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Norquist told reporters that those who have signed the pledge have made a "commitment to the American people" and should "focus on the commitment they made." The bearded Norquist, whose pledge has been around since 1986, has become a favorite whipping boy for Democrats though he is scarcely a household name. With even GOP presidential challenger Mitt Romney having signed the pledge last year, Democrats see it as the symbol
-- and a cause -- of the GOP's refusal to back a deficit-cutting deal last summer as Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, tried reaching a compromise. "They ought to be sitting down and working things out instead of holding court for him," said Rep. Sander Levin, top Democrat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, as he wandered past the committee hearing room where the meeting was being held. "Norquist is here to hold feet to the fire when what we need are open minds." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called Norquist on Thursday "the leader of the Republican Party." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she believes Norquist and congressional Republicans "are in touch every day" and said Norquist believes his pledge is more important than the oath lawmakers take to uphold the Constitution. Norquist said Democratic criticism is "a matter of desperation" for them. He said Reid is putting some rank-and-file Democrats facing difficult re-election fights under excruciating political pressure because they may be forced to decide whether to oppose continuing tax cuts for the rich. "He's destroying these peoples' political careers," Norquist said.
[Associated
Press;
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