Squishy Republicans Decide to Hit the Jim

How do you thank the leaders responsible for energizing the base and backing true conservatives? Well, if one of them is Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), you call him a "big loser" and promise to sharpen your knives. Welcome to the Republican Establishment, home of the fiscally moderate, socially progressive GOP. After what should have been a proud moment for all Republicans on Tuesday night, the GOP is angry about "what ifs"--particularly if it had won seats in Colorado, Delaware, and Washington--defeats they blame almost unanimously on Jim DeMint. Apparently, fighting to bring true conservative candidates into the Senate instead of weak-kneed moderates who oppose the Republican platform makes Sen. DeMint a villain. One of his colleagues said, "It's like you're on the five-yard line ready to score, and the quarterback calls the play, and some member of your team tackles one of your members and keeps you from scoring."

The only problem is that the "quarterback" is the old guard of the Republican Party. The same folks who backed big spending, pro-abortion, pro-gay GOP lap-dog incumbents. If it weren't for Sen. DeMint's primary upsets, America would be waking up to a Congress of Charlie Crists and Mike Castles--whose only distinction from the Democratic Party is the letter after their name! When it comes to electing people who will stick to the core values of conservatism, Sen. DeMint knows it's better to lose with a winner than win with a loser. And speaking of winners, his Tea Partiers had plenty. Thanks to his leadership, men like Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) have a new home in the Senate. Obviously, the Republican Party is upset because Sen. DeMint is effective--and he's effectively taking them back to their roots of social and fiscal discipline. But in the end the only opinion that matters is America's, and they think he's a hero. As do I.

Read More