Dick Armey insults Salon's Joan Walsh with sexist remark on Hardball
By John Amato Wednesday Jan 28, 2009 5:15pm
During a debate about Rush Limbaugh's influence on the GOP and Phil Gingrey's boot licking apology for crossing the almighty Rushbo, Dick Armey, former GOP leader with Newt proved the point that Limbaugh's piggish views are the benchmark for conservatives when he insulted Joan Walsh as they debated the stimulus package. As she was making an informed argument, Armey started interrupting her as is typical with Republicans who never want to take any responsibility for their destructive policies that almost destroyed America, but really lost it with this exchange.
Walsh: Who are the income redistributionists?
Armey: Who, what..
Walsh: Who are the income redistributionists?
Armey: Well the biggest income redistributions was a Republican congresswoman, urr. Senator, but Charlie Rangel cracked me up, Charlie said you guys are giving her things that I wouldn't even ask for.
Armey: I don't want to get into that because then the controversy is that Dick Armey is assaulting somebody. There are income redistribitionsts that think they are going to curry favor with a voting blocks in both parties and it's wrong policy whether it comes Republicans or Democrats, it makes no sense. Armey's axiom. Don't let politics define your economics. Don't let politics define anything. Politics is silly, it's inane. Take what amusements you can from them but don't take them seriously.
Walsh: But this is serious business. The economy is a wreck, (Armey laughs) it's been wrecked by the Bush White House and by Republicans in Congress with a lot of help Democratic help, with ( Armey makes more noises and sighs)
Armey: Oh, give it a rest.
Walsh: President Obama, please stop saying 'give it a rest.' Do you have any anything else to say? President Obama has a mandate for change. (Armey laughs again) Your people have stood in his way. They are standing in his way in Capitol hill right now and Rush Limbaugh is making ridiculous statements and Republicans are crawling to him and groveling. That's the state of our economy and our world right now Rep. Armey and it's sad.
Armey: I'm so glad that you could never be my wife because I surely wouldn't have to listen to that prattle from you every day.
Walsh: Well, wow that makes two of us sir, that was really an outstanding comment...
Armey: Look ma'am, you're talking like a paid political hack making your political points.Walsh: Am I sir?
Armey: Are we going to talk seriously...
Walsh" No, I actually care about social justice, I care about jobs, I care about the economy.
Not only does Armey whip out the sexist card, he then calls her a paid political hack which is what he was for the Republicans for many, many years. What a creep. He was part of Newt's take over so he sure knows about political hacks. Tweety should have made him stop and apologize right there, but he can't do that to one of the Old Boy's Republican club.
David writes:
In a later segment on the same show, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert called Armey's remark sexist. "Dick Armey was so far out of line in the last segment with his sexist comments and he owes Joan Walsh and your viewers an apology," said Herbert. Chris Matthews, host of Hardball, eventually remarked that Armey's comments were "overboard."
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For a public figure to act so immature on national TV is disgraceful.
Sad! Armey demonstrates the ignorant leaders the US has as elected representatives. People wonder how the country can fall so low in 8 years.
Having Dick Armey and Rush be the Republican talking heads is GREAT for the Democratic Party...keep showing us what you are made of guys...
More staged theater to elicit indignation and other distractions to steer you away from the fact that the government - both of D and R appellations, are getting ready to rob you of trillions of dollars and cut back your services and more.
Thanks so much for taking this on and sticking up for fellow progressive Joan Walsh. She was great during this interview. The guest after this interview also deserves credit, because he took time out to confront Dick Armey's sexist remarks as well.
Your transcript posted here is also kind to Dick Armey, who in fact used less flattering dialogue with Ms. Walsh when you view the video.
Keep it up.
The correct response to the "income redistribution" argument:
The top 20% of Americans own 80% of the wealth in this country, and yet pay less than 80% of the tax. So really, it's the bottom 80% that is subsidizing the top 20% (to say nothing about the relative disparity in blood paid to defend America).
isn't he certifiable? Anything he says is like the ravings of a lunatic.
Joan Walsh should have walked out of the green room when she knew she would be "discussing" with this dipshit.
Television is like a pigsty. You play with pigs and you are going to get smelly.
and that would be fine, if the sheeple didn't think that people on television really know about that which they speak. Mere appearance on a tube somehow lends people dignity and authority which they rarely deserve.
Armey is and has been a pathetic hack. Watching him "argue" is like watching a grade-schooler argue. It was simply sad.
Armey was one of the pricks that murdered Hillary Clinton's universal healthcare initiative in its crib back in the early days of the Clinton presidency. I remember her recognizing his sexist bent at the Congressional hearings and putting him in his place with a couple of well-timed retorts. You'll see one in Moore's "Sicko".
Gee, it sure would be terrible if the millions of people losing their jobs today because of your Party's lame economic policies didn't have to worry about losing their and their family's health coverage as well, huh, Dickie?
I think this is a perfect example of how SCREWED UP Republican Congress persons have become. Dick Armey really insulted Ms. Walsh LIVE ON THE AIR... and I don't think he even realized it! I think Tweety reall ywanted to justify the fact that Republicans are nothing but OBSTRUCTIONISTS these days... and Dick Armey was a total embarrassment, insulting the lady... then trying to dismiss her altogether. What an ASS.
Dick Armey is married?
a web bio says, to "Susan" (I guess she never had a last name), and has five children.
I hadn't known that he was the main writer of the Contract With America.
Poor woman, to have to be married to this jerk. Imagine having to sleep next to, and physically pleasure Dick Armey..It's too horrible to imagine...
She probably adores him. Don't feel sorry about her. Republican women are just as fucked up as Republican men. Can say Cindy McCain?
he hangs around with Lary.
I watched this in disbelief. He did appear to be kind of looped though. Matthews should have shut him up much sooner. This was inexcusable. Joan looked shocked but managed quite well considering.
I am also surprised by her composure. Hats off to that lady. Patience of a damn saint.
matthews is a freak! when bush had his F-ed court give him the election, matthews was all for bush. dipshit now is all for the dems kinda. watch him when a dem wants to get out there point and he cuts them off but when a repug can talk,talk,tals.
At least Chris Matthews could see the slime for what it was.
He'd do the public a service to never invite him back.
Never said a word... just let him spew his crap and go on... He acted like he thought it was funny...
He didn't say anything until Bob Herbert called him on it later.
Chrissy make a stand? He sat there while Ann Coulter trashed Elizabeth Edwards.
/stopped watched Chrissy after that.
just to show people what slimes real republicans are and how obstructionist they are. These are the republicans that I know, the ones I see day to day. They are Service to Self slime dogs.
Its more of an insult to his wife. I guess now she know how he feels about her when she talks to him.
Whoooeeee! They need a dump button on that show.
I know what you mean, have a console at Chris' desk with eject buttons.
Then again...might not be a good idea sometimes.
... or an ejection seat. Like back in the Vaudeville days when an act was so horrible that someone behind the curtains would take a big sheep crook and hook it around the person's neck to drag them offstage.
if there's no one there to press the button.
my wife used to have to put up with some of this kind of crap at her workplace. then we got married. now that a couple of them have had to deal with me about it. you know, when i go and visit them at their homes, its not been such a problem anymore.
Walsh clearly got under Armey's very-thin skin.
Hopefully, she'll get the chance to do it to other equally-deserving conservatards.
Excellent job Joan Walsh.
This SOB once called Barney Frank a "fag" and later apologized, saying it was a "slip of the tongue."
This does just prove once again what pigs these guys like limpballs and armey are.
That at the time of the "Barney Fag" controversy, David Letterman commented that someone named "Dick Are Me" shouldn't be mocking other people's names.
that's hilarious! Letterman cracks me up.
Dick Armey?
More like Dick-Weed.
Marilyn Manson said Dick Army sounded like the name of a gay nightclub.
Months later dick army tried to make the same joke. It didn't work.
I know why more women are in the Democratic Party, but why are women Republicans? Evidently, if they open their mouths,they are prattling.
Political Stockholm Syndrome, I imagine.
The likes of Laura ingram and Ann Coulter seem to hate the concept of equality and reproductive rights for women- so i'm left to wonder if that extends to their hatred of all women, and by extension, hatred of themselves...
...secretly want to be men. End of story. No further explanation is needed. The End.
I thought she-he was a man,just look like norm colman
A lot of it is hypocracy. They are content to berate and abuse other women for not being at home caring for husbands and children and nothing else, but you never see them doing it themselves. Ann Coulter anyone?
There are similarities to the Patriarchy Movement too, women loudly and not so gently or submissively telling the rest of us we need to be quiet, gentle, and submissive, or we're wrong with God...
Went on the tangent there, but still, it's similar.
like in that mug shot of his. He surely must approve of Dick's comments.
They're probably drinking buds back in Texas. Tom tells stories about how many bugs he stepped on each day, and Dick talks about how many people he's insulted. Loudmouth pigs both.
Why am I not surprised this scumbag is a Texan? Texans ought to be required to take decency tests before appearing on teevee.
Even me, you sausage loving masticater?
about them texasses. I think its overinflated sense of self-worth. Ojectively there is very little redeeming value in the whole state.
I'm a Texan and even though I am not proud of some of my fellow Texans, I still feel a little insulted when we are all painted with the same brush. I am a dem, I am p***ed off by repubs, I am ashamed of Dick Armey AND Chris Matthews by the way this was handled. I was going along with everything said until this part of the thread. All women prattle. All Texans are evil and stupid. See the connection?
Probably reason one billion why I will never vote Republican. I don't think my views or that of any other woman shouldn't be automatically discounted because we have indoor plumbing, nor does having views make us any less feminine. It does make Armey stuck in the 50's, however!
This is hardly a shock- whether it be a racist comment, a slam against gays or against women, this is typical right wing tactics- they can't debate an issue so they resort to bigotry.
This guy is a real piece of sh*t. No class whatsoever-
Remember, some of those so called 'conservative values' would have women back in the kitchen baking cookies- hence right wing scum like this moron is unable to show ANY respect to women.
I hope he makes it into Keith olbermann's next 'Worst Person in The World' segment.
and a big dick he is
"income redistribution"
stupid ass...wtf is trickle down but income redistribution to the top
and it wouldve been nice if tweety had slapped him down in front of his face...but i guess that is asking too much
is a drunken, woman-hating, Pig.
.
hardball@msnbc.com or viewerservices@msnbc.com
I sent one to each about this.
Look on the plus side, folks: This mysogenistic old Rethug dick-licker and asskisser will soon be pushing up daisy's.
Dick, you should back the economic incentive. Maybe people (who, I don't know?), will be able to provide at least one flower for your grave.
I need to win a lottery so that I can spend the rest of my life pissing on the graves of Republican's. Doing a 'number two.' on some of them as well.
"I need to win a lottery so that I can spend the rest of my life pissing on the graves of Republican's."
Oooooh, road trip! :P
Wealth redistributors. That would be me. Yes I would like mine back please. The stuff I had to give to all of Dicks coporate welfare kings. Go new wealth redistributors! Your on my team class warriors.
With my mother who is 80 years old and her friend who is 78.
They both piped up at the same time:"sexist!"
They get it but Dick doesn't? Sweet Jebus.
Why, in the Saddleback Gods name, would any woman want Dick Armey in her gene pool?
When I thought of what it would be like to be married to Dick Armey, I nearly lost my Top Ramen. :S
Armey is losing the argument and retreats to disrespect and insults, the last recourse of a raving scoundrel.
I have a friend named Richard. He wants to be called Rich or Richard.
As I said, a Dick is a Dick.
Unfortunately, in my mind, right now....after 8 years of George Bush..all Texas politicians are assholes, including this dickhead..
Why didn't SHE laugh at HIM?
Seriously. I can't understand why liberal talking heads don't just crack up laughing whenever some Repug dipshit starts bloviating. They're completely ridiculous, always have been, and are fast becoming totally irrelevant, little better than bad stand-up comics, so let's treat them that way.
fits the bill quite nicely!
Joan was trying to have a serious conversation. It was Armey who decided to lower it to a Neocon Hate Meeting. Laughing at what he said would have meant that what he said wasn't offensive. It was offensive and Armey should be forced to wear a bra and a tampon now for the rest of the year.
I'd make it rubber briefs with an ( Deleted, a little over the top ysbaddaden. SiteMonitor)
I don't know why this line isn't used more often to shut these liars down on the spot:
"You have no credibility. Your Republican Party has been in the White house for 20 out of the last 28 years with complete control of the Executive Branch. You have also held recent majorities in both houses of Congress. Your policies have been tried over and over, and they have failed every time, and the American people know it. Why would anybody in their right mind believe you know what you're talking about now?"
And; "After every Republican administration the Democrats have to clean up. why can't you self serving jerks get your shit together and take care of the American people instead of lining your pockets with our money?"
Their shit is together; screwing America while lining their pockets with our money is their job description.
The Republicans have nothing. Did you see Boner saying his plan would cr3eate 6,000,000,000 jobs? Hahahahahahahah. Where was his plan two years ago? Three years ago? Five years ago? And that asshole Canter with that shit eating grin on his face stand right there behind Boner? Where were these jokers when it was needed? They had their chance and they screwed it up so bad we are literally bankrupt.
Ass wipe.
*
The repigs interrupt constantly, belittle, but then when we hurt their wittle feelings complain, is the the unity Obama promised?
Hey DICK....when you speak of Hacks....LOOK IN THE MIRROR!!!
YOU TWIT!!!
an army of "Dicks" in the Republican Party!
of this whole lot of losers that go on these shows and blah, blah, blah when not a one of them has ever said or done anything that has made a difference in our lives for the good. You know who they are when you see their pinched faces and evil grins but they will never shut up because they fear that they will lose their "power" if they can't continue to spew their lies. Well they have already lost their power and we need to start ignoring them, especially Limp-Balls, and
move on without them in order to get stuff done. Joan is a class act and smarter than all of them put together. If you're so inclined, say a prayer for his poor wife and kids. Living with him must be pure hell!
Having followed news for years, I am not at all surprised by Dick Armey's behavior. He was a staunch supporter of New Gingrich and Tom Delay. He was also one of the leading Republicans pushing the Contract With/On America.
At times Armey came close to expressing dignified comments till he lost his cool. He doesn't have a constituency anymore, he could have been more open.
Kudos to Joan Walsh for standing up for herself and her points of view.
The real disappointment was Chris Matthews. I like his adversarial style but he dropped the ball big time by not coming to Ms. Walsh's defense and let Dick Armey spew his offenses. In the end, Dick Armey disqualified his points of view and rendered his presence obsolete and worthless. This time, Matthews looked like an Armey sappy lap dog.
Had Matthews immediately come to defend her, might that not imply her incapable of her own defense, thus patronizing on his part? As well, we may not have witnessed (yet again) the various demons which beset Armey and his ilk so gratuitously spew forth, defining their core nature. No great defender of Tweety here, but maybe he has a method.
I understand what you are getting at and the name of the show is Hardball. However, I didn't say Tweety should have come to Joan Walsh's defense immediately. Joan proved she can defend herself. Tweety knew that already.
But Tweety should have mentioned something to Armey at the end of the segment. There are many ways to play hardball in political debates.
Of course Tweety has a method, more than one. I was pleased with how he outed Michele "McCarthy" Bachmann. This time he let Armey dig a hole for himself. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if Tweety will get a lot of flack from viewers.
I see there pushing that dork gov from Il, but that Prick delay is still out and on flux news. wtf is dick head delay going to court.
Dick Armey got paid for his appearance. it is time that the news media stop have both side of every event.
of the story of a woman snapping at Winston Churchill, "If I were your wife, I'd put poison in your tea!" To which Winnie replied, "Madam, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."
He hated Jews and set up the sinking of the Lusitania to bring the U.S. into World War 1.
I heard it with a bag over his head.
let's be clear. Joan Walsh probably knew he was a sleezeball before going on, and she can clearly handle herself. So don't make out like she's a weakling or something. Nevertheless, Army was way out of line. It was actually his laughing through her comments that I found more offensive, honestly. If this is the best best the Republicans have, their tent is going to get smaller and smaller, till it's pretty much just Dick and Rush.
...childish things", and instead of taking the advice to heart they go on just as before like the whiney immature twits they are (even the old fossils), they lie, stamp their feet, have a tantrum or two, insult anyone in range, and whisper behind your back.
It's a relief to realize that there are only FOUR solidly Red States of all 50 -- http://www.gallup.com/poll/114016/State-State... -- because if these wingnut Repubs are truly representing their constituents, that would mean the constituents are as stupid and immature as they are.
Were screaming TRICKLE DOWN at the top of their lungs.
They are intentionally avoiding any and all debate about what is fair. Instead they label their pet policies as FAIR. Loathsome.
"Armey's axiom. Don't let politics define your economics. Don't let politics define anything. Politics is silly, it's inane. Take what amusements you can from them but don't take them seriously."
So Katrina was silly? Iraq was silly? The economic meltdown is silly?
Americans are more involved in politics than ever. THAT is why he wants people to think politics is silly.
And it's as hypocritical as you can get to label people "income redistributionists" when the Republicans and Bush have used the past 8 years to redistribute EVERYONE'S income into their and their wealthy buddies' pockets.
I think Armey and his ilk deliberately try to make political discourse as distasteful, as ugly, and as trivial as possible, hoping that most voters will simply tune out and give up in disgust. Low voter turnout always favors the Republicans.
This pretty much worked until 2006, when the pain caused by GOP policies began to catch up to average Americans. Now the tactic just seems transparently absurd, but the GOP has little else to offer.
They cut out Bob Herbert and only showed the end of Chris's condemnation of Dick Army coments at the later broadcast.
I watched the midnight(eastern) Showing.
When someone is as openly homophobic as Armey, the misogyny doesn't usually trail too far behind.
Chris Matthews just lost a viewer tonight. For him to remain silent after Armey's sexist , vulgar comment in itself condones Armey's behavior. He needs to make a public apology to Joan Walsh and demand, on the air, that Armey do the same.
Clearly the condemnation By Herbert was too much for poor Dick Army, because in later broadcasts it's cut out. I was going to turn him off After I saw what Chris Didn't do, but read on here that Herbert condemns the comments then so does Chris. Yet when I waited it was cut out and only the end of Chris condemnation was shown.
I'm going to check out the 3am(eastern) showing and hope it's in there.
Ether I missed it Which I don't think or The midnight(eastern) run of this was messed up. It was on the 3 am(eastern) run the Comdeming of Dick army all of it.
Chris should of said more He only in passing condemed Dick Army
. . . what I found appalling was his cynicism about his job. He didn't simply imply that Walsh was a silly woman--he implied she was a silly woman for expecting him, and the rest of his party, and any other elected official, to be held accountable for what they did in office.
If you put Armey in a vacuum tube and brought it down to 0 Kelvin, you would have the platinum-iridium standard for the reason why the GOP is imploding.
(BTW--when Armey mentioned his wife, did anyone else think of that line from Family Guy? "Dick Armey? What's his wife's name--Vagina Coast Guard?" )
LOL!
the republicans are making a big deal
who would have thought.
the idea is to have mature conversation, not a rush limburger, and dick armey sure does not know how to have a mature conversation (but then again, this is on another op-ed type entertainment only "news" show with a blowhard commentator)
What else can you expect from a guy named Dick??
Dick Armey (insert joke here about his apropos name) had electile dysfunction and had to quit Congress. He is the perfect example of the failure of the Contract on America mentality of the GOPigs. Why Chris Matthews decided to give him airtime is beyond me. If Joan Walsh had been in the same roomwith him, I wish she would have bitch-slapped him back under the bridge to nowhere where he and his cronies reside.
what a jerk! Just another in a long line of slimeballs created by the GOP
The Grand Old Pedofiles party!
Dick Armey is an ass. His comment only clearly shows his outdated, sexist, unintelligent thinking. I agree that having someone like this speaking for the Republicans is helpful to the Democrats. What ignorance!!
He's the guy who paid for that rabble group to show up in Broward County during the recounts, stormed the doors of the supervisor of election's office, and disrupted the recounts in THAT election. Yeah, he can be trusted; he has no agenda. Believe that one? Didn't think so. Man, he's part of the problem!
What a PIG. Disgusting sophomoric behavior. Republicans need to be voted out of office, they have no shame. Rush Limbaugh's show has advertisers... we MUST hurt his show in the pocketbook, we have to call and email and write Limbaugh's advertisers NOW, it is the only way to silence the hatred.
But, but, but..... when you're as low IQ as Armey AND on the losing side of an argument what else is there???
Dick Armey is really not his name. Before he changed it, his name was actually Penis Airforce. That was from the Mooks on the Stephanie Miller show this morning. :)
Anyway, what got me evem more was the fact that it was Bob Herbert, not Michelle Bernard, the president and CEO of Independent Women's Forum who called Amrey out. She could have at least said, I agree with Bob Herbert. Her silence on the topic was shocking!!! I suppose she really is Independent on women's issues. It was incredible. Shame on both Armey and Michelle.
Republicans feel women are like children, and should be seen but not heard. I wonder how long it will be before a Republican calls Pres Obama a n*gger? I'm sure most of them have already done it behind his back.
Tweety had this loser in studio with him while Joan was on screen.
I doubt that he would have tagged the later show with a comment if Herbert hadn't denounced Armey on the live show. Herbert made him look bad by beating him to it. He only said it wasn't "prattle" but was laughing when he said it and ended with his stupid "Ha". It's not surprising because Tweety hasn't always shown women all that much respect. I watched the 9 o'clock west coast edition (12 eastern).
Was the comment he made about it at the end of the later edition on the live show?
RUSH? rush who ? are people still listening to that old oxy-contin-moron ?
It's nice to see that these nutball conservatives haven't lost their touch. Armey is following the tried and true tradition of "If you have no record to run on...attack, attack, attack!
A dick by any other name is still a dick!
Dick Armey acted like a 14-year-old schoolyard bully. What a goof! Armey and people like him (RUSH) often resort to making sexist and racist comments because they can't have an intelligent discussion about the issues. If Armey was a real man he would apologize to Ms. Walsh and MSNBC for his stupid and sexist remarks.I'm sure we will soon hear him on FOX News and the Today Show telling listeners that he was misquoted.
Dick Armey defended what'sisname for taking his constituent's love of Rush Limbaugh's politics into account, and not five minutes later said that politics should NEVER be part of Congress's decisions.
And what IS it about Republicanism that draws or creates sexists in their ranks? It's too bad Ms Walsh was being filmed -- I can think of some excellent comebacks to Dick Armey's sexist remark. Like, "Don't worry, I'd never be the wife of a twit with such a large ego and such small anatomical parts."
But she did the best she could, and fortunately, others spoke up on her behalf.
Armey actually says: I'm so DAMN glad that you could never be my wife...
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