South Carolina United States Senator Jim DeMint on May 20, 2009 in a speech to the South Carolina Republican Party explained his response to a reporter that asked if Senator Arlen Specter’s departure from the Republican Party devastated the party. “I would rather have 30 Republicans who believe in the principles of limited government and free markets and free people than 60 Republicans who have no belief at all.”

In an unrelated but somewhat similar story, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has been censured by a couple of South Carolina county republican parties due to his co mingling with Democrats in Washington. The details of Graham’s censure is detailed in today’s New York Times, located here.

Put me in the category with Senator DeMint.

We have too many Knox County Republicans that are in office for their own egos that do not have any core beliefs. Seventh District Commissioner R. Smith and Knoxville Mayor Haslam just to name two.