© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

DeMint campaigns for U.S. Senate
Greenville congressman pledges to secure nation's future

NOV. 11, 2003 - U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville brought his Republican campaign for U.S. Senate to the club this week in a message laden with homage to securing America's future.

In his Veteran's Day address, DeMint paid homage to the nation's veterans.

"The only reason we have a chance to practice in freedom of our voices and our votes is because there have been veterans willing to fight with their guns and blood," the former marketing consultant said.

DeMint, who joined the Greenville Rotary Club about 20 years ago, said his experience as a Rotarian spurred him to commit public service. He said as community leaders, Rotarians -- responsibilities included to anticipate what would happen and try to help people get where they're going.

He said his Senate campaign would focus on securing the country's future in four ways:

Securing our physical safety. He backed President Bush's new defense policy of engagement in foreign countries when the U.S. is threatened. "Either we're going to take the fight to the enemy, or they're going to bring it to us," he said.

Securing our jobs. DeMint, who was the deciding vote to grant "most favored nation" trade status to China, said the country needed better and fairer trade agreements. He said South Carolina had lost 50,000 jobs in the last decade, but gained 160,000 new jobs.

Securing our freedoms. DeMint said the country has tended to create dependencies through Social Security and welfare programs. New ideas need to be tried to break the dependencies, he said. Examples: health savings account (which already exist) and allowing people to invest some of their Social Security contributions.

Securing our values. DeMint complained about how some conservative judicial candidates haven't been approved by the Senate. "We need to change the judges that are being elected and we can do that with a new Senate."

-- Andy Brack

In other business…

Sam Lyons led members in a thoughtful prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and Ellen Berlin welcomed our many guests and visiting Rotarians. Angela Mack offered Health and Happiness. David Spell made an announcement about the Fall Social, Derek Sharrer discussed the Rotary Foundation, and Bill Eaton spoke about the Giving Tree. Anita Zucker introduced the guest speaker, Congressman Jim DeMint.