DeMint's Influence on Display in Labor Day Event
The Columbia forum will be the first with all of the GOP frontrunners since Perry joined the race.
The idea that U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint could lead an event such as the Palmetto Freedom Forum seemed very unlikely during the last election cycle.
DeMint (R-S.C.) had alienated the mainstream of the Republican Party by endorsing and helping raise money for insurgent candidates like Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Pat Toomey.
But when they defeated more established — if somewhat less conservative — incumbents, DeMint suddenly found himself being called a “kingmaker” and surpassing U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham as the most influential politician in South Carolina.
Now, that he has attained a level of power, DeMint has shown a willingness to use it, with the Freedom Forum on Labor Day being a case in point.
The Forum has been organized by the American Principles Project (APP) and is designed as a question-and-answer session between conservatives and GOP presidential candidates. The event will be moderated by longtime news anchor David Stanton and candidates will be asked questions by a panel that includes DeMint, Iowa Congressman Steve King and Robert George, the founder of the APP.
"This is a candidate forum for them — it's supposed to be candidate-friendly," DeMint said Tuesday. "They have their own time on the stage to talk about what they stand for, what they believe and how that relates to constitutional principles."
The senator says there won't be "gotcha" moments. "This is about hearing from the candidates," DeMint said. “People in South Carolina will hopefully find out more about what the candidates stand for.”
Six candidates will attend: Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, businessman Herman Cain and and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Candidates needed to be polling at no less than five percent in the RealClearPolitics.com poll as of Aug. 22 to secure an invitation. Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin were also extended invitations but declined.
Though the stage will be crowded and may be occupied for a time by the country’s next president, DeMint will be the star.
Danielle Vinson, political science chair at Furman University, could not recall a time when a South Carolina politician had such influence.
“He’s connected to voters who identify with the Tea Party and to conservatives more broadly. Since the last presidential race his influence has extended beyond South Carolina, which is why candidates are so interested in his nod of approval,” she said.
Statistically, it’s hard to tell exactly how that approval will play out at the polls. “We’re still trying to figure out what percentage of the state is actually Tea Party,” Vinson said.
Complicating matters is the nature of the Tea Party itself. “They are not always interested in following directions from on high,” Vinson said. “They like to make up their own minds.”
From the candidates' standpoint the event is critical.
According to Kyle Kondik at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, the Freedom Forum, coupled with a Wednesday debate in California, will give voters a good sense of the field — and it will give poll-watchers a good sense of how strong frontrunner Perry, who announced his candidacy two weeks ago in Charleston, is.
“For a while voters were saying they weren’t happy with the field and they were looking for someone else. That someone else might be Rick Perry,” Kondik said. “After next week we’ll know if that’s true.”
Lexington Rep. Todd Atwater, who will attend the forum, believes Perry is the party's best hope for 2012.
"I believe he will be able to lead us going forward," Atwater said.
Kondik also believes it will be interesting to watch how Romney, a last-minute attendee, approaches the event. Romney may also pick up a key Republican endorsement while he is in town.
Previously the frontrunner, Romney made every effort to stay above the fray when criticized by the likes of Tim Pawlenty, whose failure to effectively attack either Romney or Bachmann kept him back in the polls and led to his early departure from the race.
“Romney is now in the position of Pawlenty,” Kondik said.
Kondik observed that it might not serve Romney well to attack Perry in either South Carolina or Iowa, two states that have a preponderance of evangelical Christian voters, many of whom figure to support Perry.
How the candidates respond to each other will be closely watched, but many voters are sure to watch how candidates respond to DeMint as well.
Vinson believes it is still possible for a candidate to win the South Carolina primary without getting the blessings of DeMint due to the impact Democrats and Independents could have in the open primary.
Determining the motivations of these voters — whether they’re voting for one candidate or for the candidate that they think would be a better opponent for Barack Obama — is difficult. But if the race is close Vinson believes the independents and Democrats will be critical.
Kondik thinks it would behoove candidates to seek out DeMint.
“It’s clear that DeMint’s views are pretty well aligned with much of South Carolina, so you’re going to want DeMint’s support,” he said.
But DeMint says he's waiting until January before offering his endorsement. "I want this to play out," he said. "I found last time when I endorsed early, they stopped listening."
The Freedom Forum begins at 3 p.m. in the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center at 1101 Lincoln St. Patch sites in South Carolina will be live-blogging the event, providing as-it-happens reporting and analysis.
S.C. ETV and CNN will broadcast the event live on television and TownHall.com will provide live streaming.
Cornell Davis
1:45 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Jim DeMint ego is bigger than the State of South Carolina. Since he has all of this so-call power, why is he doing this forum, when he is not going to be giving truthful answers and blaming the president for everything? Also, why do this forum, when he and the republician party should be working on a jobs creation plan? Demint is a phony and a con-artist. One question that needs to be asked, is where is the republicians jobs creation plan and why are republicians not willing to compromise on any of the president's proposals?
Dr. John
4:52 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Cornell,
At the heart of your discussion is the notion that only politicians or government can create jobs. Or possibly the notion that job creation can only happen with government assistance. These notions are wrong. The job of governement in a free market economy is to provide the rules and the referee not the players or the coaches. Therefore the republican plan is simple to understand. Create an enviroment with predictable expenses and regulations. Yes, that means competitive tax rates (we have the highest corporate tax rate among developed nations). It also means reasonable regulations and decreased employer mandates (Obama-care mandates and costs and the associated taxes it brings also hinders employers hiring). So the republican plan is simply to let government walk with us and not ride on our backs and to work with us and not against us.
Dennis
4:50 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
DeMint should be drummed out of town for backing such idiots as Rand Paul and Pat Toomey. I hope he goes for Sarah Palin and then I'm sure Obama will cruise to a second term.
William Scott
9:51 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
Cornell, tell me what has your socialist president and the dumbcrat party done to create jobs, Oh, i guess we'll know Thursday night. What has taken so long? They had complete control of gov't for two years and could not even come up with a budget!
The repubs will not compromise because all of Ovomit's ideas are socialist/ marxist.
That is his only agenda. Give me 3 reasons you would vote for him again.
Marie
10:07 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
Has the last 50 years not teached us that ALL politicians are con artist? They all make promises they can not keep nor are willing to keep. They will say any thing to get into the White House. That is what happens when Lawyers are in charge
Cornell Davis
1:53 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
Jim DeMint ego is bigger than the State of South Carolina. Since he has all of this so-call power, why is he doing this forum, when he is not going to be given truthful answers? his is another smoke screen
Bor Zoi
7:19 pm on Friday, September 2, 2011
People do not like Demint for three main reasons:
(1) His fiscal and social policies would send America backwards.
Isolationism - in economics, politics, etc. - is no longer an option. We have a role to play in the world, and that role is not being a xenophobic, global Luddite.
(2) The feeling that Alvin Greene was supported by pro-Demint forces.
A mystery candidate with no money, support or a political engine, Greene appeared from nowhere to run against Demint for a Senate seat; when one is an African-America and running for politics in South Carolina - and Jim Clyburn does not know who that person is - this says a lot about their credibility. For many people, Greene's candidacy created a general feeling that Demint had circumscribed the South Carolina voting population within a gullibility triangle where the corners represented race baiting, contempt for the electorate's intellect and a Nixonian paranoia that would go to such measures.
(3) Deliberate actions and coded language that harken to extreme racism.
It is one thing to have concerns about immigration and border enforcement. It is another to blend them with political code words concerning a Republican philosophical litmus test under the phrase of "purity test". Purity test - in any context other than chemical or pharmaceutical - invokes Jim Crow- / One Drop-Rules and Nazi-ism - especially in a state that has so much history of racial divide.
Dr. John
5:31 am on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Mr. Zoi,
The three reasons you list above are laughable. Your first claim about social and fiscal policies makes no since. Senator Demint believes in having relationships with other countries that also support our economic or military interests. DeMint thinks we must remain committed to expanding freedom and human dignity around the world because free people and open societies promote stability and increase prosperity. I would be interested in seeing the direct evidence you have in regards to zenophobia. Secondly, Alvin Greene was a product of the South Carolina Democratic Party and nothing else. There is no evidence otherwise. You should be asking Jim Clyburn why he was not more active in searching for and supporting strong local candidates to challenge Demint. Your third point is silly. However you should know that President Obama has used the term "purity in three of his speeches. I do not believe he is racist . You should also know your state and US history a little better. It was southern democrats that pushed segregation and trampled the rights of the people. The unspoken heros of the civil rights act of 1964 were republicans. Of all the "nay" votes 3/4 were democrats, mainly from the south. Time and time again history has shown that republicans have had stronger support for the black community on fundamental rights than that of democrats yet the assumption is always that the democrats always have the best interest of the minority citizen. Why is that?
Cornell Davis
9:51 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
I agree with you. This is 2011 and we are still dealing with racism. This is one issue that the president is facing and it is a sin and ashame that this should be an issue. Jim DeMint is a idiot and loves blowing smoke up people's behinds and that TOM Tim Scott is a joke. The republician party is trying to take us back and the president is trying to move us forward. I personally do not want to go back, I want the president to be successful and things get better for the american people, regardless of skin color.
I hope that the supreme court strikes down this voter ID nonsense. This is racist and this is another way to keep minorities from voting. Voter fraud is never been an issue in this state or other states, which are trying to do the same. Racism is raising it's ugly head.
Rudy Gonzales
12:36 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
This supposed kingmaker the the leader of the resurgent KKK branch of the TEA party which has gained strength in local elections, on the state level with legislation and now on the national level. People who do not believe DeMint is racist and bigoted have their heads buried in the FOX-hole. Anyone who is given that much power over others are corrupted by power! America has had Social programs in place to assist people with limited income, indigents and others. This extreme element of TEA party wants to do away with social programs in total! People like DeMint, Perry, Bachmann and others have cloaked themselves with the GOP coating while moving into local, state and national politics to effectively kill these programs. It is up to thinking Americans to protect our hard won freedoms from perverted extremes.
Rudy Gonzales
12:37 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Here's what we need to know - "This economic downturn obviously began before President Obama took office, and its severity is rooted in the financial crisis of 2008 and in Bush administration policies. But over four years, presidents come to own the economy and, fairly or not, are expected to take responsibility for it." - This does not compute in any way as the Congress controls laws, taxes, finances and the economy. The president is the Executive branch and has no real control of the monies in any way or laws and cannot hire us out of this economy! The 111th Congress passed legislation that has been attacked by the current 112th Congress which has garnered the title of "do nothing-inhibit the president" Congress. The 112th Congress will again do nothing as their entire concentration is to stymie the president and kill every bill passed by the last Congress. This Congress has been taken over by the confrontational TEA party, rendering the GOP defunct and useless even though they keep the title of GOP when they run for office! This extreme tangent has effected local politics and state political policies and now the national level! As Commander-in-Chief of the armed services he has moved to shut down the war started by Bush in Iraq and get out of Afghanistan. He said he would do this. This president has been effective as Commander-in-Chief, but has been totally hindered by the 112th Congress.
Dr. John
3:11 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011
Rudy,
I certainly understand your point about the congress being in charge of the financial bills that are passed and not the president. This is what happened during the last 2 years of the Bush presidency when congress was controlled by democrats. And, as you probably remember, the democrats in congress attacked Bush at every level. Also, the housing crisis had its roots in the Carter and then the Clinton years via the Affordable housing act which created sub-prime loans for homeowners who would not normally qualify for a loan. It was only a matter of time before the economy and wall street crony capitalism would catch up on these paycheck to paycheck home owners and implode on the compassionale democrat policies that created the housing bubble.
Mimi
3:07 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
You are correct Rudy this economy was driven in the ditch by REPUBLICAN POLICIES. Lack of regulation on financial Instutions and wall street speculation. You do realize that the Republican party is still fighting the regulation from Dodd?Frank that had they been in place this would have never happened. The extremist are indeed invading the Republican party with the help of the koch snorting brothers. Not to worry Dr. John spews his tea party talking points all the time. Most americans know why our country is in 2 unpaid wars and why our country is in the problems of today. People can wish it away all they want. What exactly has Jim Demint done for South Carolina our unemployment is one of the highest in the country. You see they like to blame Clinton who by the way BALANCED the budget and pretend that Bushy Boy just had bad luck and everything was wonderful until those darn democratics took the majority in 2007. Well my answer to that is if the democratics were at fault with their majority in 2007 then there should be no question who is at fault since January and from here until 2012. THE REPUBLICANS
Dennis
3:46 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Right on! Anytime a Senior Republican Senator says the party's number one job will be to assure that Obama is a one term President it makes us wonder how many good things could have been done for the economy with different attitudes. Recall Mitch McConnell to help solve the problem.
Mimi
2:59 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Dr John ranting on and on again with no facts whatsoever just talking points he picks up watching Rush and Faux.
The U.S. Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission reported its findings in January 2011. It concluded that "the crisis was avoidable and was caused by: Widespread failures in financial regulation, including the Federal Reserve’s failure to stem the tide of toxic mortgages; Dramatic breakdowns in corporate governance including too many financial firms acting recklessly and taking on too much risk; An explosive mix of excessive borrowing and risk by households and Wall Street that put the financial system on a collision course with crisis; Key policy makers ill prepared for the crisis, lacking a full understanding of the financial system they oversaw; and systemic breaches in accountability and ethics at all levels.
Dr. John
7:34 am on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Mimi,
You are right on several issues. The crisis was avoidable and key policy makers were ill prepared. President Bush, John McCain and Alan Greenspan all pushed congress to REGULATE Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting in 2001 and Barney Frank and Chris Dodd both refused to see any problems with the companies and led the charge against the Republicans not wanting housing for the poor. Here is an timeline of who said what and when to give some perspective
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPSDnGMzIdo
You are also right on the financial firms taking too much risk. When banks are told that they can make low interest loans to people who cannot afford the mortgage and then are told they can sell the loan to freddie or fannie, that is risky.Let's get this straight for the record MImi, these are democrat ideas (carter, clinton) that were overseen by democrats (Janet Reno, Barney Frank and the rest of the democrat congress) and they all resisted regulation of the two biggest companies involved in the housing crisis. Despite the warnings that republicans gave. Here is a very sad example of how democrats handled the hearings regarding regulating Fannie and Freddie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Jim Steinberg
4:45 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
I trust Sen. Jim DeMented to be 100 percent wrong about 99 percent of the issues we face.
Dennis
4:57 pm on Sunday, September 4, 2011
I couldn't have said it better myself. Ask Jim DeMint to find out for me what magazines Sarah Palin reads regularly. I seem to have lost the notes I made from the Katie Couric interview. Katie Couric for President.
Cornell Davis
9:54 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thank you. He is an idiot!
Gary
1:32 am on Monday, September 5, 2011
I really can not understand why any of these Candidates would even want to align with this Phony...The people of South Carolina are in deep trouble if this """BOZO"""is the best that South Carolina Voters have the best to offer...I also thought that Lindsey Graham was kind of a Conservative Republican, but John McCain has to much influence over Him to be and Original thinker any more...The guy that is missing from this Forum is the ""Dog Whistler"" the biggest ""BOZO"" of South Carolina is Joe Wilson....I really hope that all of the People in South Carolina are not going to ruin the Republican Party with these ""Tea Party"" Fanatics>>>BZ
barry
6:52 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
they have no choice , they have to dance to the tune of the mouse trumpet
Cornell Davis
10:08 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Dr. John, I disagree with you on government not creating jobs. I remember when the stimulus bill was approved and jobs were created. The bad thing about the stimilus was it had $95 million in tax cuts and it wasn't big enough. Even though the republicians appose the stimulus, but everytime there broke ground on a project in there states, their were right there smiling for the cameras. Where was the dislike then? There were there for a photo op, trying to take some of the credit.
Dr. John
7:32 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Cornell,
You are right. The stimulus created about 8,500 jobs in South Carolina. The problem is we spent 4.6 billion dollars to do it. It was all money that we don't have. If you do the math, it means it costs the taxpayers $550,000 for each job created. A small business could create 9 jobs with that money. Here is the source www.recovery.gov.
Cornell Davis
10:52 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Mr. Scott, here is my three reason why I will be voting for the president. (1) I trust him to fix the economy, inspite of the devil's in the republician party. (2) I trust him t not get rid of the entitlement programs, for which people depend on to live. (3) I trust him not to give the rich, corporations and oil companies more tax cuts, for which there don't need. I could go on, but those are the top three that come to mind.
The president and democrats used the stimulus to help create jobs. Also, for nine months jobs were being created. We have had three bad months where alot of jobs weren't created and the reason why it is taking so long for job to be created is the republicians are doing everything in there power to stop the president for making things better. There are wholing the american people hostage, because there main goal is to make the president a one-termer. Also, the republicians are refusing to help the president with the economy. Maybe if there work with the president in good faith then things would be a whole lot better, but the president would get the credit, and there fear that.
From what I can remember social programs were never a problem until now. The problem isn't the entitlement programs, it is that not everyone is paying there fair share of taxes. This is the people that the republicians are protecting. Also, remember the problems that we are having now was caused by George W. Bush and his party. Let's not forget this! You can't forget history.
Robert Shelley
3:52 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Jim Demint is a fool. He has not done one piece of legislation during his term(s) in office. Ask anyone that knows Jim Demint personally and they will tell you he is a real loser.