Grover Norquist has a label for Barack Obama

John McCain has been trying hard of late to link Barack Obama with Jimmy Carter in the public consciousness, hoping that the "ineffectual" label that many voters affix to the former president will prove transferable.

But Grover Norquist -- the conservative activist who specializes in promoting an anti-tax agenda and, more generally, revels in the role of agent provocateur -- is offering a different comparison.

Norquist dropped by The Times' Washington bureau today and, as part of his negative critique of Obama's liberal stances on economic issues and other matters, he termed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee "John Kerry with a tan."

Since Norquist isn't running for anything, he can get away with such remarks; we doubt McCain will be incorporating the line into his speeches anytime soon.

Norquist's clout on the right is such, however, that McCain and his aides will pay attention to his thoughts on who would fit well in the second spot on the GOP's presidential ticket. And in his chat with Times' reporters and editors, he was especially high on Bobby Jindal, the recently elected governor of Louisiana.

Norquist touted Jindal's success in pushing through tax-cut and ethics reform legislation during his short tenure as Louisiana's chief executive (no mention was made of the flap surrounding the governor for failing, so far, to live up to a promise to block a pay raise for state legislators).

Nominating Jindal for vice president also would generate a mother lode of contributions for Republicans from Americans of East Indian descent, Norquist predicted.

Another recipient of kind words as a veep prospect was Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota; Norquist praised his record on taxes save for one "mistake" -- approving a hike in state cigarette taxes in years past.

Norquist's most recent book is entitled "Leave Us Alone," which makes the case that Republicans can put together a post-Ronald Reagan governing coalition by appealing to voters who want government to stay out of their affairs.

Along those lines, he predicted that one reason conservative radio talk show hosts will rally behind McCain -- who many of them have been cool toward -- is that some Democratic leaders are advocating a return of the "fairness doctrine." That's the abandoned federal rule that required broadcasters to give equal time to opposing political viewpoints.

[UPDATE: John Kartch, Norquist's director of communications, e-mailed Friday with "two concerns" about the post. "One, it suggests that Grover was singling out Kerry.  The entire statement was that Obama had no policy differences with Carter in 1980, [Walter] Mondale, [Michael] Dukakis, [Al] Gore or Kerry.  'Kerry with a tan,' was simply Kerry was the latest of the string. Two, to be fair to Kerry, Grover pointed out that even Kerry's reputation as a snob never went as far as Obama's contemptuous comment on middle America "clinging" to its guns and faith.]

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Reich Winger's NightMare]

A little reminder to the Reich Wingers who infest our country: George W. Bush - Worst President Ever - current popularity rating of 23%

And don't worry about Grover - his day is coming. Legal documents bearing his name will soon be served.

[Jack Cluth]

Grover Norquist: making racism fashionable again, one subtle piece of bigoted, hateful nonsense at a time. Beauteous.....

[Tod Lautenberg]

And You are Homer Simpson with glasses, Doh!

[Jake Jamahl]

A racist comment from the man who said, "The conservative movement cannot be associated with racism or bigotry."
This is conservative hypocrisy at its finest. Unless they are lining their pockets with dollars, stabbing someone in the back or trying to get into your bedroom, a conservative will say anything and then do the opposite when no one is looking.
Of course, there is that special place in hell for these vacuous mooncalves. They have special reservations in the Nixon wing, the specifically Reagan suite...

[The Outer Membrane]

Case in point > throughout the entirety of human history, not one single soul on this planet has ever considered the compensation they receive for the work they do to be so excessive that they desperately need a government program and the taxes it entails to reduce their income.

St. Grover understands this fact, and every step he takes to reduce the burden of taxation is one for which all readers of this blog (and in fact all wage earners) should be grateful (regardless of your politics).

[Monica Lewinski]

Big deal. Who cares what another republican racist thinks.

[washington]

Sen. Obama is nothing, I repeat nothing like Kerry. I am sure the GOP would love to have it this way. They can Never paint Sen. Obama as elite. They can never question his patriotism, because although he did not serve in the military, he has served the people in the Senate. This guy doesn't know what the heck he is talking about!

[adam]

When the history books are written about these past 8 years, this is the sort of comment that will be used to illustrate the character of the people who have been in power.

[adam]

When the history books are written about these past 8 years, this is the sort of comment that will be used to illustrate the character of the people who have been in power.

[fg]

Xeno77777, you are the perfect left wing tool. Go get 'em tiger.

[Dominic]

Wow, racist comments from a Republican strategist! Wno would have thought!?!?!

[comboman]

We can thank the Republicans for the worst deficit in US history once again. Four more years?? Are you crazy.
The GOP is gonna getta us all broke and dead at the same time.

[Bill in CT]

What a complete jerk. I actually went to High School with Grover. He was a arrogant jerk then, and clearly still is today. Rove with a beard. Don't for get his ties to Abramov and all the other lobbyist shenanigans of the last 8 years. The press is complacent in the wrongs of the Bush administration and Repuglicans when it allows this type of scum to occupy any news cycle.

[Paul]

Keep talking Grover...you tax-phobic morons are just digging your hole for McCain bigger and bigger...this racist shtick won't work this time...sorry!

[Cool2Snog]

Oh! It's Grover Norquist.

All this time I thought his name was "Groover" Norquist and the former keyboards player for Parliament / Funkadelic.

That was one funky band back in the day y'all. And fierce fiscal conservatives to a man.

[OzzieSmerck]

Better John Kerry with a tan than George Bush in Depends.

[Mort]

McCain = Bush with unlimited supply of beer.

[Kal]

Norquist backs a man who comes into office with $5 trillion surplus and will leave with about $10 trillion deficit. Such people are the truly fiscally responsible members of our society if you would hear them pat themselves on the back. This Clinton business of paying off the deficit and producing a surplus is such a horribly bad policy that Grover would drown himself in bath tub if he could find one and was sure he would not commit suicide upon seeing his reflection in the water.

[Jacob]

One thought... The New David Duke of our generation

[Kevin McAllen]

Someone should check out Grover Norquist's
credentials as a front man for Islamic extremist
groups.

[William W. Wexler]

Norquist is the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz, only without a brain AND a soul.

-Wexler

[Frieda]

Jindal also believe the Earth is 6,000 years old and that evolution is a crock.

I'd LOVE for McCain to select this fool...nothing would be better for the Democrats.

[Shawn Fassett]

Grover has too many fingers in too many pies. DC Madam, Abramoff, Gale Norton/Interior Dept scandals...

[GarsLuber]

Grover Norquist?

I think I remember him. He's the guy that says government is bad, but still takes millions in special favors.

[Badmoodman]

And Bobby Jindal is just David Vitter with a tan.