From the Washington Times:Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio, who has angered parts of his conservative Republican base and trails in most polls, wants the support of the nation's leading tax-cut lobby, but he has not decided whether he will sign a pledge to get it.What follows after that is a series of excuses. Either be FOR tax cuts or against them, Senator, it really isn't that difficult. Eihter you are a conservative in the mold of Reagan or you aren't. Whichever it is, make a decision...you know, be a leader.
Billed by election trackers as one of the Republicans' most vulnerable incumbents, whose prospects are rated a "toss up" in a political environment that Mr. DeWine says is "very competitive," the lawmaker recently called Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), to ask for his group's support.
Mr. Norquist said he told the senator that he was one of nine Senate Republicans who had not signed ATR's pledge never to vote for a tax increase, suggesting that if he did, "that would be a very helpful sign" and could lead to ATR's support.
Mr. DeWine replied that he had never voted for a tax increase and "didn't think he'd have a problem signing" the pledge, according to an interview with Mr. Norquist. The senator then reportedly asked the tax-cut activist to send the pledge to him, "and I'll take a look at it."
In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr. DeWine said that a week after his conversation with Mr. Norquist, he still hadn't made a decision on the pledge.
But he can't be a leader. That would require his giving up his credentials as a "moderate" who stands for nothing but getting in the way of advancing a conservative agenda.
DeWine still hasn't bothered to ask for our vote, by the way...he just expects it.
