SC primary: Can you HEAR us NOW?

Two South Carolina Republican officials with strong conservative and Tea Party credentials appear to be sending the GOP establishment and the party’s presidential candidates a message.  U.S. Senator Jim DeMint says that the party and its voters need to pay closer attention to the message of Congressman Ron Paul:

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Wednesday the Republican presidential field needs to listen to Ron Paul’s and would benefit from integrating some of his libertarian ideas into their platform.

“One of the things that’s hurt the so-called conservative alternative is saying negative things about Ron Paul,” DeMint told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham. “I’d like to see a Republican party that embraces a lot of the libertarian ideas.”

Paul’s views on foreign policy have taken plenty of heat from his rivals for the GOP nomination, who have slammed his views on the topic as outside of “the mainstream of Republican thought.” Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) called his views “dangerous” before dropping out of the race.DeMint said he does not agree with the Texas congressman on everything, but that the rest of the GOP presidential field should capture some of what Paul’s been talking about for years because the Republican party “needs” the libertarian movement.

“You don’t have to agree with everything he’s saying but if the other candidates miss some of the wisdom about what he’s saying about monetary policy … that will be to our detriment,” DeMint said.

The debate within the Republican party I’m most comfortable with is between conservatives and libertarians, said DeMint, who is an influential conservative lawmaker with a key role in the Tea Party movement.

South Carolina congressman Mick Mulvaney (R), another Tea Party favorite, knocked off longtime incumbent Democrat and House Budget Committee chairman John Spratt.  Mulvaney also had some pretty tough words for his party, his congressional colleagues, and the presidential candidates at an appearance in Rock Hill:

Rep. Mick Mulvaney is embarrassed by his fellow freshmen Republican lawmakers in D.C.

At an appearance at a diner here Tuesday morning stumping for Rick Perry, the South Carolina freshman Republican beat up on his fellow rookie lawmakers, declaring that they have abandoned their constituents.

“I would be embarrassed to tell you how many folks ran saying that they weren’t going to spend a bunch of money, they weren’t going to raise the debt ceiling, and then they went to Washington, D.C., and did exactly that,” Mulvaney said. “My dad told me something long before I was in politics, and when your dad gives you advice every single day, eventually one or two of the things stick in your mind. And he said, don’t believe what people say, believe what they do.”

The comments were delivered as part of a plea to vote for Perry — Mulvaney says he is the only candidate that walks the walk.

“We cannot have another experience like we’ve had in my freshman class, of people saying one thing and doing another,” Mulvaney said. […]