Maddow Blasts AFP's Tim Phillips as "Parasite", "Bad for the Country"
By scarce Friday Oct 16, 2009 12:00pm
Rachel had an extended segment with America For Prosperity (AFP)'s Tim Phillips tonight. AFP is yet another of those 501 organizations on the right funded by the insanely wealthy, founded for no specific purpose other than keeping taxes as low as possible and government out of their day-to-day activities as much as possible. The amorphous nature of the group means they can quickly adapt to whatever issues are popular at the moment and likely to draw the most cash donations. Mostly though they're a tool of a the Republican Party. The past president of AFP went straight from Koch Industries to the AFP, and then onto the McCain campaign as a spokeperson, Nancy Pfotenhauer. Enter Tim Phillips.
Prior to becoming the AFP President Phillips main claims to fame were as a political operative, with connections to Ralph Reed and Jack Abramoff. Phillips was instrumental in the infamous Max Cleland-Saxby Chambliss race for Senate in 2002, often described as one of the dirtiest campaigns ever. Since becoming president of AFP they've been involved in every conservative cause, from drilling on ANWR in Alaska and denying Global warming; to helping organize the Tea Party movement (along with Dick Armey's Koch-sponsored sister group Freedom Works); to now taking an active role in opposing health care reform under the "Patients United Now" ad campaign, with one of them the infamous Shona Holmes ads. Phillips makes regular appearances on all the cable news networks but especially Fox News, of course. His "aw shucks" manner plays well there and he's fairly adept at denying the reality of his work as some homespun, grassroots organization when it is anything but. Phillips is among the slimiest of this faux movement, and Rachel rightly calls him out on his foul history.
A larger quote is below this one but here is a snippet of the exchange where Rachel tells Philips what she thinks of him and his kind.
Maddow: I just want to know who you are and I want America to know.
Phillips: Sure.
Maddow: And I have to tell you—because we’re making this about you and me is that I personally think that you and the folks who do what you do are a parasite who gets fat on Americans’ fears. And I hope that…
Phillips: That’s very hurtful and disappointing…
Maddow: I know…
Phillips: You certainly have a right to say that and it’s wrong.
Maddow: And I know that sounds hurtful. That’s why I paused before I said it but I want…
Phillips: And you’re wrong and you’re disparaging a lot of Americans who are out there fighting the good fight Rachel.
Maddow: But I want—I want…no. It’s different.
Phillips: Sure you are.
And here is a more complete text of their exchange. The entire two-part segment is available at MSNBC, here (Part 1) and here (Part 2). For the most part it is surprisingly congenial even while both share nothing but contempt for each other's professional activities.
Maddow: I’m not trying, I’m not just trying to cherry pick the Jack Abramoff…
Phillips: Sure you are.
Maddow: There’s the Jack Abramoff involvement…
Phillips: Mmm hmm.
Maddow: There’s the Saxby Chambliss issue. There’s the Koch Industries funded group that you’re doing—that you’re working at now that is…
Phillips: And by the way on the Koch thing. Well, just hear me out because you’ve mentioned that several times.
Maddow: Yeah, David Koch taking credit just last week for having founded the group that became…
Phillips: And we’re thrilled. David Koch has every right to do that. And Rachel you say “Oh I’m not disparaging David Koch. Of course you are. Come on.
Maddow: No. I’m saying this is an important thing…
Phillips: You’re attacking him for being involved in the process.
Maddow: I’m just saying when people look at that bus—they look at Americans for Prosperity, when they look at your big hot air balloon and say…
Phillips: And these aren’t Americans?
Maddow: No, I want them to think “There’s a guy who’s the eighth richest man in America because he inherited an oil and chemical company from his dad who founded this group.
(crosstalk)
Phillips: Inherited? They built that company. It’s one of the best companies in American businesses.
Maddow: But I want people to look at that hot air balloon that says climate change paranoia is all hot air and I want them to think oil and chemical company—the largest privately held oil and chemical company in the country. And for you to try to distance yourself from your own…
Phillips: You can do that.
Maddow: …funder undercuts your own credibility.
Phillips: And that’s why you’re losing on cap and trade. Why you’re losing on health care.
(crosstalk)
Phillips: Well the proof’s in the pudding. ObamaCare is below fifty percent. Cap and trade—there’s a governor’s race in Virginia right now where the Republican candidate is actually using cap and trade because Americans have woken up. They know what’s going on cap and trade because groups like Americans for Prosperity are going to tell them what’s going on.
If you want to keep attacking me for a flier that was a decade old or for a T.V. ad that’s years ago, you can. It’s a losing strategy Rachel.
Maddow: I just want to know who you are and I want America to know.
Phillips: Sure.
Maddow: And I have to tell you—because we’re making this about you and me is that I personally think that you and the folks who do what you do are a parasite who gets fat on Americans’ fears. And I hope that…
Phillips: That’s very hurtful and disappointing…
Maddow: I know…
Phillips: You certainly have a right to say that and it’s wrong.
Maddow: And I know that sounds hurtful. That’s why I paused before I said it but I want…
Phillips: And you’re wrong and you’re disparaging a lot of Americans who are out there fighting the good fight Rachel.
Maddow: But I want—I want…no. It’s different.
Phillips: Sure you are.
Maddow: It’s different because you’re being paid to do it and what you’re doing…
(crosstalk)
Maddow: When you signed on—you took some money to say some really disgusting things in the past like what you did about those Chinese workers in the Marianas Islands and the people who paid you to do it then—guys like Ralph Reed who should have gone to prison and guys like Jack Abramoff who did go to prison—now you’re pushing stuff that is as disgusting and the only difference is that we don’t know this time…
Phillips: Standing up for the health care feelings of Americans is disgusting. Wow. That’s a fascinating way to describe that.
Maddow: No but, having speakers at your events saying that ObamaCare is like Pol Pot and the Holocaust…
Phillips: I haven’t called it that.
Maddow: Right, but your speakers have and your organizing…
Phillips: My speaker that was at an event that was co-sponsored by us.
Maddow: Right.
Phillips: I did not control the podium. Again, if you want to pick out one of six hundred rallies, I’ve asked you to come before. Come with us on the road and see these people at these events.
Maddow: I don’t want to help promote you Tim. I don’t. I think what you’re doing is you’re getting fat, literally financially fat on Americans’ fears. And what I hope is that…
Phillips: And what are you getting fat financially to do Rachel? You’re doing it to attack us on your show.
Maddow: To do a news show—and I’m trying to tell people who you are.
Phillips. Oh, come on. A news show? Attacking us? Please.
Maddow: And what I hope is people stop falling for your shtick and stop being so afraid and that your industry that takes money to do this stuff and scare people and make money off it as a I think Republican and corporate funded thing—I hope that your industry proverbially starves because we stop being so afraid. I feel like I’ve got to say that to your face because that’s what’s burning under the surface while I’m asking you these questions.
Phillips: I can tell you’re very pretty upset tonight.
Maddow: I’m mad about what you do. I think you’re really bad for the country.
Phillips: Yeah. Well you have every right to think that. We’re going to keep going out there and delivering the message on health care and cap and trade. And we’re wining at the grass roots. You go out there and look at the fire that’s in this country—it’s on our side and by the way, it’s not about fear. It’s about loving our country. It’s about wanting to do what right for our families. You can disagree on this as fear mongering but in reality it’s about doing what they think is best—these American citizens who are involved—and whether it’s David Koch who’s a rich guy you like to beat up on although I never hear you trash George Soros. That’s an interesting point.
Maddow: I’m not beating up on David Koch.
Phillips: Oh please.
Maddow: I want people to know that he funds you.
Phillips: Come on.
Maddow: That’s all I want people to know and Tim you’ve been a sport to be here and I feel like I’ve been as honest as I can with you and I appreciate you being willing to talk about this civilly.
Phillips: You bet. Glad to be here. If we can’t do this, I don’t know what we can do and have a civil discussion about the future of this country.
Maddow: Good luck Tim.
Phillips: You bet.
Maddow: Not professionally though.
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I watched this live last night and even rewinded it to watch it again.
I soooooo love Rachel Maddow!
I wish Rachel was my sister.
Me too
We could go cruising for girls.
I better stop right here.
definitely switch teams for her!
You're projecting.
.
Of course Rachael is the swindler when she points out how the AFP swindles Americans out of their money straight into the pockets of a select few.
That's like how I'm the racist for calling (R)ush a (R)acist based on the things he's said and done.
I guess if I talk about how Bill Gates became rich. that too makes me rich, YES?
.
http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.a...
I know it's hard for wingnuts to handle the truth... .
Maybe it's time for them to eat one of their own.
...and just watch the stuff you write....
But enuf is enuf...
You are a fucken DumbAss.
And not just this piece of shit you vomited, you are CONSTANTLY FULL OF SHIT. Every fucking day we have to read your stupid asinine BULLSHIT. WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING SHRIVEL UP?
He was linking to an article about a paper detailing what was thought to be a parasitic bacterium in a species of wasps (the bugs, not people) actually increases fertility hormones, to the point of females producing self fertilized eggs.
It was satire....
rickykook so I can please a broader audience. Or maybe somebody could use the links provided.
ricky had a similar reaction from me at first...but he grows on ya...like foot fungus...or mold...
were smeared by Ms. Maddow.
Rachel really schooled this sociopath. I could not believe what she said to him but he really deserved it!
I don't think I could have resisted the urge to reach across the desk and beat the living daylights of that sociopath.
We need to come to terms that we have been dealing with a segment of this population which display classic sociopathic characteristics, and we need to adapt our MO to that fact. Philips was simply not there as a human, and he is not alone.
Thanks Rachel for showing America the blood sucking Reslug leaches that are making millions putting out propaganda lies and falsely scaring older people.
Rachel did not say she apologized, she said she PAUSED.
With a straight face this asshole claimed that the Conservatives, who have no plan and are bought off, are winning in this health care crisis.
it all depends the definition of "Winning".
... where is my single payer option?
Thanks for playing.
Someone, like Maddow did here, has to challenge these people forcefully enough, dramatically enough, so that the very challenge itself becomes "the story" for our shallow, insipid worthless MSM, so that every time this asshat goes on TV somewhere, the host is going to start out with "So... Whats with you and Maddow? What about those things she said, are they true? We did some checking..." etc.
that would be excellent
for using NBC make-up artists before appearing?
http://www.thelifetree.com/images/parasites11...
This is a growing trend in our media (minus Fox), that hopefully, continues onward, the exposing of the so-called "experts" and "analysts" who dominate our airwaves with total bullshit.
Tim Phillips is a slime bag. A two-bit hustler who would just as happily perform extortion, if blackmail wasn't available. A used car salesman that laughs when the engine falls out after you drive two blocks in a jalopy he just sold you.
Hopefully, Ms. Maddow will continue to invite these frauds and phonies on TV for the expose' they truly need.
Are the worst thing to happen to our country in my lifetime!
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness!
These are the psychopath's who ran our country for eight years. And yet, people still can't figure out why this nation is so f**ked up.
Look at how many teabagger morons are out defending assholes like this. The exact same rich pricks who have totally screwed the shit out of them.
The moron force runs strongly through parts of America.
he knows that with every fistful of his own mud he has to face down, his hourly fee goes up. It's like "bring it on, my rates are going to skyrocket with your abuse."
seems to me that he was "called out" on another show recently and he just keeps coming back for more. I love how a fully paid and promoted PR effort is "grassroots" effort by ordinary multimillionaire Americans. yeah, right.
And the creep can even paper over the abuse and exploitation of Chinese laborers with the Bible! No job too low for this snake.
Maddow:We have evidence of you blowing a Donkey in Mexico
Phillips:Well Rachel,if you want to cherry pick one thing that happened 15 years ago..
The donkey was a virgin too!!!
At least he has done something right in his life! Or should I say, there were no complaints from the donkey?
He was just bein' an ass.
It was the Donkey who provided the evidence-although he was wearing a hat and sunglasses so we can't be certain.
And they altered his voice so it would sound like Steve Allen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2o8ywKqos
That clip is great.
Short's character just reeks of guilt.
Q:This is an affidavit...
A:I KNOW THAT.
TAKES A SECURE PERSON WITH STRONG AND MEANINGFUL CONVICTIONS LIKE RACHEL TO SHOW ALL THE OTHER TALKING HEADS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE BALLS AND NOT HESITATE TO PROVE IT. RACHEL HAS DONE MORE FOR THE CAUSE OF HONESTY AND PURPOSE IN TALK TV THAN ALL THE OTHER SPINELESS HACKS PUT TOGETHER. LONG LIVE RACHEL.....MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFGHhauCYYw
apparently he has one slightly used, older-model mother for sale.
shorter tim phillips: fearmongering is patriotic!
She is about as fearless, and well-prepared as anyone on the box right now.
I would love to share a classic cocktail or three with her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngev0vzxdF8
Only there's no reason to pause before what you said. You fell short of telling the man how evil he is for taking money to lie about health care. That's the kind of things all the supposed Joe Plumber GOP supporters need to hear until they start to feel the burn of shame they've earned.
She was Pee Eye Ess Ess pissed!
And rightfully so.
one more Soros reference. They must be getting ready for 2010
that when these sleezy right wingers are confronted with the truth, they always mention George Soros? It's like a play book where you are dicted to lie and deflect but when can't make any headway, just shout out George Soros!
Tim Phillips is a parasite who does live off the fears of people by LYING about what is going on. PT Barnum was right, there is a fool born every minute. Phillips is strongly connected to the Christian Coalition, probably a member of the ultra secret cult called "The Family." Claims he's a Christian and has no morals or scruples. He would be first in line to nail Jesus to the Cross again!
Someone wrote it earlier, this guy is a sociopath.
'Phillips: And you’re wrong and you’re disparaging a lot of Americans who are out there fighting the good fight'
Keep in mind that most of the collective wealth of this country is in the controlling hands of one to two percent of it's wealthiest citizens. As Rachel pointed out, it is these people who are funding AFP and the like. These parasites (as Rachel so succinctly labeled them) maybe fighting a fight, but it's not a good fight. They're fight involves making sure they continue to keep that control. They don't give a rats ass about regular people who are struggling to survive and keep what they have on week to week, or month to month basis. In essence, AFP and the like are fighting to keep the 'regular' people as their slaves.
i just wish she would have taken COMPLETE control of her show and demanded that he stop interrupting her every time she got 1/2 way through her sentence.
its almost like conservative mouthpieces are trained to either laugh when there isn't a joke or interrupt anyone who disagrees with them.
What a piece of work that Phillips is.
Thank you Rachel for batting on our side.
Like he didn't have all his answers lined up for that line of attack. Professional scumbag.
As much as I hate scumbags like Tim Phillips, there is much to be learned by watching him in discussions like this one. Constantly redirecting and reframimg the conversation, the false indignation, ridiculing the person asking the questions, interrupting, talking over, avoiding answering any questions, answering questions with questions, changing the subject, it was all on display. You can bet that tapes of this exchange will be played over and over again in the training seminars at Fox and other advocacy organizations.
Rachel did a hell of a job making this guy squirm, considering he is a professional PR man, and Rachel is just an honest journalist trying to get some straight answers.
watch last night, she skillfully dismantled this parasite.
hahahahahaha
and his brood need to be called out. We need more newscasters like Rachel and Keith. Not apologists like BillO and Hannity.
I like how his whale of a rebuttal was "well you do it too" to everything. Just a little self-incriminating? Is someone trying to justify their bullshite on national TV?
Let's face it though, how much damage can this guy really do? Don't the people who want to believe this just find people like him to tell them it's all okay and that Liberals are the enemy? It's not a conversation for Todd Phillips or these Teabaggers that follow him.
FAIL
Rachel descended into self-righteous name-calling and the guy just threw it back at her.
The spokespeople on the Left need better rhetorical dueling skills.
They can't beat the Right at bullying, name-calling and tautologies...
The Right have that game sewn up...
The Right does have their game sewn up - and then Rachel comes along and makes total fools of them and dismantles their 'game'. But then perhaps I didn't see the same show you did.
It will be interesting to see if he comes back on her show. They are such cowards. She has invited even Dick Cheney on her show. Would LOVE to see that but he too is a coward.
is they are never there to have a discussion. You learn nothing from them except what framing or talking points they are there to push. It's worse than dealing with junior high students. Can't have a discussion with someone who has no intention of participating in an actual discussion.
And I know that sounds hurtful. That’s why I apologized before I said it but I want…
That's in accurate.
she said "paused" not "apologized"
and it's corrected.
Rachel Maddow.
WE need to do something with these sick MFs! We need to do it for their own protection as well as our own. They are not capable of making decisions for themselves much less others.
Behind every fucked up mess if you look long enough, you will find a republicans finger prints all over it. Wise up people.
He looked nervous until she accused him of being a parasite. Then he just slipped into weasel mode. Calling him on his lies - you just have to give her credit for telling the truth. She's a real gem.
That take-down was a thing of beauty! :)
Maddow: And I know that sounds hurtful. That’s why I apologized before I said it but I want…
actually, she said: That's why I PAUSED before i said it...
which makes a lot more sense, especially when you hear it...
just sayin'...
Rachel is a perfect example,That when you have the facts on your side you can never lose an argument.
Unbelievably, the right wingers think Phillips won the debate! They actually think Rachel made up the whole thing and had no proof what a "parasite" this scumbag is! There sure are a lot of uninformed fools that will believe anything the cons say, it's scary. Rachel absolutely destroyed him, and she was still sick! Imagine had she not been under the weather?
The problem really is the fact that there are so many absolute moron's in this country and that you cannot use reason or logic with these people , they are truly too dumb , there is no educating or enlightening them ... and they vote .
She said she was trying to do a "news show." What Rachel does is not news, it's commentary, it's opinion, and it's slanted. She does a huge service by countering Faux News in their missives but she cannot legitimately call her show a news show.
My favorite part was when she said, "Tim, you're very genial but you're not credible."
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