Monday
Dec212009
RNC And A Tea Party Movement Leader Join Forces Against Health Care Reform
Monday, December 21, 2009 at 2:09PM
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and former House Speaker Dick Armey (R-Texas), a figurehead for the conservative “tea party” movement, presented a united front late Monday morning against Democrats’ legislative efforts to reform the U.S. health care system.
“I’m ... very honored to partner with grass roots activists, to invite them to be a part of this effort to push back against this takeover of health care,” said Steele during the duo’s joint conference call with reporters. “This is a partnership, and it’s one that’s based on some core principles that I think are foundational for the GOP.”
Although the tea party movement, which receives logistical support from the Armey steered non-profit group Freedomworks, is typically viewed as more radical than the current party establishment, Armey defended both the RNC and Steele as chairman.
“I have a clear sense that chairman Steele wants to lead that party back to it’s days of being the champion of individual liberty and the practitioner of responsible restraint in spending and government.”
Both conservative leaders took issue with the Senate’s 1:00 am cloture vote Monday morning, with Steele adding that even if moderate Senate Democrats vote against the bill in its final form, the 60-40 party-line vote in favor of cloture shows where their intentions actually lie.
Steele, who seemed to become increasingly enthusiastic throughout the call, also accused Congress of giving the public the middle finger.
“Enough is enough,” Steele said. “I’m tired of Congress thumbing their nose and flipping the bird to the American people.”
“I’m ... very honored to partner with grass roots activists, to invite them to be a part of this effort to push back against this takeover of health care,” said Steele during the duo’s joint conference call with reporters. “This is a partnership, and it’s one that’s based on some core principles that I think are foundational for the GOP.”
Although the tea party movement, which receives logistical support from the Armey steered non-profit group Freedomworks, is typically viewed as more radical than the current party establishment, Armey defended both the RNC and Steele as chairman.
“I have a clear sense that chairman Steele wants to lead that party back to it’s days of being the champion of individual liberty and the practitioner of responsible restraint in spending and government.”
Both conservative leaders took issue with the Senate’s 1:00 am cloture vote Monday morning, with Steele adding that even if moderate Senate Democrats vote against the bill in its final form, the 60-40 party-line vote in favor of cloture shows where their intentions actually lie.
Steele, who seemed to become increasingly enthusiastic throughout the call, also accused Congress of giving the public the middle finger.
“Enough is enough,” Steele said. “I’m tired of Congress thumbing their nose and flipping the bird to the American people.”
Reader Comments (3)
Enough is enough... give us back our country!!! We need adults making decisions not people who are disregarding the majority of Americans. And to what end we ask? Isn't bankrupting us a bad thing? I can't believe you people can stay and actually get a vote at 1:00am on something most people don't want when you can't even stay long enough to get a decent bill passed. You all need to be sent back home to meet with real people and see what really is happening out here. STOP voting without reading... START being the transparent group you said you would be!!!!! Don't make yourself the very worst group to ever govern the US. Is that what you want as a legacy? Remember history will not serve you well...
Any one that voted for GWB (most, if not all of the Tea baggers) have no credability when they whine about going bankrupt or the deficit. Or, for that matter, not reading a bill. Hardly anyone read the Patriot Act. Or the Intelligence briefing before the Iraq invasion. How about Medicare Part D. The Republickans held the vote open for three hours in the House when normal order is fifteen minutes. Reagan and then Cheney both said, "deficits don't matter." Any one who says "Give us our country back" should take a history course and a civics course. Where were you through the previous administration. Probably calling anyone who criticized the president a traitor.
UP YOUR KNOW-HOW
Leonard Read, the Founder of FEE, used to say “Improve you before trying to improve others.” It is embarrassing to argue with someone who appears to know more and grinds you into the dust. Yet, in politics, it is easy to find the roots of all arguments and see how issues follow those roots. That’s what I’ve tried to provide on claysamerica.com. If you know the roots, where the yellow brick road begins, you know better how to reach the conclusions you seek. You can take a reasoned position without passion and injury. Try it and see. Claysamerica.com