DeMint: Republicans were forced into passing debt ceiling bill

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Heritage Foundation President and former Sen. Jim DeMint said Sunday that many conservatives feel like they are not well represented in Congress.

"And I think a lot of Americans, regardless of political labels, feel the same way. I hear it all over the country and I think that's why you see a stirring in the country," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "Frankly people are less interested in the label of Republican and Democrat and they're tired of that but they will unite around some principles."

DeMint also criticized Democrats for pushing for the passage of the raising of the debt ceiling, which occurred this week. He argued that Republicans were forced into passing the bill without a filibuster.

"I think it showed that all the Democrats in Congress were completely willing to give the president a blank check to borrow whatever he wanted. Most of the Republicans weren't. But the Republican leadership has figured out ... either they give the president all the money and debt he wants or he's going to close the government down and blame it on them," he said.