Jim DeMint: 'We Really Need Someone Like A Gov. Scott Walker' In The White House

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) does not plan to endorse a candidate in the GOP presidential primary ahead of his state's crucial Jan. 21 primary. But he said on Thursday that he had an idea of who he wanted in the White House.

"We really need someone like a Governor Scott Walker who's willing to take the pain in order to save the whole state," he said during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Walker, who will likely face a recall vote later this year, successfully pushed in 2011 for a bill to curb collective bargaining rights for public employees.

DeMint told The State that he thinks former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whom he endorsed in 2008, will win the South Carolina primary. He said he was concerned about Romney's Republican rivals attacking him over his tenure at Bain Capital.

"Frankly, I'm a little concerned about the few Republicans who have criticized some of what I consider free market principles here," he said.

CNN reported Thursday that a group of South Carolina allies to Sen. DeMint, including a top fundraiser for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, will endorse Romney.

DeMint made it clear on "Morning Joe" that he was focusing on Congress. "Hopefully we can change the Senate, and that's my whole focus this year...to get five or six more conservative senators who will help send the president good legislation, a balanced budget. And if we do that it doesn't matter which of these Republican candidates is in the White House."

DeMint runs an influential political action committee, the Senate Conservatives Fund. The fund backed several insurgent primary challengers in 2010, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who defeated establishment GOP candidates.

DeMint, who said in 2010 that he would "rather have 30 Marco Rubios in the Senate than 60 Arlen Specters," said there must be a conservative, not just Republican, majority.

"I came into the Senate with 55 Republicans and we didn't do squat -- in fact, I'm not interested in being in the majority again with the same people who were in the majority last time," he said on MSNBC.

 

 

Comments

[Clevelandinwi]

05:54 PM on 01/13/2012

The 'demented' one has a sense of humor? Man, this guy should be put away someplace where no other human being has to see, listen to or even be aware of his existence. He's a simple small town corrupt politician running wild. SICK!

[dil123]

05:12 PM on 01/13/2012

Wasn't there something about distroying villages to save them?

[Thirdstone]

02:24 PM on 01/13/2012

Must be something in the water. Do they frack down there?

[fattbastird]

02:22 PM on 01/13/2012

DeMint and Walker are the worst politicians and humans this nation has ever seen. Both are losers.

[gsandoe]

05:02 PM on 01/13/2012

Shouldn't you include Mitch McConnel and Eric Cantor in that club just to name a few?

[Clevelandinwi]

05:54 PM on 01/13/2012

Done.

[iAnonymous]

01:09 PM on 01/13/2012

So, the GOP wants a fall guy?

[USAGramma]

01:54 AM on 01/13/2012

Newsflash, Mr. DeMint: Mr. Walker will be looking for a job in the very near future. Perhaps if he can't find something "shovel-ready" here in Wisconsin, you could get him hired as president ... or he can bring you your coffee.

[efffox]

07:03 PM on 01/12/2012

Jon Stewart destroyed DeMint on his show last night! It was awesome!!!

[Erik77]

03:45 PM on 01/13/2012

Anyone who reads a newspaper and does not live in SC could do that just as easily.

He is not worthy for Stewart's efforts but it makes for good tv.
I have come to believe DeMinty could not possibly be as dumb as he acts but he is such a good actor. He never comes out of character. :-)

[seattlejames]

06:52 PM on 01/12/2012

That is an interesting comment. Why would you say that about a man who is about to be thrown out of office. Not merely losing an election but being told to, GET OUT!! I think those words and affinity toward a person like Walker shows a lack of respect and disdain for the American people.

[ktaylorr]

06:47 PM on 01/12/2012

That is exactly who I would want for President. A politician who is willing to do the right thing and not necessarily the popular thing. A politician who will actually stand up and fight for America and not sell it down the river or make excuses of who we are. A politician who believes in equality for all the people and not just a select few. A politician who is willing to cut back entitlements and make people earn their way. A politician who demands I.D. to be shown when you vote. I want a politician who cares about America and wants to help her grow, instead of a President who is trying to turn this great republic into the next U.S.S.R.

[WELLS35]

06:51 PM on 01/12/2012

God help us if Walker ever became president. We would have Second Civil War!

[ktaylorr]

07:03 PM on 01/12/2012

What war, you would have the OWS and their minions against Walker and the rest of the country, sorry they would all run away and hide in their tents. By the way I never said Walker, I simply described the politician I would like to see, but if you think that describes walker, well then he must be doing something right.

[efffox]

07:05 PM on 01/12/2012

So is President Obama "in bed with Wall Street" or a "European socialist" - because you can NOT be BOTH!!!

[ktaylorr]

07:18 PM on 01/12/2012

That is the question, you can not have both, so who would rather have them favoring.

[wme98]

06:39 PM on 01/12/2012

If i were a resident of South Carolina I would be so embarrassed that I wouldn't come out of my house. When are the voters in South Carolina going to wake up and kick this old senial fool out of office?

[Left to myself]

06:13 PM on 01/12/2012

Demint must not be aware that several people tied to Scott Walker have been arrested and booked with felonies. This investigation is current and on-going. 12 people including Cullen Werwie ( Walker's spokesman) have been granted immunity. Oh....yeah, and I think there's gonna be a little recall coming soon. Presidential???? That tea must contain hallucingenics.

[ktaylorr]

06:40 PM on 01/12/2012

Investigations that the Governor himself requested because of wrong doings, or how about the fact that Governor Walker was also able to find hundreds of millions of dollars of waste and fraud in the government and is taking action to correct it. If you are going to speak about something speak the truth and not the half truths that seem to fly around.

[CML96]

06:51 PM on 01/12/2012

Follow your own advice. He left the city and county of Milwaukee in a financial mess because of his fraud and cronyism.

[Left to myself]

06:59 PM on 01/12/2012

Don't scold me about the John Doe investigation information I provided. The truth about the recent 3 that were investigated and charged were indeed tipped off by a worker named Darlene Wink (who quit her job) and her supervisor Tom Nardelli who resigned from his govenor appointed job. Another man, John Gardener violated campaign donations. More to come..................

[WELLS35]

06:52 PM on 01/12/2012

I thought his name was "Dim Witt."

[amaboss52]

06:04 PM on 01/12/2012

I double dog dare the repuds to run that clown for President!

[bcarb]

05:57 PM on 01/12/2012

They are both jokes and tools for corporate America.

[Goldengrl]

05:44 PM on 01/12/2012

Scott Walker is having a tough time being governor. The white house would be a huge stretch for him. Nice try though.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

05:32 PM on 01/12/2012

He wants someone like Scott Walker? Does he mean someone who's totally controlled by the Koch brothers or someone who is totally incompetent...of course in Walker, he has both.

[ktaylorr]

06:43 PM on 01/12/2012

Guess you would rather have someone that is controlled by the afl-cio in office. Sorry, but walker would get my vote and the majority of the state of Wisconsin, just like he did when he won office, and will win again if there is a recall election. First the gab needs to get through all the fake, phony, and duplicate signatures that unions have seeded the recall petitions with.

[WELLS35]

06:54 PM on 01/12/2012

In your dreams! We'll find out come March (isn't that the time of the election caused by the recal?

[A Dub]

07:22 PM on 01/12/2012

The majority of the state of Wisconsin? Yea that's why he is getting recalled. I would like to see your proof on fake, phony, and duplicate signatures. Unless you added some I do not know where you got your information. Please share it with us.