South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint responded Thursday to criticism from fellow Republicans over his involvement in Christine O'Donnell's upset victory in the Delaware GOP Primary this week. DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund has played a major role in a number of significant victories by conservative Senatorial candidates over more-established party candidates. One unnamed senior GOP aide told CNN's Dana Bash: "I wonder who Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer are calling first tonight - Chris Coons for becoming the next Senator from Delaware or Jim DeMint for helping to make it happen." Another Republican aide set a more threatening tone, saying, "If on November 3rd there are two or three seats in Democratic control that otherwise would have been Republican victories, then that anger will come back up to the surface and there will be consequences."
DeMint says the Republican establishment has launched "an all-out assault" against him following O'Donnell's stunning upset victory because they are convinced she is destined to lose in November. "They say she can't win and that by supporting her, I've helped lose the seat for Republicans," said DeMint. "Well, I've been in the majority with Republicans who didn't have principles, and we embarrassed ourselves and lost credibility in front of the country. Frankly, I'm at a point where I'd rather lose fighting for the right cause than win fighting for the wrong cause."
DeMint also accused some fellow party members of working toward O'Donnell's defeat. "The dirty little secret in Washington is that the establishment is quietly rooting for Christine to lose so they can continue to peddle their discredited line that conservatives cannot win," said DeMint. "They mistakenly believe that a single defeat in Delaware will discredit the work we have done this year to elect principled leaders in Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado, Kentucky, Utah, Nevada, Wisconsin, Washington, and Alaska. They are wrong. We can win in Delaware too and prove them wrong once again."
Donations have been pouring into the Senate Conservatives Fund following DeMint's war of words with party moderates. The fund has raised over $150,000 for O'Donnell's campaign in the past 24 hours. DeMint insists he will plow forward with his support for principled conservative candidates despite the growing resentment from the Republican establishment. "They can't use their usual political power tactics to strip me of committee chairmanships or deny me earmarks because I do not seek either. I did not come to Washington to make friends. Rather, I came to save our country and I've learned you can't do it without rocking the boat."
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Comments (12)
Yeah, GOP mainstays, let's ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by BlueNight | September 17, 2010 2:12 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Yeah, GOP mainstays, let's repeat 2008's choice of moderates like McCain, because that worked out SO well for America.
1. Posted by BlueNight | September 17, 2010 2:12 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 02:12
2. Posted by Mr. Mike | September 17, 2010 6:02 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
It is the RINO's or the establishment Repulicans that can take credit for all the damage and overreach of the Federal Government. Libs are always Libs and have never changed their views or goals. It is the RINO's that gave them power. DeMint is doing a brave thing here - it is a very tight and cozy club in DC and he is helping to destroy the club. It is going to get ugly.
2. Posted by Mr. Mike | September 17, 2010 6:02 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 06:02
3. Posted by itismedavid | September 17, 2010 6:39 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Why can't we have 100 Jim DeMInts?
3. Posted by itismedavid | September 17, 2010 6:39 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 06:39
4. Posted by olsoljer | September 17, 2010 9:51 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Delaware expected a voter turn-out of about 30,000, they got over 70,000. Tea Party members are predominately conservative, not republicans. This fact hasn't even sunk into Bill O'Reilly's head. The media and the established political leaders either don't have a clue, or are so arrogant they just can't grasp it. "The bell tolls for thee..."
4. Posted by olsoljer | September 17, 2010 9:51 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 09:51
5. Posted by GarandFan | September 17, 2010 10:07 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
The Republican party stalwarts are upset. They're finding themselves marginalized and don't like it. They keep up the crap, and in the next step will find themselves totally irrelevant.
5. Posted by GarandFan | September 17, 2010 10:07 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 10:07
6. Posted by John S | September 17, 2010 10:11 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
The goal in this election isn't so much to gain control of the House and Senate. It is to purge Congress of corrupt establishment incumbents from BOTH parties. We need only enough Republican gains to gridlock the Obama government. The Tea Party takes over in 2012.
6. Posted by John S | September 17, 2010 10:11 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 10:11
7. Posted by don | September 17, 2010 11:03 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
O'Donnell's web site now claims nearly $1.4M in donations, nearly all since Tuesday. It takes more than money to win, but you can't hardly win without it. I think the old guard may be very surprised at the outcome in November. Regardless of who ultimately wins, I'm glad she took the primary.
7. Posted by don | September 17, 2010 11:03 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 11:03
8. Posted by ron | September 17, 2010 12:07 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
The crooks are getting what they earned. NOTHING, but fired!.... sorry, I am somewhat passionate about that.
8. Posted by ron | September 17, 2010 12:07 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 12:07
9. Posted by gary gulrud | September 17, 2010 1:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
DeMint may support McConnell for Minority/Majority leader, but he's going to be the ringmaster of a caucus on the right in the Senate.
Yeah, we'll still have a passel of RINOs and Blue Dogs blinking into the cameras with their maverick agenda but a reactionary counterweight will trip their snares. Appropriations will be a cutthroat donneybrook.
9. Posted by gary gulrud | September 17, 2010 1:22 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 13:22
10. Posted by Wayne | September 17, 2010 1:43 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Demint is expressing what a very large portion of people are feeling. If the Establishment try to ignore us like they have done in the past, they will be rolled over. They can work with us or become irrelevant.
10. Posted by Wayne | September 17, 2010 1:43 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 17, 2010 13:43
11. Posted by Highlander | September 18, 2010 8:52 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I wish to HEARTILY THANK all the conservatives who made the O'Donnell victory possible. If not for the victory, the Democrats would be losing a senate seat. Chris Coons is a very nice, intelligent guy and will make a great liberal senator.
From senile Reagan to Dan Quayle to Chimpy to Sarah Palin to Ms. O'Donnell, conservatives have consistently favored nuttiness & stupidity. BUT SOMETIMES IT COMES AROUND AND BITES THEM IN THE ASS.
11. Posted by Highlander | September 18, 2010 8:52 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 18, 2010 08:52
12. Posted by travel makeup bag | September 18, 2010 10:27 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think I have to agree with what others have said. Wanna take up a cause? Help the 25,000 people across the world who DIE from starvation every DAY. Help the children and families who have been ripped apart by Cancer. Help the War Veterens who are now homeless and sick.
No, you'll help gays in the army who are tough enough and strong enough to fend for themselves, because it's your target demographic and will sell records.
12. Posted by travel makeup bag | September 18, 2010 10:27 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 18, 2010 10:27