The rapidly mushrooming scandal involving the Internal Revenue Service – first reported on Friday – continues to unravel as additional details confirm the extent of the federal government’s effort to illegally target limited government supporters with expanded scrutiny on their tax-exempt applications.
The biggest bomb? An as-yet-unreleased report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) which
Apparently it wasn’t just groups with “Tea Party,” “Patriot” or “Constitution” in their titles that got flagged for further scrutiny, it was a much broader range of limited government organizations.
Among the “offending” words?
Government spending, Government debt, or taxes; Education of the public via advocacy/lobbying to ‘make America a better place to live;’ and Statements in the case file (that) criticize how the country is being run.
Wow …
Obviously all of these descriptions would involve groups potentially hostile to the reelection efforts of U.S. President Barack Obama.
Also, efforts by the IRS to make it appear as though the discriminatory behavior was confined to low-level employees at one specific branch are backfiring – badly. According to The Washington Post, “staffers in the Cincinnati field office were making high-level decisions on how to evaluate the groups because a decade ago the IRS assigned all applications to that unit.”
In other words the scandal was confined to one office … the office exclusively responsible for handling tax-exempt applications.
Further compounding the IRS’ problems? The fact that senior agency officials were alerted to this flagrantly unconstitutional activity nearly two years ago and chose to say nothing about it. In fact it appears as though the agency’s eventual response was to extend the same illegal discrimination to an even broader array of politically active entities.
Most damning? Nearly a year after the original discrimination was uncovered, one of the agency’s commissioners testified under oath that the IRS was not targeting groups based on their political leanings.
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68 comments
Obama makes Nixon seem down-right angelic by comparison…
Obama makes Nixon seem down-right angelic by comparison…
Holy shit!
Holy shit!
The IRS is still not as bad as the South Carolina DOR. That band of thieves has been targeting political enemies of certain SC politicians and SC AG’s for years.
The IRS is still not as bad as the South Carolina DOR. That band of thieves has been targeting political enemies of certain SC politicians and SC AG’s for years.
I think in time, history will prove the Obama Administration to be the most corrupt administration in the history of the US and that will be Obama’s legacy.
I think in time, history will prove the Obama Administration to be the most corrupt administration in the history of the US and that will be Obama’s legacy.
Too bad its Congress that appoints these positions.
Are you the Biggest F*#kin Idiot ever to be born???
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LMAO…Hahahahahahahhahahhaha
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LMAO…Hahahahahahahhahahhaha
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LMAO…Hahahahahahahhahahhaha
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LMAO…Hahahahahahahhahahhaha
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Do you understand what the word “completely” means? I’d wager you don’t.
Majority Dumb@$$…You are a TRUE Clinton-ite. you have to parse EVERY word w/ the corrupt and deceitful…
Remember: With you people , it depends on what the definition of ‘IS’ is…You idiots are hilarious…and you never change…
Well, I guess Big is right, we need to get someone in Congress. This Commissioner was appointed by GWB. He had to be confirmed by the Senate. As it turns out he was approved by all Republicans but only a minority of Senate Democrats. So Republicans are 100% responsible for this IRS Commissioner and his actions.
So, I guess we can “take down Mitch McConnell and clean out the conservatives from Congress too.
Thanks for pointing that out Big T.
The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue is appointed by the President, but must be confirmed by the Senate. The Commissioner during the time of the alleged activity was a Bush appointee and had to have the approval of a least some Republicans in the Senate. I believe in fact there was unanimous support from Republicans for this Commissioner, since he was a Republican.
Too bad its Congress that appoints these positions.
The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue is appointed by the President, but must be confirmed by the Senate. The Commissioner during the time of the alleged activity was a Bush appointee and had to have the approval of a least some Republicans in the Senate. I believe in fact there was unanimous support from Republicans for this Commissioner, since he was a Republican.
WOW!!!!….Obama has ALREADY had to come out and attempt some sort of excuse…A LOT more Comin’…just the tip of the iceburg…and The American people GET IT!!!!
People on the inside WILL Tell what they KNOW…
And THANK GOD we have Congress…That will be the Obama-Buster!!!!!!!
Clinton perjury was Child’s Play….WOW!!!!!!
There is absolutely no evidence Obama knew anything about this. Second, I predict these groups were targeted not because of their political beliefs, but because they are the same types of groups that are always coming up with BS arguments for not to pay their income tax.
These are all names and phrases used by groups that say the income tax is unconstitutional and you don’t have to pay. Or that US Currency and the Federal Reserve is a ponzi scheme and you don’t have to pay if you hold gold or some stupid argument like that. If they are legitimate non-profits, why are they concerned about the review? They know when they file the application review is possible. If I were an agent trying to collect the maximum taxes possible, I would probably try to target the people who are most likely to try to avoid paying taxes.
Isn’t this what the right has been saying the government should be doing to Muslims. I.E. target Muslims for investigation because they are more likely to be terrorists.
Good one…Obama didn’t know…
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You are Hilarious!!!!!
PS: Your ignorant explanation is why people hate politicians. You think Americans are Stupid…or either you are the biggest F#*kin idiot ever born…
First of all I am not a politician. Second I prepare tax returns for clients. Tea Partiers are constantly bringing me brochures from the Center for tax reform, or the Federation for Constitutional that, saying they are not legally required to pay income tax and that income taxes are unconstitutional. Or the government can’t tax gold; or can I start a non-profit and pay myself.
These folks, simply do not believe we should have an income, or any tax for that matter, and believe they should avoid paying it any way possible.
So you’re telling me that you are a TAX professional: Telling TAX EXEMPT Organizations to pay taxes…
PLEASE publish you contact Information. You may be the most Ignorant MoFo to Ever be in business…
You don’t get it do you dumbass, these are individuals trying to get out of paying taxes, not tax exempt organizations. They are mostly uninformed, but occasionally crooked and they are buying into lies from supposedly tax exempt organizations, saying the US Income Tax is unconstitutional and you can refuse to pay. Send us money and we will show you how.
I suspect you would be a good target.
So that gives Obama the Right to Target and use the IRS to intimidate tax-exempt organizations if they don’t agree w/ him…
Please publish yo’ info…I want to make SURE I never go near you. You seem to be Completely Blind and corrupted by political Hatred and ignorance…
Lets make it simple. Publish your name and address and i promise to be sure to stay away from you. I prefer clients who can read or at least comprehend simple English.
You have GOT TO be a Plant by the Liberals…
Nobody could float a such a stupid premise (that they deserved IRS investigation because they don’t like to get taxed) unless somebody was paying you to be an idiot…
Dumbass, no one said anyone deserved investigation. Since you don’t seem to know how collection works. Agents try to collect taxes. Since you don’t seem to know how the tax exempt application works. Agents try to prevent people who do not deserve tax exempt status from getting it. For years agents, have had a quota system. They are rewarded the more taxes they collect. They are punished if applications are approved and it later turns out the person or entity did not deserve tax exempt status.
I provided my hypothesis as to why these organizations were targeted. i.e. they were trying to target those least likely to be legitimate tax exempt organizations.
Your hypothesis is that the President of the US and the Bush appointed IRS Commissioner are engaged in a conspiracy to intimidate people who were unlikely to vote for Obama.
Spin away Bill, the damn has broken, do you think we can’t read. They were targeting donors for their political affiliations using their tax records against them, Austin Goolsbee leaking confidential information, for just one high-profile example–this seems to be the tip of the iceberg. All of these disgraceful lies–excuse me–chickens, have come home to roost. “I proved my hypothesis.” Really? What a dumbass. You better go tell everyone in Washington, D.C. to stop the presses, you have now resolved the situation. When everyone else close to the situation is reporting the opposite. You don’t even work for the I.R.S. so STFU.
Now the DoJ seizing phone records now at the AP? This goes beyond the Tea Party applications, which were clear political discrimination and harassment, and they will sue. Spying on the press? Threatening journalists, threatening Benghazi survivors, who knows what’s next.
Illegally using the federal government for political gain is what John Dean was busted for in the Watergate scandal and it led to an impeachment. Most transparent? They have been caught out spying on their opponents–this is all criminal behaviour.
Face it, people, BigT is the target audience of this site. Willfully ignorant and gullible.
Whoosh!
There’s rules as to what qualifies for tax exempt status, moron.
You mean people who vehemently hate taxes might try to avoid paying them? You libruls and your logic! lol…
“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.”- Luke 15:1 NLV
And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
-Mark 12:14-17 KJV
“What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him, implying that as the son of God, he is exempt from paying God’s tax. Then Jesus said:
“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matthew 17:24-27 NIV
Wow! Team Obama illegally employs the IRS as a political Gestapo to persecute its political enemies…and u have the chutzpah to trot out Jesus…should we treat the corrupt and venal IRS as Jesus treated the corrupt money-changers in the temple? One would hope so…
What does your leftist doctrine say about a Dishonest Tax Collector???
You are – in effect- saying your religion (Secular Liberalism) punishes people, your god Obama hates, using a powerful, immoral and law-ignoring government???
“other”? Where is this other you speak of? I don’t see it.
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.” -KJV
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” -NLV
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.” -NIV
“Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15 KJV
There is absolutely no evidence Obama knew anything about this. Second, I predict these groups were targeted not because of their political beliefs, but because they are the same types of groups that are always coming up with BS arguments for not to pay their income tax.
These are all names and phrases used by groups that say the income tax is unconstitutional and you don’t have to pay. Or that US Currency and the Federal Reserve is a ponzi scheme and you don’t have to pay if you hold gold or some stupid argument like that. If they are legitimate non-profits, why are they concerned about the review? They know when they file the application review is possible. If I were an agent trying to collect the maximum taxes possible, I would probably try to target the people who are most likely to try to avoid paying taxes.
Isn’t this what the right has been saying the government should be doing to Muslims. I.E. target Muslims for investigation because they are more likely to be terrorists.
“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.”- Luke 15:1 NLV
And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
-Mark 12:14-17 KJV
“What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him, implying that as the son of God, he is exempt from paying God’s tax. Then Jesus said:
“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matthew 17:24-27 NIV
Wow! Team Obama illegally employs the IRS as a political Gestapo to persecute its political enemies…and u have the chutzpah to trot out Jesus…should we treat the corrupt and venal IRS as Jesus treated the corrupt money-changers in the temple? One would hope so…
“other”? Where is this other you speak of? I don’t see it.
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.” -KJV
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” -NLV
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.” -NIV
“Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15 KJV
Tunage request:
Where have all the Liberals, Gone? …to the tune of the liberal plea of: “Where have all the flowers gone?”
Also: What did Obama KNOW…and when did he KNOW it?
The staffers in the Cincinnati field office were making high-level decisions on how to evaluate the groups because a decade ago the IRS assigned all applications to that unit.
Not to harsh on your outrage parade, but god damn, Bush’s administration concentrated this work to one fucking office and you’re blaming Obama for that?
Most damning? You mean this?
In March 2012, then-IRS Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, told Congress that the agency was not targeting conservative groups.
You have got to be fucking kidding me. Do you even read the articles you post from?
This whole thing is written out like Obama secretly masterminded some kind of covert control center by which to persecute the poor poor right-wing groups like some kind of arrogant dictator when in reality a lot of what you are bitching about comes from Dubya.
Why did this happen two years ago?
The appendix of the inspector general’s report — which was requested by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has yet to be publicly released — chronicles the extent to which the IRS’s exempt organizations division kept redefining what sort of “social welfare” groups it should single out for extra attention since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. That decision allowed corporations and labor unions to raise and spend unlimited sums on elections as well as register for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, as long as their “primary purpose” was not targeting electoral candidates.
So yes, Citizens United unleashed a torrent of big money to influence politics for the worse, and the IRS is trying to police what it can since that shittastic ruling. Complaining that it targeted right-wing nonprofits is a valid complaint, but now you’re complaining that it is being extended to all political-sounding nonprofits? What the fuck ever, man.
We should pass something to overturn Citizens United so none of this shit is even necessary.
What, you expect integrity from Sic Willie? Hahahaha!
The staffers in the Cincinnati field office were making high-level decisions on how to evaluate the groups because a decade ago the IRS assigned all applications to that unit.
Not to harsh on your outrage parade, but god damn, Bush’s administration concentrated this work to one fucking office and you’re blaming Obama for that?
Most damning? You mean this?
In March 2012, then-IRS Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, told Congress that the agency was not targeting conservative groups.
You have got to be fucking kidding me. Do you even read the articles you post from?
This whole thing is written out like Obama secretly masterminded some kind of covert control center by which to persecute the poor poor right-wing groups like some kind of arrogant dictator when in reality a lot of what you are bitching about comes from Dubya.
Why did this happen two years ago?
The appendix of the inspector general’s report — which was requested by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has yet to be publicly released — chronicles the extent to which the IRS’s exempt organizations division kept redefining what sort of “social welfare” groups it should single out for extra attention since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. That decision allowed corporations and labor unions to raise and spend unlimited sums on elections as well as register for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code, as long as their “primary purpose” was not targeting electoral candidates.
So yes, Citizens United unleashed a torrent of big money to influence politics for the worse, and the IRS is trying to police what it can since that shittastic ruling. Complaining that it targeted right-wing nonprofits is a valid complaint, but now you’re complaining that it is being extended to all political-sounding nonprofits? What the fuck ever, man.
We should pass something to overturn Citizens United so none of this shit is even necessary.
What, you expect integrity from Sic Willie? Hahahaha!
Anybody see these liberals coming unraveled on all the scandal falling from DC and Obama???
I think they figured out (from the Sanford win) they will not get Congress, so Obama is done…
I expect Much more Trash. Clinton knew (like Sanford knows) to hush-hush possible insider threats to his scandals. Obnama cannot beleive anyone will turn against the god, he thinks all see him as..
If Congress can get them on the Hotseat, we may get some canaries…They will be SWEET…and Fun to watch…cannot wait…Fun TV…
Stay away from that curtain! There’s nothing to see…step away from that curtain! IGNORE that man behind that curtain!
Stay away from that curtain! There’s nothing to see…step away from that curtain! IGNORE that man behind that curtain!
What we have her is ———
Just think….these jack-booted fascists will be the goons administering Obamacare…If u are a taxpaying, law-abiding registered Republican…do u think the Partisan IRS will “let” u keep your doctor?
What we have her is ———
Just think….these jack-booted fascists will be the goons administering Obamacare…If u are a taxpaying, law-abiding registered Republican…do u think the Partisan IRS will “let” u keep your doctor?
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