Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, one of the architects of the Republican victory in 1994, has urged his fellow Republicans to pay closer attention to the Constitution. In an interview with CBS News, Armey said that Republicans did not need to worry as much as ideology as they did to be dutiful. Congressman Armey noted that every member of Congress takes an oath to uphold the Constitution. Duty, Armey reiterated, is different from ideology or philosophy of government. He did not leave out free spending by Republican controlled congresses from his scolding.

Armey urged a fresh start with a central focus on individual responsibility. The former House leader urged that Republicans take a practical approach. In Armey's, it's unrealistic to suggest that entitlement programs vanish, simply because these programs were enacted under dubious constitutional authority. But, he continued, the direction of future policies on programs like Medicare should be toward voluntary participation rather than state compulsion.  While the guiding star should always be the liberty that the Founding Fathers intended to leave us, it's vital to at least begin to fight for as much individual choice as possible within government programs.  He said:  "if we can't restore America to the full dimensions of liberty, let's at least clear up the transgressions of the institutions that are there."

The approach Armey outlined is perhaps reflected in the positions of FreedomWorks, the conservative advocacy group Armey heads. For example, FreedomWorks calls for scrapping our current tax code and replacing it with a flat tax. By way of contrast, Congressman Ron Paul, who ran for President in 2008 on the Republican ticket as the "champion of the Constitution," calls for scrapping the federal income tax and replacing it with nothing.

Regarding healthcare, the FreedomWorks website says: "We want Americans to be able to use the free market to choose the care that suits their individual needs." It adds: "We believe that government should not gain more control over healthcare" — as opposed to taking the position that the federal government's already-significant role in healthcare should be phased out over time.

Armey has been a strong critic of President Obama's healthcare proposals — which would expand government's involvement in healthcare — as well as the "cap and trade" legislation supported by Obama. He also warned about the dangers of compulsory unionization, which is something that President Obama has been supporting. Congressman Armey noted that when the American people understand that the Obama administration is moving away from everything that created the American Dream, in pursuit of a purely academic idea of what America ought to be, then the president's current slide in public approval will increase.

Dick Armey, unlike so many other powerful politicians in Washington, is not a lawyer or a lifelong elected official. He attended college in North Dakota, far away from the powerbrokers in Washington, and later he taught economics at North Texas University.  Armey, a conservative congressman  during his years in the House (1985-2003), acquired a reputation for supporting the closure of unnecessary military bases, a position many congressmen generally considered conservative do not take.

In his CBS interview, Congressman Armey was asked about the Tea Party movement and whether FreedomWorks helped father that movement. He was asked if he agreed with Paul Krugman of the New York Times, who called Tea Parties "astroturf events." Congressman Armey said that this movement was genuinely spontaneous and that this movemment would have occurred with or without any help from FreedomWorks. Armey said that this movement could lead to the genuine rehabilitation of the Republican Party, and that when Republicans adopt its attitude of freedom, then Republicans would win. 

Photo of Dick Armey: AP Images

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Bonnie said:

Judging by past performance... ...what does Dick Armey know about the Constitution? I would have to say that at this point it is just meaningless rhetoric coming from Dick Armey.

December 15, 2009

Bill Williams said:

Amen and View www.freedomgap.org

December 15, 2009 | url

Conrad B said:

... Sorry Dick Army, This American is tired of both parties as they only serve their monied masters. I have no faith in either as they are free-trade, anti-American, pro illegal, pro scamnesty lapdogs who could care less about the people who vote for them. I'll take a Chuck Baldwin or any other Constitutional Statesman over a republicrat or demopublican anyday.

December 16, 2009

Jazmon said:

PLEASE PASS THE WORD LISTEN UP!!! Jorge Antonio Lovenguth (George), a USMC-H Vietnam Veteran, is willing to represent the Tea Party in the U.S. Senate without corporation backing. He is not accepting corporate donations; only donations from the people he will represent to meet the qualification fee to be on the ballot. Small donations from people, not corporations, will add up to make it happen. The most important donation to his campaign is to PASS THE WORD and get out the vote in Florida, Nov 2, 2010 for U.S. Senate. His approach is to come in helicopter style with VOTES on Election Day that the establishment will not expect and be surprised to see the Tea Party have someone to represent the People, instead of corporations, within Washington D.C. People please, put down your tea cup and Pass the Word to vote for Jorge Antonio Lovenguth (George), to be inside, in a seat in the U.S. Senate! He will be the only senator in history who will not owe any corporation interests and will be free to represent the interests of the people. He will focus on helping veterans, the elderly, and education; all areas currently highly neglected. His fight for the Florida St. Johns River and to stop offshore drilling is legend. He has a degree in literature and will actually read and write. All words will come from him and not speech writers. Isn’t that what you want in a senator? If you are a true American and really want direction and change within the current system that rules us all, go to www.TeaParty.pro and PASS THE WORD to everybody you know. Contribute to making history and real change in Washington D.C.! Only you can make it happen. Register to vote. Jazmon Jazmon@TeaParty.pro

December 16, 2009 | url