MSNBC's liberal anchor Rachel Maddow took to Meet the Press on Sunday morning for a debate over health care reform, but ended up correcting a grievous misstatement by former Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey.
In his opening remarks, Armey claimed that Democratic activist group MoveOn.org had "ran those ads" comparing President George W. Bush to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
Armey's group FreedomWorks has stayed busy as of late by promoting Democratic lawmakers' town hall meetings and encouraging "forceful" displays against President Barack Obama's allegedly "socialist" health insurance reforms.
Maddow, who has been on a roll in the fight against health insurance reform misinformation, was quick to provide a counter-weight.
"They didn't," she said, shaking her head. "They never ran an ad that compared..."
"You're gonna get a chance to talk," he said with a smile. "I just looked at the MoveOn.org ad ... It ... It was a horrible thing."
(The ad he's speaking about was later linked by FreedomWorks, without qualification.)
Later in the discussion, Meet the Press host David Gregory asked Armey if he would repudiate Nazi imagery as applied to President Barack Obama.
"Absolutely," he said. "I repudiated it when MoveOn.org did that to George Bush. Did anybody here at this table repudiate it?"
Pointing his hands toward Maddow, Army added, "We've just heard it was alright when MoveOn did it. It's not right when anybody does it."
Of course, during the broadcast Maddow did not suggest it was "alright" for MoveOn to compare George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. She said MoveOn did not make such an analogy.
Instead of taking more time to refute Armey's claim, Maddow glanced at her notes and got back to current affairs.
FreedomWorks, she noted, is associated with the "Tea Party Patriots," which had until Sunday afternoon distributed a video that she said promoted town hall violence "as if that were a good thing."
Maddow added: "Is that what the Health Care Freedom Coalition wants to have done in the health care debate? FreedomWorks is part of that coalition. You can say that you denounce it, but the organization that you head is part of it."
In the clip provided below, she does not explain to the former Republican majority leader how incorrect his claim really is.
However, Maddow is indeed correct.
At no point did MoveOn promote, "run" or even publicly condone the video which Armey's group now circulates. The clip Armey attributes to MoveOn was apparently submitted as part of a contest to help determine how the group should advertise against the Bush administration in the run-up to the 2004 election.
Astute political observers may remember this. In 2003, MoveOn held a contest called "Bush in 30 Seconds." Entries were judged by a panel of celebrities that included Jack Black, Moby, then-comedian (now Senator) Al Franken, famed Democratic strategist James Carville and others.
The Bush-Hitler ad was not chosen. This writer could not even find it among the top 150 user-submitted videos.
Claiming that MoveOn "ran" a Bush-Hitler ad is false. By re-posting the rejected video without disclosing its true origin, FreedomWorks is only perpetuating a lie born this morning on MSNBC.
-- Stephen C. Webster
This video is from MSNBC's Meet the Press, broadcast Sunday, August 16, 2009.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I have always thought - from the very first day this came to light in 2003 - that this was a 'plant' by someone on the right. Why? Because, (a) anyone could submit an entry, (b) even though MoveOn removed it quickly, somehow people grabbed it during its very short lifetime and (c) the right used it immediately, and every opportunity since, to bash MoveOn as being radical.
MoveOn.org is the biggest joke ever played on liberals and well-meaning anti-war activists. "If you are against the war, come join us and fight .... ok, so now we'll just support Barack Obama because he is anti-war .... or maybe not so much. Hey everybody, let's take on health care reform!"
What a fucking joke! Over a million dead and the war continues with record war chest spending (brought to you by MoveOn approved Dems) with no end in sight.
MoveOn co-opted the anti-war movement and tuned it into a political campaign to elect one of the most openly corrupt politicians in recent history. See 'Mr. Wall Street and the Trillion Dollar Handover'.
Just be happy that America is finally waking up to this bullshit. But now, right on queue, we have the new war call against angry Americans brought to you by the 'new Fox News' MSNBC and The Huffington Post.
Rusty you are spot on they have used and will always be SNAKES
What's Dick Armey's band of idiotic protesters called? A "DICK ARMY"!
From time to time the Swarmey Dick makes misstatements, usually though, as in claiming MoveOn compared Bush to Hitler, he simply, flat-out lies. What's interesting, he smirks while lying, as if to challenge the listener to call him the swarmey liar he is. That's what Maddow should have done. If for no other reason, than it would make me happy.
Just another republican lie. Next!
I saw this "one-heart-beat-from-croaking" piece of shit spew his crock. Why the hell Maddow or Daschle stop talking for one second and let these pukes say one word is beyond me. They interrupt until you let them say something and then it's all over. They just keep coming up like bad chili with lies and crap and YOU will NEVER get a word in. Then that bradley starts yakking. Maddow should have said," You are so full of shit." Do they rehearse this exchange before hand? Like Pro Wrestlers?
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the
dunces are all in confederacy against him.
--Jonathan Swift
Rusty yes we get fooled. But it is the choice of the less horrid of 2 evils.
And that means the dems are the best choice.
Ill support moveon.org or any group that fights the conservatives in this country.
Until the conservatives get their heads out of the religious rights behinds that party is dead to me.
Maddow has facts on her side, Armey has Dick on his side.
Wow, you all should take a few minutes and read the comments at Freedomworks. Follow the link in the article. There is so much support for the facts and for Rachel. She really kicked ass. Comments there are 10-1 against Dick and his faux Armey!
And Sen Coburn is an asswipe corporate tool.
why does anyone in their right mind give a rat's dick about what this pile of putrid slime named DICK ARMEY says anymore.
and for that matter, why should anyone assume that any member of the filthy scummy GOP (second place goes to the DINOCRATS) party, has any relevance of any sort in today's world, other than their corruption has destroyed the United States and taken us into a completely bankrupted TORTURE GULAG now run by the other corrupt scumbag party, also knows as the DEMS???
why should anyone listen to EITHER CORRUPT SCUMBAG PARTY ANYMORE?????
why??????
Wait wait, going about this wrong, we should fact check everything the Repubes say, so that the rare instance they say something true it can be reported on the news.
Everyone knows they lies constantly, when they DO NOT lie, that is news!
what bothers me is David Gregory interupted her, trying to correct the lie. Why would Meet the Press want a lie out there unchallenged? I thought I was watching FOXNOISE with all the interupting, Dick Armey hand waving and talking points reciting, and of course two ideological conservatives, a moderate former dem and Rachel, and that's "balance"?. Of course Rachel was cut off twice, lost her voice once and got the least amount of air time even though she was only one who came prepared with facts and history. Go girl...
Anyone remember Dirty Dick Armey and the thimerisol vaccine scandal?
In the past five years, Congress has also aided vaccine manufacturers, supposedly for "security" reasons. In 2002, a mysterious piggyback on the 2002 Homeland Security bill freed drug companies of liability in lawsuits regarding thimerosal. Called the "Eli Lilly Protection Act" by outraged parents and activists, the then-House Majority Leader Dick Armey told CBS News he snuck the amendment in to keep vaccine-makers from going out of business. Armey claimed it was a matter of national security. "We need their vaccines if the country is attacked with germ weapons."
Ironically, foreign biological terrorism hasn't been a big problem for American citizens, but those whose lives (and the lives of their children) have been affected if not ruined by the harmful effects of thimerisol would undoubtedly say these potentially harmful vaccines are indeed a problem. Armey's piggyback bill was repealed in 2003, but that didn't stop lawmakers from continuing to protect the vaccine industry.
At first Armey covered up his involvement with the amendment. Now here's a man we can TRUST when it comes to healthcare. And Rachel Maddow is no better. Just cause she's gay don't mean she's cool. She was all over the MSNBC b4 having her own show pushing the flawed and dangerous HPV vaccine Gardasil.
Everyone paying attention knows Dirty Dick is the worst kind of whore for Big Pharma. Just before leaving the Whore-House he pulled one of the most egregious stunts ever in American politics:
Homeland Security Bill Provision, November 2002
Growing to be possibly the largest litigation issue in history, the thimerosal suits suddenly might be restricted due to the provision slipped mysteriously into the Homeland Security Bill signed on November 25, 2002. The provision protects Eli Lilly & Co., in addition to other drug makers, from lawsuits regarding thimerosal, the mercury laden preservative used widely in the 1990s in vaccines.
Thimerosal is believed by many to cause autism and other adverse health effects, resulting in around 4,000 lawsuits being filed predominantly against Eli Lilly in under two years. The provision has left parents even more confused and angry that drug companies are being protected from being found responsible for the cases of autism that may be caused because of the thimerosal.
Now parents wishing to take legal action for the possible thimerosal causing health effects seen in their children must do so under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Act, which has many limitations and restrictions.
Although there has been a lack of responsibility taken for the slipped in provision protecting Eli Lilly and other drug companies in Washington, many people are wondering if Eli Lilly's close ties to the administration and extremely large monetary contribution given to the Republican campaign, far surpassing the amount given by any other pharmaceutical company has anything to do with the subsequent legal protection.
December 2002
Mitch Daniels, White House budget director and former Eli Lilly & Co. executive, denies any involvement in the Eli Lilly vaccine liability protection that was slipped into the homeland security bill in November 2002 mysteriously. Thimerosal has been the subject of controversy because it is a mercury based preservative found in vaccines that has a possibly link to children developing autism after vaccination. House Majority Leader Dick Armey, whom is also retiring, later claimed sole responsibility for the provision, however the investigation is still being conducted to find out how the Eli Lilly thimerosal protection was added.
Know what's sad? The Democrats are almost as bad. Obama is already caving in to Big Pharma. The rich already have the best health care, so screw you American People.
Armey is not happy unless he tells a bigger lie each day. He has become, like his neoCon cohorts, a liar and a plunderer.
"inside every conservative is a fascist screaming to get out" Himler 1933
Just what is Armey problem anyway? Does the truth hurt?
Compare Bush's constitutional record to Adolphs and you will see there is no difference.
The so called Patriot act is no different that the Nurenburg laws passed by by Hitlers stooges.
Not only was it not chosen it was pulled. MoveOn members voted for the top 10 ads or so from the 100s maybe 1000s submitted. And from those top 10, the celebrity judges picked the winning video.
Dick-- Show me your birth certificate.
with a name like dick army, how can anyone take him seriously?
(Sounds like republican followers the dick army)
Has Rachel Maddow shamed some in the Media into doing some actual factual reporting? This woman has been so impressive lately you have to stand back in awe of her. She is factually on the mark; detailed in information, accurate in her data, thorough in connecting sequences of events from the past to present of political operatives who hoped to once again thwart Insurance-Healthcare Reform. Her reporting has been so powerful that it has led to the firing of one of the Insurance Healthcare Reform’s biggest Opponent, Mr. Armey.
Bottom line is she comes prepared.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/17/767910/-Has-Rachel-Maddow-Shamed-Some-In-the-Media
army and repug scum like him should die
Did anyone notice Dick Armey's hand wringing? The more outrageous his lies the more he was rubbing his hands. The poor man appeared to be under a lot of stress. It's amazing he had any skin remaining on his palms when he was done.
As I watched him at work I kept thinking of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snidely_Whiplash
I also noticed the use of the standard technique of cutting someone off when they are telling the truth. Rachel got stomped on by Armey several times and once he started bloviating he wouldn't let anyone else get a word in.
[...] Via The Raw Story. [...]
Well of course Dick Armey is known for being of low intellegence but this isn't his low IQ at work. This is very much intended mis-information. Their theory is that if even just a few people are ignorant enough to believe the stupid lies they tell that it is a "win" in their favor. Straight out of the Lee Attwater dirty politics handbook.
The Dems will be doomed without a public option.
Too many of their supporters will just stay home.
We have been betrayed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Republicans are the party of, "no" and Democrats are the party of, "know".
Dick Armey and republicans will always prey on the unknowing by replacing facts with fear. Huge drug and health insurance costs suit Armey's needs, so he lies and lies and lies some more.
It's so much easier for republicans. We all know it's easier to yell, "Run Away!", than to analyze a problem and solve it. For that, he really is, a Dick.
Love it. Armey slurs and slogs through his mush-mouthed lies.
Drunk? Sure sounds like it when he refers to the "Tea POTTY" folks.
His expansive arm waving also looked like he was inebriated. (Or trying to intimidate Rachel by being "in her face", though he seemed unable to actually look at her...must have been teh gayness)
I appreciate civility, but Daschle, Maddow (and Gregory to a degree) were way too deferential. The GOP shills overtalked them repeatedly, and their response was to meekly stop talking facts.
The typical bully tactics were easy to anticipate, so it was frustrating to witness.
I wonder...if the "MoveOn" Bush/Hitler video is no longer generally available, and Armey claimed to have seen it yesterday...was that ANOTHER lie?
Armey is a sleaze and a liar. I've watched him for years and I've never been surprised at the depths this scumbag will sink to.
Dick Armey was laughing as Rachel Maddow revealed what a slimeball he is because
the health industry has already won and there will be no public option in the new
health bill. He didn't have to say anything he just had to sit there and laugh.
Democrats vs. Republicans (well, except for the Blue Dog Dem....I mean Republicans):
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8140/leftvsconservatards.png
And what about the Republicans? Why is it there isn't a single one willing to move forward with healthcare reform? It just boggles the mind.
Kunnich, Anyone?
Corrction, Kucinnich, anyone? I get hyper when I read about the republicans pushing everyone out of the way, knocking down little old ladies, the blind, trying to listen, the deaf trying to see, stopping on the helpless, as they charge for the exits after someone yelled "FIRE!"
How can you tell when dick is lying? When his lips are moving!
Consider that 'dick' left congress when he did in order to beat the January deadline of the new lobbying rules that were about to become enacted. The only thing on this piece of garbage's mind is $$$$$.
At what point does the American public get fed up?
The rethuglicans lie repeatedly and endlessly, yet the democrats just accept their lies as if they were honest truth. If the democrats can't defend themsemselves, shat chance do they have of defending os from the miseable lying cowards?
[...] the old lie that MoveOn.org once ran ads that showed President George W. Bush as Adolf Hitler. It of course is not true, and Armey probably knew that. David Gregory, the show’s host, didn’t call Armey on the [...]
Is seems Dick didn't get the memo....
Member of House GOP leadership criticizes conservatives comparing Democrats to Nazis.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/14/mccmorris-rodgers-nazi-rhetoric/
who funds freedomworks?
Doug
At what point does the American public get fed up?
Aint you been paying attention the American public is fed up and telling Bam bam back the f*ck off our health care our livelyhood's our freedom!
The Democrat Party is taking notice thats why there backing off the "public option" or whatever there calling it yesterday or tomorrow though the real name is socialism and we defeated that ideology 20 years ago the soviet union is d.o.a.
The American public is telling the Democrat Party BACK OFF LIBERAL SOCIALIST'S aint you seen none of them town hall's? Where you been in a liberal cave or something? Turn on Fox and stop tuning out.
Armey was performing self comforting gestures the entire time he was speaking to Maddow. He clearly wasn't believing what he was saying.
As he oils he way across the floor!
GOP-wealth care not health care'
Wacko fundis-Jesus is Hitler.
Dick Armey and his cohorts really don't want even Medicare or Social Security to even be in use.
The Dick should learn how to lie better.
Watch his body language as he lies, he fidgets and moves his hands as if he is washing the lies away. His body posture looks like someone uncomfortable saying what he is saying!
The other way I could tell he was lying…………. His lips were moving!