Today's Wall Street Journal posted an opinion piece by Jim DeMint commenting on yesterday's election results and what needs to happen next. Jim DeMint has served in the Senate since 2005 and has a very clear picture of the struggle within the Republican party between the 'old guard' and the Tea Party. The Tea Party is not interested in being a quiet part of the Republican Party. They are not even interested in being associated solely with the Republican Party. I suspect they would support Democrats who agreed with their principles--there just haven't been very many.
Senator DeMint points out:
"Many of the people who will be welcoming the new class of Senate conservatives to Washington never wanted you here in the first place. The establishment is much more likely to try to buy off your votes than to buy into your limited-government philosophy. Consider what former GOP senator-turned-lobbyist Trent Lott told the Washington Post earlier this year: "As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.""
Unfortunately that statement is a fact of life.
Senator DeMint has a few suggestions for the new Republicans:
-
Don't request earmarks
-
Hire conservative staff
-
Beware of committee assignments used as bribes
-
Don't seek titles
-
Keep your priorities straight--doing your job correctly is more important than your reelection.
This is good advice from a man who has walked this road and learned how to navigate it.
Senator DeMint ends his article with these words of wisdom:
"Tea party Republicans were elected to go to Washington and save the country--not be co-opted by the club. So put on your boxing gloves. The fight begins today."
Well said.
Leave a comment