.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-.S.C., talks to the media about South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford during a book signing for his new book "Saving Freedom" at Books-a-Million Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in Aiken, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) responded today to a DNC television ad attacking him for his position on HR 3200, President Obama's healthcare overhaul bill. The ad is airing in DC as well as DeMint's hometown of Greenville, NC, and Columbia, the state capital.
The theme of the ad is DeMint's leading role in opposition to the healthcare bill. DeMint received extensive media coverage for saying in a confrence call organized by the Conservatives for Patients Rights, a healthcare policy advocacy group.
During the call, DeMint said:
"This health care issue is D-Day for freedom in America. If we lose this, we’ll probably have half of our economy in some way controlled by the federal government. We can’t allow that to happen. And on the other side of it, if we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."
Since his comment, DeMint has been under fire from numerous sources, including the President himself. Given numerous opportunities to back down from the statement, DeMint has instead amplified it.
In addition to the attack television ad, the DNC has sent out a fundraising email that uses DeMint's opposition a galvenizing foil. According to the email, "Republicans in Washington like DeMint have made it clear that they have no intention of fixing our health care system -- only to block progress."
DeMint supporters point out that the Senator has a ten-year record of working on bipartisan healthcare legislation, and that he introduced the Health Care Freedom Plan, which according to a Heritage Foundation estimate, will reduce the number of uninsured by 22.4 million people.
“These false personal attacks are exactly the tactics the President promised to change. I strongly encourage the President to live up to his campaign promises and work honestly with me and other Republicans to make health care affordable and accessible for every American,” said Sen. DeMint.
More RNC News
RNC produces new healthcare policy video - not impressive
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d22-RNC-produces-new-healthcare-policy-video--not-impressive
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HuffPo reporter screws up RNC memo story
http://www.examiner.com/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d22-HuffPo-reporter-screws-up-RNC-memo-story
RNC launches health care attack website
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d21-RNC-launches-health-care-attack-website
Steele addresses NAACP convention
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-13572-RNC-Examiner~y2009m7d16-Steele-addresses-NAACP-convention
== Outlinks ==
DeMint Responds to Attack Ad
http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com/2009/07/22/demint-responds-to-attack-ad/
DNC's 'No Plan At All'
http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/07/dncs_no_plan_at.php
D-Day for DeMint
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0709/DDay_for_DeMint.html?showall
Conservatives for Patients Rights
http://www.conservativesforpatientsrights.com/
White House Plans to Use DeMint's "Waterloo" Quote to Rally the Troops
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/07/white-house-plans-to-use-demints-waterloo-quote-to-rally-the-troops.html
GOP Senator Won't Retreat from "Waterloo" Comment
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/07/22/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5179427.shtml
DeMint introduces health care bill, proposes elimination of TARP
http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/28300-demint-introduces-health-care-bill-proposes-elimination-of-tarp?rss=0
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