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Former Rep. Dick Armey, (R-Texas), on House Speaker John Boehner’s handling of the fiscal cliff and his decision to kick four Tea Party-backed Congr...
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April 15 2010.
Tea Party rally sparking -- the country.
Thousands of Americans protesting taxes and massive government spending.
The movement spreads November 2 one again.
The Tea Party -- Republicans to take control of the House of Representatives and capture five seats in the senate.
That was then this is now for Tea Party -- congressmen voted out.
In a Republican speaker but he multiparty years on the outs.
Welcome everyone I'm Charles payment for Neil Cavuto house speaker John Boehner booting -- Tea Party backed congressmen from key Republican leadership.
Saying that they're not telling the party line and warning all Republicans that he's watching their votes.
But freedom works founder Dick Armey said speaker banners -- -- without the Tea Party.
You would be holding that gavel at all.
Congress -- welcomes news show.
If this move hereby represented banner coming in amid all the Redskins it giant kick in seeing the -- -- that it.
But let them -- it seems that's it wasn't at the Tea Party is in trouble there's absolutely no doubt about it but.
You think John Boehner is making a mistake here.
By not embracing the Tea Party rather rejecting them.
Well I think again very very speaker makes a mistake yeah.
The Tea Party is not a political party is or group of people across the country that embrace some very group serious.
Principles of governance that are.
Traditional historic in this country.
Small government constitutional limitations on government.
There are members of congress who got elected because in fact the Tea Party activists across the country work hard for them and their election.
They tend to walk to the label -- as Tea Party airs at outsiders.
I would remind John Boehner there was a time.
When he was the upstart -- stock.
Outsider.
That was an annoyance to the party leadership.
I understand.
The speaker being annoyed when he asked people within his caucus that are so committed to a set of principles that they make it hard for him to make easy deals.
Where the other side.
But I would also remind him.
People are not -- for -- their principles.
First thought they and that is is insignificant.
In their life.
As a committee assignment right -- he thinks this is a party discipline he can impose on people principal.
-- sadly mistaken if any ought to know that from his own experience.
As.
And younger time and your service in congress when he was himself the outside.
-- of -- though do we have a case here and it's been set from the very beginning that the Tea Party not only pose an incredible threats to the establishment.
Democrats but also to establishment Republicans and now represented a banner you know speaker Boehner has an opportunity to sort of -- not that -- nothing else.
Mitigate that quarter sort of stressed that they have on in Washington.
Well how I think pretty -- near Baghdad is she's lucky that.
He's missing the point.
Tea Party activists are reminding that -- candidates in the Republican Party who eventually some.
How home yet embraced when -- when -- like -- UN.
When you're like them you lose it's not a new thing.
It's -- -- the fight has been going on within the Republican Party.
For years.
Those that think all we can win more elections if we act more like the Democrats.
And those that are set.
Look what you stand on the principles of constitutionally limited small government individual liberty fiscal responsibility.
You're attractive to a wider range of voters they gonna hold more.
I'll I gotta I gotta jump in here because then it's certainly we had this discussion discussion -- December 2010.
I would be agreeing with -- 1000% but a lot of people are saying -- a lot of things have changed since that moment.
In America -- voted back the Democrat they give the president another four years.
It may be indeed the Republicans should be more like their counterparts across the.
-- I try again let me just say if you want the Republican Party to be an echo instead of an opposition.
Yeah you can hand that and it we'll leave them like nobody's gonna trip vote for the fake imitation.
Democrats that -- for professionals.
About big pork barrel government.
Paid a play they do there well if you -- that got a government.
There why would you not usual for the professionals who do that an additional well for a -- it.
Instead of the cheap imitation.
Other Republican right trying to beat alike called Barack finalised.
Let's bring you that cannot be that Republicans have done a pretty good job of spinning as well but before let's ago when asked about did the controversy of freedom works.
You know it seems to be really -- pretty intense.
Obviously it's -- kind of thing that the mainstream media has been enjoying the whole discussing -- -- freedom works and a half.
Boehner kicking out Tea Party leadership that this -- disintegration of the Republican Party.
-- chemical inside it specifically to what's gonna what happened between your freedom works.
Well first well what happened with betrayed me and creator marches -- related to -- -- knowledge John Boehner and largely unrelated to Tea Party movement.
I left there because I had serious.
Concerns about the ethical and moral behavior all of this -- your leadership.
I don't particularly want to discuss had -- I think it will be resolved I'm -- by my certain knowledge.
That time wounds all heels.
And that this will be in fact at some point all sorted out.
But it has nothing to do.
We're John Boehner is misguided sense that he could discipline his colleagues in his conference all of whom were elected as Republicans -- Republican.
Ticket or the notion that people been dreaming or thereabouts is -- -- nine that the Tea Party will dry up more way these -- Tea Party activists.
Are people of whose longstanding commitment.
To ideals and they know their -- -- Matters and they will be there in the next election cycle.
Dick Armey thank you very much really appreciate your time in obviously will be asking for your help more down -- -- appreciate it.
Thank you now.
