DeMint: GOP should end affair with corporate elites [Ron Paul mentioned]

The Washington Times ^ | 2009-04-29 | U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina

[rabscuttle385]

Earlier this month, the United States Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual "Spirit of Enterprise" awards to those members of Congress who voted with the Chamber 70 percent of the time on its most important legislative initiatives of 2008. The only four Republican senators who did not receive the award were Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, Jim Inhofe and me - four of the most conservative members of the Senate.

What were the conservative offenses? We opposed the failed bailouts and stimulus. Which explains why many liberal Democrats scored higher, including Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Republican who scored lowest of all - that is, the Republican lawmaker supposedly least aligned with the nation's business community - was Ron Paul, a strong constitutionalist famous for his strict adherence to a free- enterprise libertarian philosophy.

There is, in these facts, an important insight into the current unpopularity of the Republican Party. In an era of corporate welfare - which is lately taking on the characteristics of 1930s-style corporatism itself - the interests of big business are veering away from the interests of economic freedom and toward the interests of big government. Many Republicans in the past decade have followed a similar course, and the party - and our country - have paid dearly for the wrong turn.

[rabscuttle385]

The Republican who scored lowest of all - that is, the Republican lawmaker supposedly least aligned with the nation's business community - was Ron Paul, a strong constitutionalist famous for his strict adherence to a free- enterprise libertarian philosophy.

DeMint...praising Ron Paul? WOW!

[rabscuttle385]

*Ping!*

[djsherin]

Ping

[GeronL]

He is exactly right. Corporate welfare recipients do not want to work for their bread anymore. Thats what welfare does, they have “pull” now, who needs to satisfy customers?

[pissant]

Well, Mr. DeMint, did you support Duncan Hunter in the 2008 primary? He was the one that wanted to scrap the IRS and reduce US manufacturers taxes to zero and shitcan multiple gov’t agencies. And by the way, the US Chamber of Comerce didn’t like him much for his idea about withdrawing from the idiotic WTO.

[D-fendr]

Just don’t praise him for his foreign or defense policies.

:)

[Phileleutherus Franciscus]

Big government: it’s not just a Democrat initiative.

[GoldStandard]

Well, Mr. DeMint, did you support Duncan Hunter in the 2008 primary? He was the one that wanted to scrap the IRS and reduce US manufacturers taxes to zero and shitcan multiple gov’t agencies.

Didn't Ron Paul too?

I think Huckabee also wanted to abolish the IRS.

[Hugin]

I agree. Clinton, Bush and now Obama, one thing never changes; some grifter from Goldman Sachs is Secratary of Treasury.

[upchuck]

Jim DeMint Ping!

Want on or off this ping list? Just FReepmail me.

[pissant]

Only Hunter advocating zero taxes for manufacturers. But he also did so without wanting to surrender to the jihadis (Paul) or wanting socialized medicine (Huck).

[Hugin]

Huckabee supported the Fair Tax, which is zero tax on manufacturing, only taxes on consumption.

[Phileleutherus Franciscus]

Only Hunter advocating zero taxes for manufacturers. But he also did so without wanting to surrender to the jihadis (Paul) or wanting socialized medicine (Huck).

Without advocating "zero" tax for manufacturers (which would cause many problems), we could at least advocate a VAT to replace corporate tax, which would vastly improve North American manufacturing competitiveness.

[Tzimisce]

Laughs.

Yeah, and where did all of Wall Street’s support for libs get them? Massive tax increases, the government encroaching on their businesses, more regulations, etc.

If Democrats are a Businessman’s friend...well. *shrug*

[pissant]

Why would zero taxes for US manufacturers be problematic? Hunter is also a Fair Tax original cosponsor, with the caveat of US manufacturers being exempt from any tax. Hunter also would punish China for its malfeasance instead of cater to the commie bitches.

[pissant]

Huckabee was a johnny come lately to the Fair Tax. Hunter was an original sponsor.

[mbraynard]

Duncan Hunter is an honorable man but started the race as a failed candidate with no chance. DeMint wouldn't ally himself with him.

Instead, he endorsed Romney - in January of 07.

[pissant]

shows you how stupid he is. Romeny endorsed the TARP bailout, not to mention being a china bootlicker.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I think Huckabee also wanted to abolish the IRS.

Yeah, and he also raised taxes to historic levels on the good citizens of Arkansas to pay for all his "social conservative" ideas. Huck is a phony, a populist phony.

[BigSkyFreeper]

He didn’t support Obama’s TARP bailout which went miles beyond it’s original intent when President Bush signed the TARP bill into law in October 2008. Democrats moaned it wasn’t enough.

[pissant]

That may be true, but only a small handful of GOPers were vocal critics of TARP I. DeMint was among them. As was, of course, Hunter. Romney was a McCain clone.

[BigSkyFreeper]

And McCain was against TARP I.

[pissant]

LOL. He was its biggest cheerleader, save for Pelosi.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Right because TARP I wasn’t as broad and far-reaching as TARP II. TARP I was true pinpoint economic stimulus.

[pissant]

Tarp I gave treasury complete leeway on how to spend $700 billion. And we now know much of it went to pay off foreign banks, including the chicoms.

[Nextrush]

Corporate RINO’s are crying for Arlen, but the grassoots people here in PA cheer for Pat Toomey.

[wolfcreek]

“awards to those members of Congress who voted with the Chamber 70 percent of the time on its most important legislative initiatives of 2008.”

The force of Open Borders Lobby is strong, Luke.

[sickoflibs]

Nice

[trisham]

The only four Republican senators who did not receive the award were Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, Jim Inhofe and me - four of the most conservative members of the Senate.

******************

Why isn't Ron Paul included in the group above, then? Note this sentence:

The Republican who scored lowest of all - that is, the Republican lawmaker supposedly least aligned with the nation's business community - was Ron Paul

Are you certain he is praising Paul?

[TADSLOS]

Republicans shouldn't be the party of business any more than they should be the party of labor - we're supposed to be the party of freedom. We should get out of the business of picking winners and losers in the marketplace. We should not care who wins in fair fights between Microsoft and Apple, between CitiGroup and community banks, or between Home Depot and mom-and-pop hardware stores. All we should demand is a fair fight.

Superb article. Right on the money.

[rob777]

"The only four Republican senators who did not receive the award were Jon Kyl, Jeff Sessions, Jim Inhofe and me - four of the most conservative members of the Senate. ****************** Why isn't Ron Paul included in the group above, then?"


Uh, perhaps because the above sentence is referring to Senators and Representative Paul is NOT a Senator.




Note this sentence: The Republican who scored lowest of all - that is, the Republican lawmaker supposedly least aligned with the nation's business community - was Ron Paul Are you certain he is praising Paul?


If you would take the time to finish the sentence above it is clear that he is. The rest of the sentence goes like this"a strong constitutionalist famous for his strict adherence to a free- enterprise libertarian philosophy". In addition, by pointing out that he is the Republican lawmaker LEAST aligned with the business community he is illustrating that free market constitutionalism and corporate interests are not necessarily the same thing.

[trisham]

The why does he use the word “supposedly” in the sentence? Sorry, your explanation does not make sense.

[rob777]

"The why does he use the word “supposedly” in the sentence?"


Again, read the sentence in context. That sentence starts out with pointing out that Ron Paul scored the LOWEST on the Chamber rankings of any GOP lawmaker. BY Chamber reasoning that supposedly means that he is the GOP lawmaker least supportive of the business community. Demint then foes on to point out that Ron is a constitutionalist and a strong supporter of free enterprise. He also points out that big government Dems scored high in this ranking, which supported the bailouts. The implication is quite clear that constitutionalist, free market principles are not the same thing as business interests. That is the theme of the whole article for crying out loud!

[dfwgator]

Separation of Business and State!

[takenoprisoner]

“surrender to the jihadis (Paul)”

Even if he wanted to, how would he do that? Who would he surrender to? Bin Laden? Most believe OBL is dead.

I see. You are talking about surrendering to an idealogy steered by the boogie man. But if the boogie man is dead, who’s driving?

I’ve often wondered how we could kill off a billion plus muslims scattered around the globe? Finally I figured out there simply ain’t no way to kill them all. So then I wondered how we could seperate the good (less lethal) muslims from the bad (murdering) muslims? Finally I figured out there ain’t no way to do that either.

Apparently the last known living breathing boogie man was in Iraq. But they hung him long ago. And that other boogie man, the gunslingin rich and famous Palestinian terrorist, well, he’s dead too. As for his wife, well, she spends her time today sun bathing somewhere along the French Riviera.

As you can see, my dilemma is, if he could, exactly to whom would Paul surrender? Perhaps Mrs. Arafat?

Okay. I got it. Surrender is leaving Iraq, or anywhere for that matter, before all the radical muslim terrorists are dead. Ah, goodluck with that one.

[trisham]

Thanks.

[PapaBear3625]

The Elites want to bring oligarchy to the United States. Oligarchy is rule by the “connected” few, where ones wealth is secured by being one of the “in crowd”. The Democrat Party is becoming the Oligarchs’ party, and the rest of us need a party that serves OUR interests.

[PapaBear3625]

The implication is quite clear that constitutionalist, free market principles are not the same thing as business interests.

Correction, free market interests are not the same thing as BIG business interests. Major corporations want government support, and protection from small rising businesses that want to compete against established dinosaurs.

Major corporations get that support from complicated federal regulations, where compliance costs are less (as a percentage of revenue) for big corps than for small businesses.

[Boiling Pots]

Off topic, but here are my problems with the “fair tax.”

A) No national sales tax until the income tax amendment is repealed.

B) For instance, I earned “X” and paid taxes on those earnings, so now I have X minus taxes, which equals savings. So now I have to pay a national sales tax on the money I saved, which has already been taxed? Sounds like double taxation to me.

[rob777]

"Correction, free market interests are not the same thing as BIG business interests."


You are right, I stand corrected.

[thirst4truth]

Republicans shouldn't be the party of business any more than they should be the party of labor - we're supposed to be the party of freedom. We should get out of the business of picking winners and losers in the marketplace. We should not care who wins in fair fights between Microsoft and Apple, between CitiGroup and community banks, or between Home Depot and mom-and-pop hardware stores. All we should demand is a fair fight.

Superb article. Right on the money.

And I fear too late.

[wmfights]

DeMint...praising Ron Paul? WOW!

Hopefully he doesn't praise him too much!

I really like DeMint. He is quietly rebuilding the Pubs by supporting conservatives. Unknown to many, DeMint is one of only 8 Pubs that voted against the original bailout.

Check out his PAC:

SenateConservatives.com

[bankcritic]

Just wondering why you believe that Paul wanted to surrender to the Jihadis? He voted for going into Afganistan to oust the Taliban and rebuild that country because they were the staging ground for the people that carried out the attacks on 9/11, and to my knowledge has not spoken out against the Afgan war since.

[Impy]

A rose by any other name. Some agency will collect the taxes.

I’m not sold on switching to a sales tax. I’m inclined to support the flat tax.

[Impy]

“For instance, I earned “X” and paid taxes on those earnings, so now I have X minus taxes, which equals savings. So now I have to pay a national sales tax on the money I saved, which has already been taxed? Sounds like double taxation to me.”

That’s my biggest problem with the fair tax.

[okie01]

“For instance, I earned “X” and paid taxes on those earnings, so now I have X minus taxes, which equals savings".

That’s my biggest problem with the fair tax.

With the Fair Tax there is no income tax. You earn "X" gross. "X" is also your net. You then pay a sales tax on however much of "X" you wish to spend.

[traviskicks]

nice find

[Leisler]

Big government, crony capitalism, high tax socialism is different when Republicans do it.

/sarc.

[Leisler]

If you buy a house or car, or other property, it will be taxed every year, forever.

If you live in the house long enough, you will have paid for it many times over in taxes.

Most working people who then pay taxes on income, then taxes on purchase, then taxes every year, can never get ahead.

It’s all a racket, a scheme.