Jim DeMint Blasts Obama Jobs Plan: 'I'm Not Interested In His Speech'

WASHINGTON -- Tea Party leader Sen. Jim DeMint on Sunday dismissed President Barack Obama's jobs speech four days ahead of its scheduled delivery.

"I'm, frankly, very tired of speeches. I don't want to be disrespectful to the president, but what I want to see is something in writing," the South Carolina Republican told ABC's "This Week." "If he'll send a written proposal, I'll give it every chance. But I'm not interested in his speech right now."

Obama's address to a joint session of Congress, in which he will shift his attention to job creation, is anticipated to be one of the most important speeches of his presidency. But Republicans are less than eager to hear it. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) rejected Obama's request to deliver the speech Wednesday, citing scheduling issues, and insisted he come Thursday instead. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), an outspoken House freshman, announced that he is skipping Obama's speech altogether.

DeMint's resistance to Obama's jobs plan goes so far as to include opposition to tax cuts and business tax credits, a remarkable turnaround for a political party that has for decades pushed for exactly that. "The things that have been leaking out of the White House, none of them are like what I've been hearing from businesses all over the country," DeMint said. "You know, extending unemployment [insurance], cutting payroll taxes, offering tax credits when you hire someone, I haven't heard one business say things like this."

Rather, DeMint argued, business want the government to oppose unions and eliminate regulations, which he said would create "certainty."

"What they want is some certainty. They want the regulators off their back. They want the National Labor Relations Board to stop pushing the union agenda and try to help companies that create jobs. So I don't think the president is going to come out with things that are really going to create jobs," DeMint said.

A nationwide survey of small business owners by McClatchy, however, found that most small business owners want no such thing.

Comments

[gary357]

08:12 AM on 09/08/2011

Totally right about not being Nobel worthy! Amen...pass the peas.

[gochenaur8]

01:59 PM on 09/07/2011

This is a man who was elected to an office that he has say over what the people from his state wants, and has the nerve to come out in public, to say that he doesn't want to listen to what Obama has to say.
Granted, what Obama has to say may not amount to anything, but at least listen to what he plans to bring to the table.
The Republicans ever have said, they got 95% of what they wanted when Obama signed the debt ceiling bill, the Republicans and the Tea Party are spoiled children, can't have it their way, going to take their bat and ball home, no matter who it hurts, they are going to destroy this country, because it is almost to the brink and they want the last ounce of blood to finally do it.

[mbowland1]

11:10 PM on 09/06/2011

Because of people like Jim, I have quit going to church.

[anglgrl122a]

08:01 PM on 09/06/2011

Know what,racist dimint? Im not interested in whether you breathe or not...seems like a waste pf good air!!! Obama rocks!

[threewarveteran]

07:43 PM on 09/06/2011

Does everybody understand that this is a republican us senator who is leading a political coup with his Tea Party Banner? He influences legislation in the house. He is a senator.

These people you are watching climb the greased nut poll pole for a nomination that none will achieve because thank goodness they are not fit to govern, even to the mentally challenged. Most of the tea party can't vote because of previous felonies, they make good poll samples though.

Demint and anyone demint supports IS NOT A REPUBLICAN. Just like not everyone who speaks spanish is NOT ILLEGAL. This is a "circus of idiots" to fan the crowd.

[Pollitrix]

02:54 PM on 09/06/2011

Jim DeMint I'm not interested in you speaking and I mean that totally disrespectfully.

[tenaclark]

02:51 PM on 09/06/2011

Some of us ARE interested in the President's speech, Jim.

[ylobrkrd]

02:07 PM on 09/06/2011

"If he'll send a written proposal, I'll give it every chance. But I'm not interested in his speech right now."

The new Rtp call to arms. So freakintransparent. Babies, all of them.

[thirdcloud]

01:24 PM on 09/06/2011

It is time the American people demand that congressional representatives go beyond the wrongheaded political practices that have brought our economy back once again, to the brink of collapse. America’s bills will get paid, over time, by tax increases and spending cuts that are across the board fair, once the economy recovers.

Politically passive and disaffected voters that had initially tuned out these issues, are now beginning to see that it is only a matter of time before this downward spiral encompasses them too. Greed over people has run its course in American politics and lip service is no longer enough.
http://www.chicagonow.com/sheffield-gazette-digital-fish-wrap/2011/09/lip-service-not-enough/

[colourful]

01:15 PM on 09/06/2011

'I'm Not Interested In His Speech'

He's also not interested in his state's 10% unemployment rate.

[CindySanFrancisco]

01:08 PM on 09/06/2011

Well, we're certainly not interested in your bats**t senator.

[Writerdude2011]

12:55 PM on 09/06/2011

"I know what I believe, don't confuse me with the facts"

[anne1stoftwo]

12:30 PM on 09/06/2011

So now if a politician from the opposing party doesn't like what the President of the United States talks about, wants to address etc they no longer have to attend and listen? They can just ignore President Obama because they don't think he will create jobs? They can just pretend and go foreward without hearing more than one side of anything? My God this country is in trouble with the likes of clowns like Joe Walsh and Jim Demint. And of course Joe WIlson and Samuel Alito. What a shame and pity they act like this..

[hang319]

12:22 PM on 09/06/2011

The disrespectful and dismissive tone of this "superpower" speaks volumes to the general bagger attitude toward this country. They hate it, obviously, and they want to destroy it.

[Taliesinian]

12:07 PM on 09/06/2011

SO, this is how bad it is getting. They are not even interested in listening to the other side, let alone work together at a compromise solution. It really is "My way is the ONLY way." (which means more tax cuts for the rich and powerful).
Everyone know how parents deal with children, "what, you need a written invitation?", read the article, that is how childish this is getting.

Odd, i have not heard ONE BUSINESS LEADER even mention cutting down Unions and removing regulations. Who are these guys talking to?

[advchaser]

03:01 PM on 09/06/2011

SO if you actually read what was said you would see the error in what your wrote.