DeMint thinks there will be a lot of backlash from the American people. DeMint: 60 Dems 'best thing' for GOP

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) insisted Tuesday that Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter’s decision to switch parties and give the Democrats their likely 60th seat could be the “best thing” for Republicans.

“If [Democrats] begin to expand spending and government programs because they have a couple more votes, I think there's going to be a lot of backlash from the American people,” DeMint explained during an interview on CNN.


“That may be the best thing that could happen to the Republican Party right now,” he added, “because people know those checks and balances are very important and they've seen the Democrat Party overreach already.”

DeMint disagreed with Specter’s statement that the GOP has moved too far to the right, adding that best thing Republicans can do is “stand up for what they say they do.”

“I don't think many Americans are going to agree that the Republican Party has become too conservative,” DeMint said. “We're seeing across the country right now that the biggest tent of all is the tent of freedom.”

“What the hell does that mean?” asked CNN host Rick Sanchez.

“I mean, the biggest tent is freedom? Freedom?” he asked. “I mean, you gotta do better than that.”

“What it means is what has worked in America are free people, free markets for years,” DeMint responded. “I think what we've seen is both parties have pushed the envelope too far and now America is pushing back. I think you'll see this next election to be totally different.”