Toomey to replace DeMint as head of GOP Steering Committee

The Morning Call ^ | 4-26-2012 | Colby Itkowitz

[smoothsailing]

Toomey to replace DeMint as head of GOP Steering Committee

By Colby Itkowitz

Call Washington Bureau

April 26, 2012

Washington— Pat Toomey's U.S. Senate GOP colleagues have tapped him to take over as head of the Senate Republican Steering Committe, a group that shapes conservative policy making on Capitol Hill.

Toomey will replace South Carolina Tea Party favorite Jim DeMint.

In handing over the job, DeMint in a statement said, “Sen. Pat Toomey is a proven and trusted conservative, and I'm very glad he's taking on this new role. I've fought hard over the last few years to help elect new conservatives to the Senate, and it's very rewarding to see them step into positions of leadership."

(History note: DeMint chose to endorse Toomey over Arlen Specter in the 2010 Republican primary. A few days after telling Specter this, Specter became a Democrat.)

Toomey's selection marks the confidence of his peers. While it's not an official leadership post, senators who have had the job before him have gone on to capture larger responsibilities. Among them, Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl is now the second ranking in the Republican caucus and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions is ranking Republican on the Budget Committee....

[SueRae]

Excellent choice. I only wish Rohrer would have been joining him in January. I wonder what this free DeMint up for..
Toomey isn’t flashy but he is a well spoken, thoughtful, conservative Senator. I am pleased to have him representing Pennsylvania.

[smoothsailing]

I agree, Toomey is an excellent choice and a real plus for Pennsylvania.

I know DeMint promised he’d only serve two terms in the Senate and his second term ends in 2016, so I’m surprised he’s stepping down this soon.

I did think Sam Rohrer would do better Tuesday. Hopefully Toomey will go to bat big time for Tom Davis, it sure would be good to get rid of that worm Bob Casey.

[Lancey Howard]

History note: DeMint chose to endorse Toomey over Arlen Specter in the 2010 Republican primary. A few days after telling Specter this, Specter became a Democrat.

Specter switched to the Democrat party in April 2009 and was defeated in the Democrat primary by Sestak in May 2010.

[jakerobins]

Sen. DeMint has to step down as he is going to be Romney’s VP pick! LOL.... Sorry if I got anyone’s hopes up.

[Lancey Howard]

By the way, Toomey supported the sodomization of the US military (even though the actual vote was just prior to his taking office), and unless I hear a good explanation or recantation from Pat, he won't get my vote again. Everybody has warts, and I try not to be a self-defeating purist, but the sodomization of the military is one of those places where I have to draw the line.

FRegards,
LH

[smoothsailing]

By the way, Toomey supported the sodomization of the US military

I did not know that, damn.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks smoothsailing.

[Lancey Howard]

It was a huge disappointment.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1210/Pat_Toomey_supports_dont_ask_repeal.html

[smoothsailing]

DeMint told Specter he would be supporting Toomey on April 23. Specter announced he would be leaving the party just five days later.

Read more: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/Just-How-Extreme-Is-Pat-Toomey.html#ixzz1tCfMTxK3

[USS Alaska]

I worked for Pat Toomey in the '04 primary against snarlen arlen sphincter {and we only lost by 2 votes per precinct, about 24,000 total votes.

Anyone that worked for Toomey blamed both GWB and Rick Santorum, but we did get two solid conservative SCOTUS justices and without sphincter leading the judiciary committee, I'm not sure it would have happened.

I was delighted that Toomey won in the great 2010 TEA party revolution, and believe that he will do a good job in this role.

[Lazlo in PA]

This is a solid choice by DeMint. Toomey is a good man. It is also good to see someone from PA doing something high profile for the cause.

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for that. Gotta love DeMint. I still wish he had jumped into the pres race.

[smoothsailing]

I hope Toomey uses some of that newly acquired clout to go to bat for Tom Smith to defeat Bob Casey. It would be great if we could get rid of that little worm.

[smoothsailing]

Gotta love DeMint.

He's been a real friend of the conservative cause, hopefully he'll remain active in the years ahead.

[Lazlo in PA]

My primary purpose this election season will be to make sure Boob Casey gets his walking papers in Nov. He is a lisping disgrace.

[upchuck]

Jim DeMint Ping!

Want on or off this ping list? GET WITH THE PROGRAM! Just FReepmail me.

Follow Sen. DeMint on Twitter.

[Graewoulf]

My hope is that there will be an open convention in Tampa, and a true Conservative can be nominated. My favorite is Sen. Jim DeMint (R-Sc).

[Gothmog]

That’s what I thought as well (DeMint as VP). Did DeMint give any reason for stepping down? I did a Google search and saw a few brief articles, but none mentioned the reason DeMint was stepping down.

[onyx]

I’ll die if Senator DeMint even thinks about running with Romney.