Zeitgeist the Unthinkable!: Republican Rep. Calls Out Grover Norquist and His Sleazy Associations

Oh my, this young Representative has balls of steel.
From the website of Congressman Frank Wolf, 10th District of Virginia: 

Wolf: Grover Norquist's Relationships Should Give People Pause

Washington, D.C.  – In a speech today on the House floor, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) expressed concern about Grover Norquist’s influence on the political process in Washington and his association with several individuals, groups and causes many would consider unsavory.

Wolf questioned Norquist’s relationship with convicted felon Jack Abramoff and terrorist financiers Abdurahman Alamoudi and Sami Al-Arian.  He also raised the issue of Norquist’s advocacy of moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States, including 9/11 mastermind Khaled Sheik Mohammed, and his representation of the Internet gambling industry and Fannie Mae.

Norquist is the head of Americans For Tax Reform (ATR) and author of the organization’s anti-tax pledge.  Wolf’s concern is not with ATR’s goals but with Norquist being the sole interpreter and enforcer of the pledge, especially given his history with questionable individuals and groups. 

 “I want to be clear: I raise these issues not just because Mr. Norquist’s associates may be unsavory people,” Wolf said.  “There are many lobbyists in Washington who represent clients of all stripes and backgrounds.  But my concern arises when the appearances of impropriety are raised over and over again with a person who has such influence over public policy.  That, I believe, should give any fair-minded person pause.”

Wolf raised the issue in the context of working to solve the debt crisis facing the nation, stating that he believe the “pledge” is thwarting every good faith effort to reforming the nation’s tax code and ridding it of the special interest loopholes and earmarks.

Wolf pointed to Norquist’s opposition to Senator Tom Coburn’s attempt this summer to eliminate the special interest ethanol tax subsidy as an example....MORE, including C-SPAN footage

HT: Capital Gains and Games who writes:

...Wolfe's attack on Norquist's shady connections is straight out of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

Our Tom Coburn/ethanol posts:
UPDATED--Ethanol: Senate To Vote on Subsidy Repeal Today; Grover Norquist is an Idiot (ADM; PEIX)



Ethanol: "Senate keeps $6B in subsidies, but 34 GOP side with Coburn" (ADM; PEIX)

Also:
Nancy Pelosi, Richard Trumka and Grover Norquist Walk Into a Bar: (and say NO to deficit reduction)