Dick Armey quit FreedomWorks following tea party losses

Conservative leader and former U.S. Representative Dick Armey resigned Nov. 30 as chairman of tea party group FreedomWorks, Mother Jones reported Monday evening.

Armey cited the 2012 election as a reason for his departure. "Obviously I was not happy with the election results," he told Mother Jones. "We might've gotten better results if we had gone in a different direction. But it isn't that I got my nose out of line because we should've done better." He added that he differed with the group on "matters of principle. It's how you do business as opposed to what you do. But I don't want to be the guy to create problems."

FreedomWorks press secretary Jaqueline Bodnar confirmed the news via email, writing: "We accepted his letter of resignation and we wish him well."

Armey's establishment roots and the formal organization of FreedomWorks were sometimes perceived as being at odds with the grassroots tea party movement. But it was a powerful force in the 2012 election cycle, purchasing advertising, organizing activists and actively supporting or opposing candidates.

Armey asked FreedomWorks, which figured prominently in 2012 tea party races, to remove him from all materials associated with the organization "effective immediately." Links to Armey-related content on FreedomWorks website were redirected as of Tuesday morning.