IRS apologizes for inappropriately targeting conservative political groups in 2012 election

[clearvision]

Washington Post:

The Internal Revenue Service inappropriately flagged conservative political groups for additional reviews during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status, a top IRS official said Friday.

 

Organizations were singled out because they included the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications for tax-exempt status, said Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups.

 

In some cases, groups were asked for their list of donors, which violates IRS policy in most cases, she said.

 

“That was wrong. That was absolutely incorrect, it was insensitive and it was inappropriate. That’s not how we go about selecting cases for further review,” Lerner said at a conference sponsored by the American Bar Association.

 

“The IRS would like to apologize for that,” she added.

---------

Well as long as they apologized....

[Pepper]

"Well as long as they apologized...."

 

 

And I am sure it was unintentional.

[Rheo]

FLASHBACK 2009: Obama Jokes About IRS Auditing Political Enemies

 

Back in May 2009, Professor Glenn Reynolds, better known to his followers as Instapundit, penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in which he discussed some odd rhetoric from President Obama. Obama had been refused an honorary doctorate by Arizona State University, and Obama remarked, “President [Michael] Crowe and the Board of Regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS.” Reynolds pointed out:

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Mitch McConnell says:

“Today’s acknowledgement by the Obama administration that the IRS did in fact target conservative groups in the heat of last year’s national election is not enough. Today, I call on the White House to conduct a transparent, government-wide review aimed at assuring the American people that these thuggish practices are not underway at the IRS or elsewhere in the administration against anyone, regardless of their political views. Last year, amid reports that the Obama administration was using the levers of executive power to harass conservative political groups in Kentucky and elsewhere, I issued a very public warning to the administration that the targeting of private citizens on the basis of their political views would not be tolerated. Today’s apology by the IRS is proof that those concerns were well founded. But make no mistake, an apology won’t put this issue to rest. Now more than ever we need to send a clear message to the Obama Administration that the First Amendment is non-negotiable, and that apologies after an election year are not an sufficient response to what we now know took place at the IRS. This kind of political thuggery has absolutely no place in our politics.”

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WH press briefing... IRS is a separate agency only 2(?) direct appointees. Repeated it several times that IRS is separate from the WH and they have no/little contact with them.

[Casino67]

Liked what Cavuto just said. "Why did they apologize?" What do they know is coming out about them? Tip of the proverbial iceberg?

[Rheo]

WH press briefing... IRS is a separate agency only 2(?) direct appointees. Repeated it several times that IRS is separate from the WH and they have no/little contact with them.

That is because the true political appointees are made career appointees and don't carry the term political, or my understanding of it.

[Rheo]

Liked what Cavuto just said. "Why did they apologize?" What do they know is coming out about them? Tip of the proverbial iceberg?

I thought it was going to be the Friday news dump to keep Bengazhi off the news. That didn't work so well for them now the ABC stepped up to the plate with the emails and the whole WH press hearing tap dance fiasco. This has been under investigation for over a year in the Ways and Means committee, why now indeed.

[Rheo]

This is a comfort.

 

A senior IRS official said in a press briefing Friday that he or she is “not very good at math,” according to a tweet from Washington Post reporter Zachary Goldfarb.

 

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/10/irs-official-im-not-very-good-at-math/#ixzz2SvaeJbCJ

[mozartlover]

Jonah Goldberg‏@JonahNRO13m

So when Obama told Ohio State grads not to listen to voices warning of tyranny, he left out "besides I'm having them audited."

[Valin]

Darrell Issa: My committee will “aggressively follow up” on the IRS’s political thuggery

Allahpundit

5/10/13

 

“Political thuggery” isn’t Issa’s term, incidentally. It’s not mine either. http://It’s Mitch McConnell’s, and it’s entirely appropriate under the circumstances.

 

I’m counting the minutes:

 

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Subcommittee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio., requested the IG look into allegations of political retaliation last June. In response to the today’s disclosure and apology by IRS, Issa and Jordan issued the following statement:

 

“The fact that Americans were targeted by the IRS because of their political beliefs is unconscionable. The Committee will aggressively follow up on the IG report and hold responsible officials accountable for this political retaliation.”

 

When Issa et al. first looked into this last year, the commissioner of the IRS assured them it was much ado about nothing. In reality, roughly 75 conservative groups were targeted. And according to David French, who’s been working the cases for the ACLJ, it wasn’t just the Cincinnati office that hassled them. He claims they also had “voluminous communication” with offices in California and D.C.

 

Like McConnell says, political thuggery:

 

(Snip)

 

Someone has been having a real bad week. One could almost say The Chickens have come home to roost.

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Not sure they are able to roost yet, but they are certainly smashing into the chicken coop.

[Valin]

Instapundit

(Many Links)

 

Glenn says....

My take: The employees involved should be fired and prosecuted. The affected groups should be compensated for the additional costs they incurred in responding to this illegal harassment, and Congress should take the money out of the IRS’s travel-and-entertainment budget.

[Valin]

10 crazy things the IRS asked Tea Party groups

Mary Katharine Ham

5/10/13

 

1. We’re gonna need all your direct and indirect communication. “‘Direct and indirect communications’ is profoundly chilling of First Amendment rights, ” said David French, senior counsel for American Center for Law & Justice, which has been representing 27 conservative organizations met with IRS inquisitions. “It’s so vague as to be impossible to comply with.”

 

 

2. What do we need to know about your members? Nothing much. Just ALL THE THINGS!

 

(Snip)

 

All of the examples above are taken from actual IRS correspondence received by ACLJ’s 27 clients. There were many versions of the in-depth questionnaire sent to different organizations, suggesting there was more than one agent or one office involved. Though IRS officials blamed “low-level” employees in the Cincinnati office, which is the central IRS office in charge of tax exemptions, French said the abuse was far more widespread. ACLJ’s clients dealt with inquiries from IRS offices from “coast to coast.” Of ACLJ’s 27 clients, 15 finally had their status approved after 6-7 months with legal help. There are 12 groups whose status remains in limbo.

[Valin]

[Draggingtree]

 

 

Like

 

 

 

 

Sarah Palin · 3,545,840 like this17 hours ago ·

• 
   
   
   
   
   
  Let the Light Shine
   
  Today we learned that our government targeted and harassed conservative Americans who simply wanted to be involved in the national discussion. Is it any wonder why Americans are so distrustful of D.C.? I'm sure President Obama is grateful for all the help the IRS gave his reelection campaign, but, still, you have to wonder how the bureaucrats who tried to pull this off can sleep at night.
   
  So many Americans knew this was happening, but many felt defenseless and even helpless against a government that seems to roll along without accountability or sense of obligation to the people it’s supposed to serve. These Americans were mocked for being concerned about this, but now we see light shining on the truth, finally.
   
  This IRS revelation is another step in the unraveling of the Obama administration's self-proclaimed “hope and change.” Between the Benghazi cover-up and the IRS targeting Obama’s political opponents, we see the corruption at the heart of big government.
   
  Americans should remember that this same corrupt IRS will be in charge of enforcing Obamacare. And this same inept and corrupt government will supposedly secure our now unsecured borders in advance of immigration reform and will implement a completely ethical and non-political IPAB panel to make life and death health care decisions for you and your family. Forgive me for not trusting these big government promises any more than I trust the White House’s latest Benghazi spin or the IRS’ fairness.
   
  Despite all of this, I still believe that this “fundamental transformation of America” is temporary. This attempted transformation into a disheartened, weakened, unrecognizable nation is so far below anything Americans deserve. It becomes permanent only if we throw up our hands and surrender to the corruption and cover-ups.
   
  We must demand more light shine on all that’s transpiring in D.C.’s self-absorbed bubble. On the IRS scandal, we must have accountability and a full investigation. On Benghazi, Speaker Boehner must create a Select Committee with full investigative and subpoena authority to get to the bottom of the cover-up. Keep the faith, friends.
   
  - Sarah Palin
  

[Valin]

Drip...Drip...Drip

 

IRS Inquisition Update

Kevin Williamson

May 11, 2013 9:40 AM

 

Along with targeting tea-party groups, the IRS may also have given extra-special attention to the tax-exempt status of some Jewish groups for political reasons.

 

From the Jewish Press:

 

The passionately pro-Israel organization Z STREET filed a lawsuit against the IRS, claiming it had been told by an IRS agent that because the organization was “connected to Israel,” its application for tax-exempt status would receive additional scrutiny. This admission was made in response to a query about the lengthy reveiw of Z STREET’s tax exempt status application.

 

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.”

 

(Snip)

(Snip)

[Casino67]

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=I%27m+Sorry+Song&view=detail&mid=A53747E1AD2932F4BC49A53747E1AD2932F4BC49&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR&qpvt=I%27m+Sorry+Song

[Valin]

Drip...Drip...Drip

 

IRS anti-Tea Party scandal gets real — senior IRS officials aware of targeting (Update – Chief Counsel knew and targets expanded to groups “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights”)

William A. Jacobson

May 11, 2013

 

This is getting real.

 

Yesterday it was just some “low level” employees involved. Now AP is reporting that senior IRS officials were aware of the targeting, via AP, IRS watchdog: Senior IRS officials knew in 2011 tea parties’ tax-exempt status being targeted (h/t @GabrielMalor):

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS watchdog: Senior IRS officials knew in 2011 tea parties’ tax-exempt status being targeted.

 

(added) AP has expanded its report now (h/t reader):

 

A federal watchdog’s upcoming report says senior Internal Revenue Service officials knew agents were targeting tea party groups in 2011.

 

The disclosure contradicts public statements by former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, who repeatedly assured Congress that conservative groups were not targeted.

 

(Snip)

 

That report says the head of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups learned that groups were being targeted in June 2011. It does not say whether Shulman was notified.

 

(Snip)

 

 

Note Much More at Legal Insurrection.

 

 

May it turning into a Real bad Month for a certain Administration.

[Valin]

A Conservative Questionnaire for the IRS

Rick Moran

5/12/13

 

NOTICE OF INTENT TO LEVY INFORMATION

 

Dear Tax Collectors:

 

Please fill out the questionnaire below completely and return to your local Tea Party headquarters. Note that the questions may be a little personal and intrusive, but turnabout is fair play. Besides, compared to the grilling that Congress is going to give you, consider yourself fortunate.

 

Also note that these questions are not in IRS-Speak. They are in plain English to better facilitate open, honest, and complete answers. Not that we expect them.

 

By the way…know any good criminal lawyers?

 

(Snip)

 

6. What did the White House know and when did they know it? Specifically,

 

A. On what date did the IRS inform the White House of the targeting?

 

B. Who in the IRS informed the administration? Who did that individual tell?

 

C. Did anyone in the White House follow up, asking for specific information about the criteria for targeting?

 

D. Does anyone at the IRS know when the president was informed?

 

(Snip)

[Valin]

Real Clear Videos: George Will

 

MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS: I want to start with you George Will and the IRS. What a week the IRS, look at these headlines. IRS targeted tea party groups for scrutiny. Searching words like "patriot," "tea party." Does this sound like a familiar story to you George Will?

 

 

(Snip)

 

WILL: This is the 40th anniversary of the Watergate summer here in Washington. "He has through his subordinates and agents endeavored to cause in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner." Section 1, Article 2, the Impeachment Articles of Richard Nixon. (This Week, May 12, 2013)

[Valin]

Real Clear Videos: George Will

 

MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS: I want to start with you George Will and the IRS. What a week the IRS, look at these headlines. IRS targeted tea party groups for scrutiny. Searching words like "patriot," "tea party." Does this sound like a familiar story to you George Will?

 

 

(Snip)

 

WILL: This is the 40th anniversary of the Watergate summer here in Washington. "He has through his subordinates and agents endeavored to cause in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner." Section 1, Article 2, the Impeachment Articles of Richard Nixon. (This Week, May 12, 2013)

 

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OK, talking head says not politically motivated. Conservatives have nothing to fear.

[Valin]

OK, talking head says not politically motivated. Conservatives have nothing to fear.

 

Now I could be wrong but I'm getting the impression you don't believe them.

[Valin]

IRS targeted groups that criticized the government, IG report says

Juliet Eilperin

May 12, 2013 at 2:30 pm

 

At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials targeted nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution, according to documents in an audit conducted by the agency’s inspector general.

 

The documents, obtained by The Washington Post from a congressional aide with knowledge of the findings, show that on June 29, 2011, IRS staffers held a briefing with senior agency official Lois G. Lerner in which they described giving special attention to instances where “statements in the case file criticize how the country is being run.” Lerner, who oversees tax-exempt groups for the agency, raised objections and the agency revised its criteria a week later.

 

But six months later, the IRS applied a new political test to groups that applied for tax-exempt status as “social welfare” groups, the document says. On Jan. 15, 2012 the agency decided to target “political action type organizations involved in limiting/expanding Government, educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, social economic reform movement.,” according to the appendix in the IG report, which was requested by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has yet to be released.

 

* The new revelations are likely to intensify criticism of the IRS, which has been under fire since agency officials acknowledged they had deliberately targeted groups with “tea party” or “patriot” in their name for heightened scrutiny.

 

(Snip)

 

 

 

* My nomination for understatement of the week.