Columbia Professor Blasts Grover Norquist Pledge As ‘Seditious’ And ‘Treasonous’ - video link

[Tx4obama]

VIDEO here: http://www.mediaite.com/online/columbia-professor-blasts-grover-norquist-pledge-as-seditious-and-treasonous/

Professor Robert Thurman, a Buddhist scholar working at Columbia University, isn’t happy with our Republican Congresspeople signing a pledge to Grover Norquist. And he isn’t afraid to take that anger public.

Thurman, who was once chosen as one of Time Magazine‘s “25 Most Influential People,” has released a video calling Norquist’s anti-tax increase pledge a “seditious” and “treasonous” oath. Thurman says his purpose in making the video is so that U.S. citizens start to think more deeply about this pledge and what it means for our Congresspeople to have taken an oath to an unelected, non-governmental citizen.

-snip-

Thurman ends the video calling those who have signed the pledge “unfit for office.”

[SummerSnow]

1. So spot on...

I totally agree with the Professor.


I recall Michelle Bachmann accusing Senate Democrats of UnAmerican activities and there needs to be an investigation. Excuse me? Hey nutty lady you need to look closer in your own backyard.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Norquist is a registered foreign lobbyist

Perhaps there is a significant conflict of interest in his crusade to drown our Federal Government?

[Jack Rabbit]

3. A very mild dissent

First of all, I have never taken Mr. Norquist's hyperbole seriously. Wanting to "starve the beast" and "drown it a bathtub" are merely figures of speech. All Mr. Norquist really wants is a smaller federal government, so small, I'm afraid, that it would be unable to protect citizens from powerful private citizens, such Mr. Norquist's clients. That people such are the Koch bothers or Rex Tillerson should be able to conduct business without being obligated by the government to pay taxes or follow regulations promoting clear air, safe drinking water or even occupational health and safety is Mr. Norquist's idea of freedom. I have a very different idea of freedom that needn't be elaborated here.

Second, I do not believe that taking an oath to Grover Norquist or American for Tax Reform contradicts the oath members of Congress take upon entering office. If a Congressman or Senator believes that taxes should never be raised under any circumstances, then that member would be discharging his duty as he sees fit to vote against any tax increase. Personally, I believe such behavior by a Congressman is irresponsible and taking a pledge such as the one Mr. Norquist has elicited from, if I am not mistaken, every Republican member of Congress is just foolish. A rigid ideology, such as the anti-tax stance reflect in that pledge, is not a good leadership trait. I will agree with Professor Thurmond that any member of Congress so ideologically rigid as to sign Mr. Norquist's pledge is an irresponsible fool who would be better suited for the halls of a state hospital than the halls of Congress.

Finally, one cannot impeach a US Senator or a member of the House of Representatives. The only recourse is to wait for the next election and vote the offending members from office. That much of Professor Thurmond's message I endorse.

So, if you will pardon my own hyperbole, let's go out and tar and feather the bastards.