. >> grover, it's margaret hoover. good to see you again. one of the things we talked about a lot is the democrats strategy to demonize you and make you the villain of the tax debate rather than the pledge to the american people. i wonder if you can hone in on during this debate as we look back at bowles-simpson that we might have got something done, the debate goes to you. grover norquist would say that's bad because it will close loopholes. >> the taxpayer protection pledge was designed in 1996. president reagan set up americans for tax reform, the group i run, and asked me to run it to be the outside group to push tax reform. that was 1986. reduce tax rates. broaden case. it eliminated many deductions and credit that cluttered the tax code. it gave us good economic growth. very helpful. the americans for tax reform and american people are all in favor of getting rid of deductions and credits but not if it's a trojan horse for higher taxes. so let's reduce deductions and credits and reduce marginal tax rates. congressman from kansas has a

so what i would say is the reason we're stuck on senator isn't grover.we're stuck on center is we haven't heard from the administration what they're willing to give in terms of entitlement reform, saving medicare, saving social security and what can we do to reform the tax code so the revenues to the government actually come up. they are historically too low, most people agree with that. the point is what we have is tremendous advantage this last week. the flood insurance bill that i held up in the senate, why did i hold that up? because it has a billion dollars www.of subsidies for flood insurance for people's second and vacation homes on the coast. should hard-working american factory workers and service workers pay and subsidize somebody's second vacation home? that's spending in the tax code. accords to grover if you eliminate that subsidy, you're raising taxes. >> you're a member of the fiscal commission. it's productive and came out to some degree with bills. so let me ask you about the democratic side of this, too. when you and your fellow republi

they all like this guy, grover norquist. they think he is like their god. all of the republicans candidates signed this thin. he signed a thing that said no taxes, just spending cuts on social programs. no tax ray raidses to go with it. >> i don't think -- just spending cut on social programs. i don't think he said that. just no tax cuts. >> who is the boss here? >> the boss is going to be mitt romney. >> but he signed the grove petition. >> the boss will be mitt romney. >> he signed on. the man of honor, i assume. >> he is the man of honor but the boss is mitt romney. mitt romney will run his campaign, make the case -- >> he sold out to this guy. >> he hasn't sold out to anyone, chris. nice excitable terms but he hasn't sold out. >> if i told you to do everything i said, and he signed the paper -- >> what do you mean tell you everything i need to do. >> if i sane your paper -- >> that's your choice. >> why did romney sign the petition? >> because he agree owns making the tax cuts to spur economic growth. this is consistent with what we want to do. number o

i don't think indiana, grover had any bearing in indiana.aling the affordable care act, not about taxes. it was about not spending money that we didn't have on things we don't absolutely need. what i would say is the reason we're stuck on senator isn't grover. the reason we're stuck on center is we haven't heard from the administration what they're willing to give in terms of entitlement reform, saving medicare, saving social security and what can we do to reform the tax code so the revenues to the government come up. they are historically too low. most people agree with that. the point is what we have the is tremendous advantage. last week the flood snurinsuran bill that i held up. it's got a billion dollars worth of subsidies for home insurance for people second and vacation homes on the coast. hard working american factory workers and service workers pay and subsidize somebody's second vacation home. that's spending in the tax code. if you eliminate that subsidy, you're raising taxes. >> you're a member of the fiscal commission. it's prod

. >> if you look at the primaries and everybody grover gets to sign, then he is right. this is the core of the republican philosophy, a hard line on taxes, simple to understand, jon huntsman did not sign it, and he went nowhere. so what grover is saying yes it's full of pride, but it also happens to be true. >> every time i go to a business convention that you probably love to go to, the reward weekends for these guys they all play golf and their all for tax cuts. and they all like this guy. and every member of congress, all of the candidates for president signed this thing. he got them to sign something that says no tax cuts -- tax raises to go with it. >> i don't think it said just spending cut on some social programs. >> what is he willing to cut? >> there's no tax cuts. >> who is the boss here. >> the bosses will be mitt romney. >> he signed the grover petition. >> he is a man of honor, mitt romney will run the campaign and make the case -- >> he sold out to this guy. >> he did not sold out to none. >> if i -- that's not what this is, you -- we would you do everythi

and so we said here's one for you, grover, babe. we're taking the tax expenditures and getting rid of 180 plus of them and taking $100 billion to reduce the debt, and the other trillion to give the lower tax base. and what can he do to you? he can't murder you, can't burn your house down. the only thing he can do is defeat you for re-election or put some dud into your primary to take you out. and if that means more to you than your country and extremity you shouldn't even be in congress. >> and that will be the last word. gentlemen, thank you all very much. [ applause ] >> oh my goodness. >> jay, that was fun. got to get out of here. >> saturday on "washington journal," a discussion about bipartisan efforts in the u.s. senate to change campaign finance laws. our guest is meredith mcgehee of the campaign legal center. and captain manning talking about positions open to women. and thomas wright of the brookings institution. "washington journal" live every morning starting at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >>> i work a lot now, especiall

we'll talk with the president of americans for tax reform, grover norquist when he joins us next livew." also, get a free flight. you know that comes with a private island? really? no. it comes with a hat. see, airline credit cards promise flights for 25,000 miles, but... [ man ] there's never any seats for 25,000 miles. frustrating, isn't it? but that won't happen with the capital one venture card. you can book any airline, anytime. hey, i just said that. after all, isn't traveling hard enough? ow! [ male announcer ] to get the flights you want, sign up for a venture card at capitalone.com. what's in your wallet? uh, it's ok. i've played a pilot before. >>> house minority leader nancy pelosi and house speaker john boehner are setting the is taken for another battle over the debt limit. and once again, the fundamental disagreement is over raisingtachs. the fight comes as a new report may give americans another reason to lose faith in congress. according to the sun light delegation, congressional members now speak at a tenth grade level a full grade lower than they did in 2005. joining

and so we said here's one for you, grover, babe. we're taking the tax end spen turs, taking 100 billion and the other to give the lower tax base. what can he do to you. he can't murder you, can't burn your house down. the only thing he can do is defeat you for re-election or put some dud into your primary to take you out. and if that means more to you than your country and extremity you shouldn't even be in congress. >> that will be the last word. gentlemen, thank you all very much. [ applause ] >> jay, that was fun. got to get out of here. >> the federal communications commission goes before the house financial services oversight subcommit they afternoon. chairman and the commissioners will answer questions about fcc operations. we'll have live coverage starting at 2:30 eastern here on c-span 3. in congress today, the house votes on continuing the violence against women act t white house threatened to veto the republican plan if passed. the administration says the bill eliminate toss many protections including for lesbian gay trans

grover norquist is outfront tonight.ver, good to see you. >> good to be with you. >> i wanted to play one clip for you and get your reaction. it was alan simpson. he was on fareed zakaria this weekend and talked about the rigid stance many republicans have taken refusing to raise revenue as part of a grand bargain to deal with the deficit and debt. >> raise taxes? >> let's take a listen. >> you can't cut spending your way out of this hole. you can't grow your way out of this hole and you can't tax your way out of this hole. so put that in your pipe and spoke it we tell these people. this is madness. if you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. but if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. >> now, i'm pretty sure he's talking about your pledge. what's your reaction? >> well, alan simpson hasn't been paying attention to american politics for maybe a decade. what he missed is that the ryan plan, which the house of representatives overwhelmingly passed, almost ever

be nice to grover. let's check in with mar this mac callum. >> grover feels no pain, i'm told.ody. so president bush returns to the white house today in what could be a slightly awkward get together. we're going to talk about that. and marco rubio joins us this morning in "america's newsroom." we're going to talk to him about immigration and syria, what he would do. mitt romney talks about his faith with bill. all that coming up at the top of the hour. we'll see you then [ male announcer ] introducing a powerful weapon in your fight against bugs. ortho home defense max. with a new continuous spray wand. and a fast acting formula. so you can kill bugs inside, and keep bugs out. guaranteed. ortho home defense max. ♪ wer surge, let it blow your mind. [ male announcer ] for fruits, veggies and natural green tea energy... new v8 v-fusion plus energy. could've had a v8. >> steve: nine minutes before the top of the hour. quick headlines for you before we go. talk about government waste. the obama administration handed over $200 million in loan guarantees to fisker automotive to help c

part of the panel now we've got grover norquist the president for americans for tax reform. a regular voice of these issues. nancy mclaren going to get her aspect representing the companies doing business in the us. richard gephardt is president and ceo of the gephardt group here in washington. long time congressman from missouri joining us as well to talk taxes and the corporate tax debate. rich, it's all yours. >> thanks for joining us. i want to start by talking about where there's agreement. you have both president obama and the chairman of the house ways and means saying there should be revenue neutral overhaul of the corporate tax code. which would mean some companies pay more and some companies would pay less. what do you think it will take to get support for that among businesses and also in congress? start with the congressman. >> it's a good idea, but it's really hard. i participated in 1986 when we did tax reform it was revenue neutral. it was really hard to do because you have winners and losers. even though the idea of tax reform is attractive to everybody. a si

. >> grover? >> we can take this in two steps. the two parties are heading in different directions. this is not the republican-democratic party of the 1940s and 1950s. the two party have sorted themselves out to where republicans won't raise your taxes and there isn't a democratic in congress that hasn't voted to raise your taxes. all the democrats voted for the stimulus and all the republicans voted against it. they have a dramatic different view of spending and tax issues. but what i think would be helpful would be to have a consensus at least within the two parties. that's where the ryan budget proposal, the ryan road map is so helpful because you have a republican party minus two guys in the house who all have endorsed ryan's approach and in the senate every has signed on as well and romney has. that gives you a very good on spending reform, entitlement reform as well as tax reform corporate and individual. a very good outline of where the republicans are. what would be interesting and helpful if we're going to have negotiation would be to have democrats in the senate a budget a

what i would like to know is the job data get permission from grover norquist to go into discussions about the debt and if he did, did grover norquist put restrictions on what he could and couldn't do. >> okay. thanks, ed. don't know the answer to that question, but we'll leave it as a rhetorical one. mike, republican from california. >> caller: how you doing? i got about four comments. the guy from facebook who moved to singapore, i don't know what these democrat senators think they are. they don't own the guy. so he can leave anytime he wants. number two, you got all these people calling in talking about the debt ceiling. it seems to me that, you know, as long as it's other people eelts money, they don't have a problem, you know, spending it or whatever, you know. the other thing is don't worry. republicans are going to take the senate back and president romney will take care of business and everything will be okay. thank you. >> mike from california. tom coburn in the senate has an idea that's a bit of symbolism, and he recognizes that, but here's what he's suggesting. coburn urge

. >> that is grover norquist's pick for vp speaking right there. i don't know.e biden for a debate. >> that says a lot that he's grover norquist's favorite candidate. bobby jindal gives them the diversity because he's not a boring white guy, as we say. he's from a state they've already got. his big issue is drilling and school vouchers. i don't think that that's necessarily great selling point nationwide. and he's not that articulate or at least he's not that charismatic, let's just say. and there's a charisma gap between the two tickets. i agree with you, him versus joe biden, i don't know, joe biden has the sort of every man thing going for him. i'm not sure bobby jindal can pull that off. >> sometimes these lists show you how weak the lists are. he should not be on a serious vice presidential list for a party that has a really good bench to choose from. but he's on it because they don't have great people to look into. >> yeah, i think martinez would be a more interesting pick, obviously than bobby jindal. and he really flubbed the audition when people felt he

so we said here is one for you, grover.we are taking the tack expenditures and getting paid taking $100 billion to reduce the debt and the other trillion to give to the lower tax base. what can he do to you? he cannot murder you or burn down your house. the only thing he can do is to beat you for re-election or put some of dud in the primary to take you out. that means more it to you than your country, then you should not even be in congress. [applause] >> in a few moments, former president george w. bush honors human rights activists from around the world. the senate's back in session at 9:30 eastern. today's agenda includes consideration of two nominations to the federal reserve board of governors. >> former president george w. bush was in washington this week to honor human rights activists from around the world. among them was myanmar democracy leader and nobel peace prize laureate, awning san sue key. this is a little more than an hour. [applause] >> good morning, president and mrs. bush, ladies and gentlemen, and welc

where did the republican party go wrong according to my guests the fault lies with newt gingrich and groverrst here is my view. two simple observations have finally broken out into the open. together they should help define our politics. first the hi pop aresy of certain leaders knows no grounds. they maligned john kerry as weak while trumpeting the false bravado for president bush and now attack president obama for killing osama bin laden. second we now have a definitive statement from a accomplish investigative committee that lace out the corruption and willful blindness to corruption. the committee did something quite remarkable they said with absolute clarity he is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company. weave these two strands together, and you understand why washington has ground to a halt '5 our politics is so toxic. but here is my hope the public will reject out of hand the hypocrisy relating to osama bin laden. and there will be serious work on news corp. we must not let our unfortunate jennifer granholm is politically direct on current tv. >>

it's not gutsy, mitt, to buckle to grover in orderquist and signs any piece of paper he puts in front of you on taxes so he won't take you off his list, or buckle to the neon cons or by bucking to the right and dumping any gay staffer that may show himself. try this one on for size, mitt, the first time you show a whit of t

it's not gutsy, mitt, to buckle to grover in orderquist and signs any piece of paper he puts in front of you on taxes so he won't take you off his list, or buckle to the neon cons or by bucking to the right and dumping any gay staffer that may show himself. try this one on for size, mitt, the first time you show a whit of the guts that man did, again, jimmy carter, again and again and again. and that's "hardball" for now. thanks for being with us. coming up next, a special encore presentation of "rock center with brian williams: inside the situation room." >> good evening, americans. "the ed show" is taking the night off to show you brian williams and his exclusive look at what happened inside the white house situation room the night osama bin laden was killed. enjoy the show. we'll be back tomorrow night.

newt gingrich, and grover norquist, who his complete objection to even closing loopholes has made itcan party to compromise. how did they rise to such power. >> the two of us met newt gingrich when he was first nominated. newt from he beginning had his approach and full-blown strategy to get a republican majority in the house. he created a set of conditions, he thought once they took over, he could change it all back to the way it was, and he couldn't. his progeny went out including to the senate and helped to poison the process. and the pledges are at the root of the ability to find any common ground now. >> it is an -- >> a lifetime pledge. once you take it you are held for a lifetime. >> newt gingrich fascinating guy. i remember the speech he gave the day he became speaker of the house. it was historically based and intellectually fascinating what happened to that man of great ideas, and how did he turn in to this rabbit [ inaudible ]. >> he had the capacity to think strategically, to understand the history of the country to imagine a different politics, to think creatively about

in a moment, grover norquist of americans for tax reform talks about jobs and economy under president obama. the book is debacle. next grover norquist of americans for tax reform and political commentator john lott discuss their book, "debacle" obama's war on jobs and growth in and what we can do now for a future. this event was hosted by americans for tax reform and an american spectator. >> good afternoon everybody. welcome to our newsmaker lunch for today. it's an ongoing series sponsored by "the american spectator" magazine and americans for tax reform. i am jim antle from "the american spectator" and we are here to discuss a new book i grover norquist, public enemy number one of taxation in america and the economist john lott. over the next few months we will be hearing a lot of positive statistics on the president about how he is turning the economy around and he deserves a second term on the basis of progress toward reversing unemployment and making all kinds of the economic situation better, moving us away from the great recession. the book we are discussing today however, pai

now grover there, oscar is there. so when the kids will see the old favorites as well >> we have grover, cookie monster, elmo, rosita and our new friend katie. >> how old is katie >> brand new >> as far as you look like you are about 7 or 6? >> there you go. >> 6 years old. a crucial age too. locally so you will stop at three locations here quantico, fort bell for, and anacostia base. >>> and fort lewis. >>> uso.org,/sesame and find out what base we will be at next. >> you have been around the world with this. >> we have been at over 460 odd shows at about 135 bases in 33 states and 11 countries. >> how well received is it? as if i need to ask. >> such a phenomenal experience the best part for me personally is seeing families together. we only have jokingly say parents bring their kids so they have an excuse to come themselves. we all grew up with sesame street and this fantastic group of people who have been entertaining and educating for years and it is great. family experience is the best part of it and that dialog

it's one thing to have grover norquist and the tax swing of the republican party. it's quite another thing to stir up the most insidious feelings in this country, and howard is right, there are people here in this swing state here who will respond to it. there are people everywhere. and the real issue here, as howard points out, is romney silence. chris, today on a program, on the nbc affiliate here, the most visible romney surrogate in this stake, lieutenant governor. he's an icon. we appreciate his assistance. >> the problem is romney looks like the apprentice here. he doesn't look like the boss. he looks like "the apprentice" on nbc. here's romney telling reporters in his campaign plan that he doesn't hold the same views as his supporters. boy, isn't this special. let's watch. >> i don't agree with all the people who support me. my guess is they don't agree with everything i believe in, but i need to get 50.1% or more, and i'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people. >> you know, howard, remember what he said when somebody said give me an adjective

the son game the biggest grover norquist type in the world. the son wins one lesson, how not do win. they don't learn the values of the father. they learn the father lost. so i don't want to learn my old man's values. i want it wto win. i want to beat daddy. anyway, thank you david corn. thank you, joan walsh. >>> now that he clenched it. we are trying to marre narrow i down. does this guy have any interest in policy besides a hawk. he doesn't actually have a position of his own, he is just another mouth piece. >>> what the democrats have to do with the voter ids. what will they do to make sure the people in the row houseses get to vote in time. i fear what it will be like in this country if this election is decided by people being kept from the voting booth. this is "hardball," a place for politics. un tans... in alabama we had more beautiful blooms... un tans... in mississippi we had more good times... in louisiana we had more fun on the water. last season we broke all kinds of records down here on the gulf. more people more good times. this

this whole pledge to grover norquist, part of the problem, big time. >> thanks very much to both of you john boehner and harry reid are the heroes tonight. come on, more heroes come in and then we can get a deal. outfront next. president obama called out for being a big spender. do mitt romney's attacks add up? >>> and new video of george zimmerman inside the sanford police station. what the video actually shows when he turns away from the camera. we've got it. >>> and an auction involving an item of ronald reagan's, an item is an interesting word. it sparked so much controversy that his family demand it be called off. we know what it is. [♪...] >> announcer: with nothing but his computer, an identity thief is able to use your information to open a bank account in order to make your money his money. [whoosh, clang] you need lifelock, the only identity theft protection company that now monitors bank accounts for takeover fraud. lifelock: relentlessly protecting your identity. call 1-800-lifelock or go to lifelock.com today. today is gonna be an important day for us. you ready? we wanna b

grover norquist says, we don't care who the president is. we just need to have enough working digits to sign into law the paul ryan budget which unensures 50 million americans and balances the budget on the back of the poor. >> we have seen this ruthlessly impose this on not just members of congress but the entire party as a whole down to state legislators with signing the norquist tax pledge. it means that it has transformed itself like something in european democracy in which it really is the party and not the candidate. the party will carry the day much more than the candidate will. we know where the center of the party is. >> let's take a look at the state they were in today in polling. they were in virginia today. we have a public policy, a robo poll of virginia, showing president obama with an eight-point lead on mitt romney. 51-43. there is the governor of virginia doing what he can for romney today. if you are in the romney campaign and you are looking at an eight-point lead of obama in virginia, you are looking at a very serious pro

so we said here is one for you, grover. we are taking the tack expenditures and getting paid taking $100 billion to reduce the debt and the other trillion to give to the lower tax base. what can he do to you? he cannot murder you or burn down your house. the only thing he can do is to beat you for re-election or put some of dud in the primary to take you out. that means more it to you than your country, then you should not even be in congress. [applause] >> this memorial day weekend on c-span we will take you to colleges and universities around the country to hear commencement addresses from members of congress, the president's cabinet, state and local leaders and business executives and we also want to hear from you about your commencement experience. did you graduate from college this year or attend a ceremony for friend or family member or maybe something about a past commencement sticks with you. we want to hear from you. call us and tell us her story, (202)643-3011 and we may use your comments on the air. that is (202)

grover norquist victory, too. >> the republican vote, anything-but-tax -- >> let me ask about mitt romney in high-school kid he says he does not remember -- they roughed up a kid when they sends to looked different. >> kids are cru. i am sure that all of us did something we regret. kids are cruel, and this is something cruel he did. it does not necessarily define you for life. the question is whether anything like that comes up from later in life. >> he had a good response. he faced up to it and said he is sorry for it. i think he will be able to say that his life is in pretty since.ary cent >> maybe he just did not care, it did not mean one thing to him one way or the other. i want to say something about theea party and mitt romney. judson phillips was asked if he was going to vote for romney and said, "i will go into the voting booth and i will have a large bottle of pepco the small in one hand and a barf bag in the other." thus spoke the tea party about mitt romney. >> republicans are hoping to get the senate. what is t -- does the lugar ss d joe donnelly had declared for the united st

it's not gutsy, mitt, to buckle to grover in orderquist and signs any piece of paper he puts in fronts list, or buckle to the neon cons or by bucking to the right and dumping any gay staffer tha