Lawrence O’Donnell Takes On Tea Party Rep. Blake Farenthold Over Possible Govt. Shutdown

Video

by Alex Alvarez | 9:09 pm, April 6th, 2011

» 15 comments

On The Last Word this evening, host Lawrence O’Donnell spoke with Texas Representative and Tea Party movement member Blake Farenthold to discuss the possibility of a “government shutdown.”

Farenthold told O’Donnell that “Everybody on the Republican side is working to avoid it. Nobody wins in a government shutdown. I think we’re going to avoid it.” When asked whether he would vote for a package to avoid a possible shutdown this Friday, Farenthold replied that it “depends what all is in it,” adding that he would need to be able to “bring something back” to his constituents if he’d settled for less than he’d wanted.

O’Donnell pointed out that many Americans would want to avoid a shutdown… so why the need to explain why it was avoided? Farenthold responded that those who voted for him were promised spending cuts and new jobs. He added that Democrats are to blame for failing to pass a budget last year… and failing to “act like adults.”

And, then, there is far and away our favorite Farenthold quote of the evening, in response to the fact that Speaker John Boehner is paying no mind to a bill that would effectively cease payment for members of Congress and the Senate should there in fact be a shutdown:

It’s worthless. It’s unconstitutional. 27th Amendment! …I think that’s because we in the House realized that the Constitution says you can’t change the compensation of a Congressperson without an intervening election. It’s plain, simple English in the 27th Amendment. Google it!

Actually, make that our second favorite Farenthold quote:

In His Own Words

“Early on in the race, I had a nightmare that I won: And now it’s like, ‘Now what do I do?’”

Watch the clip, via MSNBC:

Blake Farenthold, budget, Government Shutdown, Lawrence O'Donnell, spending, The Last Word

A.R.

LOL republicans wanted a bill to be law just by passing ONE house?!
these people defend the constitution huh?
Lou Sarah

Were’s the birth certificate “Mau Mau, Hussein”???????
NOBAMA 2012

Obozo & the DEMOCRAT congress TRIPLED THE BUDGET DEFICIT IN TWO FRIGGIN’ YEARS.
Obozo & the DEMOCRAT congress added FOUR TRILLION DOLLARS TO THE NATIONAL DEBT IN TWO FRIGGIN’ YEARS…

The “D” party has held the Majority in the House for 85% of the time since 1930. And as any grammar school student knows, the House controls EVERY DIME spent by the federal government.

The ONLY time the budget has been balanced in the last 50 years was when the GOP congress dragged Clinton “kicking & screaming” to sign a balanced budget after FIVE FAILED ATTEMPTS in 1995.

THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS HASN’T PASSED A BUDGET SINCE 2009!!!

So I don’t wanna hear any B.S. from “LIAR-LIAR” O’Donnell or any other MSNBC Liberal Lewzer on the budget!

SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT! It’ll be the only time the clowns in D.C. would be doing something constructive.

Obamabots voted for Obama to prove they’re not prejudiced.
Who will Obamabots vote for next time to prove they’re not stupid.

NOBAMA 2012

“Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink.” P.J.O’Rourke
illusive man

NOBAMA 2012 said:
Obozo & the DEMOCRAT congress TRIPLED THE BUDGET DEFICIT IN TWO FRIGGIN’ YEARS.Obozo & the DEMOCRAT congress added FOUR TRILLION DOLLARS TO THE NATIONAL DEBT IN TWO FRIGGIN’ YEARS… The “D” party has held the Majority in the House for 85% of the time since 1930. And as any grammar school student knows, the House controls EVERY DIME spent by the federal government. The ONLY time the budget has been balanced in the last 50 years was when the GOP congress dragged Clinton “kicking & screaming” to sign a balanced budget after FIVE FAILED ATTEMPTS in 1995. THE DEMOCRAT CONGRESS HASN’T PASSED A BUDGET SINCE 2009!!! So I don’t wanna hear any B.S. from “LIAR-LIAR” O’Donnell or any other MSNBC Liberal Lewzer on the budget! SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT! It’ll be the only time the clowns in D.C. would be doing something constructive. Obamabots voted for Obama to prove they’re not prejudiced.Who will Obamabots vote for next time to prove they’re not stupid. NOBAMA 2012 “Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink.” P.J.O’Rourke

Truth.
Color Me Badd

At least Blake was honest in saying that the bill the house voted on was unconstitutional. Probably the stupidest piece of legistlation ever drafted in congress. Uh yeah, since we the Republican house voted yes then it is law. Hahaha go back to Civics class teabag buttholes.
WaterLoo

“teabag buttholes”

I think it’s past your bedtime. Check the forecast, it’s going be nice tomorrow and recess might even be outdoors!
Black and Gold Brad

Color Me Badd said:
teabag buttholes

It’s kinda understandable that you’d lash out at your ideological opponents, considering how Obama has adopted nearly every Bush policy he once decried.

Pretty childish, but understandable.
ElCapitanAmerica

Kudos to Rep. Blake for at least being consistent. He’s obviously a freshman but seems to be more level headed that the leaders of his party.
ChrisNH

Libs are maggots, we all agree. After feigning ‘outrage’ when Sarah Palin declared (truthfully) that ObamoCare was nothing but ‘death panels,’ along come Libs screeching about pretty much the same thing: ‘People will DIE in Detroit; they will Starve on Staten Island if all these **cough** non-essential **cough** guv-uh-mint workers aren’t paid for a few days. Oh! The humanity!
got a grip

Just for perspective on what kind of lib wingnuts you have at AMessNBC, Crazy Larry said on the air last week we should be INCREASING spending….. Enuf said.
BLKitt

If he had his constitutional concerns…why not vot nay?
Paul G

WHAT??? HOW COME BECK WASN’T MENTIONED? I must be on the wrong site…
Tony the Fist

Someone likes crumpets with their tea.
Penguin60

Black and Gold Brad said:
Pretty childish, but understandable.

Actually, I’d say pretty psychotic, but that’s common knowledge.
CAconservative

The dog&pony show both parties are involved with is a joke. A $73-Billion cut is nothing more than a tool for posturing. If they were really serious about cutting the debt, nothing less than a $500-Billion cut annually would be appropriate.