Associated Press
It's been a few weeks since David Corn first reported on the behind-the-scenes drama at FreedomWorks, a powerful and well-funded right-wing organization, including the ouster of Dick Armey, who departed with an $8 million payout. We've since learned that allegations of wrongdoing and legal threats have intensified, and Corn obtained a memo from Matt Kibbe, president of the group, accusing board members of mounting a "hostile takeover."
But to appreciate just how out of control things have become at the Tea Party group, take a look at this remarkable piece from Amy Gardner.
The day after Labor Day, just as campaign season was entering its final frenzy, FreedomWorks, the Washington-based tea party organization, went into free fall.
Richard K. Armey, the group's chairman and a former House majority leader, walked into the group's Capitol Hill offices with his wife, Susan, and an aide holstering a handgun at his waist. The aim was to seize control of the group and expel Armey's enemies: The gun-wielding assistant escorted FreedomWorks' top two employees off the premises, while Armey suspended several others who broke down in sobs at the news.
The coup lasted all of six days. By Sept. 10, Armey was gone -- with a promise of $8 million -- and the five ousted employees were back.
Like Josh Marshall, I noticed some chatter overnight about Dick Armey leading an "armed coup" at FreedomWorks, but it never occurred to me that the phrase was being used literally.
But it was. In early September, Armey marched into FreedomWorks's office with his wife, his executive assistant, and an unidentified man with a gun. Matt Kibbe, the group's president, and Adam Brandon, its senior vice president, were "promptly escorted" out of the building.
"This was two weeks after there had been a shooting at the Family Research Council," a junior staff member told the Washington Post. "So when a man with a gun who didn't identify himself to me or other people on staff, and a woman I'd never seen before said there was an announcement, my first gut was, 'Is FreedomWorks in danger?' It was bizarre.' "
That sounds like a perfectly good adjective under the circumstances.
We're also learning, by the way, about some of the mysterious financiers behind FreedomWorks' operation.
The force behind their return was Richard J. Stephenson, a reclusive Illinois millionaire who has exerted increasing control over one of Washington's most influential conservative grass-roots organizations.
Stephenson, the founder of the for-profit Cancer Treatment Centers of America and a director on the FreedomWorks board, agreed to commit $400,000 per year over 20 years in exchange for Armey's agreement to leave the group.
The episode illustrates the growing role of wealthy donors in swaying the direction of FreedomWorks and other political groups, which increasingly rely on unlimited contributions from corporations and financiers for their financial livelihood.... In the weeks before the election, more than $12 million in donations was funneled through two Tennessee corporations to the FreedomWorks super PAC after negotiations with Stephenson over a preelection gift of the same size, according to three current and former employees with knowledge of the arrangement. The origin of the money has not previously been reported.
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Freedom does not work when conducted in shadow by unnamed manipulators.
Freedom does not work when conducted in shadow by armed manipulators.
Fixed.
It depends on Whose "Freedom" you are talking about...
Remember you are a plebeian, a serf, a peon...you can't afford "Freedom"
"grass roots"
We are not worthy, we are not worthy.
In AmeriKKKa freedom isn't freedom if it depends upon unarmed manipulators; not unnamed ones.
Isn't toting a gun without the knowledge of private citizens who fear the gun toting idiots?
With any kind of luck at all, Armey will be gone from politics forever.
Problem is, he's but one tumor in a political cancer.
How many "grass-roots organizations" have a chairman? And how many can afford to pay an $8 million golden parachute to have their chairman step down and walk away?
Just another off shoot of the Rove and Karen Hughes propaganda machine much like Faux News but the unusual suspects are much richer, loonier, and dangerous.
Off shoot was probably the term you were looking for, sandy. But shoot off may, in fact, work even better.
Money, Guns and Lawyers - the modern standard operating procedures for our friends to the Wealthy, Nutty Right of us common, sane folk!
Richard does, it seems, literally travel with a Dick Army! -Kevo
Now that's grass-roots activism! The grass being threat of violence for/by the retarded pseudo-conservative ideological extortion cabal.
So much for the Army of Dicks!
I'm sorry sir but you can't smoke indoors in this State.The concealed weapon is fine though.
You just blew a .09 on the breathalyzer so I gotta take you to jail and write you a DUI,that's a felony by the way. Good thing you already have that pistol.I'm joking, they sell pistols to drunks all the time even if they have a DUI.
America where guns are people? Right to form a miltia ? Armor piercing rounds are good deer slayers? You need a thirty round clip to shoot a bunny?
Have a happy new year and remember this is the year of the Colt.
No, the thirty round clip is for dropping Canadian geese. You need laser sights and tracer rounds for that damn bunny.
Guns are more likely to admire being compared with corporations . People are very expensive , and are only mentioned in their most modest of virtue (slim pickin's) , and their ability to pay .
and pay
and pay ...∞
Don't forget full body armor for your dog. Or spare dogs.
When I left NY, a DUI was a misdemeanor and a DWI was a felony and you could do jail time.
These old coot rich people are more dangerous than gangland youth on our streets.
Lucky for us they've all locked themselves up with each other behind their gated communities. Let's hope they keep it to those streets.
OK, I'm shallow... But I feel I must simply express to you folks, my friends, that Matt Kibbe creeps me out, the dude is scary looking and acting. Not that Dick is Bing Crosby by any means, but I would hitch on to Dick way before I would adhere to Kibbe...
For-profit cancer treatment? What does that look like? Apparently the absence of "competent and reliable evidence -- scientific in certain appropriate instances -- to support representations about patient survivorship or cure rates, or endorsement, or efficacy, performance, safety or benefits of any cancer treatment." http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/06/petapp32.shtm
It's what we got and have, for profit healthcare. Cancer care is particularly profitable because of it's ferocity and outcomes. People of course will be willing to try anything to cure or beat it, so these outfits like the Cancer Treatment Center play on that theme for huge profits.
Yes, it used to be that being a doctor automatically conferred wealth and respect in this country. Insurance companies changed all that and are effectively reducing the amount of compensation that most doctors receive.
So where the real money is to be made is in the procedures NOT covered by insurance, the things people pay for out of their own pockets. This includes diet doctors, many sports-medicine or lasik surgery physicians and cancer centers that prey on people where mainstream medicine leaves off.
Don't become a physician if you want to get rich these days. With the cost of the education (minimum 12 years of post-secondary training) and the constrained compensation due to the insurance carriers, you'll be lucky to break even. Unless you slime your way into one of these vulture venues, and then the sky's the limit.
You nailed it JR.
I have nothing constructive to say about this at this time!
Hahahahahahahaha...., this is the way it works in Tea Potty Wingnut World. And these are the kooks controlling the agenda of the United States. Way to go, America. Way to go.
This all gets more frightening by the minute. Are we really going to be a country defined by our violence and our greed? Can we really not stop this before it's too late? Please, please contact your congresspeople and senators and let them know how you feel. How in the world does an armed coup attempt not negate one's "pension" Help me understand all of this.
Many of our congresspeople and senators are bought and paid for by these people.
It is darn scary, but so many are pro NRA.
It would seem that our illustrious Supreme Court has turned America into a banana republic.
The rich are the New Aristocrats. We had the Robber Barons in the Gilded Age.
Now we have the Rise of the Gluttons in the Age of Inequality.
Socialist, commie, pinko Brit here. Keep up the political comedy, America.
Kind Regards
World.
What are we? Pubs call us socialists but they are preparing for anarchy. Progressives are for the people, by the people and of the people. So far they they aren't considering cuts to research. I don't think there has been cuts in the NIH or the FDA. The National Institute of cancer should keep us informed of recent development sand the new drugs available to private citizens but not yet approved by the FDA . Also, keep us informed of the best hospitals to get your treatments.
A Dick Army?
Dick Army, sounds like a gay porn title
A previous poster noted that this "grass roots" outfit can afford an 8 mil payout to Armey. We need to be watchful for the things they'll try when they realize that voter demographics are working against them. When they can't steal elections, what will they use their millions for? What will they do if their fraudulent PACs can't exert enough influence on voters to keep progressives out of office? I fear that they won't simply retire behind their gates and pout.
Retire? Most of them are half dead and far to arrogant to change their diets and give up booze and cigars.
I think that that the last election shows that money can't buy everything.
So, anyone who is treated by Cancer Treatment Centers is indirectly supporting the Tea Party and far right ideology. Wonderful.
Not to my knowledge. My aunt has lung cancer but refused to go to a better hospital for her treatments. A friend of mine went to a lung research and treatment center. She had oral cancer. Another friend of mine went directly to NCI. He had cancer all through his body. It has been several years now and he is still in remission.
FreedomWorks is nothing more than a "organized crime organization", because what they stand for is committing crimes against the people. They should be outlawed!
Buying elections is the most absurd technique proposed by the gov and the supreme court and what I have heard of in a long time.
You guys read too much. Yes, there are answers, you're on the right track, and no, I'm not discussing it here. I do not intend to lose. Just call me crazy again.
Way to follow the money! Now tell us Rachel, who really funds the NRA? Who are the nation's richest death merchants?
Some of those wealthy conservative donors (like the Kochs for example) are also business owners who nickel and dime their workers wages and benefits, while donating heavily ro conservative causes.
And of course there is a connection.
Where were all the gun toting Freedomworks employees? If everyone had been armed, the coup would have ended as soon as it started! (along with the lives of any number of innocent bystanders.) NRA wins again!
Nailed it!
After all, the only person that can stop a bad guy with a gun and Dick Armey is a good guy with a gun and Wayne LaPierre.
Remember how the National Socialists started? I am a bit disturbed reading this because I'm getting a deja vu feeling. The tea party originally conceived by the Ron Paul folks seemed like a good idea at the time, with the potential to do some good. Then the GOP machine took control, backed by all this money and now thuggery. So really it's not a grassroots tea party, but more of an oligarchy party. Timed with Citizens United, its kinda of turned into the perfect storm hasn't it?
They would love a plutocracy and put the progressives in some sort of colony giving the right complete control.