You gotta be a social con, to be a true eco con?

by Eric Dondero

South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint has been a hero of sorts to libertarians for his staunch economic conservatism. But a recent statement from DeMint many leave some wondering.

“You can’t be a fiscal conservative and not be a social conservative,” said DeMint in a recent TV interview.

Comments libertarian/conservative Rob Port of North Dakota's Say Anything Blog:

DeMint’s comments have some serious political repercussions. Right now Republicans are riding high on support from a tea party movement made up largely libertarian-minded independent voters. They’re also benefiting from social liberals who are fed up with Obama and the Democrats’ handling of fiscal matters (among other things). Case in point, Republicans got 31% of the gay vote on election day which may be the GOP’s largest slice of that demographic to date.

AllahPundit at HotAir.com comments:

Let me gently suggest that this bumper-sticker version is doing him no favors, since it can’t help but alienate every last libertarian who sees it.

Libertarian Doug Mataconis over at Liberty Papers takes an even stronger stance:

Jim DeMint just gave libertarians the middle finger...

Everybody gets one mistaken statement in politics. And one chance to correct it. We're not giving up on DeMint yet. But those of us in the "fiscally conservative, socially tolerant" wing of the GOP would like an explanation.

Time for Andre to book Senator DeMint on "Libertarian Politics Live"?