DNC Targets DeMint In TV Ad As Health Care Fights Heat Up (VIDEO)

During an interview on NBC Wednesday morning, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) declined to back down from his earlier statement that health care reform represented President Barack Obama's "Waterloo." And now, Democrats are all too happy to continue to make the South Carolina Republican the center of the debate.

The Democratic National Committee is releasing a new television advertisement accusing DeMint of politicizing health care reform and symbolizing the "Party of No" characteristic of the GOP.

"Jim DeMint and congressional Republicans are trying to kill health care reform," the ad reads. "Senator DeMint is playing politics with our health care, putting the special interests in Washington ahead of South Carolina families and business. The only health care plan Jim DeMint supports is no plan at all."

The ad titled, "No Plan at All," is the latest effort by Democrats to make GOP opposition to health care the key and defining feature of the reform debate. Republicans have generally defended DeMint, saying that Democrats are making him a straw man. But there are others within the Republican ranks who also have begun saying that the South Carolinian's rhetoric was too aggressive.

The spot, according to a DNC source, will air on cable news stations in Greenville (DeMint's hometown) and Columbia, S.C., as well as Washington D.C.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[benatmediacurves]

MediaCurves.com just conducted a study with 615 viewers of a recent pro health care reform ad by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) discussing statements from Senator Jim DeMint. Results showed that the ad failed to increase favorability levels across all political parties. Democrats, Republicans and Independents all reported “skepticism” as the emotion they felt most while watching the ad. For more in-depth results, please visit http://www.mediacurves.com/HealthCare/J7499-ProReformAd/Index.cfm
Thanks,
Ben

[schicklett3]

When is Lindsey Graham going to come out of the closet????­??????????

[MarionWatts]

Jim Demented.

South Carolina.

Low-hanging fruit.

http://emiliawahoo76.blogspot.com
http://myspace.com/virginiadem

[nymjk]

Yes, but aren't the low hangers the sweetest to munch on?

[Genep34]

The want Obama to fail even if it means killing themselves politically - they are basically desparate racists who can't stand a non white as president.

[nymjk]

Yeah, did you catch that nutball screaming at her congressman on the video about BO's birth certificate? I do believe that was the first time I've ever burst out laughing at a video.

[Beegood]

I would have laughed if the crowd in the room hadn't been cheering her on - that was scary. And then it just got surreal when she made them all do the pledge of alligance.

[southdakotajack]

Jim "Napoleon" DeMent,

SHOW US YOUR PLAN.

[justobserve]

It's obvious when he said health care reform is Obama's Waterloo. His aim is to defeat Obama to prove he is not the minority party. It doesn't matter that most Americans want the reform right now!

[den1953]

Maybe Demint should say no to his own insurance plan for health and he can live like most of the rest of the country!

[PWM]

Good point. He has no problem with his health care paid by the taxpayer.

[Apov]

YES to socialized medicine for legislators.

NO to socialized medicine for citizens.

Citizens just have the privilege of paying for THEIR socialized medicine!

[reno1190]

HUMMMMMM there's something in the water in sc

[vippy]

Aren't our politicians hypocrites? They all should not accept our government provided healthcare plan for them and their families and then see what they will say. Someone please wake up. They are only interested in their well being and don't give a hoot about yours!

[timberdoodle]

It is simply amazing how any Republican can get elected anywhere. They continually make childish statements on all issues and support extremism like the tea bagging and birthers as well as catering to talk show racists and bigots.

[zkazan]

Good. He's an arrogant man. Bipartisanship? my butt

[me again]

Demint is a South Carolina embarrassment.

[Apov]

He's an all American embarrassment.

[kagenin]

With Gov. Sanford in the news as much as he is, that's saying something!

[Mohanna]

Between Demented, Sanford and Lindsey Graham South Carolina has become a Fringe State.

[kareemachan]

Lunatic fringe?

[LoyalOpposition]

This is a period of great economic suffering, but it is lost to Republicans. They don't care if, while so many Americans are losing their jobs and facing hunger and homelessness, they add to the public's woes. Without quality and accessible health care, those whose lives have turned upside down will not recover in this generation.

[JimmyTee]

HA HA HA!

P.S. The government has decided that your grandmother is surplus to requirements and won't be getting that life-saving operation. Congratulations.

[kareemachan]

Well, right now it's the health insurance companies who are deciding that your grandmother is surplus to requirements and won't get that operation. Congratulations. And they're doing it simply for the profit margin. Think I'm kidding? Try to get services out of insurance companies for really nasty diseases or conditions. Then come and talk about it.

[FrankFurter]

And let's not forget that , thanks to the conservatives, there is NO legal recourse available when your grandmother is simply denied help and allowed to die by the insurance industry.