Norquist: Romney made a ‘mistake’ in pushing individual mandate

{mosads}The president of Americans for Tax Reform also predicted that early Republican infighting — which some polls have suggested has bruised the GOP’s image among independent voters — would be washed out by tax increases likely to come with the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts months before the election.

“The good news is this conversation is happening now before the Republicans have a nominee and before the presidential election, which is in November. And November is going to be two months before the largest tax increase in American history, all set up by Obama,” Norquist said.

Norquist said investors and companies were already concerned about potential increases on income and estate taxes, and that was preventing economic recovery.

“Investors don’t wait until Obama’s massive tax increases, they’re retrenching now,” Norquist said.

The conservative activist also slammed the president for “the lousiest recovery we’ve had from a recession.”

“The job creation is worse now than during the recession … this is a very weak recovery,” Norquist said.