Fake scandals/IRS - Revision history

Woozle: more scandal examples

2015-04-05T22:59:20Z

more scandal examples

Woozle: more links and explanation moved here from myth page

2015-04-05T22:55:47Z

more links and explanation moved here from myth page

Woozle: another investigation finds nothing

2014-12-24T16:43:41Z

another investigation finds nothing

Woozle: /* News */

2014-12-15T01:00:25Z

News

Woozle: exploration of links from Doug Leins

2014-12-05T02:05:03Z

exploration of links from Doug Leins

Woozle: more or less finished; re-sorted news links to be oldest first

2014-12-05T01:47:20Z

more or less finished; re-sorted news links to be oldest first

Woozle: mostly done

2014-12-05T00:00:58Z

mostly done

New page

Supposedly there was some kind of scandal about the IRS, under Obama, targeting Tea Party groups but not liberal groups for possible investigation, but it turns out not to be true. The supposed scandal was widely reported in the media, but the fact that it was untrue was widely ignored, as was the fact that a focus on Tea Party groups had been requested by Republican [[Darrell Issa]].
===Quotes===
* "This is truly outrageous. And it contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government. It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out conservative groups for extra review. And I think that it's very disappointing that the president hasn't personally condemned this and spoken out." -- '''Susan Collins (R-ME), [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/12/collins-says-irs-revelations-will-fuel-government-distrust/ 5/12]'''
* "The Tea Party people have known about this and were working on this. But they said – it was just some odd underlings out in Cincinnati who did this and there was no political motive whatever involved. Now the question is, how stupid do they think we are? Just imagine, Donna Brazile, if the George W. Bush administration had an IRS underling, he’s out in Cincinnati, of course, saying we’re going to target groups with the word 'progressive' in their title. We’d have all hell breaking loose." -- '''[[George Will]], conservatroll, [http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/12/george-will-on-irs-tea-party-attacks-how-stupid-do-they-think-we-are/ 5/12]'''
* "The fact is if you're doing something and it's wrong, it's illegal, it's the kind of thing that scares the American people to their core, when Americans are being targeted for audits based on their political beliefs, that needs to change." -- '''{{l/ip|Darrell Issa}} (R-CA), right-wingnut and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight'''
* "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." -- '''Barack Obama, [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal 5/14]'''
==Links==
===News===
* '''2013-08-02''' [http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114141/irs-scandal-graphs-show-how-politico-hyped-ignored-news The Media's Shameful Role in the Phony IRS Scandal] "There had been a huge explosion in coverage in May when the revelations first appeared, nearly all of it making them out to be evidence of a grand Nixonian conspiracy to silence grass-root conservative groups. This explosion in coverage inevitably took its toll on the Obama administration..." but media coverage (especially at ''Politico'') declined dramatically when exculpatory evidence became available.
* '''2013-06-26''' [http://thehill.com/policy/finance/307813-irs-ig-says-audit-limited-to-tea-party-groups Treasury Inspector General says Audit of IRS actions limited to Tea Party groups at GOP request]: they were asked by House Oversight Chairman [[Darrell Issa]] (R-CA)"to narrowly focus on Tea Party organizations."
* '''2013-06-24'''
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20130627153547/http://www.boston.com/business/personal-finance/taxes/2013/06/24/new-irs-chief-inappropriate-screening-was-broader/EouWCeb1D4IhdADJyJr5yO/story.html Documents show IRS also screened liberal groups] "The Internal Revenue Service’s screening of groups seeking tax-exempt status was broader and lasted longer than has been previously disclosed, the new head of the agency acknowledged Monday. Terms including ‘‘Israel,’’ ‘'Progressive’’ and ‘‘Occupy’’ were used by agency workers to help pick groups for closer examination, according to an internal IRS document obtained by The Associated Press."
*** [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/24/1218531/-Darrell-Issa-just-had-a-bad-day-IRS-targeted-groups-with-Occupy-and-Progressive-in-names Darrell Issa just had a bad day: IRS 'targeted' groups with 'Occupy' and 'Progressive' in names] "It looks like they were trying to screen for groups engaged in political activity ... because groups engaged mainly in influencing campaigns are not entitled to non-profit tax exempt status. In other words, they were trying to enforce the law. And it's not exactly an easy law to enforce."
* '''2013-05-14''' [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/us/politics/irs-ignored-complaints-on-political-spending-by-big-tax-exempt-groups-watchdog-groups-say.html?pagewanted=all Uneven I.R.S. Scrutiny Seen in Political Spending by Big Tax-Exempt Groups]: the scandal continues to perform
* '''2013-05-13'''
** [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal The Real I.R.S. Scandal] "So the scandal – the real scandal – is that 501(c)(4) groups have been engaged in political activity in such a sustained and open way." ... "Some people in the I.R.S. field office in Cincinnati took the names of certain groups—names that included the terms “Tea Party” and “patriot,” among others, which tend to signal conservatism – as signals that they might not be engaged in "social welfare" operations. Rather, the I.R.S. employees thought that these groups might be doing explicit politics – which would disqualify them for 501(c)(4) status, and set them aside for closer examination. This appears to have been a pretty reasonable assumption on the part of the I.R.S. employees: having "Tea Party" in your name is at least a slight clue about partisanship. When the inspector-general report becomes public, we’ll surely learn the identity of these organizations."
** [http://www.politicususa.com/2013/05/13/marco-rubio-humiliates-demanding-non-existent-irs-commissioner-resign.html Marco Rubio Humiliates Himself By Demanding That the Non-Existent IRS Commissioner Resign]
* '''2013-05-11''' [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/05/why-irs-abruptly-apologized-tea-party/65136/ Why the IRS Abruptly Apologized to the Tea Party] "The report from the Treasury Department's inspector general shows Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups, was informed that groups with "Tea Party," "Patriot" or "9/12 Project" in their names were being targeted for extra questioning..." - the scandal emerges, stage Right

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 * "The fact is if you're doing something and it's wrong, it's illegal, it's the kind of thing that scares the American people to their core, when Americans are being targeted for audits based on their political beliefs, that needs to change." -- '''{{l/ip|Darrell Issa}} (R-CA), right-wingnut and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight'''
 * "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." -- '''Barack Obama, [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal 5/14]'''
 ==The Reality==
 This is was a fake scandal created and maintained by the [[Republican Party]] with the assistance of the media:

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Supposedly there was some kind of scandal about the IRS, under Obama, targeting Tea Party groups (but not liberal groups) for possible investigation, but it turns out not to be true.
+==The Scandal==
 Supposedly there was some kind of scandal about the IRS, under Obama, targeting Tea Party groups (but not liberal groups) for possible investigation.
 ===Quotes===
 * "This is truly outrageous. And it contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government. It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out conservative groups for extra review. And I think that it's very disappointing that the president hasn't personally condemned this and spoken out." -- '''Susan Collins (R-ME), [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/12/collins-says-irs-revelations-will-fuel-government-distrust/ 5/12]'''
@@ Line 7: / Line 6: @@
 * "The fact is if you're doing something and it's wrong, it's illegal, it's the kind of thing that scares the American people to their core, when Americans are being targeted for audits based on their political beliefs, that needs to change." -- '''{{l/ip|Darrell Issa}} (R-CA), right-wingnut and chairman of the House Committee on Oversight'''
 * "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." -- '''Barack Obama, [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal 5/14]'''
 ==Links==
 ===News===
 * '''2013-01-02''' [http://www.propublica.org/article/controversial-dark-money-group-among-five-that-told-irs-they-would-stay-out Controversial Dark Money Group Among Five That Told IRS They Would Stay Out of Politics, Then Didn't]: the real scandal
-* '''2013-05-11''' [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/05/why-irs-abruptly-apologized-tea-party/65136/ Why the IRS Abruptly Apologized to the Tea Party] "The report from the Treasury Department's inspector general shows Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups, was informed that groups with "Tea Party," "Patriot" or "9/12 Project" in their names were being targeted for extra questioning..." - the scandal emerges, stage Right
+* '''2013-01-04''' ''Mother Jones'': [http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/americans-for-responsible-leadership-and-irs Dark Money Group Promised the IRS it Would Stay Out of Politics, Then Didn't]
 * '''2013-05-13'''
-** [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal The Real I.R.S. Scandal] "So the scandal &ndash; the real scandal &ndash; is that 501(c)(4) groups have been engaged in political activity in such a sustained and open way." ... "Some people in the I.R.S. field office in Cincinnati took the names of certain groups—names that included the terms “Tea Party” and “patriot,” among others, which tend to signal conservatism &ndash; as signals that they might not be engaged in "social welfare" operations. Rather, the I.R.S. employees thought that these groups might be doing explicit politics &ndash; which would disqualify them for 501(c)(4) status, and set them aside for closer examination. This appears to have been a pretty reasonable assumption on the part of the I.R.S. employees: having "Tea Party" in your name is at least a slight clue about partisanship. When the inspector-general report becomes public, we’ll surely learn the identity of these organizations."
+** ''New Yorker'': [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal The Real I.R.S. Scandal] "So the scandal &ndash; the real scandal &ndash; is that 501(c)(4) groups have been engaged in political activity in such a sustained and open way." ... "Some people in the I.R.S. field office in Cincinnati took the names of certain groups—names that included the terms “Tea Party” and “patriot,” among others, which tend to signal conservatism &ndash; as signals that they might not be engaged in "social welfare" operations. Rather, the I.R.S. employees thought that these groups might be doing explicit politics &ndash; which would disqualify them for 501(c)(4) status, and set them aside for closer examination. This appears to have been a pretty reasonable assumption on the part of the I.R.S. employees: having "Tea Party" in your name is at least a slight clue about partisanship. When the inspector-general report becomes public, we’ll surely learn the identity of these organizations."
-** [http://www.politicususa.com/2013/05/13/marco-rubio-humiliates-demanding-non-existent-irs-commissioner-resign.html Marco Rubio Humiliates Himself By Demanding That the Non-Existent IRS Commissioner Resign]
+** ''PoliticusUSA'': [http://www.politicususa.com/2013/05/13/marco-rubio-humiliates-demanding-non-existent-irs-commissioner-resign.html Marco Rubio Humiliates Himself By Demanding That the Non-Existent IRS Commissioner Resign]
 * '''2013-05-14''' [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/us/politics/irs-ignored-complaints-on-political-spending-by-big-tax-exempt-groups-watchdog-groups-say.html?pagewanted=all Uneven I.R.S. Scrutiny Seen in Political Spending by Big Tax-Exempt Groups]: the scandal continues to perform
 * '''2013-06-24'''
@@ Line 23: / Line 31: @@
 * '''2014-09-01''' [http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/01/email-reveals-lois-lerner-ignored-political-expenditures-by-unions/?advD=1248,37360 Email Reveals Lois Lerner Ignored Political Expenditures By Unions] - the zombie lurches on
 * '''2014-09-02''' [http://www.hngn.com/articles/41089/20140902/irs-lerner-overlook-millions-dollars-political-expenditures-unions-order-benefit.htm IRS: Did Lerner Overlook Millions Of Dollars Of Political Expenditures By Unions In Order To Benefit Democrats?]: answer is probably "no", but as long as the public thinks it's "yes"...
 * '''2014-11-22''' [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2556522 30,000 missing emails from IRS' Lerner recovered]: how about that -- administration officials were able to recover data they had previously thought to be unreadable. This is competence at work. I wonder if there will turn out to be anything relevant in them.
 ** "The agency first failed to disclose the loss to Congress and then tried to declare Lerner’s e-mails gone and lost forever. Once again it appears the IRS hasn't been straight with Congress and the American people." says Darrell Issa. Why is he assuming dishonesty here? Data recovery is a very tricky business.
@@ Line 31: / Line 40: @@
 * '''2014-12-12''' [http://benswann.com/lois-lerner-emails-show-doj-and-irs-were-working-together/ Lois Lerner emails show DOJ and IRS were working together]: Gasp.
 * '''2014-12-23''' [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/us/house-irs-inquiry-shows-no-connections-to-white-house.html Inquiry Into I.R.S. Lapses Shows No Links to White House] "An 18-month congressional investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s mistreatment of conservative political groups seeking tax exemptions failed to show coordination between agency officials and political operatives in the White House, according to a report released on Tuesday." (Tuesday = 2014-12-23)

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 24 December 2014
Line 30:		Line 30:
	** [http://dailycaller.com/2014/12/03/obama-administration-refuses-to-release-documents-about-white-house-role-in-irs-scandal/ Obama Administration REFUSES To Release Documents About White House Role in IRS Scandal]: actually, they were seized by the lawyer for the inspector general, Gregory M. Miller -- but whatever.		** [http://dailycaller.com/2014/12/03/obama-administration-refuses-to-release-documents-about-white-house-role-in-irs-scandal/ Obama Administration REFUSES To Release Documents About White House Role in IRS Scandal]: actually, they were seized by the lawyer for the inspector general, Gregory M. Miller -- but whatever.
	* '''2014-12-12''' [http://benswann.com/lois-lerner-emails-show-doj-and-irs-were-working-together/ Lois Lerner emails show DOJ and IRS were working together]: Gasp.		* '''2014-12-12''' [http://benswann.com/lois-lerner-emails-show-doj-and-irs-were-working-together/ Lois Lerner emails show DOJ and IRS were working together]: Gasp.
		+	* '''2014-12-23''' [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/us/house-irs-inquiry-shows-no-connections-to-white-house.html Inquiry Into I.R.S. Lapses Shows No Links to White House] "An 18-month congressional investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s mistreatment of conservative political groups seeking tax exemptions failed to show coordination between agency officials and political operatives in the White House, according to a report released on Tuesday." (Tuesday = 2014-12-23)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:00, 15 December 2014
Line 29:		Line 29:
	** [http://www.hngn.com/articles/51671/20141203/white-house-irs-watchdog-refusing-release-leaked-taxpayer-documents-obama.htm White House, IRS Watchdog Refusing To Release Leaked Taxpayer Documents About Obama Administration's Role In IRS Scandal] - sourced entirely from the Daily Caller link below and the Washington Examiner on 11/25		** [http://www.hngn.com/articles/51671/20141203/white-house-irs-watchdog-refusing-release-leaked-taxpayer-documents-obama.htm White House, IRS Watchdog Refusing To Release Leaked Taxpayer Documents About Obama Administration's Role In IRS Scandal] - sourced entirely from the Daily Caller link below and the Washington Examiner on 11/25
	** [http://dailycaller.com/2014/12/03/obama-administration-refuses-to-release-documents-about-white-house-role-in-irs-scandal/ Obama Administration REFUSES To Release Documents About White House Role in IRS Scandal]: actually, they were seized by the lawyer for the inspector general, Gregory M. Miller -- but whatever.		** [http://dailycaller.com/2014/12/03/obama-administration-refuses-to-release-documents-about-white-house-role-in-irs-scandal/ Obama Administration REFUSES To Release Documents About White House Role in IRS Scandal]: actually, they were seized by the lawyer for the inspector general, Gregory M. Miller -- but whatever.
		+	* '''2014-12-12''' [http://benswann.com/lois-lerner-emails-show-doj-and-irs-were-working-together/ Lois Lerner emails show DOJ and IRS were working together]: Gasp.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:05, 5 December 2014
Line 23:		Line 23:
	* '''2014-09-01''' [http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/01/email-reveals-lois-lerner-ignored-political-expenditures-by-unions/?advD=1248,37360 Email Reveals Lois Lerner Ignored Political Expenditures By Unions] - the zombie lurches on		* '''2014-09-01''' [http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/01/email-reveals-lois-lerner-ignored-political-expenditures-by-unions/?advD=1248,37360 Email Reveals Lois Lerner Ignored Political Expenditures By Unions] - the zombie lurches on
	* '''2014-09-02''' [http://www.hngn.com/articles/41089/20140902/irs-lerner-overlook-millions-dollars-political-expenditures-unions-order-benefit.htm IRS: Did Lerner Overlook Millions Of Dollars Of Political Expenditures By Unions In Order To Benefit Democrats?]: answer is probably "no", but as long as the public thinks it's "yes"...		* '''2014-09-02''' [http://www.hngn.com/articles/41089/20140902/irs-lerner-overlook-millions-dollars-political-expenditures-unions-order-benefit.htm IRS: Did Lerner Overlook Millions Of Dollars Of Political Expenditures By Unions In Order To Benefit Democrats?]: answer is probably "no", but as long as the public thinks it's "yes"...
		+	* '''2014-11-22''' [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2556522 30,000 missing emails from IRS' Lerner recovered]: how about that -- administration officials were able to recover data they had previously thought to be unreadable. This is competence at work. I wonder if there will turn out to be anything relevant in them.
		+	** "The agency first failed to disclose the loss to Congress and then tried to declare Lerner’s e-mails gone and lost forever. Once again it appears the IRS hasn't been straight with Congress and the American people." says Darrell Issa. Why is he assuming dishonesty here? Data recovery is a very tricky business.
		+	* '''2014-11-25''' [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/do-irs-wh-share-taxpayer-data/article/2556640 Revealed: 2,500 new documents in IRS / W.H. harassment cases] ...probably none of which have anything relevant in them
		+	* '''2014-12-03'''
		+	** [http://www.hngn.com/articles/51671/20141203/white-house-irs-watchdog-refusing-release-leaked-taxpayer-documents-obama.htm White House, IRS Watchdog Refusing To Release Leaked Taxpayer Documents About Obama Administration's Role In IRS Scandal] - sourced entirely from the Daily Caller link below and the Washington Examiner on 11/25
		+	** [http://dailycaller.com/2014/12/03/obama-administration-refuses-to-release-documents-about-white-house-role-in-irs-scandal/ Obama Administration REFUSES To Release Documents About White House Role in IRS Scandal]: actually, they were seized by the lawyer for the inspector general, Gregory M. Miller -- but whatever.