Dick Armey: Bob Bennett A Failure, He Had A Chance 'To Stand Up For The Constitution' (VIDEO)

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey offered a harsh criticism of Utah Sen. Bob Bennett when asked about the outgoing Senator's role within the Republican Party in an interview with National Review Online last week.

"Senator Bennett has had his time," said Armey of the GOP lawmaker, who was kicked off his party's primary ballot earlier this year. "He had a chance, for example, to stand up for the Constitution that he swore allegiance to [by voting against the Troubled Asset Relief Program]. His failure to do that upset the voters of his state."

Armey, who serves as Chairman of Freedomworks, a Tea Party organizing group, endorsed now-U.S. Senate candidate Mike Lee in his primary campaign to oust Bennett from his post. In explaining his decision to support the Tea Party-backed challenger, he said, "Certainly the incumbent, Sen. Bennett, has given us our pause over the course of the past few years... We've had one disappointing vote after another."

Armey warned Republican lawmakers last week that they risk being targeted by the Tea Party if they don't get with the program. "The issue of public policy that governs the future of my children is more important than your politics, and if you can't see that, we'll replace you," he said.

As for Bennett, the three-term incumbent recently said, "As I look out at the political landscape now, I find plenty of slogans on the Republican side, but not very many ideas... The concern I have is that ideology and a demand for absolute party purity endangers our ability to govern once we get into office."

WATCH: Dick Armey Shares His Take On Outgoing GOP Sen. Bob Bennett

Comments

[tissa]

04:42 PM on 08/31/2010

I am sick of the lying that Dick Armey has done. Referring to TARP he has been proclaiming "Take back your country" to his Tea Party. Nothing but empty rhetoric, targeted at the Obama Administration.
Facts for Dick Armey, although I don't think he cares:
(1) Bush signed off on the first TARP, with Economists on the left and right AGREEING that this HAD to be done. The Wall street journal, a conservative publication has also stated this.

(2) MORE THAN HALF OF THE TARP FUNDS HAVE BEEN PAID BACK WITH INTEREST..AND TARP HAS BEEN DEEMED 'NECESSARYAND EFFICIENT" BY THE WSJ.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424­0527487036­3230457545­1613502569­320.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

(3)TARP ALSO WILL NOT COST TAX PAYERS AS MUCH AS THOUGHT LEADING ONLY TO A DEFICIT OF 66 BILLION (A MERE PITTANCE COMPARED TO THE COST OF THE BUSH TAX CUTS)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67I­5WV2010081­9

So, Dick, let's get the facts straigh,this lying, fear mongering, factless approach that you and your tea party are taking is going to be your demise in November, and beyond.

Vote Democratic in November

[cariintexas]

03:05 PM on 08/31/2010

Is this same story Dallas Underground News reported on? I didn't follow any of it because I wasn't interested in anything Dick Armey.

One county over [Collin]

[audadvnc]

02:31 PM on 08/31/2010

The Right Wing circular firing squad in action ... so entertaining!

[jonnyquest]

02:24 PM on 08/31/2010

Have another drink Dick, you haven't had one in 20 minutes.

[StopMakingSense2]

02:19 PM on 08/31/2010

Keep the fratricide going teabaggers. More the merrier. By the time you've cleaned the last rational republicans out the electorate will think the republicans are from a different planet.

[D.C. Douglas]

02:17 PM on 08/31/2010

Don't listen to the man, just buy his dang book! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv2_oex7vg0

[Dan W Bright]

05:14 AM on 09/03/2010

A** H***

[alumcreek]

01:44 PM on 08/31/2010

Dick Armey has spent a long life creating and nurturing failures so he is able to speak on the topic with some expertise.

[jsgaetano]

01:11 PM on 08/31/2010

It's the owner of the Teabaggers, even though they pretend they're "grass roots" "independents"... who just happen to always vote straight ticket Gooper.

[squat6971]

12:51 PM on 08/31/2010

Never let the facts get in the way of a good sound bite, huh, Dick?

[osage]

12:23 PM on 08/31/2010

TAX THE RICH AT THE PRE-REAGAN RATES...END CORPORATE MONOPOLIES...CREATE GREEN AND INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS...END TWO DISGRACEFULLY WASTEFUL AND TRACIALLY IMMORAL WARS...SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE...SHORTER TERM LIMITS…PUBLIC ONLY CAMPAIGN FINANCING!!!

[JaxReader]

11:59 AM on 08/31/2010

This Koch's Brothers TeaParty is and will continue to cripple the Republican Party.

[tissa]

11:26 AM on 08/31/2010

I am sick of the lying that Dick Armey has done. Referring to TARP he has been proclaiming "Take back your country" to his Tea Party. Nothing but empty rhetoric, targeted at the Obama Administration.
Facts for Dick Armey, although I don't think he cares:
(1) Bush signed off on the first TARP, with Economists on the left and right AGREEING that this HAD to be done. The Wall street journal, a conservative publication has also stated this.

(2) MORE THAN HALF OF THE TARP FUNDS HAVE BEEN PAID BACK WITH INTEREST..AND TARP HAS BEEN DEEMED 'NECESSARYAND EFFICIENT" BY THE WSJ.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451613502569320.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

(3)TARP ALSO WILL NOT COST TAX PAYERS AS MUCH AS THOUGHT LEADING ONLY TO A DEFICIT OF 66 BILLION (A MERE PITTANCE COMPARED TO THE COST OF THE BUSH TAX CUTS)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67I5WV20100819

So, Dick, let's get the facts straigh,this lying, fear mongering, factless approach that you and your tea party are taking is going to be your demise in November, and beyond.

Vote Democratic in November.

[JaxReader]

11:56 AM on 08/31/2010

Great post!

[tissa]

12:48 PM on 08/31/2010

Thanks!

[Hopster1]

11:19 AM on 08/31/2010

Another Republican performing the often used "Speaking out of BOTH sides of the mouth" trick.

[saus]

10:59 AM on 08/31/2010

Army is a two-headed snake, who has more than once proved that he hates those atheistic liberals. He is a car accident waiting to happen.

[jcinco]

10:27 AM on 08/31/2010

why is this arrogant fatf*ck even a player?