S.C. GOP chairmen: Sen. DeMint like a 'Jew' who is 'watching our nation's pennies'

Two South Carolina GOP chairmen declared in a letter to a local newspaper that criticism of Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is unfair because he is like a "Jew" who is "watching our nation's pennies."

The letter, published by South Carolina newspaper The Times and Democrat, was authored by James S. Ulmer Jr., who chairs the Orangeburg County GOP, and Edwin O. Merwin Jr., who chairs the Bamberg County GOP.

"There is a saying that the Jews who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars, but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves," the wrote. "By not using earmarks to fund projects for South Carolina and instead using actual bills, DeMint is watching our nation’s pennies and trying to preserve our country’s wealth and our economy’s viability to give all an opportunity to succeed."

The racist stereotype came out as the men were offering a rebuttal to South Carolina State Rep. Bakari Sellers, the vice chair of the state's Democratic party.

Writing for The State in an opinion published Sept. 30, Sellers suggested that DeMint has been doing a poor job bringing in federal dollars for projects in South Carolina.

"Sen. DeMint cedes his funding allotments to other states by not requesting projects on behalf of South Carolinians," Sellers opined. "Like Sen. DeMint, Sen. Graham regularly supports measures to restrict earmarks. However, he works vigorously to secure funding for South Carolina because he understands the present reality: If we don't get it, it goes to other states."

The Palmetto Scoop, a conservative e-zine in South Carolina, reacted to the letter with disgust.

"Umm… who in mainstream America thinks it’s a good idea to write something like that in a guest editorial?" the publication asked in a no-byline piece. "Especially in light of the racially-motivated attention garnered by South Carolina Republican activists over the past few months."

The Scoop concluded: "It’s people like Ulmer and Merwin that make many folks fear for the future of the once Grand Ole Party."