4 Politicians Who Betrayed Their Voters — And Paid Dearly For It

The American experiment began two and a half centuries ago with the adamant claim that no man has the inherent right to occupy any given political office. As Thomas Jefferson asserted in The Declaration of Independence, “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

When officials throughout American history have lost that consent, the governed have indeed let them know.

Here are four politicians who betrayed their voters — and paid dearly for it.

George H.W. Bush — No New Taxes

In his keynote address at the 1988 Republican National Convention, George H. W. Bush vowed that the American people would not need to fork over more of their hard-earned savings to fund the federal government. That promise would come back to haunt Bush as he sought reelection four years later.

“And I’m the one who will not raise taxes,” As Bush declared in 1988.

“My opponent now says he’ll raise them as a last resort, or a third resort. But when a politician talks like that, you know that’s one resort he’ll be checking into. My opponent won’t rule out raising taxes. But I will. And the Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I’ll say no, and they’ll push, and I’ll say no, and they’ll push again.”

Then, the famous last words. “Read my lips: No new taxes.”

Though the promise brought Bush a resounding victory over Democratic opponent Michael Dukakis — who the Republicans painted as a tax-and-spend liberal — Bush was forced to handle massive budget deficits by compromising with the Democrat-controlled Congress to increase taxes in 1990.

The “no new taxes” line contributed to President Bill Clinton’s victory in the election of 1992 — and forever changed the direction of Republican politics. 

Newt Gingrich, a congressman who led an unsuccessful revolt against Bush’s budget deal, ascended to Speaker

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