The IRS apologizes for “inappropriately” auditing conservative groups before the 2012 election
Today the IRS apologized for “inappropriately” targeting several conservative groups prior to the 2012 election:
The Internal Revenue Service apologized Friday for what it acknowledged was “inappropriate” targeting of conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.
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.
The Obama regime is falling back on the old reliable standby position of blaming Bush because at the time the agency was led by a Bush appointee but does anyone really believe these audits were not ordered by Barack Obama or somebody within his regime?
It is all very well and good that the IRS has admitted its “mistake” and has apologized for it but at this point–to quote Hillary Rodham Clinton–what difference does it make now that the election is over? They accomplished their goal so the apology is hollow at best.
How many people were intimidated to the point where they did not dare to contribute to these groups for fear of being connected to an organization being targeted by the IRS and being targeted themselves? We will never know the answer to this question but it is quite possible it was enough to win Barack Obama a second term.
Barack Obama has ruled by intimidation and fear as he moves from one “crisis” to another and this is just another example of the thuggery of the Obama regime. I am of the opinion that the IRS and Barack Obama committed political terrorism by scaring his opponents into submission. Strong words indeed but how else would you describe these actions?
Trackbacks
- Was the IRS targeting Jews in addition to Tea Party groups? | America's Watchtower
- IRS employees were ordered to send Tea Party applications to an Obama appointee for approval before the 2012 election | America's Watchtower
- The IRS “improperly ” obtained donor lists for a secret “research” project | America's Watchtower
- House Republicans plan to file criminal charges against Lois Lerner | America's Watchtower
- House Ways and Means Chairman calls for a Justice Department investigation into Lois Lerner | America's Watchtower
- Jeff Sessions will not reconsider prosecuting Lois Lerner | America's Watchtower
- John McCain’s role in the IRS Tea Party targeting scandal | America's Watchtower
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The tip of the iceberg Is now showing. We can only hope the msm hangs in. All in all, a good week for us. Much more to come.
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It was a good week for us and we might be getting to the point where the MSM can no longer ignore what is going on.
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It took them long enough to get around to admitting what they did. This is Chicago style politics writ big. I agree with Bunker; if the MSM will take up this story, maybe some good can be done.
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Yep, now that the election is over this apology means nothing. Hopefully the MSM is beginning to turn on Obama, if they do all is not lost.
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No worries. I hear the white house is demanding a full investigation.
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Phew, I feel much better knowing Obama is going to get to the bottom of this.
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The bug question is: are the republicans up to doing their job here? It seems that the RINOS, at least, are preoccupied the Marco Rubio led phony amnesty bill and prepping him for his 2020 run for the White House. I, for one, have more faith in Obama and Axelrod’s doing an end run around the Benghazi scandal, the Navy Seals helicopter crash debacle as well as F&F.
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I do not think the Republicans are up to the task. There is am ad running here about how Rubio is offering a “conservative.” What a joke, but the Republicans are on board because they believe Rubio is their savior.
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Eh?
First of all, nobody was audited. Applications for 501(c)4 status were under review, as is appropriate, and someone came up with the not so incomprehensible idea that organizations with the phrase “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications might be engaged in more than the permissable amount of political activity.
Look at it from another perspective – if an outfit that said it was Muslim applied for tax-exempt status, I’m certain you guys would all want the IRS to investigate thoroughly to ensure that the group isn’t engaged in activity that might disqualify them from tax-exempt status.
Anyway, nobody considering contributing to these groups was scared off because their applications for 501(c)4 status was pending for longer than usual. Sorry, Steve, but that’s a ridiculous accusation. My high school alumni association applied for 501(c)3 status, very similar, and for some reason it took the IRS more than a year to approve it. Nobody decided not to contribute on that account.
Anyway, the damage done by this was that some of the groups, so we’re told, had to wait past election day for their 501(c)4 status approval. None of the groups was denied the exemption, by the way. Not quite the same as an actual tax audit.
Take good care and may God bless us all!
TGY
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You are now apologizing for actions the IRS has admitted were inappropriate and I think that your assertion that not one singe person in the country was scared off by this is just as ridiculous as you feel my claim people might have been is.
The Muslim angle was entirely predictable and expected although I thought it would be used in my post about how the IRS was also targeting Jews.
Check out the New Federalist Party’s platform and you will see what our position on religious freedom is. It is Article I.
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