Never mind their voting record, 'independent' Republicans are beholden to Grover Norquist

Grover Norquist lays down the law.
(Gage Skidmore)
The New York Times did a nice job on this piece demonstrating just how empty a claim of "independence" is from a congressional Republican these days.

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. ' He had to know it would be unpleasant, interrupting eight unsmiling men of a certain age who were polishing off their morning coffee. But Representative Robert Dold, his face locked in a smile so bright it could be studied by astronomers, moved in.

'I'm rated by most organizations as the most independent member of the Congress,' Mr. Dold, a Republican freshman, told the group of retirees, many of whom had announced themselves as Democrats, and union-affiliated to boot. One or two smiled politely. A few stared at their uneaten pancakes.

'Have you signed the Grover Norquist pledge?' asked Dan Groth, 74, referring to a promise not to raise taxes under any circumstances. 'I did,' Mr. Dold conceded, and he quickly went on to tick off the bipartisan budget measures he had also supported, as Mr. Groth shook his head.

Smart constituent, Mr. Groth is, seeing through the canard of vote tallies. Because there are votes that count to Republicans, and votes that don't. No matter how many votes a Republican might take against his or her party, the ones that matter are the ones that count with Grover Norquist.

But who does Dold remind you of, touting the "most independent" line? Yes, Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who calls himself "an independent voter and thinker." Except when it comes to the key obstructionist votes, voting with Republicans to filibuster 75 percent of the time.

And, of course, he signed that infamous pledge to Grover Norquist, voting accordingly. Like the rest of his party. There's no such thing as an independent Republican. Not as long as Norquist is calling the shots.