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| ==Myth== | | ==Myth== |
| '''Claim''': The IRS specifically targeted "conservative" organizations for review of their tax-exempt status while leaving liberal organizations alone. | | '''Claim''': The IRS specifically targeted "conservative" organizations for review of their tax-exempt status while leaving liberal organizations alone. |
− | ===Examples===
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− | * '''2014-11-03''', ''Daily Caller'': [http://dailycaller.com/2014/11/03/bombshell-memo-jeanne-shaheen-conspired-with-white-house-insider-on-irs-targeting-scandal/ BOMBSHELL MEMO: Jeanne Shaheen Conspired With White House Insider On IRS Targeting Scandal]: "Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was principally involved in a plot with Lois Lerner and President Barack Obama’s political appointee at the IRS to lead a program of harassment against conservative nonprofit groups during the 2012 election"
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| ==Reality== | | ==Reality== |
− | This is completely false, and was a [[Fake scandals/IRS|fake scandal]] created and maintained by the [[Republican Party]]: | + | This is completely false, and was a [[Fake scandals/IRS|fake scandal]] created and maintained by the [[Republican Party]] with the assistance of the media. |
− | * The IRS was specifically requested ''by House Republicans'' to investigate conservative groups.<ref name=hill1 />
| + | |
− | * The IRS investigated some liberal groups anyway.<ref name=hill2 /><ref name=dkos />
| + | See [[Fake scandals/IRS]] for details. |
− | * The media helped magnify [[perception-oriented thinking|public perception]] of the "scandal" by selectively reporting only the actions against [[conservatroll]] groups.<ref name=newrep />
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− | ===News===
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− | * '''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]
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− | * '''2013-05-11''' ''The Wire'': [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/05/why-irs-abruptly-apologized-tea-party/65136/ Why the IRS Abruptly Apologized to the Tea Party]
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− | * '''2013-05-13'''
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− | ** ''New York Times'': [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/us/politics/irs-ignored-complaints-on-political-spending-by-big-tax-exempt-groups-watchdog-groups-say.html Uneven I.R.S. Scrutiny Seen in Political Spending by Big Tax-Exempt Groups]
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− | ** ''New Yorker'': [http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-real-i-r-s-scandal The Real I.R.S. Scandal]
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− | ** ''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]
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− | * '''2014-08-26''', ''Mother Jones'': [http://m.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/08/heres-latest-right-wing-irs-fantasy Here's the Latest Right-Wing IRS Fantasy]
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− | * '''2014-11-04''', ''PolitiFact'': [http://www.politifact.com/new-hampshire/statements/2014/nov/04/daily-caller/jeanne-shaheen-hit-last-minute-attack-over-lois-le/ Jeanne Shaheen hit by last-minute attack over Lois Lerner controversy at IRS]: rated FALSE
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− | ===Sources===
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− | <references>
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− | <ref name=hill1>'''2013-06-26''' [http://thehill.com/policy/finance/307813-irs-ig-says-audit-limited-to-tea-party-groups IG: Audit of IRS actions limited to Tea Party groups at GOP request]</ref>
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− | <ref name=hill2>''ibid.'' "...liberal groups were also flagged for extra attention on the sorts of “be on the lookout” lists (BOLOs) that also tripped up conservative groups."</ref>
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− | <ref name=dkos>'''2013-06-24''' [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]</ref>
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− | <ref name=newrep>'''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]</ref>
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