Sen. Jim DeMint Considers White House Bid
Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- News broke yesterday that United States Senator Jim DeMint hinted he may be interested in a run at the Presidency, and we believe he would be a top tier candidate right out of the gate.
According to The Hill newspaper, DeMint “has discussed a White House bid with his wife and will pray on the question out of respect for his supporters across the country.”
Such a move would be welcome news for gun owners. Sen. DeMint’s proven conservative track record and willingness to stand up to the leadership of both parties makes him a powerful choice to replace Obama in next year.
DeMint emerged from the 2010 elections as a strong voice for conservatives. He raised over $9 million to help conservative candidates in 2010 — which is more than what was raised by Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty — showing DeMint has an ability to be a contender.
He also bucked heads with the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Sen. John Cornyn, by endorsing Marco Rubio against the establishment choice in Florida.
He went against the favorite candidate of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Kentucky primary, supporting Rand Paul over then-frontrunner Trey Grayson. Just last week, Sen. DeMint was one of only ten Senators to stand with Sen. Paul in an effort to protect gun records from the so-called Patriot Act — an effort that was opposed by leaders on both sides of the aisle.
When DeMint was attacked by the Republican elites for supporting Christine O’Donnell over a rabid anti-gunner in a Delaware primary, DeMint fired back, “I’ve been in the majority with Republicans who didn’t have principles, and we embarrassed ourselves and lost credibility in front of the country. Frankly, I’m at a point where I’d rather lose fighting for the right cause than win fighting for the wrong cause.”
The Hill summed up DeMint’s tenacity in staring down his own party: “Throughout his political career, DeMint has not been shy in confronting major players in the Republican Party on a wide range of issues.”
As the Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, a group made up of the conservative wing of Senate Republicans, DeMint led the charge in protecting the Second Amendment on issues such as repealing the gun ban in national parks and pushing for interstate concealed carry recognition legislation.
DeMint also spoke forcefully against all anti-gun Obama judicial nominees, and he is one of only six Senators to earn an A+ rating from Gun Owners of America.
It is true that Sen. DeMint has not been chomping at the bit to run for president. Unlike other candidates in the race, Jim DeMint would much rather be back home in South Carolina working in the business world.
But with the federal government drifting so far outside the bounds of the Constitution, it’s vital that conservatives and pro-gunners elect as president a principled leader who believes in limited government and who agrees with the Founding Fathers that the Constitution was established to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our posterity.”
We at Gun Owners of America would be excited to see Jim DeMint jump into the 2012 presidential race. He’s been a trusted friend over the years, a proven man of principle and a leader willing to cut against the grain.
We also want to know what you think.
Please click here to vote on whether you think Sen. DeMint is a good choice for President, or if you think someone else would be a better candidate for gun owners in 2012.
Sincerely,
Sen. H.L. “Bill” Richardson (Ret.)
Chairman, GOA
Tim Macy
Vice Chairman, GOA
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585
FAX: 703-321-8408
www.gunowners.org
About:
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul