Politics

Demint Defends: Senator Says Tea Party Did Not Cost GOP Senate Seats

WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint says he hopes fellow Republicans heed the call of tea party and give the grass-roots activists credit for last week’s election gains.

He also says the campaign of the GOP‘s White House nominee in 2012 should be based on repealing President Barack Obama’s health care law.

DeMint says Republicans — who just won control of the House — should make every effort to withhold money to help put the law into practice.

DeMint‘s political action committee helped tea party candidates in Tuesday’s election. He’s also crediting Sarah Palin, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for inspiring tea partiers.

DeMint appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Comments (86)

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  • T.JeffersonWasTheBest
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:02pm

    Demint for President 2012!!

    Report Post » T.JeffersonWasTheBest  
    • emmjayne
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:38pm

      THAT is the best thing I have read today!!! Let’s start a roar! DEMINT FOR PRESIDENT!

      Report Post »  
  • TRUTHLADY
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:59am

    GOD and Country, GOD and Country, GOD and Country. Without GOD their will be no Country, no matter who we elect. Always remember that.

    Report Post »  
  • JohnFourteenSix
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:58am

    I just love Jim DeMint! Were it not for the Tea Party, the Republican Party would have been decimated on 11/2/10 with no hope of stopping the Progressive steamroller from completely crushing the America we know and love.

    Report Post » JohnFourteenSix  
  • ChuckNorton1
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:51am

    The elite media narrative is silly. In essence it is “You weren‘t perfect and you didn’t win every race so you are a failure.” The truth is that most Tea Party endorsed candidates won.

    Report Post »  
  • trukmek
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:44am

    Forgot to mention, about time someone gave us credit!

    Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
  • trukmek
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:41am

    Yo’ SEEMSEW. You are right. The GOPher leadership probably noticed a lot people
    were ticked off over hangin‘ O’Donnell and Angle out to dry.

    Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
  • PhilipJames
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:41am

    DeMint is absolutely correct… where do the Republican Establishment dolts think all those other Republicans got their support from anyway?
    As for Christie and his comments on Christine O’Donnell…. remember what side he is on in 2012.
    - NO guarantee Castle would have won… all Republicans in Delaware went down, they all lost by the same percentage as Christine… so what the Republican Establishment is saying, including Christie, is that WITH Republican Establishment support, Castle could have, would have won. Well, that is a stunning indictment… that the reason Christine lost is because there was no support.
    - Lets be clear…. the Republican Establishment was very happy to have Christine as their candidate against Joe Biden in two elections… What’s that all about? They knew she could not win against Biden so they were happy to have her as the sacrificial lamb… but, when it looked like maybe there was an opportunity, they decided to destroy her and go with Castle. Rats… that’s what they are…. big stinking RATS.
    - Just one example of the back room boys culture… they would rather destroy one of their own rather than give up the power. There is no other answer than this. Castle did not endorse. NRSC abandoned her. There appear to be a lot of rats in that nest… i.e. weaken Miller in Alaska by allowing Murkowski to keep her seniority… seen the video on Huckabee last night where Federal employer on Military base told all his workers to vote for Murkowski because she brought home bacon being on Appropriations Committee? http://tinyurl.com/3a6dqvs
    - Well, there is going to be an accounting coming in 2012.

    Report Post »  
    • cykonas
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 4:38pm

      Amen Philipjames, great post. We the people cannot have any alligience to any party. Both of the major parties are full of corrupt, arrogant players. As you suggest we should ignore their labels and pay attention to their principles and ideas. We want individual representatives, not party zombies, who stand for America. Not “our district” or “our state”, but our country. No more comprimises. Let’s stand together on principle, or fall apart on stupid party loyalties. A bum is a bum, and a rat is a rat, no matter the party label. God bless the USA now, and in the future, as you have always done since our beginning. Peace.

      Report Post » cykonas  
  • Ruler4You
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:35am

    I agree. The GOP cost the GOP senate seats. And it will cost them seats in 2012, also. But I suspect it will cost the democRATS even more.

    Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • Geo0248
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:34am

    It should be clear by now to these pinheads who just lost their jobs in DC and the ones coming in to replace them.
    WE THE PEOPLE are finally awake and if they/you do not do our bidding in Washington we will personally ride you pinheads out on a rail all the while applying tar and feathers as your leaving.
    DeMint is right, and the new Republican majority is there for one MAIN reason, to reflect the will of the people who got them there, namely, the Tea Party and the MAJORITY of Americans.
    Listen up politicians and “git r done” or dont get to comfy, cause you wont be staying long!
    Thats a promise that will be kept!

    Report Post »  
  • paul6012
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:29am

    It’s time the republican establishment woke up! The Tea Party is giving them a chance to clean up their act and do what’s right for the people. If they don’t live up to it in two years, they won’t have a seat at the table either…

    Report Post » paul6012  
  • eddvoss
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:21am

    When are both parties going to get it? America does not have an aristocracy that tells us who our candidates are going to be. Once the primaries were decided by the people it was the party’s job to help all of those candidates in their races. O’Donnell is much smarter than she has been portrayed and should have received at least some help from Rove, Krouthammer, and Christie to name a few. Angle should have had the GOP in there fighting the potential fraud that was running rampant.

    Report Post » eddvoss  
    • troyvar
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:45am

      And there-in lies the problem, well up till now. Used to be the party machine was in charge of who was supported in the primary, the tea-party people have taken that back. I wouldn‘t have nominated McCain to run for POTUS and I don’t know anyone personally who did.

      Report Post » troyvar  
    • Tuesday
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 4:52pm

      You are RIGHT! The primaries = the time to choose who is to be the party’s candidate. Once we have a winner in the primary, the party should back that candidate all the way! There is no sane reason to keep discounting OUR own candidate. YES, the GOP is responsible for Christine O’Donnell, Sharon Angle, and the other candidates for senate not getting elected. The GOP leadership failed to help them, much less push for their election!

      Report Post » Tuesday  
  • dirtytricksjusttowin
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:19am

    The Tea Party saved the Republican party. Why?

    Tell me, what is approval rating of the members of Congress?

    Report Post »  
  • Mikee T
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:17am

    I would rather have had the woman (O’Donnell) and have expected her to be “coached up” by guys like DeMint…then another freaking RINO. I can’t stand these guys that have sold america out for years now (progressives / rinos) simply by virtue of “you scratch my back and I yours”….which is what they have been doing for 50 years…..I’m sick of them….pure conservatives only for republican party or get rid of the republican party altogether…..bunch of sell outs …McConnell and Graham make me want to throw up my breakfast….and the libs ? I would like to see them all dissapear….

    Report Post »  
  • Johnnyp1958
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:17am

    This is just a start, in 2012 we can elect more tea party and republican’s to power and begin a new era in American politics, by the people and for the people.

    Report Post »  
  • spendthrift
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:15am

    The TEA Pary was completely repsonsible of the Landslide on 11/2/10. Anyone else who disagrees is on the left.

    Report Post » spendthrift  
    • agree2disagree
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:38pm

      Agree – and O’Donnel had no GOP support and machine to get out her vote, a huge disadvantage, depite her unfair treatment and irrellevant witch controversy smear campiagn. In this blue state any R would have had a tough battle – I think the R machine did bring her down in the end by feeding ehr to the D machine and liberal press “lions”..

      Report Post » agree2disagree  
  • Larry Sheldon
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:10am

    The national GOP power elite (that has been the direct, and some cases the sole cause of the defeat of people selected by Republicans to be their candidates) had better start listening. NOW!

    Stop worrying about “third parties”. Start working on ensuring that the GOP will be one of the three.

    Report Post » Larry Sheldon  
  • seemsew
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:05am

    Did you see where the Republican Senatorial Committee IS NOW putting up funding to HELP JOE MILLER, AK with any legal battles in the Senate race in Alaska???? NOW they want him to win, but were noncommital before.

    Report Post » seemsew  
  • jlanspery
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:54am

    At this early juncture the tea party had its biggest impact regionally ,as the blue coasts are still resistant or suspicious to some degree. But I wonder if they made their biggest impact on local state governments and Governors,as that seems to be forgotten by Media, we may have turned Michigan back to a red state, and maybe also Missouri from Purple to Red.

    Report Post »  
  • jlanspery
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:52am

    The fact is that the tea party movement made more of an impact of any movement this young ; more so then the anti war movement of the 60s and even more then the Bull Moose party made at turn of century.If it stays simple and on message and if future administrations and federal and local representatives don’t listen then then they will feel the heat.

    Report Post »  
  • seemsew
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:42am

    The Tea Party was the ONLY reason that turnout was great and conservatives were elected. It is very possible that more conservatives may have been elected if the Republican Senatorial Committee would have gotten their heads on straight and given support to the candidates that won the primaries fair and square. Didn’t the establishment back Fiorini and Whitmann…didn’t they lose??

    There are a whole lot of RINO’s that are refusing to admit that professional politicians are not what the people want in office. Those folks work for the establishment and themselves, and The People and the Country are secondary. I would prefer people who are passionate about serving their country, but are also ready and eager to return to their homes and jobs after their service.

    Too many appear to actually believe that a global society is a must. I believe that George Bush is in this camp, too. The open border issue really put me on alert. Graham, Snowe, Collins, McCain, Cornyn are a few to watch.
    Our forefathers fought long and hard for American individualism and freedom, and I, for one, will not go silently.

    Report Post » seemsew  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:34am

    the tea party did cost us two senate seats (nev. & del)

    other than that, they did ok.

    now lets repeal obamacare

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • M31Sailor
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:21pm

      Mr
      there is no proof that either candidate cost the elections but without the teaparty people , and just fed up voters very few Repubs would have have won so handily. I attended the Anti Obamacare rally last Nov and 8/28. and can honestly say that both were made up of TEA partyers, Small business owners many retired Veterans, and many Democrats and Independents that have been left behind by the Socialist, Marxist, Progressive, Communist, dominated DEMOCRAT Leadership.
      Sailor

      Report Post » M31Sailor  
    • tifosa
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:55pm

      and Alaska.

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • freeus
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 11:59am

      Rhinos screwed themselves.

      Report Post »  
  • tdaly
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:30am

    Thank you Jim my great senator. Can you say Karl Rove. I never liked or trusted that man.

    Report Post »  
    • uncleherbert
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:35am

      Karl was thinking the big picture, but I would never let my princlples up, as Glenn said, even alittle bit of cancer is bad. Could have had Cassel, but I sent her a donation and will do it again!

      Report Post » uncleherbert  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:00pm

      Karl certainly seems to have a “problem” with women….. what’s up with that?

      Report Post »  
  • SLAPTHELEFT
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:27am

    And by the way, we do want a lot of Jim DeMints running around Washington. We don’t want any more Lindsay Grahams.

    Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
  • SLAPTHELEFT
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:26am

    First of all and let me say this loud and clear, The establishment GOP does not and will never in the future tell WE THE PEOPLE who OUR candidates will be. WE THE PEOPLE would rather lose a race with a candidate of our choice who reflects OUR principles than reward the progressives in the GOP with majorities that undermine those principles. The Tea Partys shook the world on Nov. 2 and this is only the beginning. And we will not forget your words of scorn for WE THE PEOPLE Nov. 2 2012. Please, I beg you GOP establishment, please keep going on record insulting us. That way we have concrete evidence for the political ads to run against you. The Tea Party is here to stay and WE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING FOR YOU. We are the boss, you are the servants to the will of the people. Don’t you forget that.

    Report Post » SLAPTHELEFT  
    • mamawalker
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:36pm

      Amen and
      Amen!!!

      Report Post »  
    • SamAdams25
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 6:14pm

      Absolutely right! We have to a) stay in the game and not give in or up b) not just vote on election day, but become involved in local politics in order to influence who our primary candidates will be c) stay informed about the behind the scenes machinations of state level politics d) continue to educate our less informed friends and neighbors and get them involved too.

      We also have to continue to hold our reps’ feet to the fire. One hour a week spent writing, calling, and e-mailing your reps in support or opposition to legislation is a small price to pay. You may think that they don’t listen, but you had better believe that Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), who is up in 2012, is paying attention now since 3 Dem Congressmen here just got thrown out of office, and a fourth hung on by a mere 450 votes. And it makes a big difference when they get a thousand calls and letters compared to 40 or 50. Stay on ‘em and don’t let up!

      Report Post » SamAdams25  
  • vtxrider
    Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:23am

    without the tea party the GOP would not have won near the races they did last week,,Mr. Graham would do well to remember that

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:07am

      Agreed, the tea party and the people of america need to keep reminding these political elitists they work for US, not the other way around. They have Jobs (such as it is) due to US, and need to hold each one of them accountable across the board.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Peters
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:18am

      To say that the Tea Party “cost” anything is synonymous with saying that it cost a lot to fill your gas tank to get to work to pay your bills, to feed your children, to provide a home and a future for yourself and your family.

      Simply, whatever the Tea Party “cost,” the alternative would have been synonymous with quitting your job because the price of gas has gone up a quarter over night . . . which it does. But we move forward; we don’t stop.

      Report Post »  
    • number1write
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:39am

      Graham is a traitor and an internationalist. When the hell will he be thrown out on his butt??

      Report Post » number1write  
    • agree2disagree
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:33pm

      The Tea party came to the polls and held their noses to vote for some RHINO Republicans just so we could stop Obama. It is a process and we also need to remove the Rhinos like Graham at the cost of a few seats here and there – in the long run we will change the Republican party. It is NOT all about winning an “R” – that will guarantee the status quo.

      Report Post » agree2disagree  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 12:51pm

      I wish we had a senator like Senator DeMint.

      Report Post »  
    • paulnashtn
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:04pm

      NUMBER1WRITE
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 11:39am
      Graham is a traitor and an internationalist. When the hell will he be thrown out on his butt??
      “““““
      Sen. Graham is not a traitor, except to the republican party, and he has 4 more before he can be kicked out (and he will be)

      Report Post » paulnashtn  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:46pm

      Senator Graham (R, SC) stated that the “Tea Party Movement” is unsustainable. Perhaps, that is just wishful thinking on Senator Graham’s part.

      The fact is that it is that either the “Tea Party Movement” or Senator Graham will go the way of the Dodo bird.

      A RINO like Senator Graham cannot survive in a nation of citizens that understand that FREEDOM RESULTS IN PROSPERITY AND THAT TYRANNY IS THE ROOT OF POVERTY AND DESPAIR. His statement proves that he understands his peril. Senator Graham’s early support of Cap and Trade proves he is an enemy of individual freedom (Capitalism) and a “Wannabe Peer.” RINOS like Senator Graham are more of a danger to the American Revolution than the admitted tyrants like Obama.

      We the people will not yield to the tyranny of King George III even under “new management.”

      THROW THE RASCALS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 1:58pm

      Amen Lindsey Gramnesty better watch out … RINO’s are going to become an endangered species .. right along with socialists and marxists!

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 3:31pm

      The tea party will have to do the same thing to the Republican party the the communist did to the Democratic party. TAKE IT OVER………………..

      Report Post » HKS  
    • WORKS FROM HOME
      Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:15pm

      The TEA part has to be the ones that keep an eye on the GOP and put them back on the right path.

      We need to watch our reps every move and make sure everyone knows what they are doing. Blog about it and get paid. http://whamhost.info/

      whamhost.info WORKS FROM HOME  
    • Stuck_in_CA
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 6:33am

      DeMint/Bachmann 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » Stuck_in_CA  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on November 8, 2010 at 7:43am

      I don’t know how they can deny that logic, VTX.
      Without the tea party, the pubs may have picked up a seat in Delaware, but they would not have picked up all those OTHER seats in the House or Senate.
      We should push this debate though, so we know who to throw out in the next election cycle.

      Report Post » BSdetector  
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