Irs apologizes for targeting tea party groups

[badrose]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/irs-apologizes-targeting-conservative-groups


IRS agents singled out dozens of organizations for additional reviews because they included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their exemption applications, said Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups. In some cases, groups were asked for lists of donors, which violates IRS policy in most cases, she said.

[Darrell KSR]

Criminal.

Sent using Forum Runner.

[bigsky]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/irs-apologizes-targeting-conservative-groups

IRS agents singled out dozens of organizations for additional reviews because they included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their exemption applications, said Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups. In some cases, groups were asked for lists of donors, which violates IRS policy in most cases, she said.

Barely a story on NBC or CBS. Obama administration targets conservative organizations. In Dick Nixon's day, this was cause for impeachment.

[Doc]

Best one I've heard though is that the individual who would be responsible for this was a Bush appointee. When in doubt, blame Bush (LOL). Old habits are hard to break.

Darrell is right. It is criminal. No different than when Nixon targeted his enemies by sicking the FBI (edit) on them. But it happening isn't a shock to me. Folks should be outraged beyond belief but they won't be.

[badrose]

Jewish groups too.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/348013/irs-inquisition-update

Again, not shocked.

[CitizenBBN]

Jewish groups too.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/348013/irs-inquisition-update

Again, not shocked.

Only if they are pro-Israel.

In addition, the IRS agent told a Z STREET representative that the applications of some of those Israel-related organizations have been assigned to “a special unit in the D.C. office to determine whether the organization’s activities contradict the Administration’s public policies.” . . .


I hope people start to see in this that "government" isn't some faceless system of rules executed as if by computer. It is a way to wield power, and there's no magic limit on it being used for good or even following its own rules. It can be wielded by very imperfect humans for their own ends and agendas and in accordance with their own beliefs.

Liberals and Leftists see government as operating above human failings, and it is just the opposite. It enables them. The free market acknowledges them and through the broadest distribution of power possible it minimize their impact on each individual. Once you bring power together it corrupts. In this case it didn't even have to go to Obama, though this liink suggests it was a policy that came down from the White House, but just a regional IRS person could use the gray area of their job to unfairly harm people.

Yet another serious question about the behavior of this Administration that the media will refuse to even investigate. I'm not the world's biggest fan of Bush II, but if this had all happened with him it would make Nixon look as non-eventful as the Fillmore administration.

[CitizenBBN]

Best one I've heard though is that the individual who would be responsible for this was a Bush appointee. When in doubt, blame Bush (LOL). Old habits are hard to break.

Darrell is right. It is criminal. No different than when Nixon targeted his enemies by sicking the CIA on them. But it happening isn't a shock to me. Folks should be outraged beyond belief but they won't be.

The vast majority won't even know about it.

[Doc]

The vast majority won't even know about it.

Its getting some attention but not enough. Carney was asked about it in a WH press conference. It this type of stuff that should get attention. Unfortunately the GOP has sort of worn out their outrage by going off the deep end on stupid crap and basically paint themselves as using anything to create an issue. Then when something of magnitude does come about, most folks shug it off as yet another lame attempt to attack the administration. Same thing happening with Bengazi. The right made it about Susan Rice and the "Sunday Morning talk show talking points". That should not be the issue. The issue should be is the administration so inept that they actually believed it was about some dumb video for weeks or did they realize it was what it was and actually think so little of the public that they fool them? No, instead its about "the talking points". In this IRS deal, you have a government agency that is suppose to be impartial yet it was being used to squelch the other side .... and most of the country could not care less.