“I don’t have many litmus tests, but this is one: Any candidate who doesn’t understand that we need to balance the budget should not be president of the United States.”
– Rep. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., telling ABC News that Republicans who agree to raise the debt ceiling without a balanced budget amendment and large spending cuts would be “gone” from Congress in the next election. DeMint said he plans to get involved in Republican primaries for the 2012 elections, but he won’t support any candidate that doesn’t first sign a pledge agreeing to his terms. “It would be the most toxic vote,” he said. “I can tell you if you look at the polls, Democrats, Republicans, independents, they do not think we should increase the debt limit.”
