Kerry spoke at a policy briefing sponsored by the National Journal blaming the impasse on Norquist

[karynnj]

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A new poll shows the overwhelming discontent Americans have for Congress, and Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts understands why: ideological gridlock -- orchestrated by forces outside of Capitol Hill that cram congressional leaders into tight corners.
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Kerry blamed “an ideological bloc of people leading the leadership” of Congress, “in some cases forcing them into a corner.”

He specifically named Grover Norquist, the anti-tax crusader who got more than 279 members of Congress to sign a no-tax pledge, all but three Republicans. “He was the 13th member of the committee,” Kerry said of Norquist, who founded the group Americans for Tax Reform.

Republicans, of course, disagree with Kerry’s take, saying they made good-faith efforts to meet Democrats half way. In an op-ed piece last month in USA Today, House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, blamed Democrats for insisting “on dramatic tax hikes on American job creators.”

http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/12/senator-john-kerry-blames-the-politics-gridlock-for-supercommittee-failure/cuf7aGA1NmxM5wu68B3WQL/index.html?comments=all#readerComm

I think the Democrats are winning this argument partly by Kerry and others emphasizing Norquist's role. (I loved that on one talk show he contrasted pledging to a lobbyist vs taking an oath to the Constitution.)

I think Boehner's claim of "dramatic" tax hikes - falls pretty flat as they really were not at all dramatic. Nor were they all on "job creators" - as people are learning with Mitt, who made his and other people's fortunes as he advised to downsize emloyees.