MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show - 3 November 2009: "Fringe and Purge" segment. Dick Armey embraces town hall disrupter.

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MADDOW: "The reason that sort of thing happened in so many different townhall meetings during the month of August all around the country is, in part, because those things were not spontaneous. Organizing memos were circulated ahead of the health care town hall events. One of them was authored by a Connecticut man named Bob McGuffie. His memo, which was called 'Baracking the Town Halls - Best Practices,' called on town hall attendies to '... rock the boat early in the Rep's presentation. Watch for an opportunity to yell out... just short intermittent shout outs... the goal is to rattle him... stand up and shout out and sit right down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions.'

In our reporting over the summer, we described the author of that 'disrupt the town halls' memo as a FreedomWorks volunteer. Because of the extreme behavior at some town halls and the amount of attention they got, FreedomWorks chairman Dick Armey tried to disassociate himself and his organization from that memo specifically, on Meet The Press, while at the same time attacking me for us reporting on it."

ARMEY (VIDEO): "We got a situation where somebody in Connecticut that we did not know and who did not know us put out something that was mischaracterized and then attributed to us by somebody who obviously didn't have enough diligence in their ability to do their research to get their facts straight. These things happen. People get blamed for what other people do, but the fact is that just causes further aggravation. Especially when you start talking about elected officials, people that have the privilege of having news shows under the license granted by the federal government. They should at least have the adult discipline to get their facts correct."

MADDOW: "'People get blamed for what other people do. That guy in Connecticut had nothing to do with FreedomWorks.' Well, today, The Hartford Courant dispensed with that myth once and for all, when they reported that Dick Armey and his primary all-the-Republicans strategy is heading to Connecticut next Wednesday for a strategy session with:

the author of the rattle-them, disrupt-them, shout-them-down, tea party town hall memo

...who just a few weeks ago Dick Armey was saying had nothing to do with Dick Armey or FreedomWorks.

When Mr. Armey said 'people attacking me should at least have the adult discipline to get their facts correct,' I couldn't agree more, Mr. Armey. Enjoy your meeting next week with the guy you denied knowing. The guy you denied any connection with. The guy you attacked me for saying you had any connection to. If you want to come on the show afterwards to talk about adult discipline or anything else, you would be most welcome."