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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.”