Date Published: August 22, 2006   

DeMint criticizes Iraq pullout advocates

Senator touts gains in economy, health plan for small businesses

Also Read Sumter High gets a visitor

By LESLIE CANTU
Item Senior Staff Writer
lesliec@theitem.com

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said those who'd like to see the U.S. pull out of Iraq are "dangerously naïve" about the consequences, and his colleagues who've expressed discomfort with the administration's wiretapping program are too "namby-pamby."

Both are essential elements in the generation-long war the U.S. is fighting against a radicalized Islamic sect that has been targeting the West for decades, he said.

DeMint spoke Monday at a combined meeting of the three Sumter-area Rotary clubs after visiting Sumter High School as part of his "South Carolina on the Move" tour of the state.

Before he got down to talk about the war and domestic policy, though, he joined in a standing ovation for Sumter's 14-year-old Dixie Boys All-Stars, who participated in the luncheon along with the massive Dixie Boys World Series trophy that's nearly as tall as some of the boys.

Turning to political matters, the senator outlined his three-part mission in Congress: securing the homeland, securing prosperity and securing values.

"If you think we're in a war in Iraq, you miss the whole point ... If we come home from Iraq, they're going to come home with us," he said.

Iraq is crucial geographically, he said, and if the U.S. leaves now, it could become a staging ground for terrorism throughout the world.

In an interview before his speech, DeMint said the missing link in the war the U.S. is waging is a realization by the rest of the world that they're at war, too.

The world needs to apply economic and political pressure to states that sponsor terrorism, but it also needs to show such nations a path for joining the world community that will allow them to feel respected, he said.

DeMint pointed to Libya as an example of a nation that has "come around."

North Korea's threats could work to America's advantage, DeMint said, if the threats prompt China to become more engaged. China, India and other major emerging nations need to become active on the world diplomatic stage, he said.

DeMint also spoke of the economy and initiatives in health care.

Although measurements of the economy, such as the national unemployment rate, look good, most people aren't optimistic about the economy because any gains they've made in wages have been eaten up by higher gas prices and health insurance costs, he said.

"They don't believe we've got a great economy if it's harder to make ends meet than last year," he said.

To help with the cost of health care, DeMint said he'd like for small businesses to be able to band together to purchase health insurance at the same cheap rates that large companies negotiate. He estimated the change would reduce costs by 20 percent.

DeMint also advocated allowing people to shop for insurance from any carrier in the nation, rather than being restricted to carriers in their state.

In answer to a question about why Congress linked a minimum wage hike to cuts in the inheritance tax, DeMint said Republicans were trying to work with Democrats to create a bill with something for everyone.

A minimum wage increase would, in fact, not help the lowest-paid workers, but was a "false promise," while reducing inheritance taxes would keep money in the private sector and allow businesses and farms to continue operating and employing people, DeMint said.

"The rhetoric that this is for the rich is rhetoric," he said.

DeMint also said legislators need to realize the U.S. government is competing with governments around the world to provide favorable conditions to attract businesses.

"We can't continue to put the burden of inefficient government on our businesses and expect to compete globally," he said.



Contact Senior Staff Writer Leslie Cantu at lesliec@theitem.com or (803) 774-1250.