WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the GOP’s most conservative senators and a tea-party favorite, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, says the Republican Party will be “dead” if it fails to live up to its principles again.
DeMint has been critical of Republicans who he contends have not lived up to conservative values of limited government. He has long argued that when Republicans controlled Congress during the Bush administration, they spent and borrowed too much.
Amid predictions that the GOP will regain control of the House, DeMint says that if GOP lawmakers don‘t do what they say they’ll do, if they are in the majority, in his words, “the Republican Party’s dead.”
DeMint made his comments in an interview aired Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
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Comments (119)
Scorpion
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:13pmDoes any one else think like I do that these RINO’s ARE Democrats disguised to decieve and undermine the Republican party by identifying them selfs as Republicans,running,gettin elected then voting their liberal/progressive heats all while trying to tell us that “ after carefull deliberation ” they decided to vote with the Democrats( Snow and Collins, Maclame,Bendict Arlen to name a few) the majority of the time!Im sick of the velvet glove treatment of these subversives and its about time we stand up and speak up and VOTE! NO PATRIOTIC CONSERVATIVE would do this,,after all a cat meows cuz its a cat! and a LIBERAL votes like a LIBERAL!
Report Post »alienguns
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:21pmI think like that…….does that make us crazy libaphobic? what better way to destroy the competition…infiltrate, take over and vote for progressive stupidity
Report Post »flamingliberal
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:17pmWe feel the same about our ‘Blue Dogs”. However if there is NO moderation in ether party, how will ANYTHING get done?
Report Post »70% of the country are NOT left or right, but smack dab in the middle.
In the 21st century if you are not moving forward, you are being trampled from behind, and NO country can move forward if they are locked in a ideological war within itself….
We had better figure out how to compromise, or our kids will be speaking Chinese
alienguns
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:31pmI don’t think RATIONAL people on either side could be against–upholding the Constitution, smaller gov’t, secure borders, strong military, balanced budgets, lower taxes, shrinking the entitlements, or even taking responsibility for your own actions and facing the rewards or consequences of your own actions….to me that isn’t a left or right view that is a center view.
Report Post »MorkfromOrk
Posted on September 20, 2010 at 4:50amScorpion, I see it a little differently. Rhinos and blue dogs are triangulating. Simply put, they retain and attain power this way. Although I certainly agree with your assessment of the like.
Report Post »Flaming Lib, You are right about America being in the center accept one little nuance. They, like myself and the majority of the tea party, are center-right. It wasn’t that long ago that liberals could generally be considered left-center. Not all that far apart. Now it seems like we are farther apart than ever. NOT TRUE! The scale has been shifted so far to the left that it would make someone like me far right. The scale was shifted by progressives. They have all but consumed the Democratic party and did it covertly. Many liberals who are really moderates (center) have been fooled by progressives into thinking they are the same. They are not! Shifting the scale and muddying the water is a tactic that is not new. Their is nothing new or “progressive” about this ideology. Its all in the history books!
“Only individuals have a sense of responsibility”. –Nietzsche
freedom from stress
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:08pmSen. DeMint gets it. He understands that we are fed up with the elitist mind set of both D and R. We send you to Washington to “REPRESENT” us, not live off of our backs. We send you to “MANAGE” the money we give the government, not dig deeper into our pockets and take what we have to support our families. The money we already give you is to protect our way of life, national security, military, border protection,etc.. It is not meant to stock your planes with enough alcohol to have a flying cocktail lounge. We are sick of those who think they are at the top and know what’s best for the little people and then turn around and report us to the UN for human rights violation. We are sick of religiously getting our taxes in and paid by April 15, while they get around to it years later, and only when they get caught, or find a way of getting around it by parking their yacht in another state. Term limits are a must. No more elitist. They are not a “REPRESENTIVE” of the true American. We don’t send you to Washington to manage US. It’s not just the death of the GOP that is going on here. It is the death of the Washington elite.
Report Post »mrclean
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:00pmAmen…….
Report Post »brinksmom
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:01pmWe just have to make sure the RINO’s are kicked to the curb and the Republican candidate in 2012 (IF we get that far) is not some old stale white guy because it is his “turn” like we were saddled with Dole and MacLame. We need a LEADER!
Report Post »norway1516
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:59amI’ve heard what alot of you have been saying but you know what its our fault…and let me explain all of these politicians rely on buying our votes. Democrats need liberals so they help fund legislation for liberal agendas like medicade,welfare or unemployment for 2 freakin years, republicans need the elderly so let give them free medical care and subsidies well its time for these freebies to go away and for us to start voting on based on their merit and values, so they can dissolve all of these entitlements and take care of ourselves and each other. Its a tough road and I know alot of people would be hurt by me saying that medicare,medicaide,social security,unemployment,department of education, unions of all departments and of course food stamps or at least a drastic reductions of all of these and we have a fighting chance of taking back control of our country and our lives. Some will say that’s radical I just believe its human.
Report Post »Gita
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:22pmI concur!
Report Post »ignoranceisstrength
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:44amRip Van Winkle woke up, and asked me to very briefly explain the difference between the Democratic and the Republican parties. I simplified things greatly, stating that the Democrats work to help the common man, and Republicans work to help rich people and corporations. He immediately assumed there must be many many rich people for the Republican party to be competitive, so i had to explain how they pretend to be a party the embodies American values of God and family. “Well, what about this Tea Party I keep hearing about?” he asked. Well, they think they are about freedom and less government and fiscal responsibility and God and family, but they are just Republicans who don’t realize it yet. Either the Tea Party will merge into the Republican party, or the Republican party will merge into the Tea Party.
Report Post »chrisser
Posted on September 20, 2010 at 11:14amSo tell me, Ignorance, if the Republican party helps rich people and corporations so much, why do the Democrats receive such astounding support from the rich and from corporations? Why are so many Democrat politicians among the richest in Congress? Why do Democrat policies always give corporations an advantage over the rest of the populace (see Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, farm subsidies, energy regulations, etc, etc)
And why does the Democrats “work to help the common man” always result in higher taxes, more regulation, and higher prices for the common man?
Report Post »mara123
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:26amNot death of the GOP , just death of the liberals that have taken it over, in a political way of course.
Report Post »usualsuspect
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:09amJim, God Bless You. You are right on the mark I also believe being A Conservative is not just being A Cheerleader for the GOP if that is the case it really doesn’t matter what side you want cause either way you look at it We Lose, the only difference would be that the DNC would get you down that road to Hell A bit faster. I would refuse to just say hurray for my side if they were selling us down the river
Report Post »AMERICANCITIZEN
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:04amIt seems Senator DeMint has listened and understands what is going on in this great country.
Report Post »Thank God, WE THE PEOPLE are taking our country back, November is coming and Congress you are fired!
MorkfromOrk
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:42pmYep, Jim is a good man(non-lawyer). He represents my district in SC and is well respected. Remember in November is not the end of the road, at least I hope. Even if both House and Senate change majority, the outcome is still in doubt for the people. The GOP is arguing about how to handle the health care legislation. Let me be blunt, if the GOP takes the House and Senate or just one, nothing much will change. Understand what Jim is saying in this interview, you cannot trust the republican party. Demipublicans or republicrats is more appropriate with very few stand outs like Jim Demint. I would even say that if we have a huge upset in both the House and Senate, the Tea Party movement could die. Many would proclaim victory and return to slumber. Many in the established power centers want to see this movement die and I am afraid it will.
Report Post »Les Panek
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:02amWell, if an unbiased source like the New York Slimes says that most Americans are against the TEA Party, they must be right. Yep, just like Krugman shilling for failed Keynesian economic policies, the NYT is right on top of things.
Sen. Jim Demint is the kind of Republican that could convince me to join the party. If only his spineless brethren could get a clue. He won’t be alone in the Senate for much longer.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:58amHard to believe Jim DeMint and Lindsay Graham were both sent to D.C. by the same electorate.
Grahamnesty, your time is coming, too. Might I suggest an open conversion and mea culpa, if self-preservation has any meaning for you. Even at that, it could be too late.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:05amLindsay Graham is a progressive of the highest order. Someone please run against him in his primary, PLEASE!!
Report Post »AZfreeman
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 2:06pmLindsay Graham, John McCain and their ilk are simply evidence of the power of the incumbency…and fodder for our all out support of term limits. Today, the electorate (even well intentioned Republicans) seem unable to identify Progressives dogs in their ranks (as witnessed by McCain’s recent primary win). On election day voters simply take a little time out of their day to go vote for the NAME of the candidate they recognize the most. This has to end, and a better educated, less apathetic electorate is the answer. All my life I have waited for the silent majority to speak. In large part due to the internet, I thank God to be witnessing it today. ….rf
Report Post »TakeBackUSA
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 7:02pmThe Republican party is in trouble when there are only a few dozen voices left that speak the language that conservatives want to hear. We really need a “shock to the system” to make these weak-knee’d Republicans remember why they were elected. If we do get back both houses, we can’t let up in keeping their feet over the fire.
Report Post »I think there’s a lot of talent in the “young guns”, but it has to be nurtured by weeding out the really bad RINO’s.
doncarr61
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:55amThe Senator speaks the truth. Right now he is taking a lot of heat from the power structure but if we conservatives support him we will win. I have noticed that even Mr. Steele is changing his tune…those with back bone speaking the truth will win. There are 4 quarters in a football game and the kickoff is about to happen in 2010.
Report Post »Tatum
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:55amThe DNC is already dead. The Progressives own that party they just didn’t change names.
The GOP can go to. If the name changes or not it’s time to stop crossing to the otherside.
Report Post »Let the Libs meet half way for a change.
natstew
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:09pmTATUM, NO!! Halfway gives the Progressives half their goals! Two halfway compromises equal 3/4 of their goals! Eventual it’s so watered down, you don’t recognize it. That is how we got in the pitiful state of affairs we’re in now!
DESTROY or be DESTROYED, that‘s where we’re at now!
This is it!!!!!!! There’s nothing left if we lose this battle.
Report Post »oldsalty1
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:55amOkay. Now everyone on here has stated the obvious. Lets get out and do something about it this November instead of just talking.
Report Post »A sane order of sequence for any plan is to first identify the objectives and than act accordingly to achieve the stated goals. Now is the time for acting, not just jacking our jaws.
Living In NYC
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:49amLet’s get back to our principles….we will be strong again. We do not need government to tell us what to do…we tell them what to do! The members of the government are employees of the people!
Report Post »idefine
Posted on September 20, 2010 at 4:51pmthe right principles are so far in history i don’t think most people have an idea of what to get back to. In reality, the principles we should get to, for the first time, have only been theories and ideas implemented partially at different times. Time to learn the principles and history of this country, and what it was based on – . Time to get back to liberty of the early years of this country and to restore principles, honor and character that comes with personal responsibility.
Report Post »w4jle
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:48amI am proud to say that Senator DeMint is from our fair state. Both my wife and I are hoping he will throw his hat in the ring for 2012. He is that rare combination of a principled man and a servant of the people. A true conservative that is needed to guide this country and restore it to the greatness it deserves. I can guarantee he would never omit “by their creator” from the Constitution!
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:03amSouth Carolina should retire Graham and ive DeMint 2 votes. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »w4jle
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:31amGrahmnesty is gone next time he comes up for election. He called us all bigots at a La Raza meeting and still got elected. He is convinced that the tea party is a fad and will be gone when he is up for election again. He is a supercilious twit that attacks constituents that question him at town halls.
Report Post »alienguns
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:02pmyep, Graham has to go….Hatch has to go when he comes up again…we got rid of Bennett, Hatch is next….all these so called repubs that are really dems have got to be purged!!!
Report Post »henryclay
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:19pmYes PROGRESSIVE Grahm has got to go and we need to let him know now!! He is exhibit “A” on PROGRESSIVES in the Republicans….
Report Post »Power Of One
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:47amI agree – character and principle matter more than majority – majority is the end result of having the other two. And instead of a poll asking about support for the “tea party”, how about something a bit more honest – Do you believe in fiscal responsibility, Do you believe in smaller government, Do you believe in the Bill Of Rights, Do you believe that government which governs least governs best?
Report Post »Conservativeman
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:46amI couldn’t agree more with DeMint. The GOP must embrace conservativism or it will just be another pseudo communist party like the democrats. Our Constitution must return to the forefront of this great nation as the document it was meant to be, of the people, by the people and for the people. No more wishy washy crap about it being out dated or irrelevent. America deserves leadership and Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are not providing it.
Report Post »sjvnync
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:45amI would agree. I have been a Republican my entire adult life and have voted for Republicans almost exclusively. We attended 9/12, a local Tea Party event and the Restoring Honor event, and are an energized family raising 7 kids to think about and act on defending our founding principles. If the Republicans screw this up (ex. Michael Steele wasting money – G.W. spending more than is feasible, a republican majority passing entitlements etc.) you will lose this voting block!
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:42amPretty much that’s correct.. while the DEMOCRAT voters are not smart enough to even ATTEMPT to control what their Politicians (and I was a TOTAL DEMOCRAT a short time ago) the CONSERVATIVES are.. this is EPICALLY true of FISCAL CONSERVATIVES under which heading MANY Democrats fall.. It’s we the people NOT WHO WILL WIN a BAD candidate is NOT acceptable..
Report Post »Whitehouse Mouse
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:42amThe GOP would be best to listen.
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:41amThe smart thing to do, is to listen…Sen. Demint is nothing short of awesome.
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:40amThe smart thing would be to listen…Sen. Demint is nothing short of awesome.
Report Post »Debrabate
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:59amPence/Demint 2012 LOL
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:40amIt’s put up or shut up time for the GOP. Most will have to go anyway due to a missing spine.
Silversmith
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:43amSooooo true. We don’t need a third party. What we need is to take the Republican Party back from the progressives.
Report Post »MusketBall
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:56amAbsolutely. The GOP no longer has any choice in the matter. Purge the progressive wing or else.
Report Post »henryclay
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:51pmHas there ever been a time in history that a party reclaimed itself after being hijacked?
Look how Dems were made, repubs were made, wigs, etc…
They all started new parties to kill the establishment by starting new parties! History is awesome…
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on September 20, 2010 at 8:50amI totally agree.We will have to stay awake this time and hold their feet to the fire our lives and our children and their childrens lives depend on it.Even though I may not ever have grandchildren I do care about the future generation and do right by them.We have had it good but they deserve better that is the way it’s suppose to be.We are just as much to blame for this mess and it’s up to us to help fight and make it right again.LET’S GET TO WORK TOGETHER.
Report Post »Kerry Higgins
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:40amAt last one guy in washington understands that we will just not take anymore of this political stupidity by either party. Maybe this time the repubs will straighten up? nawwww, not really likely is it? Oh well, I was just hoping someone actually cared aboout this country and not just themselves.
Report Post »Debrabate
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:57amI predict that if … no… WHEN they get the majority back, they will be good for the first term back but will slip back into the same old politics as usual if they are re-elected a second time… because as usually happens, the American public will become complacent again.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:06amDEBRABATE your observations are insightful, as usual! I agree. That’s where term limits come in. At least I think that would stave off the worst of the complacency. Perhaps if we’re always preparing to bring in new blood, as it were, our REPRESENTATIVES would stay on their toes?
Report Post »AmericanSince1619
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:04pmI will be happy to put the brakes on the Obama agenda in congress, come November – January.
After that, we can concentrate on long term Tea Party goals, if the GOP does not survive the Tea Party, so be it. They can join the Whigs.
Report Post »GOTT-EM-MAUSER
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 5:53pmDEBRABATE,
You are entirely correct, and they certainly would slip right back to Business as Usual, save for one thing. The ECONOMY. We have been through the political part of this before, and both those in Government and We the People have had the luxury of going on with our blinders firmly in place, until the nextime came along. But this go around we have gone so far in the hole, that somebody is going to have to do some serious, very serious CUTTING of Government, and do it really quick. Tax increases and deficit borrowing won’t cure it anymore. Our core economy collapsed in 2008, and now two years later it isn’t really one bit better, barely grinding along. I do not envy any of the political folks the job they will have taken on come Nov. 3, 2010. It is going to be a real mess to try and straighten it out, IF it can be straightened out at all. I don’t think Complacency is going to be a problem, it will become very apparent, very soon that we as a nation will have to perform and “Economic Miracle” or face another Civil War to Balkanize North America. Nobody is going to be able to sleep through what is coming.
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 10:39amYeah, get rid of the democrats who have infiltrated the republican party.
Report Post »tepartyblog.info
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:14amThey aren’t democrats they are regressives. We cant alienate the the small group of moderate democrats.
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:14amI agree! It is time for the Republicans to stand for something other than D light. It has been too long that a conservative has to hold their nose when they vote.
Report Post »Scorpion
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:35amHas any one else come to the conclusion that these PROGRESSIVES ARE Democrats? ran for and won elections in the Republican Party?How else can ANY conservative possibly reconcile their actions,as NO consevative would sell their principles to ANY of this socialist/progressive legislation that clearly harms and contributes to the destruction of our Constitution and liberties,and I for one am sick to death of the political silk glove approach in dealing with them !
Report Post »Rev. WC
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 11:54amCareer politicians ie. lawyers who have never held a real job, have taken over the country! Graduates of the same Ivey league schools who have all had and know the same elite professors, shared the same bong, and have all touched Geronimo’s skull, funded by Soro’s, are succeeding in the incremental dismantling of this country. I have funded and voted for everyone of these elitists crooks and have completely become disgusted with the likes of in the belt way commentators like Carl Rove, Bill Kristol, and Charles Krauthammer dictating who they think is the best for country. We can only pray for the likes of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Jim DeMint, Young Guns, Libertarians, the Tea Party, and all of the great John Wayne type Americans continuing to grow and take back our country from these scalawags!
Report Post »Peters
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 12:36pmThe framers, as the progressives would like to view them, actually did make some mistakes in drafting the constitution. We openly recognize that. But contrary to progressive thought, the mistakes mostly are in the areas of redefining power down, not up.
But perhaps the framers could not foresee completely past their own perspectives on this issue. Their contributions at the time were viewed as being at the price of sacrificing their private livelihoods, estates and even their lives. It’s fairly easy to speculate that it would be difficult under this context for them to imagine that anyone would for any duration disengage from the system of free trade, commerce and capitalism to pursue a life of relative low wage and hard public service and works, despite its importance. The economic system, of commerce and trade, was after all part of the system that they shaped and fought to preserve, to get back to, all the while being critically under-employed.
The definition of public service in 1776, of that era, was far from what it has evolved into over the course of 230 years. By the very nature of the constitution, government leadership and influence was not intended to be a career; the intent was for it to be naturally limited as is consistent with the overall and general themes of our constitution. The key lies in understanding the relativity of that, of its context. You then find that the constitution, the context of the document, on its own merits, dictate that term limits for government officials be enacted to preserve the integrity of the process as it was designed . . . to limit power and to keep it that way. There should be no debate about it . . . but if there is, the case, the logic of the case is easily understood by simple demonstrations of human nature, of the human nature that drives our current political environment, of how far it has strayed.
Report Post »henryclay
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 1:35pmThe Democratic party is dead…Has been dead and thus the reason Biden called for the PROGRESSIVE base to turnout….The Republicans will have the same fate if they don’t keep their word….
My Papa was a Dem and what he believed no longer exists….
Low taxes
Saving
For working man, not elitist
Believed in God openly
Believed in rights of people
He would roll in his grave if he saw these ass clowns saying they are dems….PROGRESSIVES are snakes and slither in unnoticed and once positioned in party they constrict and suffocate the true party….Republicans take notice as you are either gonna kill the snake or be constricted and devoured…
Report Post »TeaPartyTim
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:09pmThe left have the majority now and they can’t get anything done anyways. Demint is correct! We need to finally stand up for our beliefs and stop worrying about what the establishment rhinos say.
Report Post »Freedomwatcherguy
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 3:55pmDeMint is absolutely correct. If we don’t stand on principle we stand for nothing. Then you just have a bunch of politicians drunk on power and privilege. That is what happened the last time the Republicans had control of the government. And we are now experiencing the result. Lesson learned, I hope.
Report Post »RestoreCapitalism
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 4:09pmUnfortunately the whole country has moved to the left over the last 100 years. Our founders would be shocked to see where we are today. We have gone from praying, to not praying, to forbidding prayer, in schools and public meetings. The Tea Party is the best thing that has happened to this country in a long time, and the GOP would be wise to get on board with them. If they do that, they will be unstoppable. Career politicians of either party aren’t what we need. Any presidential candidate needs to be ABSOLUTELY committed to smaller government, and determined to go to DC with a huge chainsaw, to give the federal government a major pruning. The free market can send a big truck to pick up all of the jobs eliminated from government payrolls.
Report Post »DominusVobiscum
Posted on September 19, 2010 at 8:16pmIf the moderates are not satisfied with their influence in the New Republican Party, they might consider becoming New Democrats. That party sure does need some moderation. The nation will benefit too. Think about it moderates!
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