Norquist will not testify at McCain's tribe hearing

[Robbien]

. . .

Norquist has come under fire in recent months for his dealings with former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the Indian tribes Abramoff represented. ATR received nearly $1.5 million from Indian tribes in recent years, a sizable portion of which was funneled to two anti-gambling groups to battle efforts by an Alabama Indian tribe to expand its gaming operations. The expansion could have impinged on the revenues of a neighboring tribe, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which was a longtime client of Abramoff, The Boston Globe reported last month.

Norquist also led an effort in 1999 to kill a proposed tax on Indian gaming revenues and he helped set up annual meetings between tribal leaders and the President.

. . .

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wrote to Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) on May 31 to raise concern about the request.

“To subpoena such information could chill current or prospective donors and supporters, and threaten First Amendment freedoms of speech and association,” wrote ACLU Acting Director Greg Nojeim and Legislative Counsel Marvin Johnson. “In addition to the impact this subpoena has on the recipient, its existence sends to all other non-profit organizations the chilling message that they, too, may be subjected to this kind of oppressive government investigation if they have the temerity to take an active role in debating public issues.”

. . .


Although Norquist will not be testifying, the June 22 hearing will reportedly focus on him and ATR as well as another conservative figure, Ralph Reed, former head of the Christian Coalition.

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/061405/norquist.html

[SteppingRazor]

1. A guy like Norquist can't ever afford to be under oath n/t

[central scrutinizer]

2. Cite this article the next time the Repugs bash the ACLU

as a group of American-hating, terrorism apologists.

[SoCalDem]

3. Last time I checked, the majority members COULD issue subpoenas

so where's the problem here??

[brentspeak]

4. The ACLU comes to Norquist's rescue

But that won't stop Norquist and his buddies from bashing the ACLU.

[Daphne08]

8. They tried to help Rush, too,

to no avail.

I don't listen to him so don't know if he still bashes them or not. I assume he did before; in fact, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion. ;)


Limbaugh to get legal boost from group he's often ripped
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/news/limbaugh/011304_limbaugh.html

[roguevalley]

5. subpoena him. make him take the fifth. but no. McCain won't do it.

[gratuitous]

7. Well, McCain's a hero, you know

I'm still not sure for what, but a lot of folks seem to regard him as such apparently because he didn't accept preferential treatment over his comrades who were also POWs.

So when Hero McCain decides it's not in democracy's interests to get to the bottom of something that looks as corrupt as Grover Norquist's and Ralph Reed's shenanigans, then just salute, wave your flag, and don't ask any questions, you America haters!

[Toots]

9. Surviving five years in a North Vietnamese detainment center is pretty

special if not heroic. I respect that he managed that. The Swift Boat LIARS say McCain was the only American prisoner to actually gain weight while there and he goes and gives Bush* a big tearful hug. Makes me sick.

[David Zephyr]

6. Ralph Reed Under Oath in a Republican Senate? It Never Will Happen.

Ralphie is a criminal's criminal.