This pragmatic statement in the summer of 2012 helped break the fever of groupthink . Reagan : A growing number of lawmakers are breaking with GOP tax pledge . He says they wo n't to pay fealty to anti-tax activist ; he hems them in on dealing with debt . He says if Republicans are to deal on entitlements and Grover Norquist 's on raising tax revenue , pledge has to go . Avlon : Even John Avlon closed loopholes , raised taxes ; time to realize extreme stance no help .
Reagan : A growing number of lawmakers are breaking with GOP tax pledge . He says they wo n't to pay fealty to anti-tax activist ; he hems them in on dealing with debt . He says if Republicans are to deal on entitlements and Grover Norquist 's on raising tax revenue , pledge has to go . Avlon : Even John Avlon closed loopholes , raised taxes ; time to realize extreme stance no help .