes and not just looking to pander to some phony sense of "electability" then he needs to stop reading news from the Mainstream Media and start looking into the candidacy of Ron Paul.
I live in New York and I remember the Giuliani years. He's a phony, wannabe dictator who likes to appoint cronies to important positions (don't they all?) and take credit for everything (like the Yankees' championships in the '90s). He acts like he has some kind of divine power that makes him eminently more qualified than everyone else.
Oh, and he's far from anti-tax. How does he expect to pay for all those wars he'll probably start?
If you read my post yesterday on Rudy, you would see where I said that Rudy was a Norquist acolyte.
And now today he proves it.
Rudy and Grover=feudalism for America.
Norquist is nuts! The only people who are sacrificing anything for this war are our brave soldiers and our over burdened middle class. The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer and the middle class is dying. The only way to get out of this horrible debt is to recind Bush's tax cuts and force the rich and big business to pay thier fair share. The rich have not sacrificed anything for this war. They reap the benefits of this economy while we , the middle class suffer.
Rudy for the next 16 years! (CRINGE) Rudy Emperor makes a chilling sound.
Hey, Grover – you're 15 minutes of fame ran out years ago. Time to slither back under your rock.....
I'd like to beat the smugness right off his fat, GoPesque face...
In general i find the idea of cutting taxes out entirely is a socialist idea. However as a new yorker and member in the US Army i support Rudy. i figure he would be better off if all comments from Norquist were completly disregarded. Rudy has already waged a strong point on his own. I think he can go on without the help of this guy go Rudy 08. All of you people calling out the candidates and our current president i have one question...If you could do so much better then why arent YOU running for office?