The GOP’s Grover Norquist problem and the RNC debate
GOP insiders and party activists are excited about today’s RNC chairman debate hosted by Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform. Norquist will moderate the debate beginning at 1pm Eastern this afternoon at the National Press Club in Washington DC. The event will be broadcast on C-SPAN and streamed at RNCDebate.org. And lots of conservative Twitter users will be in attendance. HA round-up here. Questions ostensibly will come from grass-roots conservatives, though a heated battle broke out between Ron Paul supporters who want to focus on policy and electoral-driven Beltway strategists like Patrick Ruffini who only want “good” questions that focus on strategy. Chastises Ruffini:
Whether it’s Ron Paul Republicans or movement conservatives or moderates, my message to all is one and the same: the RNC is not a policymaking body — nor should it be. It cannot make Republicans in Congress spend less, worthy a goal as that might be. The RNC’s job is to win elections — period. That means the RNC is made up of good political people — not policy wonks — who with all due respect, you wouldn’t want making policy.
All the candidates for RNC Chairman are good conservatives. RNC members should choose the one who will win elections. As I’ve written over the last few days, technology, strategy, and tactics are not the only things — and success in these areas is inextricably linked to having a Republican message “we can believe in.”
I’ve had my disagreements with Ron Paul supporters, but I see nothing wrong with their desire to grill RNC candidates on issues that matter to them. The RNC may not be a “policymaking body,” but its policy positions drive “strategy” and “tactics” and donor outreach efforts.
Which brings us back to Grover Norquist and the unpleasant realities that these strategists and rebranding gurus and RNC candidates don’t want to talk about.
Party power player Norquist and the ATR propose to help fix the GOP’s problems.
Norquist is part of the problem.
Some of us have not forgotten how Norquist made common cause with the left-wing zealots at People for the American Way in a forum bashing the Patriot Act — and how he forged even more dangerous alliances in the name of Muslim GOP outreach. Flashback from my column in October 2003:
Alec “the Bloviator” Baldwin has a new bosom buddy: Beltway Republican strategist Grover Norquist.
The Bush-bashing actor-turned-activist and the Muslim vote-courting political organizer joined together at a Washington, D.C.-area conference last weekend to perpetuate bald lies about the Patriot Act and to oppose the “repressive” War on Terror (repressing terrorist suspects apparently being a bad thing).
Baldwin and Norquist’s panel, titled “Strange Bedfellows,” was sponsored by the ultraliberal group, People for the American Way (PFAW). When PFAW head and panel participant Ralph Neas ranted about the lack of judicial and Congressional oversight of the Justice Department’s terror investigations, the audience applauded passionately. According to National Review Online reporter Byron York, Baldwin (the “moderator”) then turned to Norquist for comment.
“Ditto,” Norquist replied. Never mind the flat-out falsity of Neas’ claim. The smarmy Baldwin looked at his panelists and proudly remarked: “Can’t you feel the love?”
…Norquist’s kissy-kissy partnership with a washed-up Hollywood Clintonite is the least of his unseemly alliances.
Consider: The conference they attended last weekend was hosted by the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom (NCPPF), which was co-founded in 1997 by Sami Al-Arian — the former University of South Florida professor charged earlier this year as a fund raiser and organizer for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group. The money Al-Arian allegedly raised went to terrorist operations overseas that killed at least two Americans. In 2001, Al-Arian’s NCPPF gave Norquist an award for his work to abolish the use of secret intelligence evidence in terrorism cases. Al-Arian was the keynote speaker. Insight investigative reporter Ken Timmerman says Norquist told the magazine he remains “proud” of the award.
Among other major participants and sponsors of the NCPPF conference was the American Muslim Council (AMC). In January, the group accused President Bush of “calling on God to kill innocent Iraqi children.” The next day, the group instructed mosque directors to block FBI counterterrorism efforts. Late last month, AMC founder Abdurahman Alamoudi was charged with illegally accepting money from Libya for his efforts to persuade the United States to lift sanctions against that nation. He also allegedly attempted to smuggle hundreds of thousands of dollars to Syria, which federal officials say was intended for delivery to Damascus-based terrorist groups.
Alamoudi’s arrest is part of a larger Justice Department investigation of terrorism funding focused on Saudi-backed Islamic foundations and businesses based in Herndon, Va. (Alamoudi is also responsible for founding the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council to “certify Muslim chaplains hired by the military,” including Capt. James “Youssef” Yee — charged last week with taking classified information home from Guantanamo Bay.) A so-called “moderate,” Alamoudi is on record praising the terrorist group Hezbollah and proclaiming: “We are all followers of Hamas.”
Norquist’s lobbying firm is registered as a lobbyist for Alamoudi. Alamoudi provided seed money for Norquist’s Islamic Institute, which shares space with Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform group. The institute is run by Alamoudi deputy and former AMC government relations director Khaled Saffuri. Saffuri and Norquist have worked closely with Bush senior adviser Karl Rove to give radical Muslim activists access to the White House. No doubt because of their efforts, Alamoudi was invited to a White House prayer service after the Sept. 11 attacks.
If any Democrat activist had such shady connections, conservatives would be on him like white on rice. Instead, Norquist has gotten away with smearing his critics — most notably, former Reagan official Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy, one of the most decent and patriotic Republicans I’ve had the honor of meeting — as hatemongers.
Alamoudi pleaded guilty in 2004 to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Libya in violation of U.S. law and attempting to hide it from the government.
Another reminder from Insight magazine of how Norquist tried to silence those who questioned his reckless strategic decisions by branding them as racists and bigots:
Norquist was Alamoudi’s most influential Washington facilitator, authorities believe, noting that Norquist reminds friend and foe alike that he is close to the president’s powerful political strategist, Karl Rove.
Norquist, who previously has denied any suggestion that his work facilitated any wrongdoing, not only introduced Alamoudi to Washington GOP power circles but also Sammy Al Arian, whom prosecutors arrested earlier this year for alleged terrorist activities. Federal law-enforcement sources say they are focusing on some of Norquist’s associates and financial ties to terrorist groups.
Alamoudi ran, directed, founded or funded at least 15 Muslim political-action and charitable groups that have taken over the public voice of Islamic Americans. Through a mix of civil-rights complaints, Old Left-style political coalitions and sheer persistence, Alamoudi helped inch the image of U.S.-based Islamists toward the political mainstream and induced politicians to embrace his organizations. He sought to secure the support first of the Clinton administration in seeking to repeal certain antiterrorist laws, but when Bill Clinton failed to deliver, Alamoudi defected to Bush, then governor of Texas. Alamoudi and other Muslim leaders met with Bush in Austin in July [2000], offering to support his bid for the White House in exchange for Bush’s commitment to repeal certain antiterrorist laws.
That meeting, sources say, began a somewhat strained relationship between the self-appointed Muslim leaders and the Bush team. Some senior Bush advisers voiced caution to Rove, who is said to have disregarded such concerns, seeing instead an opportunity to bring another ethnic and religious group into the GOP big tent. A photo of the Austin event shows Bush with Alamoudi standing over his left shoulder, flanked by the former head of the Pakistani Communist Party, several open supporters of the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist groups and other individuals Insight is trying to identify.
Canceled checks obtained by Insight show Alamoudi provided seed money to start a GOP-oriented Muslim group called the Islamic Institute, which Norquist originally chaired and now is led by former Alamoudi aide and former AMC staffer Khaled Saffuri. A White House memo obtained by Insight prepared for coordinating Muslim and Arab-American “public-liaison” events with the White House shows that the Islamic Institute was instrumental in establishing the connection. The memo, from early 2001, provides lists of invitees and the name, date of birth and Social Security number of each. Norquist, as the first chairman of the Islamic Institute, tops the list.
Alamoudi and others, including Norquist, tried to keep critics at bay by branding them as “racists” and “bigots.”
Refresher from Frank Gaffney: “A Troubling Influence.” See also Mona Charen, Kenneth Timmerman, Insight, The American Spectator, Cal Thomas, and Debbie Schlussel.
Will the next RNC chairman remain silent about Norquist’s security-undermining strategic alliances? Will the next RNC chairman openly reject the same race-card-playing strategies that have corrupted a money-grubbing party establishment? Or will the field of candidates kiss the ring and hold their tongues?
The guaranteed silence on these issues today will speak volumes.
***
The RNC debate is over. There was much pandering and kowtowing and pledging to increase minority outreach efforts.
What no RNC candidate would say:
I will never engage in “outreach” efforts at the cost of our security and sovereignty.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
Palin-endorsed Deb Fischer wins Nebraska Senate primary; will face Bob Kerrey in November
May 16, 2012 11:02 AM by Doug Powers
46 Comments
Newt Gingrich: I’m ending my campaign, but seriously, think about the moon colony idea
May 2, 2012 04:39 PM by Doug Powers
78 Comments
Romney sweeps Tuesday primaries; ‘Better America begins tonight’
April 24, 2012 10:34 PM by Doug Powers
109 Comments
CNN meteorologist blames Texas tornadoes on climate change
April 4, 2012 10:37 AM by Doug Powers
95 Comments
Pelosi’s Advice to GOP: Free your party from the extremists who took my gavel!
April 3, 2012 03:34 PM by Doug Powers
74 Comments
Categories: GOP,Homeland Security,Islam
BANISH ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOP WHO DO NOT AGREE
Sorry, didn’t mean to post that last one. Norquist is a weird one. I assumed his criticism of W for Iraq was that it got in the way of his anti-tax crusade. But I guess he’s just a liberal when it comes to the war on terror.
Joseph Wilson worked for Alamoudi at RockCreek.
IIRC, Grover is married to a Muslimah. Islamic law does not permit an infidel to marry a Muslim woman, so Grover may be playing for the other side.
Thank God I am no longer a republican.
Long live Conservatives!
Yup, Samah Norquist, Grover’s wife, is a practicing Muslim, which means, by default, he must have converted.
In his defense, he may be an Islam supporting closet jihadist who aims to deflect America away from the war on Islamic terrorism, but he sincerely seems to believe in lower taxes and free enterprise.
Well, seeing as how I’m trying to get back to DC and my only DC experience is at ATR, I’d like to thank you for trying to make my resume toxic.
As if it wasn’t hard enough to get back there.
Money talks and all these people listen. There isn’t a public servant left in Washington. No offense, but if his wife is a Muslim – throw his a$$ out until Muslims worldwide recognize the right of Israel to exist. All is clear now…
I wanted to say he’s a democrat in republican clothing but the democrats and many, many republicans are looking more alike all the time.
He is Muslim, otherwise his Kuwait born Palestinian wife would have been killed by her parents.
A Muslim woman can’t marry an infidel.
Now, Barack Obama went to the mosque with his step-father until he was seven years old, but no longer practices the faith, but this Grover al-Norquist must practice the faith or his in-laws would kill either him or his wife, or probably both.
He has spone at CAIR events, for goodness sakes.
As a man with ideas and Islamic connections, I think the U.S. should use Grover’s power of persuasion, and send him over to have “consultations” with Hamas’ leadership…preferably strapped to a CBU-89….just a thought.
Sounds as if the Republican Party wants to lose ANOTHER election!
Hmm.
Check # 1100 dated Feb 8.
Check # 1102 dated April 4.
Observation 1: this checkbook is only used for specific types of (infrequent) payments.
Observation 2: any bets that check # 1101 was dated in March to a similar (or the same) institution?
Umm, Isn’t the routing number and account number on those checks sensitive information which a thief could use to access the account? It seems to me that they should be blurred out.
You know, a less honest patriot, having Mr. al-Moudi’s name, home address, checking account number and knowing what his signature looks like, might divert some funds away from his terror supporting checking account.
Not me, though. 100% law abiding.
Sh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h.
What’s the Memo at the bottom of check #1100 say…I can’t make it out? Also, this is obviously a new account. No one ever starts a new account with the number 1 or 100. What’s that smell? It is reminiscent of “sun-parched” carp, wrapped up in newspaper (NYT), stuffed in the other assorted baggage.
After this last election cycle, and the candidate they shoved down my throat, the RNC is dead to me.
Ronald Reagan was a RINO.
The Republican Party, as it stands today, is what the Republican Party has always been – with the exception of the Reagan years.
Conservatives – think about that before you call yourselves “Republicans” for even one more day.
It’s time for conservatives to do one of two things:
1) Try to take back the Republican Party and re-establish it as the home to conservatism.
OR
2) Bail out and get serious about forming an alternative party that will be proud to stand on a conservative platform.
right_on,
That looks like “loan” to me.
Seriously, I love the Paulbots sometimes.
Interestingly, this philosophy has been a miserable failure at winning elections. It is not possible to separate strategy from policy. The attempt to do so removes those things about the party that people might vote for.
IOW: What a stupid thing to say!
The only thing…and I mean ONLY thing that Alec Baldwin does that entertains me is Jack Donagy on 30 Rock.
And I love it.
EWTHeckman
That’s what I thought initially, but that idea opens all kinds of speculation. As a former investigator, I see a giant red flag popping up. I think the connection bears more than a little investigation. And I don’t mean via a Congressional Hearing, which IMHO is a stinking toilet by which we dispose of good money.
Back before Grover, we used to kiss Richard Viguerie’s rear…why is it that Republicans are so eager to anoint power brokers that don’t even pay their way. I mean, c’mon, George Soros calls shots on the left, but the guy delivers tons of cash. Republican’s really need to make an open (and large) wallet a necessary criteria for a kissable rear.
Not a chance.
Excuse me, for a moment there I got misty-eyed for that simpler, more innocent time before Obama. It seems a lifetime ago, no?
Michelle is spot on in disagreeing with Ruffini about “politicizing” the RNC. These are the fellows who let Rick Santorum twist in the wind but gave Spector hardy support. Electability should not trump principle.
Only if you want to put money INTO the account.
I suspect that what we are seeing is an infiltration of the GOP by people who claim to be republicans and are really democrats in disguise who are attempting to take over the GOP the same way they took over the democrat party and for the same reason.
We are headed for a one party political system where being a loyal party member is prerequisite for success.
AN and sonofdy,
It seems you’re mistaken. Here’s what the Better Business Bureau has to say about access to bank account numbers:
As much as I don’t mind enemies of this country losing money which they intend to use against us, it should not be because of our sloppiness. Those numbers really should be blurred out.
Also note that Grover’s good friend and favored candidate is Saul Anuzis, Michigan GOP Chair, who is of Grover’s same mind when it comes to Muslims. In fact, he’s recruited open supporters of Hezbollah and anti-war candidates as U.S. Senate candidates, John McCain Michigan Finance Committee people, etc. He told me he’d continue to reach out to people who support Hezbollah. Read the full details on Pan-Islamist Saul Anuzis, who wanted to ban Ron Paul from the debates, but not Hezbollah supporters from being his favored Republicans. If Saul is elected RNC Chair, it will be a disaster.
Interesting that neither of the checks are deposited/cashed. Where did Michelle get them?
Also account numbers are NOT sensitive information. You give them out freely every time you write a check.
One other thing: Thanks, Michelle, for linking to my article on Grover that once appeared on National Review Online. It was taken down at the request of Grover’s Al-Qaeda-tied buddy Suhail Khan, Grover, and the White House, according to Rich Lowry. Rich didn’t have the courtesy to tell me this himself, and I instead found out about it on the air of the Sean Vannity radio show while I was debating Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR–Hooper said it on the air. When I asked Rich why I found out about this from Hooper and not anyone at NRO, he had no answer. When I asked if anything in the article was untrue, he responded that he knew everything in the article was, indeed, true, yet said it was a “smear.” I asked how it could be a “smear” if it was entirely true. He grew enraged, yelled at me, and hung up.
Also note that my article from NRO, which Michelle linked above was removed by NRO’s Lowry at the request of Suhail Khan, Grover, and the White House, even though Rich acknowledged to me that everything in it was true, but he said it was a “smear.” He couldn’t tell me how an article that is entirely true is a “smear” and refused to answer further questions. He grew enraged, yelled at me, and hung up on me.
I only found out the article was removed, in the first place, live on the air of the Sean Vannity show while I was debating Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, from Hooper himself. When I asked Rich Lowry why I found out about it this from Ibrahim Hooper on a national radio show instead of from NRO or Lowry, he declined to answer. This is how far Grover’s problematic reach goes.
Just another reason I am no longer a Republican. These people have sold out.
We need to try some actual conservative ideas like limited, smaller government. We have 80 or 90 years of empirical data demonstrating that the alternative doesn’t work.
Also note that my article from NRO, which Michelle linked above was removed by NRO’s Lowry at the request of Suhail Khan, Grover, and the White House, even though Rich acknowledged to me that everything in it was true, but he said it was a “smear.” He couldn’t tell me how an article that is entirely true is a “smear” and refused to answer further questions. He grew enraged, yelled at me, and hung up on me. I only found out the article was removed, in the first place, live on the air of the Sean Vannity show while I was debating Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, from Hooper himself. When I asked Rich Lowry why I found out about it this from Ibrahim Hooper on a national radio show instead of from NRO or Lowry, he declined to answer. This is how far Grover’s problematic reach goes.
Great…how many more turncoats to conservatism will we have to get rid of before its over with? Norquist is a tool who must be shunned.
Also note that my article from NRO, which Michelle linked above was removed by NRO’s Lowry at the request of Suhail Khan, Grover, and the White House, even though Rich acknowledged to me that everything in it was true, but he said it was a “smear.” He couldn’t tell me how an article that is entirely true is a “smear” and refused to answer further questions. I only found out the article was removed, in the first place, live on the air of the Sean Vannity show while I was debating Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, from Hooper himself. When I asked Rich Lowry why I found out about it this from Ibrahim Hooper on a national radio show instead of from NRO or Lowry, he declined to answer. This is how far Grover’s problematic reach goes.
I didn’t leave the Republican Party – the Republican Party left me.
- John H. Schneider II
5 Jan 2009
Also note that my article from NRO, which Michelle linked above was removed by NRO’s Lowry at the request of Suhail Khan, Grover, and the White House, even though Rich acknowledged to me that everything in it was true, but he said it was a “smear.” He couldn’t tell me how an article that is entirely true is a “smear” and refused to answer further questions. He grew enraged, yelled at me, and hung up.
I only found out the article was removed, in the first place, live on the air of the Sean Vannity show while I was debating Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, from Hooper himself. When I asked Rich Lowry why I found out about it this from Ibrahim Hooper on a national radio show instead of from NRO or Lowry, he declined to answer. This is how far Grover’s problematic reach goes.
Not to take sides but this kind of information (account name, address, account number and routing number)is sufficient to make someone’s life miserable. From what I understand of bank fraud you CAN extract money from someone’s account with just this data. I asked a banker about this some time ago and was shocked to hear what could be done with just this information.
Plus having this level of detail makes it much easier to gain additional data about a person using social engineering techniques. Like intelligence work, you rarely get everything you need in one strike. You amass a bit of information as time passes until you have enough to make your move. But, this data is a HUGE start in the process.
I would certainly never give this information to anyone.
I was surprised to see the checks had not been redacted in in some way.
National Review continues to run Grover’s work and he blogs there. That’s part of the problem, too. And the article of mine to which Michelle linked, about Grover, was removed from NRO by Rich Lowry at the request of Grover, the White House, and Grover bud Suhail Khan. I learned of this from Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR live on national radio on Sean Vannity’s show, not from Rich Lowry, who later told me that although everything in the article was true, it was a “smear.” He declined to tell me how it could be a smear if it was true. Grover has to be excommunicated from NRO among other places.
OOPS, sorry for the duplicates above.
I am not sure that you can conclude that the checks were not or never cashed or deposited based on this image.
In 1999 there may have been different rules and procedures for handling checks. Any markings showing that the checks were cashed or deposited might be indicated on the back of the instrument and not on the front.
Also, it is possible that the photocopy of the two checks that was made before the instruments were negotiated.
Don’t worry about the duplicate posts! I am just thrilled to be sandwiched between two Debbie Schlussel posts! It is great to see yet another strong, intelligent, wonderful conservative woman! Be still my beating heart!
BTW, for all those concerns, First Union merged with or was purchased by Wachovia Bank several years ago. This bank account number has almost certainly changed since that merger event. Michelle probably knew that before she posted the checks. Posting an account number of a defunct bank won’t cause anyone problems. Well, except for Grover Norquist who might have a bit of explaining to do.
Thanks for tracking that info down WarEagle. I’ll relax now.
These checks had to have been copied before they were cashed (if they were cashed).
Banks pring the amount of the check under the signature line after a check is deposited/cashed.
If you pay your utility bills with a check, do you know how many workers see your checks with account info each year?
Ditto if you write a check at a grocery store, clothing store, pharmacy, or any other mundane thing you pay for.
Checking account numbers are not private!!!!
I have seen checks that had a small, narrow strip attached to the bottom of the check after they had been processed. If that were done to BOTH of these checks the small strip might have been folded under the check and then photocopied. I don’t remember if there were other identifying remarks on the front of a check when I last saw this done.
What small minded thinkers the RNC has. After losing a couple elections lately, and comparing/contrasting with the years of “Contract with America” – we don’t want to let policy get in the way of electability. DUH
Does it not occur to “them” that policy defines electability for conservatives? Maybe not so much for libs – but for conservatives, policy is the only thing.
I don’t care if the candidate combs their hair nice, dresses snazzy, or likes carrots.
Do they or don’t they hold to conservative values?
Horowitz of Frontpagemag.com also raised concerns about Norquist a while back (best to do a search of his site to find the stuff) and it seemed at the time Norquist was extremely reluctant to respond to quite reasonable questions. There is something seriously creepy about the man, playing both sides of the fence as he is.
I guess this is the future of the Republican Party: lip service to conservative principles while holding hands and engaged in all manner of funny business with the Islamists. I seem to recall a president doing something like that but the name of the man escapes me.
I was thinking – “Great, the terrorists hate bacon!” Then realized it wasn’t Pancetta…
Oops wrong thread – ugh..
Yes. No. Yes.
Exactly what I have been thinking since I first read about this a few days ago.
What kind of nitwits are running the party that think voters are so superficial that they don’t care about policy when voting?
What this tells me is that the RINO’s running the asylum are afraid voters would find out they are bereft of coherent policy.
No leadership. Just go along to get along.
Again, exactly. Holding conservative values likely will translate into advocating for conservative policy whereas the prissy haircombers are likely to bend with the wind.
…so the drive-by media will always show their “good” side.
Well, it looks like the RNC has learned nothing from the last two elections. The RINOs are firmly ensconced at the RINO National Committee. Just another reason I am glad I am no longer a Republican.
“You lost me at prescription drug coverage.”
Apparently Conservatives are now a minority with the GOP elites – but there’s still no outreach to us.
When you turn your back on your base this is what you get.
I’m sorry- I have ZERO desire to ‘reach out’ to the Islamic vote.
”Minority Outreach”??? WTF, over?
WTH happened to VOTER OUTREACH? They should be ‘reaching out’ to CONSERVATIVE VOTERS.
We are well and truly screwed. Perot, wtf are YOU??
New party, anyone?
Anyone?
Wolf
I don’t think we need to be searching for the next Perot. We need to be looking for the next Reagan. We need someone with strong, conservative convictions. We need a leader who will do the right thing.
The only problem is that I don’t see the obvious, slam-dunk choice.
Actually there are several slam-dunk choices – the problem is that none of them want the job and I really don’t blame them in the current political climate.
On January 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm, JustifiedRight said:
Interesting that neither of the checks are deposited/cashed. Where did Michelle get them?
Many checks are handled as “electronic transfers” and the account holder receives images of the checks, which don’t show any cancellation on the front of the checks. Therefore, just because the checks don’t have visible cancellation on the front doesn’t mean they weren’t negotiated.
That said, wonder where the images came from.
Palin! This position would keep her in the spotlight, and she can work her magic of kick-ass corruption busting in her own party… something we desperately need. She’s the only one with balls enough to do the right thing in the face of adversity anyway.