In response to amnesty stooge Dick Armey
I have wonderful, grass-roots friends at Freedomworks.
Dick Armey is not one of them.
He’s a clueless promoter of bailout-happy, big government Republican Sen. John McCain. And Armey’s a blowhard-y Beltway dinosaur who can’t resist shooting off his mouth and alienating the Tea Party base while criticizing other conservatives of alienation. At the National Press Club to promote the D.C. protest against Demcare, Armey veered off into a liberal platitude-littered rant against conservatives who believe in strict enforcement of our immigration laws.
Armey singled out former Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo and bragged about censoring him while they served in the House together:
Former Republican House leader Dick Armey said staunch anti-immigration opponents such as Rep. Tom Tancredo are destructive to Republicans — and are alienating a “natural” constituency that could help the party win elections.
“Who in the Republican Party was the genius that said that now that we have identified the fastest-growing voting demographic in America, let’s go out and alienate them?” Armey said, referencing Hispanics, during a luncheon in Washington at the National Press Club.
“When I was the majority leader, I saw to it that Tom Tancredo did not get on the stage because I saw how destructive he was,” Armey said of the Colorado congressman and 2008 Republican presidential candidate known for his opposition to illegal immigration.
Armey said “this is a nation of immigrants” and “if you love America, love freedom” and if you will work and pay taxes, you should be welcome in the country.
The “nation of immigrants” mantra has been addressed many times on this blog — history lessons here and here. Just like all the other open-borders zealots who smear those of us who believe in strict immigration enforcement and control, Armey whitewashes the distinction between legal and illegal.
Since when are illegal Hispanic aliens the “natural” constituency of the Republican Party? See also: Debunking open-borders myths and Whither the Hispanic vote?
Tancredo was on the right side of the illegal alien shamnesty debate from day one — and as John Derbyshire noted in defense of Tancredo, “Tom stood up for our national sovereignty, for the integrity of our borders and the enforcement of our laws, when most Republican politicians were weaseling on those issues (as too many still are). I’ll honor him for that.”
NumbersUSA details Armey’s pro-amnesty record. It’s abysmal.
In boasting about exercising his Beltway power to keep folks like Tancredo off the stage, Armey embodies everything the Tea Party movement is supposed to stand against — top-down control, political hubris, silencing of dissent. With “friends” like Dick Armey, who needs enemies?
Caveat emptor.
***
The open-borders lobby will march on Washington this Sunday. Perhaps Armey can serve as an honorary grand marshal, with his good friends John McCain and Lindsey Graham leading the feckless GOP contingent.
***
Related reading from Tancredo: Republicans and the Hispanic Vote: Inconvenient Facts for Amnesty Proponents
Related: More issues with Dick Armey, via Dan Riehl.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
CPAC vs. the Occupiers: Keep calm and carry silly string
February 9, 2012 10:15 AM by Michelle Malkin
109 Comments
Fast and Furious showdown: Holder/Obama defend bloody culture of contempt; Update: Fortress Holder, Stonewall City; vid clips added, Dems advise, “Don’t answer”
February 2, 2012 09:16 AM by Michelle Malkin
158 CommentsObama and Jan Brewer Have Words on Airport Tarmac; Update: Brewer Book Sales Skyrocket
January 25, 2012 09:54 PM by Doug Powers
165 Comments
Gingrich channels open-borders SEIU; Rubio rebukes; Update:Newt retreats
January 25, 2012 10:56 AM by Michelle Malkin
155 Comments
Obama heads to Disney World to push looser visa policies
January 17, 2012 01:14 PM by Michelle Malkin
95 Comments
Obama’s “Razist” Lobbyist Moves Up
January 13, 2012 06:29 AM by Michelle Malkin
233 CommentsFemme-a-gogue Debbie Wasserman Schultz smears Tea Party, exploits Tucson massacre anniversary
January 11, 2012 02:13 PM by Michelle Malkin
185 Comments
The Year in Obama Scandals — and Scandal Deniers
December 28, 2011 12:04 PM by Michelle Malkin
122 Comments
Categories: Amnesty,Immigration,Tea Party
Patterico
» Rick Santorum and the two playbooksPundit & Pundette
» King Barack vs. the NonconformistsJustOneMinute
» Cat Blogging In A Harsh New LightNRO
» The Church of Obama
So, as long as you work and pay taxes, you’re welcome here? Would bin Laden qualify? Why not?
How hard does one have to work? Does working as a subversive qualify? How about a drug smuggler?
Which taxes? Is sales tax enough? Why not?
Just poking holes in the idiotic argument.
Illegals are a voting demographic? Oh, yeah, Dems believe in illegals voting. Apparently this “genius” does too.
Leading? Graham prefers “bringing up the rear.”
MM – I’ve had to block the e-mails I was getting from Dick Armey’s propaganda website. Still haven’t figured out where he got my e-mail address? The biggest thing these usurpers of other people’s groups want are $$$$.
Hey Dick Armey, why didn’t you repeal immigration laws? Oh yeah, WE don’t want illegals here. How about a bounty on each one caught, that would create jobs fast.
So what, they’ve identified the fastest growing voting demographic in America…
The bloc solidly votes D O N K ! Idiot!
Armey and McCain won’t be happy until the phone messages say “Press 2 for English.”
Doesn’t matter how hard they work and how much they pay in taxes if the rest of their family is pulling down more in welfare than they’re paying taxes. Open borders isn’t just about illegal workers anyway. It’s about NATIONAL SECURITY.
The failure of logic in that statement is that it conflates “Hispanic” with “Illegal.”
If I were a legal US resident or a citizen of Hispanic origin, I’d resent illegal aliens as much as anyone else — maybe even more, because of the damage they do when the mentally flaccid like Armey want to lump me together with them.
You can pursue the Hispanic vote without pandering to illegals. In fact, doing the latter is only an act of insincerity, readily recognized as such by the target audience.
Armey isn’t running for office this year, is he? I hope not…
Does that mean he thinks the 35-40% who don’t pay taxes aren’t welcome here?
;^)
Right there is why these people want amnesty. To them, the Constitution and the betterment of the USA is far down on the list of reasons to promote anything.
It’s all about the votes with both sides of the aisle.
Jeff; a brilliant idea! We offer a bounty on tax cheats already, so go after these illegals and turn them in to the IRS and claim the 10% fee. People who have been working in congresswoman gotbucks house as a maid with her husband being the gardener for 20 years should provide a nice little IRS golden egg, and you get 10%.
I’ve been leery of Freedomworks since I found out that Armey is the head honcho.He’s one of the tools that put the GOP in the crapper and paved the way for the socialist takeover of Congress.
I see that my suspicions are confirmed.
The tea parties need to distance themselves from this a**hole. He’s trying to coopt the movement to no good purpose.
Fixed
Thanks to MM for posting.
I hope Tea Party people everywhere given Armey a cold should whenever and wherever their paths happen to meet.
Many criminals ‘work’ and ‘pay taxes’. So what? Why shouldn’t we accept all of the world’s criminals that might want to come here??
*Like I always say, press 1 for English, and press 2 for Deportation!
*Armey has been outed as belonging to the “Death to America” Party, a combination of most Democrats and ALL RINO’s; Freedomworks needs to cut him loose soon; Amnesty for illegal aliens spells death to America, and I will fight these advocacy pimps for illegal alien amnesty until ultimate victory for those of us that believe in the rule of law!
*Enforce the laws(demagnetize)and streamline the system for legal immigration; Nothing more, nothing less!
*What a country killing concept, to export jobs(16% unemployment) while at the same time importing people; Pure insanity!
The one-party system at work again.
Vote out all incumbents!!!!!
It’s the only way to reboot our government. There are too many layers on this onion and the rot goes deep.
Just another reminder of what is wrong with the GOP. And this idiot isn’t even in office any longer! Doesn’t he have the good sense to just shut up?
Believe me, if THIS Republican party is still led by the same Assistant Democrats who orchestrated the 2006 and 2008 catastrophes next November, we will be fighting these guys even harder than we are currently fighting the Dems.
THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN PARTY! They are just the Democrats’ B-team.
*By the way Michelle, I think “amnesty stool” would be more appropriate!
These Assistant Democrats are salivating in anticipation of a Democrat rout in November. Does voting 3rd party still sound like throwing your vote away?
To counter the illegal alien coddling march, NumbersUSA has a great campaign going for this weekend – personally visiting LOCAL offices of Congress Critters all at 1:30 PM local time this Friday.
Their S.T.O.P Amnesty campaign is over 4 days, starting Friday, March 19.
GET WITH IT, FOLKS!!!
Armey is yet another phony Tea Partier (Federalist). It’s time to look to real patriots like Paul Jacob and Andrew Napolitano for whatever leadership we seek.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Usually illegals can’t vote, but who knows these days. More importantly, it shows that Armey wants politicans to ignore our laws and morals, in order to insure elections. That’s something the liberals do.
Amen.
This is a concept the Republicans should adopt if they wish to survive. Given their track record, I doubt they will.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
FIFY Dick.
When you refuse to enforce the law or change laws using due process and instead ignore them, this is the mess you get.
Speaking of TEA parties, the big one in Searchlight on March 27 will feature Sarah Palin at Searchlight, Ann Coulter at the next stop that afternoon in nearby Henderson, and my favorite to beat Harry Reid – Sharron Angle. See you there!!
Sharron is a special invitee:
This is why: http://www.sharronangle.com/ConservativeRecord.html
Voting Republican IS voting 3rd party.
I’ll pass, thanks. If a Republican chooses to embrace Federalist positions, I’ll vote for him – not before.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
HAHAHAHA
“ARMNESTY”
Just my mind wandering hahaha
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I’ll pass.
She got on the McCain bandwagon WAY too easily – and then did it again.
I’m all for the tea party, but we’re going to have to do better than Sarah Palin (she’s about a 6 on a scale of 10 where at least an 8 should be required) if we’re going to get where we need to be.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
I knew this guy was slime when he started to try hijacking the tea party movement. The only movement he exemplifies is the one in the toilet!
I hope those groups have the good sense to boot this low life scum bag!
The bottom line in this is that Dick Armey NEVER bothered to have EXISTING immigration laws enforced.
This failure to enforce the laws, as enacted in 1987, is what is behind the entire illegal alien discussion.
The Washington Times reported yesterday that the Obama DHS/Napolitano has decided not to spend the stimulus money intended for a virtual border fence on that project, and has cut customs/border protection’s budget by 30%.
We went from a fence, to a virtual fence, to no fence (as most of us believed), and soon we’ll have amnesty shoved down our throats.
To hear this message in Spanish …
MUAHAHAHA
(856) 438-0055 for a special message to Dick Armnesty.
MUAHAHAHA
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
So Sarah is taking time-out from campaigning for “Amnesty King” John McCain (D-Juarez) long enough to put on her other mask?
Not to change the subject, but here’s more proof that Armey doesn’t have a clue what the American public wants. Armey was on some liberal TV show where the guy was comparing auto insurance with the health care bill—Armey didn’t even have the sense to tell the jerk that he was comparing apples with oranges: see today’s Newsbusters.com.
Unfortunately, there’s only a field of 5s to choose from right now.
Understand your feelings completely – I consider McCain the most treacherous politician around, after his bill changed the Z visa waiting period from 90 days in 2006 to a SINGLE BUSINESS DAY in 2007 (twice). The most cynical and insulting move in American history.
I’ve never heard Palin make a clear statement on illegal immigration, but if she can draw a crowd to hear my candidate, Sharron Angle – who is VERY strong against illegal immigration – (that’s why I volunteered to be her pilot in 2006 and this year) – fine with me.
Phil gets “Quip of the Week” honors!!!
At the Oba-Kabuki two weeks ago, everyone had their dander up when Obama admonished McCain with “John, the campaign is over.” What everyone seems to have missed was McCain’s closing comment where he stated that Republicans were close to agreement on ObamaCare. McCain set himself up for the admonishment with his stupid opening comment then proved what a useless Dem tool he is with his closing comment.
The real stars for the GOP are Paul Ryan and Jim Demint so get used to hearing them referred to as “nutty”.
We the People of the United States of America have the right to have our borders and our laws respected and enforced.
Citizens of other countries illegally in our country have no right to demand anything from our government. They most certainly have the right to petition the governments of their home countries for change if they are unhappy with their home country. If they want to be Americans, we have a path to citizenship, more generous than any other nation, and it starts in their home country.
We need to insist on the equal protection, application and enforcement of the law or devolve into anarchy. Our Republic only functions if everyone follows the same rules. We should not change the laws to accomodate those breaking them.
If America annouces to the world “We can’t stop you, so come on in” with another amnesty, the deluge will be overwhelming. If 3,000 a day didn’t get your attention, then wait until it’s 10,000 a day. We cannot sustain this influx and survive as a nation. We must speak up and speak to each other about this and not let false claims of racism or bigotry be used to intimidate us into silent assent. America is not Congress’ to give away. America belongs to We the People. Speak to your neighbors, speak to your coworkers, but please speak up to your Congressmen and Senators. It’s O.K. for us to enforce our laws, no really, it is.
Someone please tell Sens. McCain and Graham
Signing on to the McCain agenda not once but twice is enough of a statement for me.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
How about this choice for Congress?
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
My preferred reference to McAmnesty is King Weasel.
This should be Sarah Palin’s official cruise liner.
Like Sarah, it also sank in port as it was first launched. I think it hit a McCain-berg or something.
Note how that ship immediately leaned hard left and sank.
It’s very simple. Immigrants today (mostly Hispanic) take $3 from public services for every $1 they pay in ntaxes. That’s why they are coming here…DUH!!!!! Armey thinks all these Hispanics could be republican votes. What a moron. Hispanics, like most of the other minorities who are poor, will vote for the political party shelling out the most goodies; and of course we know which party that is. Amnesty will lead to a permanent one party system, and eventually bankruptcy, as the parasites in Congress and their constituents kill the golden goose.
Armnesty, like most Republicans, would gladly try to be the ones shelling out all the goodies.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Problem is Dick, they don’t vote Republican and when they are in a position of power they will not welcome people who look like you. You’re likely to win a Darwin Award with those political instincts.
Armey is not only a dick, he’s also an idiot.
Good Lord, if you guys are to the right of Dick Armey…you are the right wings version of Code Pink loons.
Is that the same cowboy hat that George W. Bush used to wear on his bicycle ranch?
Standing for the rule of law and national sovereignty is now considered loony?
Most polls show at least half of the American citizens of Hispanic descent want the borders and laws enforced. Republicans will not win by alienating their current voters to get 40% of a new small block (13%) that will grow very large, very fast if amnesty is granted. That will grow the Democrats vote larger and faster as the influx increases exponentially as the result of another amnesty. It will spell the end of the Republican Party. The people who used to vote Republican will stop voting or form a new party. Conservatives will lose political influence and we will slide inexorably towards socialism (it has already started).
Most of what you hear about this issue is political propaganda that tries to convince you to give up your country without a fight, including on Fox News. The big money players are all on board the cheap labor express, they care not that American citizens do not want another amnesty. We know the last one resulted in 10 times the number of illegal aliens and a general disregard of our laws. The next one will be equally successful.
This party would be a good start.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
The purely libertarian position is that if you can afford to buy a house or a condo, or rent an apartment, the government has no business stopping you from moving into a domicile inside the country from outside the country. Dick Armey has always claimed to be a libertarian.
One key difference:
Code Pink is anti-Freedom and anti-Constitution.
I’ll proudly be called a loon for standing up for the vision of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. It just goes with the territory of being right.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
A pro-scamnesty libertarian?
Please.
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Armey, McShame,Grahmnesty, Collins, Snowed and others are dems dressed as Republicans, then again so is the RNC chairman Steele…no wonder the base has deserted the party.
Tom is right- we think he’s cool.
Dick turns out, to be just a tool.
Harry the “King”- is just a fool!
Nasty smelly critters hard to handle-OK.
Then why have immigration laws at all? Just open the borders, ports, and airports to anyone that wants to come in.
Idiot.
Here’s a swap suggestion – We’ve got anywhere from 10-30 million (depending on where you find the stats) illegals in this country. If our Congresscritters want amnesty, in exchange for amnesty we’ll agree to end all foreign aid and dues to the UN, NATO, and disaster aid. It must be cut off now. We’re going to need that money here. All illegal males over the age of 18 through 40 must immediately go into military training then back to their countries of origin to clean up the mess they allowed, perhaps encouraged, to occur there. It’s not only Mexico that we have camped out in our country – it’s China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, plus Central and South Americans – and none of those groups like each other. There will be a civil war at some point, it’s time to see what our immigrants are made of. If they won’t fight for their own country, they sure as h@ll won’t fight for this one.
Army reads like he is for a North American Union. Perhaps, he and the Pope can pay for the anchor babies, and ultrasound exams.
Well, someone has to pay!
Uh, gee, why pay taxes? Because it’s the law? Well nitwit, people are PO’d at ILLEGAL immigration….you know, people breaking the law? Get a clue!
Why is it these RINO’s who want the border wide open think illegal immigrants given amnesty will automatically vote Republican?
These are people already likely getting things from Uncle Sugar, or will be once legalized, and will vote for those most willing to continue giving them something for nothing…but their vote.
I came across this site the other day.
I wonder how these open borders lowlifes would react if some undocumented congressman showed up in their little realm and started having their way with things.
I’d bet they wouldn’t be so open borders then.
Dick Armey, Michael Steele, and a host of others are the reason that the Republican party no longer receives contributions from me. It is why I will change my voter registration from Republican to independent or non-aligned or whatever else is unaffiliated with these pompous, ignominious, self centered, power hungry, self aggrandizing poltroons.
Just Say NO! to Republicans and Democrats. Vote for individuals with a record of real service to the country and not a record of service for their own benefit.
fat Dick Armey has always been a RINO sack of crap. I saw through this creep years ago. conservative my ass.
any politician who supports or encourages this insane invasion should be strung up by their thumbs. or put in a leaky boat in the middle of the ocean.
First, don’t let the debate devolve into legal versus illegal immigration. The real question concerns MASS immigration. The politicians can always increase the legal number of immigrants to compensate for any reduction through enforcement of illegal immigration. It is mass immigration that presents the problem especially if immigrants aren’t assimilated, and are primarily from one locale which leads towards a less diverse nation which immigration was supposed to change. For example, if 25% of the population will be Mexican, than how is that any more diverse than when 25% of the nation was British?
Second, we were sold a bill of goods that mass immigration would make up for our lack of replacement level fertility so that there would be young workers to pay for our retirement benefits. This phenomenon of an ageing population is also occurring in Europe, S.Korea and Japan. However, S. Korea and Japan have not opened up to mass immigration. As a result they will face problems as fewer workers will be available to support retirees. However, Europe and the USA will still have these problems since the newcomers consume more benefits than they pay in taxes. In addition, we’ll have to deal with the problems of radically assimilating different populations that the East Asians won’t have.
Unless the republicans support immigration levels like we had from 1924 to 1965, there is no point in supporting them. Anything else is just putting the US on the fast track to oblivion.
Karl Rove, George Bush, John McCain, and apparently Dick Armey believe that if republicans support amnesty, the lions’s share of hispanics will become republican voters.
If this were true, wouldn’t the hispanics that were granted amnesty by Ronald Reagan in 1986 be republicans today?
I’ve often wondered why Republicans care about the Hispanic voting bloc as if Hispanics would ever support conservative candidates. The RINO elites have lost any semblance of integrity and their oath to the Constitution. Everything they do is based upon some political calculation.
Republicans, as a party, never have and never will win elections acting like Democrats. McCain and Graham are rare exceptions. Snowe and Collins have to act like Democrats to get elected in the Socialist supported Northeast.
I would respect McCain and Graham if they switched parties. At least they would be intellectually honest if they were Democrats. They’re both a cancer in the party that need to be removed.
“If you work and pay taxes you should be welcome in this country” does that mean a large share of those in Washington DC should not be welcome. There seems to be a lot of politicians and their staff members that don’t bother with paying taxes.
Facts about Amnesty (Why Amnesty is Bad Policy) -
FACT: No amnesty ever stopped or slowed the flow of illegal aliens into the US. None. Ever.
FACT: There have been not 1 but a total of 7 amnesties of varying types since and including the largest and best known one of 1986.
FACT: The Social Security Administration (SSA) disclosed recently that the balance of payments for the SSA is expected to shift this year from a net surplus to a net deficit. How does adding 12 or more million persons AND THEIR DEPENDENTS increase the solvency or longevity of Social Security as a program? Amnesty would increase the pool of people that qualify for benefits at the flick of a switch.
FACT: Prior to the implementation of the 1986 amnesty, the GAO did an estimate to predict the number of persons expected to apply for/receive amnesty. After the law was passed, they retroactively found that the actual number of persons that had applied for amnesty was approximately 3-4 times the originally expected number. Fraud and abuse were pervasive.
FACT: Although an initial supporter of the 1986 amnesty and having signed the 1986 law, Ronald Reagan later admitted that the policy was a failure.
FACT: The USCIS already lacks capacity to process the millions of visa applications, passports, etc. required of it in a timely fashion. Adding millions of additional applications into their workload would all but guarantee a massive increase in errors and the admittance of persons that are otherwise not eligible and have no rightful place in the US. If fraud and abuse were bad with 1-3.5 million applications, what would be like with 12 million hastily processed applications?
FACT: An illegal alien amnesty is a concept that REQUIRES a class of criminals step forward and offer ‘honest’ applications to receive the benefit of law that no other American can receive.
FACT: Amnesty was bad policy then and would be even worse policy now.
they just had sarah palin and Mccain on greta show.
and I am finished with sarah palin because she said that she agrees with and fully supports McCain’s position on immigration. iow, she is another softy amnesty supporter who is thus not a real conservative, because real conservatives stand up for law enforcement and do not support govt spending for illegal aliens.
that previous joke of a bill by Mccain and graham would have cost taxpayers TRILLIONS according to the Heritage Foundation.
not to mention that legalizing millions of leftist scofflaw foreign invaders would PERMANENTLY put the likes of Obama, reid and pelosi in charge in perpetuity. the lefty vote would be bolstered beyond hope for the right.
When Sarah Palin signed on to the ticket 2008, she pretty much adopted McCain’s support of amnesty. She has now confirmed that.
A conservative would not.