Sen. Jim DeMint talks Mitt Romney in 2012

The State Column ^ | March 17, 2011

[2ndDivisionVet]

South Carolina U.S. Senator Jim DeMint dipped his toe into the debate taking place concerning the 2012 Republican presidential election, offering his thoughts on former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

“One of the reasons I endorsed Romney [in 2008] is his attempts to make private health insurance available at affordable prices,” said Sen. Jim DeMint.

Mr. Romney, who has received criticism from Republican leaders in recent weeks, seemed to find a supportive voice from the Republican U.S. Senator. Blaming Massachusetts Democrats, Mr. DeMint seemed to present Mr. Romney with a political strategy to address concerns over his support of the Massachusetts universal health care system.

“It just depends on how he plays it. For me, I think he started with some good ideas that were essentially hijacked by the Democrat Legislature,” Mr. DeMint said.

The comment comes as Mr. Romney continues to build support for a potential presidential campaign. The potential Republican candidate has plans to travel to New Hampshire and Iowa in the coming months.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Why?

[icwhatudo]

Earlier today, The Hill reported that Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) had said that “One of the reasons I endorsed Romney [in 2008] is his attempts to make private health insurance available at affordable prices,” a statement that was taken to signal possible support for Mitt Romney in 2012.

Apparently not. From The Hill:

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) “would never consider” endorsing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president again in 2012 unless Romney repudiates the health reforms he sought as governor, a source close to DeMint said Thursday.

A source close to the conservative icon emphasized that, despite comments to The Hill indicating that Romney shouldn’t shoulder all the political blame for the Massachusetts healthcare plan, DeMint wouldn’t endorse Romney again unless he admits the plan was mistaken.

“It’s obvious Jim was just trying to be nice to the guy he backed over McCain, as many conservatives did in 2008,” the source said. “But he would never consider backing Romney again unless he admits that his Massachusetts healthcare plan was a colossal mistake.”

[2ndDivisionVet]

Didn’t RomneyCare pre-date the 2008 elections? What was his reasoning back then?

[EternalVigilance]

Thanks for covering DeMint’s pro-Romney, pro-Romneycare trial balloon from this morning AND his backpeddling and repudiation of Romney later in the day after conservatives kicked his behind all over the web.

Perspective and the timeline are your friends.

[MestaMachine]

Just shows to go ya. You cain’t trust nobody no more.

[Lazlo in PA]

I voted for Myth in the ‘08 primary. I thought it was the best way to see McLame lose. I just hated McLame more. The whole pack sucked that year. I hope this is where DeMint was going here. It sure appears that way from all of his recent statements.

[BobP]

I'm glad he's not talking to Mitt. If anyone does then they're planning to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Mitt's "I was for it but now I'm against it" RomneyCare is a millstone around his neck, it's made him unelectable.

The reason for the Republican sweep of the last election is the repeal of the health-care debacle. Besides ObamaCare's individual insurance mandate and the eventuality of a single-payer system, Dems would hire 17,000 new IRS agents. If you're a normal person, you'd hire 17,000 new doctors, if you wanted to improve health care. But in Zer0's world, 17,000 new IRS agents is the way to go. Is there anything more you need to know about Obamacare?

Why in the world would Republicans ever place Mitt on the ticket?

I'm sure the rats would love that, another McCain-type loss.

In 2006 when Romneycare was being instituted, Romney's friends were celebrating. Charlie (I only made $1.7 million at Harvard Pilgrim) Baker got a gold-mine future in the insurance industry with the mandatory purchase of insurance - not a tax, but a purchase you can't refuse. Obamacare and Romneycare - the two are very, similar.

Please choose a better nominee. This guy is a phony.

Romneycare = Obamacare which = Big Government
Big Government = End of liberty = End of America
Repeal Obamacare
Repeal Romneycare

[icwhatudo]

Stopping McLame and Rudy?

[dangus]

Amazing the spin the media puts. Another article said that DeMint won’t endorse Romney this time unless he disavows Mass Health.

[dangus]

Amazing the spin the media puts. Another article said that DeMint won’t endorse Romney this time unless he disavows Mass Health.

[2ndDivisionVet]

How was Romney the better candidate?

[EternalVigilance]

It was DeMint doing the spinning, to try and mitigate some of the severe damage he did to himself this morning by trying out the RINO’s latest meme about how Romneycare really wasn’t that bad, and whatever is bad about Romneycare is really the Democrats’ fault.

That went over with conservatives about like Helen Thomas at a beauty pageant.

Hence the midafternoon backpeddling.

[presently no screen name]

But he would never consider backing Romney again unless he admits that his Massachusetts healthcare plan was a colossal mistake.”

What makes DeMint think with Mitt's mindset he wouldn't make another colossal mistake? The colossal mistake is DeMint backed him. Mitt's a liberal and he did what liberals love - gov't control. What part of that could DeMint be so blinded to?

[FreeReign]

Okay, who has a link to the Youtube of DeMint praising Romneycare in 2007?

[SoConPubbie]

Oh Pissant, pick up the white phone!

DeMint is unraveling!

[FreeReign]

I voted for Myth in the ‘08 primary. I thought it was the best way to see McLame lose. I just hated McLame more. The whole pack sucked that year. I hope this is where DeMint was going here. It sure appears that way from all of his recent statements.

DeMint was a ground floor supporter of Mitt last presidential election cycle, starting in late 2006. That's different than your late support of Mitt in 2008.

[SoConPubbie]

A source close to the conservative icon emphasized that, despite comments to The Hill indicating that Romney shouldn’t shoulder all the political blame for the Massachusetts healthcare plan, DeMint wouldn’t endorse Romney again unless he admits the plan was mistaken.

Even if the turd Myth renounced his RomneyCare, with all of his myriad positions on every issue and his ugly comments about Reagan and moral conservatives, why would Demint think this was enough to make Myth a viable candidate in 2012?

[pallis]

Mitt Romney will be Obama lite, except for healthcare, and there Mitt will continue to force Obama’s Mittcare onto us.

[factmart]

DeMitt is wrong to back mitt.