"Either I'm dead right. Or I'm crazy."
--Jefferson Smith (Mr Smith Goes To Washington)
I've often referred to Ron Paul as the lone voice in the wilderness that is Washington DC. Over the past yr or so, another name has been popping up on my radar: Republican senator Jim DeMint from SC.
When wrath from the political establishment (both Republican and Democrat) gets loud, I often view it as a positive sign that the object of that wrath is trying to make positive change. DeMint appears to be such an anti-establishment type.
Last night, DeMint decisively won re-election. This morning, he scribed a missive appearing in the WSJ aimed at the Tea Party backed candidates that won their races as well.
He warns them not to give into the market for political favor that will tempt them in DC, as that will be in direct violation to their voters' mandate for less government and more freedom.
His last words seem particularly appropriate:
"Tea party Republicans were elected to go to Washington and save the country--not to be co-opted by the club. So put on your boxing gloves. The fight begins today."
Last nite was a small step in the right direction. Let's see if these new elects and their constituencies are up for the fight (war) ahead.
The country's future may depend on it.
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10 comments:
Ideas are more powerful than people.
~Jim DeMint
Matt, I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that I think our country just reelected the same old same old, including DeMint. And you may enjoy his tea party views, but can you really ignore his stance on social issues? http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2010/10/05/demint/
DeMint said if someone is openly homosexual, they shouldn't be teaching in the classroom and he holds the same position on an unmarried woman who's sleeping with her boyfriend — she shouldn't be in the classroom.
I also suggest you check his voting record. He doesn't exactly have the Ron Paul record. For the record, I've told you before that I think Ron Paul is the real deal. Jim DeMint is another animal entirely.
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=25026&type=category&category=10&go.x=6&go.y=11
Skepticism regarding where this all heads is certainly not unfounded. Extrapolating the past into the future suggests odds are against meaningful change.
Did not suggest JDM=RP, but that his recent behavior positions him in RPs direction from where I sit. That the establishment holds him in contempt suggests good things. And his WSJ missive demonstrated sound thought process.
What matters, of course, is in action going forward.
Matt,
I know you an I have different criteria, but there is not a chance that I could support someone who expresses views that are so in opposition to my own. I'm sure an industrious person could spin that into intolerance, but I call it discernment. No way could I support a person who thinks that gay people shouldn't be in the classroom. I don't think that makes him an anti-establishment hero, but it does make him all kinds of other things.
To me, this is the crux of the problem with the tea party. There's a single-mindedness there -- if you say what we want to hear about fiscal responsibility, you're in. It doesn't matter what other outrageous claims you make. That's why people associate such fringe behaviors with them. To me, that's a big internal problem.
And now TP leader Mark Meckler is talking about pushing socially conservative values.
http://washingtonindependent.com/102482/tea-party-patriots-lay-claim-to-the-political-center-in-debates-to-come
I'll ask you this... is there anything a politician could say on social issues, that would override your approval of his fiscal policies?
-k
People can 'say' or 'feel' whatever they want. Whether I agree w/ it or not is neither here nor there. Their prerogative to believe differently than I do.
Re politicians, what is within my jurisdiction is evaluating their *actions.* Making law, enforcing law, interpreting law, etc.
Particularly as these actions pertain to upholding the Constitution and its intent. Which is what these people vow to do on day 1.
Matt, I'm not saying that people aren't allowed to speak their minds. Of course they can. I too can decide what I think of what they say.
If you have a politician with radically conservative views, I'm guessing he'll act on them, given the chance. Haven't looked at DeMint's voting record on gay marriage and abortion, but my best guess is that he has voted to limit access to both. That sure doesn't seem like being on the side of freedom.
So, if a politician was in favor of, say, deporting black people, it wouldn't affect your support?
I looked at his record. Yes, he voted for the constitutional amendment proposed to ban gay marriage in 2006.
Actually, he co sponsored it.
Couldn't find the vote you alluded to but did do some reading on Federal Marriage Amendment history.
Can see point of FMA proponents but can't see how an amendment like this could possibly pass Constitutional muster.
Of course, this hasn't stopped DC crowd from bypassing Constitution for a century. SIG city, baby.
TP is geared toward reviving that Constitutional basis.
Maybe JDM has figured this out. Maybe not. His actions going forward will tell us.
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