(Former House Majority Leader Dick) Armey scolded for sexist crack on "Hardball"

[sabra]

Source: Politico

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey stepped over the sexism line during an appearance on Hardball last night, where he told Salon editor in chief Joan Walsh he’s "so damn glad” she isn't’t his wife.

“I am so damn glad that you could never be my wife, ‘cause I surely wouldn't have to listen to that prattle from you every day,” Armey said.

"Well, that makes two of us," Walsh shot back.

Armey, who once called Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) as "Barney Fag," was getting worked up about the relevance of Rush Limbaugh in the GOP.

...

NYT columnist Bob Herbert, who was waiting off camera for an appearance, told host Chris Matthews that Armey owed Walsh and the show’s viewers an apology for his “sexist remarks.”

Armey "was so far out of line in the last segment with his sexist comments, and he owes Joan Walsh and your viewers an apology,” said Herbert

Matthews called the comments “overboard” and apologized on Armey's behalf.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0109/Armey_sc...

[Bake]

1. Typical Repugnican.

Bake

[Captain Hilts]

2. Why did no one mind when Barnicle said HillaryC "sounded like your first wife in probate court." ???

MSNBC, your first stop to find sexism!

[Chalco]

10. I minded. nt

[EFerrari]

14. People minded and we emailed MSNBC. n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

17. People minded. nt

[Captain Hilts]

21. Good to know!

[No Elephants]

27. What made you think no one minded?

[Captain Hilts]

35. Reading folks here that continue to watch and praise Barnicle. And MSNBC. nt

[No Elephants]

37. I don'tknow about that, but folks here are not the nation as a whole. And I doubt that

everyone here was fine with sexist remarks. But, you are going to have a hard time finding any network where no one makes a sexist remark. Heck, I was appalled by the Carraba's on PBS. They are a restauarant chain family and a freakin' cooking show on freakin' PBS. One ethnic and gender stereotype after another. They only lasted one season in Boston, but I don't know about the rest of the country. And I don't know that Boston stopped carrying the show because of the remarks.

If it isn't PBS, though, you have to contact the station and, even more so, the sponsors, and tell them how you feel.

[lonestarnot]

3. And don't forget, Cons are

liars!

[onehandle]

4. .

[jpak]

5. Give 'em enough rope...

[quidam56]

6. Another Fake Noise expression of Patirotism,

makes me kind of tear up... *sniffle* http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[CitizenPatriot]

8. LOL! Thanks for the laugh:-) nt

[deminks]

7. Did Rushbo tell him to say that?

It certainly fits with Rushbo's hatred of women.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Armey's display was revolting in many ways

Rude, sexist, and out of bounds. Chis needs to learn how to keep house. At a certain point in a guest's crude behavior, the host becomes party to it if he does not stop it. That comment was just the worst of an unprofessional and desperate performance by Armey. Matthews was not in control of his own show, and should have stepped in long before that vile crack, and after it as well. Armey continued to act out during Walsh's words and Chris's, as if that desk was his own to taint.
Chirs looked weak and cowed. In his own damn house. Rude is just rude. Politics is no excuse for what Armey said, nor for the rest of his showboating.
A pitiful display worthy of the Hannity Program.

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Yup. He should have stopped him cold, right there

And fine that Chris apologized, but he should have insisted that Armey do so, on camera. Or forget about having Hardball as a platform for spreading his message anymore.

[SIMPLYB1980]

20. I can't believe I'm going to, but I'm going to defend Tweety a little bit.

I kinda like the way he gives republics just enough rope to hang themselves. I'm sure he'll cover it again tonight, and thanks to him we have true righteous anger behind us in regards to how we treat DICK Army now. Kinda like what he did with Michelle Bachmann.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_pN2IPAw6E

[Captain Hilts]

22. I would agree with you if he hadn't said similar shit about female guests. nt

[SIMPLYB1980]

23. I understand. He's an ass. I'm just saying sometimes it proves useful.

That said he should make an effort to keep stuff like that off his show.

[JerseygirlCT]

25. Well, I guess we'll see. If Armey becomes a fixture

then Chris is just whimping out on this.

He's a pig (Armey), has always been so, and his ideas are bankrupt. I don't know why anyone would want to listen to a word he says, anyway. But behavior like this is just so unacceptable...

[No Elephants]

28. I'm surprised Matthews didn't join Armey, or at least smile.

[Captain Hilts]

34. "Hardball' has created an environment that is comfortable to folks that want to say crap like this.

MSNBC, in general, is second only to Faux for this crap. But when it comes to sexism, they're neck and neck.

[No Elephants]

36. Yep.

[mamameow]

11. slipping blob

yuck!! who would and could be married to DICK armey? he is like a big blob of lard slammed against the wall and it is slowing melting and sliding down. it's a good thing he and is wife stole together because they are forced to stay together. with that belly he cannot see his manhood anymore, oh, sorry, it's not his belly so much as there's NOTHING THERE! where's the dick????!!!!

[Naipes]

12. Dick Armey's an Arrogant Asshole

Two things about that asshole.

1) At least his name fits his personality, he's obviously a DICK.

2) If he's so against politics, why is he a Republican?

[newtothegame]

13. Dick Armey's a tool but...

I wouldn't pick a wife I couldn't stand to listen to either. I wouldn't say vocalizing that is "sexist." What's the problem?

[JerseygirlCT]

15. The problem? Seriously?

The problem is that she was in no way "running" to be his wife. She was a colleague, another respected commentator, sharing the show with him. Her gender, or her marital status is completely immaterial. He was attempting to reduce her to some sort of shrewish woman, belittling her status as a respected commentator, in order to belittle what she had to say.

Pure sexism. Overt. Over the top, even.

[newtothegame]

19. Well I'm just sayin...

that the history of some of us jumping on every little opportunity to silence someone by calling them a racist, sexist, etc. is exactly what burned us during the primaries, allowing supporters of Obama and supporters of Clinton to immediately cry "Racist!!" or "Sexist" when we didn't like what someone was saying.

[JerseygirlCT]

24. No doubt about this one.

Nothing iffy here.

Outright, blatant sexism. So I don't think in this case you need to be concerned.

[No Elephants]

29. How were "we" burned in the primaries again?

[Dumak]

18. Man, it was Armey himself who posited the hypothetical

about Walsh being his wife. Did you even read the original post?

Here's your statement, in case you decide to change it: "I wouldn't pick a wife I couldn't stand to listen to either. I wouldn't say vocalizing that is "sexist." What's the problem?"

[4_Legs_Good]

32. They were having a political debate not one on whether or not they'd be compatible mates

It was absoultely sexist and *way* out of line. Whether or not he wanted to marry her had ZERO to do with the discussion.

David

[TEXASYANKEE]

26. I'm not even sure why Joan Walsh was there.

Matthews only allowed her to speak once or twice. He allowed Armey to blather on and on and on, and asked him the majority of the questions. Aren't the Repubs in the MINORITY?? Shouldn't Walsh be asked the majority of the questions? Or at least given equal time?

[No Elephants]

30. Matthews said on his show that he voted for Bush twice. Any other questions?

[4_Legs_Good]

31. I saw that yesterday and couldn't believe my ears

What an utter @sshole.

David

[damntexdem]

33. He shouldn't be invited back anywhere in MSNBC.