CBS to DeMint: Why Can't the GOP Just Cave to Obama's Tax Hike Demand?

NewsBusters.org ^ | December 13, 2012 | Matthew Balan

[Kaslin]

Charlie Rose and Gayle King pressed outgoing Senator Jim DeMint on Thursday's CBS This Morning over congressional Republicans resistance to tax hikes. When DeMint stated that President Obama will "probably eventually get his tax increases one way or another", Rose replied, "So, if he will get them, why not get them now and compromise and avoid going off the fiscal cliff?"

Open Obama booster King added the bad polling numbers for Republicans into the mix as she tried to get the senator to surrender to the President's demand: "You released a statement...saying this is not rocket science...with that in mind, why can't we come to terms? The public is viewing the Republican Party very negatively. Are you concerned about that?" Rose later wondered why DeMint was leaving the Senate to head the conservative Heritage Foundation.

The PBS veteran led the interview with the issue of the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations. He first asked the South Carolina politician, "What do you think is going to happen?" DeMint answered, in part, that "I wish I knew...But I do know this - that this government doesn't need more money. This country needs less government. To take more money out of the real economy, and to give it to politicians and bureaucrats...is not going to help the middle class or anyone else."

The Republican senator continued by conceding that the President is going to get his tax hikes, which led to Rose's exhortation for "compromise." DeMint replied, "Well, we should have done it before the election....I've been a businessman most of my life, and I know the damage from this uncertainty...has already been done, and you combine that with the implementation of ObamaCare and...I think you're already going to see some downturn in our economy."

King then chimed in by rephrasing Rose's earlier question and hyped the GOP's bad favorability numbers. An on-screen graphic cited another Big Three network's poll: "Views Of The Republican Party: Negative, 45%; Positive, 30%; Source: NBC News/The Wall Street Journal Poll".

The CBS This Morning crew has a habit of beseeching conservatives/Republicans to wave the white flag. On November 26, 2012, Rose and co-anchor Norah O'Donnell tried to get Senator Bob Corker to commit to higher income tax rates. The following morning, O'Donnell hounded best-selling Christian author Rick Warren to give up his opposition to same-sex "marriage."

The full transcript of the Jim DeMint interview on Thursday's CBS This Morning:

CHARLIE ROSE: Also in Washington is Republican Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Senator, good morning.

SEN. JIM DEMINT, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: Good morning, Charlie.

[CBS News Graphic: "Fiscal Cliff Notes: Sen. DeMint On Stalemate"]

ROSE: Senator, what do you think is going to happen?

DEMINT: (laughs) I – I wish I knew, though most of us here are – are not in the loop of what they're discussing. But I – I do know this - that this government doesn't need more money. This country needs less government. To take more money out of the real economy, and to give it to politicians and bureaucrats - no matter who you take it from - is not going to help the middle class or anyone else. The President's proposal clearly is not a plan. It's not a solution. It will fund the government for a few days-

ROSE: So you're – you're-

DEMINT: And we all – we all realize it's a political trophy. It's not a solution. But we – the President's been campaigning against these tax rates for a long time, and he'll probably eventually get his tax increases one way or another.

[CBS News Graphic: "Fiscal Cliff Resolution: How American Feel: Optimistic, 48%; Pessimistic, 48%; Source: NBC News/The Wall Street Journal Poll: Margin of Error: +/-3.1%"]

ROSE: So, if he will get them, why not get them now and compromise and avoid going off the fiscal cliff?

DEMINT: Well, we should have done it before the election. We – we should not have gone home until the problem was solved, and people could see how we had actually handled it here, so they would know how to vote in the election. But I've been a businessman most of my life, and I know the damage from this uncertainty has already done – has already been done, and you combine that with the implementation of ObamaCare and those taxes – I think you're already going to see some downturn in our economy because of what's been going on here. We can't fix it Christmas Eve and expect it all to bounce back in January.

[CBS News Graphic: "Raise Taxes On $250K Earners? Acceptable, 76%; Unacceptable, 22%; Source: NBC News/The Wall Street Journal Poll: Margin of Error: +/-3.1%"]

GAYLE KING: Senator, you're talking about the damage that's been done. You released a statement last week, saying this is not rocket science. And, with that in mind, why can't we come to terms? You know, the – the public is viewing the Republican Party very negatively. Are you concerned about that?

DEMINT: Well, I'm – I'm not so much concerned about the parties. I think both parties have – have failed our – our country, and I know what the American public has been told. The President campaigned on raising taxes and getting rid of the Bush-era tax cuts, and he's going to get his wish. I believe we're going to be raising taxes not just on the top – top earners. Everyone's going pay more taxes next year in this country, and I think that's what the President wants. But we've doubled the size of this government in double-spending over the last 10 years. This year, tax revenues, at current tax rates, will probably be at historic highs. And if you look at the facts, we don't need more revenue. We just need to stop the spending. The President is not going to stop spending. He's proposed-

[CBS News Graphic: "Views Of The Republican Party: Negative, 45%; Positive, 30%; Source: NBC News/The Wall Street Journal Poll: Margin of Error: +/-3.1%"]

ROSE: Senator?

DEMINT: More – more spending – so, it's hard to work with someone who, I think, is intentionally trying to take us over this cliff.

ROSE: Senator, you have announced that you're going to leave the Senate and go to a think tank to make the case for conservatism in America. Why are you doing that?

[CBS News Graphic: "Fiscal Cliff Notes: Retiring Sen. DeMint On Replacement"]

DEMINT: Well, I can see conservative ideas working all over the country. A number of states are implementing conservative ideas. Their economies are turning around, jobs are being created, but we have not done a good enough job of convincing Americans that less government, less taxes, and a more vibrant economy is really going to work for every American. And so, I spent most of my life in advertising and marketing and research, and I want to go back to the battle of ideas. I just think, unless we win the hearts and minds of the American people, we're not going to win elections with conservative ideas. So, we've got a lot of work to do, and the Heritage Foundation is the most prominent, preeminent conservative think tank in this country. So, it's a great opportunity to change the debate.

ROSE: Senator, thank you very much.

DEMINT: Thank you.

[tennmountainman]

Because we don’t have a revenue problem
We have a huge spending problem.

[Buddy Sorrell]

We also have a controlled media problem. They are the mouthpieces of the socialists.

[Buddy Sorrell]

We also have a controlled media problem. They are the mouthpieces of the socialists.

[Tzimisce]

We’re saving the cave for the very last minute.

Unfortunately, we have to keep putting up the illusion that we’re opposition....

[Smedley]

Just cave already. The Dems are fired up to go over the fiscal cliff at 100mph. The GOP is happy to do so at 70mph. Let Obama have his way and spend all he wants. Let him tax all he wants.

I know, destructive and moronic, but things will have to get worse before they get better.

[alloysteel]

What’s in it for the GOP?

Clearly, they will not avoid blame by the media and the Current Regime in the White Hut, nor by the Majority Leader in the Senate. Great calumny will be heaped upon the Republicans either way, whether they agree or not. The difference is, that the base will then be certain beyond all doubt they were double-crossed (the outcome the Current Occpant really wants) if the Republicans DO agree, and the accusations will fly thick and fast if they DON’T agree, with the economy going over the cliff despite their non-compliance.

Which is going to happen anyway, for a host of reasons besides not altering the tax rate that is due to go into effect on January 2nd.

We are going to hit the spending limit, you know, and sequestration will happen. Whether there is further legislation or not.

When we CANNOT borrow, at any rate, we become a very large version of Greece.

Reality bites. Right in the gluteus maximus.

[SECURE AMERICA]

What a bunch of nonsense. These people do love the dramatic don’t they? Well Ms King the real fiscal cliff was hurdled over each of the 4 years under Obama as America had 1 Trillion dollars if debt each of those years and lost its 4 star credit rating.
What is happening right now is just liberal agenda politics.
Congress could raise taxes on every American to 50 percent and not make a serious dent in our DEFICITS and of course still adding to our debt. But you can not say that fact can you? Doesn’t play into your agenda..

[onedoug]

hussein a cowboy? A cowboy is an American image, in NO way in keeping with an islamocommunist.

Please.

[henkster]

I don’t like farce. I don’t like camp. I don’t like horror. I don’t know why I’m even following this story, since it has all three.

[Tzimisce]

We’re not Greece.

Greece has sugar daddies in Northern Europe who will bail them out every time they crash.

When we crash - there will be nothing to slow the fall.

No one is going to help us.

[plain talk]

I’ve been sort of saying the same thing. Give him what he wants on taxes. He has the votes to do so anyway. change the conversation to spending. However the problem is obama won’t cut any spending so thus no deal. Obama wants the tax cuts to expire and start over next year with “obama tax cuts”. Boehner is being played like a violin

[Don Corleone]

Bohner and Obama=Thelma and Louise.

Fare dee well da boat a dem. Hope 2 c dem in da ribber at da bottom.

[upchuck]

Enjoy the Jim DeMint awesomesauce while you can. Limited supply. Offer positively ends (sob) Dec 31, 2012.

Jim DeMint Ping!

Want on or off this ping list? GET WITH THE PROGRAM! Just FReepmail me.

Follow Sen. DeMint on Twitter.

[subterfuge]

“WHERE ARE THE SPENDING CUTS MR. PRESIDENT?!”

This should come out of every congressman’s mouth every time there is a camera on them. The Repubicans are horrible at getting their message out.

Dumb ass Boehner won’t even challenge the even dumber news-idiots when they say ‘why do you support lower taxes on the rich?’ HOW is NOT RAISING TAXES in any way a TAX CUT!?

[alloysteel]

Never said Bronco Bama was a very good cowboy. More like a lurking outlaw that sometimes got to express his exuberance by riding into town and unleashing all kinds of mischief.

Like stampeding the whole herd over the cliff.

American cowboys were NOT uniformly good, just, hardworking taciturn men of steely courage and highly honed skills of the trade. A lot of them were just on the run from the law and were hiding out in rural areas until the heat died down.

[hosepipe]

The republican party is DEAD.. Jim DeMint ..seems.. is not going to play.. “WeekEnd at Bernies” with it..
You know like so many are.. even a few freepers..

Republican power players have literally backed the Titanic Party up from the Iceberg and ran into it AGAIN..
Running the inventor of Romney-Care against the inventor of Obama-Care was NOT WISE..

NOT WISE meaning........ (well you know)...

[LibertyOh]

As succinctly as possible:

It’s the spending - Stupid.

[skeeter]

We also have a controlled media problem. They are the mouthpieces of the socialists.

One day soon shows like this will employ a trap door and shark tank beneath the guest - if questions aren't answered to the satisfaction of the statists, splash.

[onedoug]

A lot of them were just on the run from the law and were hiding out in rural areas until the heat died down.

And in many cases rebuilt and reformed their lives.