If Obama knew about this, would that be grounds for impeachment? Much like Nixon and watergate scandal
Irs targetd goups that taught the constitution and bill of rights: http://www.volokh.com/2013/05/12/ir...on/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
uh... a basic smell test for a lot of social welfare groups is their non-partisan nature. I don't see it as being shocking that you would test groups applying for tax-exempt status by the degree of their political affiliation if they were claiming to be "social welfare" groups---and your article specifically does not mention any liberal or conservative bias with this regards. Besides which, there's a whole world of difference between teaching the Constitution, and teaching one's interpretation of the Constitution, as debates here have often shown.
I agree this should be investigated but at the moment this looks like the actions of a few individuals in one office. Also keep in mind the IRS engaging in what looks politically active enforcement isn't new and the IRS had been accused of targeting anti-Bush groups during the GW Bush Admin. https://www.au.org/church-state/dec...alifornia-church-faces-irs-investigation-over
If that is the case then I am not surprised that problems happened. These people were probably overburdened with so many new groups registering and let biases influence their decision making to weed out groups. At the moment though this doesn't appear to go much beyond those few people.
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/...ative-groups-outrageous?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=1 Obama: IRS targeting of conservative groups 'outrageous' By Carrie Dann, NBC News Amid outcry over revelations that Internal Revenue Service specialists specifically targeted conservative groups for scrutiny before the 2012 elections, President Barack Obama said Monday that the tax agency employees' reported conduct was "outrageous" and "contrary to our traditions." Appearing at a White House press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, the president said he does not want to judge the findings of an Inspector General investigation "prematurely" but said that if the reports of political targeting are found to be correct, those responsible must be held "fully accountable." "If in fact IRS personnel engaged in the kind of practices that have been reported on and were intentionally targeting conservative groups, then that’s outrageous and there’s no place for it," he said. "I've got no patience with it," he added. "I will not tolerate it and we will make sure that we find out exactly what happened on this." Reports surfaced Friday that an IRS official had apologized for the targeting by staffers in a Cincinnati field office, which singled out groups for additional review if they included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their applications for tax-exempt status. A partial draft report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration -- obtained by NBC News -- shows that top officials knew about the targeting nearly a year before then-IRS Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, testified to Congress in March 2012 that no singling out of conservative groups ever occurred. The House Ways and Means Committee announced after the president's remarks that it will hold a hearing on the alleged targeting on Friday, May 17. Acting IRS Commissioner Steve Miller and J. Russell George, the Inspector General who headed up the IRS report, are expected to testify. In a statement earlier Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the president is “concerned” about the reported conduct of “a small number of Internal Revenue Service employees.” “If the Inspector General finds that there were any rules broken or that conduct of government officials did not meet the standards required of them, the President expects that swift and appropriate steps will be taken to address any misconduct," Carney said. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for extensive investigation into the IRS practices. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida called for the resignation of Acting Commissioner Miller, who previously served as Shulman’s deputy. "t is clear the IRS cannot operate with even a shred of the American people's confidence under the current leadership," Rubio wrote. "I strongly urge that you and President Obama demand the IRS Commissioner's resignation, effectively immediately. No government agency that has behaved in such a manner can possibly instill any faith and respect from the American public." Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell went further, calling the burgeoning IRS scandal "just one example of an administration-wide effort to silence critics." "The Obama effort to shut up opponents isn't limited to the IRS," he told conservative outlet Breitbart News. "It applies to the FCC [Federal Communications Commission], SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission], FEC [Federal Elections Commission], HHS [Department of Health and Human Services]." A McConnell spokesman told NBC News that the senator was specifically referring to those agencies’ attempts to implement rules requiring that third-party groups and businesses disclose donors or political activities. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Democrat, alsocalled the targeting "intolerable" and an "outrageous abuse of power." And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also weighed in, saying the allegations would represent a "terrible breach of the public trust" and pledging that the chamber will "quickly take appropriate action" based on the inspector general's findings.
I'm also going to go ahead and point out that there are some rumblings that EPA has been pulling something similar with FOIA Fee Waivers - aka letting leftist groups get free access to information while not doing the same with conservative groups. There's a reasonable chance that it's overblown, but something else that might pop up on the next few days.
wrong: Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington and at least two other offices were involved in the targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, making clear the effort reached well beyond the branch in Cincinnati that was initially blamed, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-10-29/news/0410290309_1_chairman-julian-bond-tax-exempt-naacp It goes both ways. GOP is just going nuts trying to ruin Obama
Obama's problem is that people need to be fired over this, he can't just express outrage and give the Sgt. Shultz "I know nozthing" excuse. But once people are fired, they start to talk... Mark Levin's Landmark Legal Foundation brought this about. Treasury agents came to his offices and listened to his complaints about IRS harassment. Here he is discussing it on Hannity tonight. http://www.therightscoop.com/full-i...to-hannity-about-irs-targeting-conservatives/
Obama is doing a fine enough job ruining himself right now. With all of this coming out so quickly, you can't help but wonder if he pissed off his handlers somehow.
Well, teapartiers are more likely to lie cheat steal or w.e so I don't see what the problem is. Its just like pulling muzlim men aside at the airport, profiling isn't a good thing but it sure as hell beats letting a terrorist get away. Nothing to see here fellas, move on.
This reminds me of the recent use of Demos using the line, "Republicans brought up Hillary's name 32 times during last Wednesday's Congressional hearing." The facts are that Demos brought her up 16 of those times including the first time. The Republicans only spoke directly about her 4 out of 16 times. But then again Demos always like playing the victim card. It's always someone else's fault. It fits. Just stop stop taking credit for anything also.
