Moments ago, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) announced the launch of a new online/offline campaign, EnergyFreedomDay.com.

The site was developed by South Carolina-based modern media shop, Under The Power Lines, and includes such popular modern furnishings as an online petition (widget embeddable) to Reid/Pelosi, a YouTube video of DeMint/Hensarling discussing the initiative, and naturally, a blog. Solid ingredients for capturing a movement to drive an important issue forward.

From the email announcing the project:

Will you join Senator Jim DeMint and Representative Jeb Hensarling and commit to protecting October 1, 2008 as American Energy Freedom Day?

On October 1, America will celebrate Energy Freedom Day when the bans on offshore drilling and oil shale recovery will end. Right off our shores there are reserves estimated to hold over 18 billion barrels of oil and 55 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. And in America's West, oil shale is estimated to between 800 billion and 2 trillion barrels of oil — more than three times the proven oil reserves in Saudi Arabia.

Tapping these sources of American energy are desperately needed to lower gas prices AND reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But for over 20 years, Democrats have blocked access to this American energy.

And even now, at the height of an energy crisis that have sent gas prices sky-high, Democrats in Congress plan to extend the ban on American energy production.

Democrats will try to sneak a new extension of the ban into a must-pass government spending bill before the end of September. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are so beholden to extreme environmentalists that they would rather force a government shutdown than help lower the cost of gas and home energy for struggling American families.

Senator DeMint and Representative Hensarling are committed to protecting American Energy Freedom Day. They have launched a new website at www.energyfreedomday.com to spread the word, but they need your help in these four important tasks:

1. Sign the Energy Freedom Day petition to Congress by clicking here.

2. Get 5 friends, family members, or coworkers to sign the Energy Freedom Day petition.

3. Send this email to 5 friends around the country so they can contact their Senators and Representatives and urge them to support American Energy Freedom Day.

4. Share www.energyfreedomday.com by embedding the countdown widget on your blog.

You might be feeling a little relief at the pump this week, but you know it's only temporary. America needs permanent solutions and it starts by protecting American Energy Freedom Day.

Two helpings of porridge to Sen. DeMint and Rep. Hensarling.

After last night's State of the Union Address, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint broke new ground by being the first member in the House or Senate to issue his reaction to the SOTU via YouTube.

Via email, the DeMint press shop sent me the following quote attributable to Sen. DeMint:

“Responding to the President’s final State of the Union on YouTube allowed me the chance to take the conservative message straight to the American people. I am confident that when given the choice between big government liberalism or principled and pragmatic conservatism, voters will demand action on a conservative agenda for America.”

Of note, the video already has nearly 5,000 views:

Next time, may need to work on the audio guys, but keep up the good work.

I'm at the Heritage Foundation for the "classiest" bloggers luncheon I've seen in the past year-and-a-half. (This lunch is co-hosted by the State Policy Network which explains the fancy set-up. No complaints Bluey.)

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint is one of the special guests along with Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.

DeMint is one of my favorite politicians. He's extremely folksy with his South Carolinian charm, but as I've learned after working with another Southerner, Jack Kingston, don't let the Southern accent fool you - DeMint one of the smartest, most tactical politicians in Congress today. Before he served in public office, he ran a marketing firm where he helped teach others how to effectively communicate. Clearly, he was a good teacher.

And boy, does he get it -- how to effectively communicate in the modern world -- that is.

Anyway, back to the story. DeMint is here to talk about bringing the Republican Party back to its conservative roots and his efforts to do that in the Senate through the bicameral Reagan21 Coalition (oddly, can't find a website to link).

He opened his remarks by noting just how important bloggers were to his communication effort. Again, see oddity that I can't find a link to the Reagan21 Coalition -- if you know one, please leave in the comments and I'll include it in the post.

Regarding Reagan21, DeMint said the group is about 30-40 Members of Congress and a handful of Republican Senators who agree to a core list of principles -- among others, a commitment to no earmarks.

Now, back to my fu-fu salad as we wait for Sec. Leavitt.

UPDATE Dec. 6, 11:36 AM: Robert Bluey has video of DeMint talking about bloggers:

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) is not even up for re-election in 2008 but he has such a good understanding of the importance of the modern world that he's invested resources to revitalize his website, www.JimDeMint.com.

DeMint and his team are smart. As the leader in the Senate on earmark reform today, he recognizes that he needs to be using that energy to help collect "signatures" on his "petition." In other words, if people support him today, they'll likely support him tomorrow with a nice donation or other support.

Like Virginia's Democratic candidate for Senate, Mark Warner, DeMint's doing so with a landing page which includes a YouTube video message from the Senator:

The rest of DeMint's site is good. It includes all of the necessary links to socnets, has a blog, and is easy on the eyes.

Now we can only hope that Senator DeMint continues his leadership in this space by pointing his colleague Senator Sununu in a similar direction (before it's too late).

Good work Team DeMint.

Another fine addition to our Twittering community:

Hi, David All.

JimDeMint (JimDeMint) is now following your updates on Twitter.

Check out JimDeMint's profile here:

http://twitter.com/JimDeMint

You may follow JimDeMint as well by clicking on the "follow" button.

Best,
Twitter

Consider yourself followed.