Dick Armey (Of Darkness)

Ray-Ray takes Captain FreedomWorks out back and lets him have it with both barrels.



Not only does Dick Armey flat out lie about MoveOn.org non-existent Bush equals Hitler ad, but he refuses to admit Rachel Maddow is right and just sails along.

First, let's note the facts. Five years ago, MoveOn.org invited people to put together homemade television ads for the presidential campaign, and anyone could just post their idea to the group's site. Some unknown person put together an ad comparing Bush to Hitler, and put it on the MoveOn.org site without the group's knowledge. MoveOn pulled the submission. When Armey said MoveOn "ran those ads," he was lying.

Second, note the competing standards. If some anonymous liberal compares Bush to Hitler, Armey thinks it's "despicable." If Armey organizes far-right activists carrying placards comparing Obama to Hitler, he thinks they're "colorful."

And finally, now that it's obvious that Armey said things he knows are untrue on national television, any chance he'll be barred from returning? Will bookers conclude that Armey shouldn't be invited onto television news programs, since he's obviously willing to lie to the public? No, that's not how the game is played, which is why hacks like Armey feel comfortable lying in the first place -- there are no consequences.

I'm betting Dick Armey will in fact be on Meet the Press again before Rachel Maddow is, judging from David Gregory's peevish response to Rachel Maddow actually daring to correct Dick Armey. If anyone will not be booked, it's her. After all, she dared to call out Dick Armey on national TV. The Villagers don't like that when their conservative lobbyist friends get the flag thrown on their outright lies, you see.

But Steve Benen is right: there are never any consequences for a right-wing media figure to tell an outright lie on TV. Odds are very good it will simply get repeated by the Village.