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Dick Armey: Obama Agenda 'Very Tyrannical'; Republicans Who Support Him Should Beware

November 13, 2009 2:03 PM


Klein_3ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

We asked former House majority leader Dick Armey, whose FreedomWorks organization has helped stir up some of the more vocal "tea party" protests of the past few months, whether some of the rhetoric has gotten out of hand.

Specifically, did House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, cross a line when he called the health care bill "the greatest threat to freedom that I've seen in the 19 years I've been in Washington"?

No way, Armey told us on ABCNews.com's "Top Line" today: "I was there before John Boehner. It's the greatest threat to individual liberty I've seen in my time," said Armey, R-Texas.

"If you find your personal liberty precious, if you understand the best decisions in commerce and production and distribution and product is decisions made in the private sector, then you find it very tyrannical to have a government dictate to you: 'You must buy this product, as I specify, this product, at the price I set for this product. If you don't do so you will be subject to even criminal sanctions and jail sentences, severe fines and penalties,'" he said.

"The Pointer Sisters had a great point about the song 'Mr. Big Shot, Who Do You Think You Are?' I mean, where the government gets off telling me what I must buy, where I must buy it, what its dimensions or specifications must be, and what price to pay -- who do they think they are?"

Asked if there's room in the party for moderate Republicans -- such as Senate candidates Charlie Crist, R-Fla., Carly Fiorina, R-Calif., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., all of whom are mistrusted by conservatives -- Armey said:

"People who seek high office, who think the stimulus package was a good thing, endorse such trespasses against past privacy rights as card-check and so forth, are people that we think will be counterproductive to our prosperity to our safety and security and rights as citizens -- irrespective of party."

November 13, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (15)

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Who woke up this old relic from the past? See what happens to a political party that has no leadership? The gap is filled by those who be better off keeping their retired mouths shut. And the voters from Virginia and New Jersey "endorsed" these clowns? LOL!

Posted by: CND FOX | Nov 13, 2009 2:34:05 PM

Even more pathetic to have someone be
president and show no leadership.Obama
would also be better served to quit
talking and start doing something.Now
that would be a change.

Posted by: wis134 | Nov 13, 2009 2:39:08 PM

"...where the government gets off telling me what I must buy, where I must buy it, what its dimensions or specifications must be, and what price to pay..."

Putting up another straw man. The HC reform bill says you have to buy HC insurance - it does NOT specify the kind, the price, who you buy if from, the terms and conditions of the contract, etc. etc.

I swear if the GOP leadership were to tell the truth about HC reform, their head would explode.

Posted by: OB-Wan222 | Nov 13, 2009 2:41:21 PM

God knows all those Dems are telling
the truth. They don't just lie, they
just try to keep you from finding out
what they are up to. You know...just
trust them. They are all cut from the
same cloth. Everyone one of them should
be ousted and start with some new people
and have term limits where maybe they would spend more time doing things instead
of working on how they will get reelected.

Posted by: wis134 | Nov 13, 2009 2:51:25 PM

What an insufferable tool spreading the same ol' bs we've been hearing from that bunch of useless burnouts for months, only this bs isn't going to help any plants grow.

Also, it's 'Mr. Big Stuff' by Jean Knight, not 'Mr. Big Shot' by the Pointer Sisters. Sheeeesh.

Posted by: SDC | Nov 13, 2009 3:17:01 PM

These repulicans are so paranoid..I saw one of their little "tea parties" in Philadelphia..hatred filled the air..couldn't wait to get away from them. Oh cmon Wis134...as if the republicans never told lies..Sarah Palin has never told the truth. She's lied since she came on the scene. A more mean-spirited person cannot be found. ALL POLITICIANS LIE..HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT?

Posted by: leogorky | Nov 13, 2009 3:26:15 PM

My point is that they all lie. At least
I can admit it. You have to stop being
led around and think for yourself.

Posted by: wis134 | Nov 13, 2009 3:36:31 PM

Its amazing how STUPID Dumocrats are that they are willing to be made to purchase something or go to jail or pay a fine for not doing so, but then most receive their paychecks in the mail in the form of WELFARE. The rest of us should just quit our jobs and quit paying into a system that is nothing more than a free ride for the stupid.

Posted by: HH | Nov 13, 2009 4:05:27 PM

OB-Wan222 –
The H.C. reform bill does set minimum standards of coverage. It also places a tax on so called “Cadillac plans” that many employers now offer. Since companies will only be required to provide minium coverage and will have to pay a tax if they cover too much, many of us will see a reduction in coverage after the wonderful H.C. bill is passed.
Any tax or surcharge on premiums will be passed to the consumer. “Tax the Rich” mantra sounds great until you realize that businesses are already raising prices in anticipation of paying additional taxes. Any a tax or fee imposed on anyone or anything will be passed to the consumer. Always has, always will.
Obama has promised that illegal aliens will not qualify for assistance. He also promised immigration reform (amnesty). Those 20 million illegal aliens will soon be legal and eligible for public option.
Short form: I’ll get less coverage at a higher cost while paying higher prices for everything I buy so that Mr. Obama can provide health care for people who came here illegally.

Posted by: oonogil | Nov 13, 2009 4:05:33 PM

Just do what makes sense and support Ron Paul in 2012. Even if he doesn't run people should write him in because he was right on pretty much everything. In hindsight, I realize that now.

Posted by: Ben | Nov 13, 2009 4:57:53 PM

Mr. Klein neglected to ask Armey how much money he has personally made from his front group, FreedomWorks. He also failed to remind Armey of his disastrous personal foray into the politics of NY-23.

Posted by: B. Bear | Nov 13, 2009 5:20:05 PM

Samuel Johnson XI - You mentioned some of the republican shortcomings, but you failed to suggest that the democrats are worse.

Ben-Yes Ron Paul was right, but welfarism and warfarism are alive and well and coveted by the masses like Samuel Johnson XI.

Posted by: Huh | Nov 13, 2009 5:34:21 PM

Putting up another straw man. The HC reform bill says you have to buy HC insurance - it does NOT specify the kind, the price, who you buy if from, the terms and conditions of the contract, etc. etc.
Posted by: OB-Wan222 | Nov 13, 2009 2:41:21 PM
__________________________________________

You're very, very wrong! I have high deductible ($7500)insurance policy because it's premiums are very inexpensive. I still get special prices on doctors services but save much $$$$ yearly by paying out of pocket. These insurance policies would no longer be available. I can't afford the other kind of policy and DO NOT WANT a government run policy.

I'm just spitting mad now. They are not even trying to solve the problem of rising medical costs.

This is government taking over and making another huge disaster that future generations are going to suffer with.

The tea party folks are just venting the frustration of so many of us at home that are yelling at our TV's everyday. Stop trying to marginalize those of us who are truly concerned about the terrible legislation coming out of this congress.

Posted by: wow | Nov 14, 2009 12:58:32 PM

Mandatory Health Care Insurance is NOT ANY DIFFERENT than Mandatory Auto Liability Insurance. You would use the same Actuarial Tables (used by the insurance companies) and calculate the required Financial Liability (financial bonding) necessary for Individuals to "cover" the Other Taxpayer's liability if you were to choose Not To Be Insured.

Posted by: bobj72 | Nov 14, 2009 2:28:02 PM

No Confidence in Obama or his administration.

Posted by: EmbarressedAmerican | Nov 15, 2009 1:45:11 AM

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