With the announcement that Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina is leaving Congress to join the Heritage Foundation, we look back at some of DeMint's appearances on Morning Joe.
DeMint, a Tea Party favorite, was first elected in 2004. On the short list to serve out the remainder of DeMint's term was Rep. Tim Scott, another Tea Party darling. If appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley, Scott would be South Carolina's first African-American senator.
"Senator DeMint is a conservative rock star," said Chad Connelly, chariman of the South Carolina Republican Party. "At the Heritage Foundation, he will be in an even greater position to spark revolutionary change. I commend his principled leadership and service to our state. Thank you, Senator."
DeMint on Morning Joe in July, 2011
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“I know how things work and the President put Biden in charge of a task force just to burn up the clock because they believe it’s all about creating a crisis and then we have to do something urgently, and we won’t do what needs to be done.”
DeMint on Morning Joe in January, 2012
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DeMint on Morning Joe in February, 2012 (Ahead of his appearance at CPAC)
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"The Senate has been the black hole of good policy…we need a conservative majority in the Senate, and I think we can work with the next [GOP] president, any of the four that are running right now."