Jim DeMint: We’ll have riots if the auto bailout passes; Update: DeMint clarifies

Via Breitbart, he might be right. Or, we might have riots if the bailout doesn’t pass and unemployment inches up towards double digits, as Obama staffers are predicting. How lucky do you feel?

Wonder of wonders, not only are the Dems reportedly seriously considering Corker’s amendment to force the UAW to cut wages to a rate competitive with foreign manufacturers but we may even see a vote on it tonight. Stand by for updates within the next few hours. Exit question: Er, why would the Democrats be willing to compromise? According to Jon Kyl, if Corker’s amendment fails then the bailout is momentarily dead. If that happens, the ball lands squarely in Bush’s court; he can rescue Detroit himself by tapping the TARP money to give them a bridge loan until Obama takes over. Why wouldn’t the Dems want that? That way, they get to hang the bailout around Bush’s neck instead of having to eat it themselves. The question, I guess, is whether you believe Bush would buckle and tap the TARP money after having held out this long. Does a guy with a sub-30 approval rating really want to add to his legacy by becoming known as the president who killed off American automotives? Hmmm.

Update: DeMint’s office sends along a snippet from his exchange with Lou Dobbs to emphasize that he was speaking figuratively, not literally.

DOBBS: Was that hyperbole or do you actually believe that that might be a real reaction?

DEMINT: Well, I was looking for a word to describe how angry people are when they call our office. And we’ve certainly seen protesters in parts of the country who are frustrated that some have been bailed out and they’ve lost their jobs. But people will get angry. Obviously, we don’t want them to riot. But what’s going on up here is just throwing money at the wall and people are very frustrated with us.

DOBBS: You know, Senator, I — I’ve been saying on this broadcast now for some time, I understand some frustration, but the calls for — for Rick Wagoner, the chairman of — the CEO of GM, to be — to leave his post, hearing after hearing and speech after speech by senators and congressman opposing this, it’s $14 billion, we know it’s the first installment. But you guys checked off on trillions of dollars in one vote. I mean it’s unbelievable what the American people are witnessing there in the nation’s capital.

DEMINT: It is. And I voted against that first bailout and all the so-called bailout packages this year. And we’ve committed as you said, over $7 trillion of money we don’t have and Americans are just wondering where is this money going to come from, who are we going to charge it to? And if we continue to bail out one industry and pick winners and losers, the frustration among the American people is going to continue to grow.

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