Bailout Passes Senate; DeMint, Dole Vote Against

By an overwhelming majority, the U.S. Senate passed the Wall Street bailout bill by a vote of 74-25.

Among those voting against the bailout measure were 2 of the Carolinas' most popular Senators--Jim DeMint, R-SC, and Elizabeth Dole, R-NC.

DeMint has insisted from day one that it is Constitutionally wrong for the government to be giving money to bad businesses and that it is even worse for the government to be in the mortgage business, such as with FannieMae and FreddieMac.

Both Dole and DeMint have heard an overwhelming outcry of protest from voters in the Carolinas who are against the bailout.

The bill, which was originally 3 pages in length, has now grown to over four hundred pages with sweeteners added to it so that both sides of the aisle can feel placated.

But the really bad news is that the Senate retained the original request of 700 billion dollars of taxpayers' money that will be funneled into Wall Street.

The question is, what will the House do with it when it returns from recess tomorrow? House Republicans are dead-set against the Senate version.

But President Bush has said he will oppose the House Republican alternative bill, and Nancy Pelosi has already referred to House Republicans as 'unpatriotic' for refusing to support the massive bailout.

Thus, the pressure will be on.