Senator Jim DeMint Resigns To Head Conservative Group

In this June 14, 2011, photo Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., speaks to media on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a favorite among tea party activists, said Thursday he was resigning to take the helm of a conservative national think tank.

The South Carolina politician said in a statement he was stepping down to become president of the Heritage Foundation. His office said he would take the new job effective Jan. 1.

The 61-year-old Republican was first elected to the Senate in 2004. He previously served in the U.S. House for three terms.

“I’m leaving the Senate now, but I’m not leaving the fight. I’ve decided to join The Heritage Foundation at a time when the conservative movement needs strong leadership in the battle of ideas,” DeMint’s statement said. His office said DeMint was too busy to come to the phone.

Republican Gov. Nikki Haley gets to appoint his successor to the Senate. She gave no immediate indication who she might choose, or whether she would appoint herself. Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey says the attention should be on DeMint.

“Our state’s loss is the Heritage Foundation’s gain,” Haley said in a statement.

DeMint’s former state director, Luke Byars, said the senator’s new role would allow him to effect change outside the U.S. Capitol.

DeMint, who previously ran a marketing firm, thought Republicans didn’t do a good job communicating their message in the presidential race, he said.

“He knows how to communicate,” said Byars, a political consultant. “This is a vehicle for him to push and pull on conservative issues on a national stage to get the attention of folks inside Washington. This lets him go back into something he loves. He’s always been an idea guy.”

Guest:

Rick Klein, senior Washington editor for ABC News. He tweets @rickklein.

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J__o__h__n

Good riddance!
jim_thompson

As a resident of Fort Mill,SC I can say this is a wonderful Christmas present. Not only do we get to have a second inaugural of President Obama, but we can say good riddance to DeMint. He has been an source of shame for us here in SC. Then again, with wretches like him, Nikki Haley, Mick Mulvaney-and as of late Lindsey Graham…one can only hope for a slew of resignations. Jim, why wait PLEASE leave NOW?!
RAOUL ORNELAS

What is so surprising about this topic? The American Congress does not work, why, because people like Jim DeMint through his phony Heritage Foundation think (crank) tank ideas made it unworkable. So now Mr. DeMint is going to head the Heritage Foundation, why, because the money is better. It ain’t about patriotism (DeMint never served in the armed forces of America) it’s about money, really, the Heritage Foundation think tank (an oxymoronic term) is really the new Klu Klux Klan wearing suits and ties. The Heritage foundation is the new American Southern Congress. Second Proof: Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks, which is another phony think tank that pays people enormous sums of money to mouth off ideas founded during Hitlers NSP in 1935. And, when they leave the party they receive an $8,000,000.00 bonus just like the Wall Street bunch whom caused the fiscal mess & deficit mess for America. The common glue that attracts these non patriots to phony tanks that destroy America is money “BIG MONEY”! So what is the difference between all these faux think tanks (cranks) – they haven’t made latinos and other minorities wear yellow stars when performing normal daylight activities. Third Proof: Arizona is almost there. The problem with the Republican party is that it is a party of elitism and when one believes he or she is elite it is impossible to treat others as equals unless they earn more than $250,000.00 a year. If the Republican should somehow learn to treat all people in America as equals they would not have to learn Spanish or other ethnic languages during election years…… or use slogans as “going after the hispanic vote”.
Acnestes

Guess he just couldn’t resist the lure of all those lobbying and consulting fees waiting for him any longer!

So long, Jim. We just don’t have enough real patriots like you.
- DrJoani
  
  So accurate! especially the reference to the lack of “real patriots” like Jimbo.
  Had you seen the NYKr piece on a long-time lobbyist, 5-6 weeks ago…?
  - Acnestes
    
    I haven’t, but I’d be interested if you have a link.
    - DrJoani
      
      Oct. 29, 2012 by George Packer, Jim Connaughton I think is the guy’s name, or maybe I’m thinking of Jimbo de Moneygrubber.
      I cannot send the link but you can find it, I think.