Posted on 05/19/2010 9:25:54 AM PDT by FTJM
Jim DeMint has a message to the Washington political establishment: An "American awakening" in taking place across the country, as seen in the Tea Party-backed Rand Paul's win in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary.
"It shows that Americans want strong leaders who will stand up to the massive spending, bailouts, and debt in Washington that are bankrupting our country," DeMint said in a statement.
Among conservatives and Tea Party groups, DeMint -- a first-term Republican senator from South Carolina -- has become a political heavyweight, lending conservative credentials and financial resources to little-known, outside-the-beltway candidates.
His efforts, an expert said, is geared towards building support for himself with the conservative base and positioning himself as a leading voice in the anti-Washington movement.
"I would characterize his efforts to position himself as an attempt to be seen as the thinking person's Sarah Palin," said Jeremy Mayer, a political scientist and professor of public policy at George Mason University. "He has a lot of the same positions as Sarah Palin, he speaks to a lot of the same constituencies but he has a much longer record of public service" and isn't as polarizing.
DeMint's national profile has risen since he broke with many Republicans last year to endorse Marco Rubio in Florida for U.S. Senate. It happened long before the former state House speaker became the favorite to win the GOP nomination over Gov. Charlie Crist, who recently switched his party affiliation to run as an independent.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
If DeMint truly wants to be the King Maker....he needs to back Hayworth in AZ over McCain. DeMint has remained neutral...but support for Hayworth will help JD win....and DeMint would basically be in control of the whole GOP.
I wonder if all the chapters would have to be anonymously written???? I mean WHY would anyone in their right mind support JM?????
With the exception of Governor Palin, there is NO ONE who owes him any loyalty, right?
It is a tough row to hoe — McCain is a given in the Republican landscape. By DeMint not directly endorsing McCain, he is tacitly endorsing the opponent.
I have heard DeMint’s name a LOT over the last year or so — anyone have his bonafides?
Perhaps NOBODY wants to put Governor Palin in a negative light, and that's why NOBODY seems to publically state support for Hayworth?
We should remember that the powers that be did not want Demint to win the republican primary six years ago. They said he was too divisive and could not win the general election, etc, etc.
I think we now see why they wanted to stop him.
“By DeMint not directly endorsing McCain, he is tacitly endorsing the opponent”
Actually it means he is a shrewd conservative politician.
He’s not going to piss off the establishment, he’s going to hang back in a very incendiary GOP race.
Why don’t you check his voting record yourself. Its not difficult.
The article points out that he isn’t exactly making kings. The endorsement of Rand just before the landslide election had no effect, DeVore’s challenge to pro-abortion Campbell isn’t going anywhere (Fiorina is the actual path to stop Campbell), William’s challenge to proabortion Kay Bailey Hutchinson didn’t go anywhere, (Perry was the path to stop her). I was hoping that he could finally beat out McConnell this time, but that seems unlikely.
“As of March 31, his group contributed, raised, bundled or spent money for four candidates: $343,464 to Rubio; $150,947 to Chuck DeVore in California; $60,870 to Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania; $32,981 for Michael Williams in Texas, who eventually lost to Gov. Rick Perry.”
“On May 5, DeMint endorsed Paul. According to the SCF website, more than $26,000 had been raised for the son of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Paul won that primary Tuesday night.”
“His support for outsider candidates isn’t necessarily paying off. DeMint’s PAC contributed more than $210,000 in the final two weeks of the Indiana Senate primary for Marlin Stutzman, who lost the race to former Sen. Dan Coats, a Republican establishment candidate.”
“On May 5, DeMint endorsed Paul.”
_________________________________
Sarah Palin endorsed Rand Paul February 1.
- JP
>>Why don’t you check his voting record yourself. Its not difficult.<<
I am more interested in his comments and positions. He has moved to prominence and I was wondering if anyone has followed him closely.
Google him. He’s a strong conservative, but his “comments and positions” mean nothing. His voting record is the only thing that matters.
DeMint did the same with Bennett in Utah. Not endorsing his colleague speaks volumes.
The article points out Demint’s PAC gave “ $32,981 for Michael Williams in Texas, who eventually lost to Gov. Rick Perry.”
Michael Williams has never run against Rick Perry. He was a prospective candidate for the Senate seat that Kay Bailey Hutchison had vowed to resign. She reneged, of course, so Williams and others now must wait until the seat comes open in 2012.
Bush league research and reporting!
I was wondering who he was, I didn’t recall his name from the Governor’s race, and I didn’t bother to look it up, assuming that he must have dropped out before the Medina period.
Thanks for clearing that up.
“Sounds pretty good,” Palin declared at today’s Tea Party Express rally on the Common when asked about pairing up with the former Bay State governor - giving the idea a big thumbs-up as she left the stage after her headline speech.
Earlier tonight, as Palin stopped for cannoli at Mike’s Pastry in the North End, she said she was “serious” about the idea."
Kind of like how Reagan had to pick the establishment HW Bush.
I’m sure President Palin wouldn’t mind Mitt. He’d be good for state funerals.
“I have a lot of respect for Mitt,” she told the Herald.
Asked who would be on top of the ticket, Palin roared, “Ha! I haven’t even thought that far ahead yet.”
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