'You can’t be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist,' said Bush on the anti-tax pledge. Bush 41: 'Who the hell' is Norquist?

George H.W. Bush doesn’t know who this Grover Norquist guy thinks he is, pushing politicians to sign an anti-tax pledge.

“The rigidity of those pledges is something I don’t like,” the former president, who broke his own campaign pledge not to raise taxes, said in an interview with Parade magazine. “The circumstances change and you can’t be wedded to some formula by Grover Norquist. It’s — who the hell is Grover Norquist anyway?”


Referencing her famous advice to Sarah Palin (“I think she’s very happy in Alaska — and I hope she’ll stay there.”), Barbara Bush said of Norquist, “I think he ought to go back to Alaska,” then laughed and added, “Don’t quote me!”

On June 25, Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform posted a photo of Bush on its Facebook page, calling him “the last Republican to compromise on tax increases.”

In their interview with Parade, the former first couple also commented on Bush’s friendship with Bill Clinton.

“He knows a lot about everything. He’s a very knowledgeable, bright man. He sat out here one time, and we talked about every possible [subject] — one after another,” Bush said.

“I think he thinks of George as the father he never had,” the former first lady said. “Truthfully. I mean that as a compliment. He’s been very thoughtful about calling and he’s a good fellow.”