Contrary to All Expectations South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint Makes Enormous Contribution to the United States Senate

Thank You Senator DeMint, Thank You

Confirming everyone’s belief that Conservatives see government as a road to personal riches South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint announced that he was leaving the U. S. Senate to take a high paying job as head of the Heritage Foundation.

“I’m leaving the Senate now, but I’m not leaving the fight,” Mr. DeMint said in a prepared statement. “I’ve decided to join The Heritage Foundation at a time when the conservative movement needs strong leadership in the battle of ideas. No organization is better equipped to lead this fight, and I believe my experience in public office as well as in the private sector as a business owner will help Heritage become even more effective in the years to come.”

Notice that missing from Sen. DeMint’s statement was any mention of what has been reported by some as a $1 million salary and huge fringe benefits.  But the news is not all good, as Democrats were saddened by the loss of a man who almost single handedly gave the Democrats five or six Senate seats.

A hero to many Republicans for his fund-raising abilities, Mr. DeMint frustrated Senate colleagues by eagerly backing Republican candidates like Sharron Angle of Nevada in 2010 and Richard Mourdock of Indiana this year, contenders who proved too conservative to be elected statewide. The losses by Ms. Angle and Mr. Mourdock and other candidates endorsed by Mr. DeMint hurt Republicans in the last two elections in their efforts to retake the Senate, though he successfully backed conservative candidates in Florida, Texas and Utah.

[One can of course discount the wins of Republicans in Texas and Utah, as it is impossible for Republicans to lose in those states.]

An unmentioned additional benefit of all of this is the fact that this once and for all confirms that the Heritage Institute, a Republican campaign organization masquerading as an independent think tank, is not a group to be taken seriously.