Posted on 12/10/2009 5:20:09 PM PST by pissant
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) inched his way further into the 2010 Senate races Thursday, endorsing a member of the Texas Railroad Commission for the seat that might be vacated by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas.) in her run for governor.
In the blistering cold with the Capitol as a backdrop, DeMint threw his weight and the weight of his Senate Conservatives Fund behind Michael Williams, an African-American who served in both the Reagan and first Bush administrations. Williams said he’s looking to come to Washington to “stop the slouch toward European-style socialism.”
DeMint said he’s looking to pull the Republican Party back where America is.
Hutchison is challenging Gov. Rick Perry in next year’s GOP gubernatorial primary, but she has set no firm date for resigning her Senate seat.
Williams, DeMint said, fits his criteria: a “New Republican,” who can “come to Washington and stand up for constitutional government, a balanced budget and principals of liberty that made this country great.”
The endorsement is a move that may cause some consternation among the brass of the National Republican Senatorial Committee – run by Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who’s still very much involved in the politics of his state.
The NRSC has not yet endorsed a candidate there. Its spokesman, Brian Walsh, said there are a number of contenders and he’s confident that the Senate seat will remain in Republican hands should it open up.
DeMint, a favorite of tea partiers, said he’ll raise money for Williams on his PAC's Web site, alongside other endorsees Marco Rubio of Florida, Chuck DeVore of California and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
DeMint said his endorsements have “never been a purity test or anything about a litmus test”’ – a slight jab at the some Republicans, who recently announced support of a purity test for its members.
DeMint asserted that his movement is one that has support across the country. He’s not just a “small voice speaking in Washington,” he said, but rather he’s “speaking on behalf of millions of Americans.”
A GOP strategist, however, said the latest endorsement by DeMint “means absolutely nothing” in Texas and only serves to further the Democratic narrative that Republicans are at war for the future of their party.
“I don’t expect the people in Texas, or in any other state, to vote the way I suggest they vote,” DeMint said. “But what we hope we can do is bring to the country’s attention is there are great choices out there, regardless of their party.”
Then we need to get her to resign. She sucks.
Just having an (R) behind your name means nothing. Better be a Conservative or it's no soap anymore.
Nam Vet
She will at some point if she defeats Perry in the gov. primary on Mar. 2, 2010. She has said she’ll resign regardless, win or lose but she’s already waffled on an earlier resignation by late 09 when she changed her mind and decided to stay and fight the health care thing.
Yes, that’s a note on the bright side.
Yeah, how dare those guys actually propose a solution rather than just help the congressional pigs build a bigger tarp—I mean, trough.
It’s simpler than that. Conservatism works. Small government, federalism, strong national defense, moral behavior, freedom, personal responsibility—these are smart and effective ways for human societies to maximize individual success and happiness. These principles don’t yield results that are good only for conservatives—they yield results that benefit everyone (save some entrenched interests).
Conservative politicians need to be good communicators, and they need to win over non-conservatives—but *not* by pretending not to be conservative, but by showing non-conservatives how they, too, will benefit from conservative policies.
Michael is one of the damn good guys!
Of course, when Kay Bailey don’t get the Gov nom. she’ll find some “good” reason to stay in the Senate and be telling us we just misunderstood what she said in Nov. 2009.
KBH has promised to resign win or lose the Primary.
Perry is likely going to beat her. Not that he is much better. He’s just better at pretending to be conservative while running.
And who in your opinion is doing that right now?
I’m focused on 2010—so IMO, in my neck of the woods Pat Toomey is doing a pretty good job at this so far.
http://www.facebook.com/MichaelWilliamsTX
According to GOP insiders, they wish folks like Palin, Steve King, Bachmann, DeMint would just go away. They think the way to reach independents is to help Obama pass Cap N Trade, Amnesty for illegals, and universal healthcare.
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