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Sen. Jim DeMint, (R-SC), on why he decided to leave the Senate in January in order to head the Heritage Foundation.
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He has a very influential senator at a Tea Party rock star and back one of the most influential figures of the conservative movement today.
And he's -- he's leaving the United States senate to go to The Heritage Foundation Jim -- joining us right now.
It's why why senator why.
Bill it was apparent by they -- last election that we need to do a lot more to convince the American people that conservative principles.
We'll make their life better.
I can think of no better platform -- The Heritage Foundation the presidency of The Heritage Foundation.
-- to take our message to the American people in and connect our research our policy ideas.
With real people and real solutions and so -- I feel like I've changed the senate to and improve things to a degree.
But this is an opportunity I -- turned down to advance the conservative cause.
Now -- enormous respect for The Heritage Foundation but there is foundation is not the United States senate nor.
Is running that gaz group and they -- like being in probably the world's most exclusive club.
And being one of the more prominent members on that club so I'd I'd still -- of my head.
Well when available a lot of what I've had to do -- you know as I have a minority member of the United States senate.
Is to stop bad legislation is often as we can and and to talk about what's wrong with the president's so policy is a Democrat policies.
What we really need to do is conservatives is be on the offense.
Talking American people about what's working all over the country and as a partisan elected official in the senate there's certainly things I can do.
But.
Who I can do a lot more to take that positive message around the country and build coalitions.
With governors and with organizations.
To prove to people to show them.
That these ideas will make their lives better I don't think we've done a good enough job of doing that.
And -- this is an urgent time feel like we can't wait another few years and and bail -- I never intended to make politics my career I've limited my term in the house in the senate.
And so this is just a good opportunity to elevate my game.
Did anything to do sir would you becoming a -- -- your own party's -- a lot of Tea Party is still frustrated.
Especially with a logo appears to be like had to be -- -- prominent Tea Party.
Tights from -- key committee assignments.
In the house.
That the Tea Party would brought you your party the majority and -- in the house and for a while very very close in the senate.
Is just persona non Grata.
Well actually the -- a lot different because of grassroots activism over the last couple of election cycles and now I'm sitting in the senate with -- Pat Toomey and Marco Rubio and its soon to be Ted Cruz -- you're -- a bigger minority now they actually picked up seats the Democrats.
What they did but we've got more conservatives and so -- -- I -- You're not seating is being set on -- -- you -- Achieve our resort is a risk to the party that every one you saw this -- -- -- -- today that everyone is.
It's going along with John Boehner there's a few grumbling folks here and there but they're all on board with this tax -- -- and that's just the way it is and we got it today then we'll what say you.
Well the government doesn't need any more money the country needs less government.
They what is anyway John Boehner has come up and offering 800 billion and and what will essentially be tax hikes of the devil's in the -- Dell's.
But that was his opening offer.
It it makes no sense to be negotiating with ourselves when the president hadn't put a serious offer on the table.
We we need to remind Americans that we don't need to take more money out of the economy.
And give it to incompetent politicians and bureaucrats that's not gonna help you wouldn't give them a dollar -- revenue.
Well we're gonna have historic levels of revenue this year -- so we're not talking about revenue problem we've doubled our spending over the last ten years.
But they want more money they -- Republicans to vote to pay for Obama as welfare state to pay for Obama care we didn't vote for it.
So you would not you would not usually now that you would not support.
A hike in taxes and anyways should perform.
No but we will get more revenue if we reform our tax code and and pro growth way.
Just three tenths of 1% economic growth over the ten years will generate more revenue than what President Obama is talking about when he says tax the rich.
His proposal doesn't even up and a drop in the bucket to the problem we have.
It's not a plan and it's not a solution what it is is a political trophy.
To the left and up Republican shouldn't go along when it.
On you know synod at the pleasure knowing you over these many years and I -- -- gauge viewer interest in a particular personality or.
-- senator congressman from the number of emails I get it's not a quid pro quo always but it's a fairly good barometer.
And I get a ton on you every time I have -- -- Imports -- -- on Fox News or now Fox Business I got a lot of emails.
And that leads me to believe.
That a lot of folks -- -- can't be just your family Melanie.
And which makes me very well there there there's a presidential candidate in the making when -- -- I told Ed -- of the heritage foundation for years ago and people were telling me to run for president that they.
Only present now wants wanna be as president of The Heritage Foundation.
And it is a group that can help turn our country around by communicating a positive optimistic message that.
And it clear that you would rather be president of -- Heritage Foundation great group though would be.
A -- president since.
I don't think you're gonna see a conservative as president of the United States in two we do do a better job.
Of convincing the American people that are ideas work.
And that's what -- had I know -- you gotta run untenable what happened what we're headed conservatives.
Screw it up I mean Rick Santorum was here a little earlier.
Are saying and -- -- our prisoners are well we weren't conservative we stop being conservative.
But -- well.
No what we did is we entrusted the conservative movement to the Republican Party and they have not been reliable partners.
We need to develop the conservative ideas all over the country showcase everywhere they're working at the state level.
And then invite Republicans independents libertarians and even Democrats.
To embrace those policies.
And I believe that we do our job right they won't get elected in less than a run on a conservative platform.
So instead of being on the outside looking in as conservatives into the political process.
We hope that -- candidates for office we'll look at the conservative movement -- come to us for the ideas that that will win elections.
Horrible what's -- senator in the meantime a -- we wish you well congratulations.
Thank you senator Jim dement.
Soon to be former centered sentiment running a powerful -- -- foundation -- -- --
