Myths/the IRS targeted conservatives
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Myth
Claim: The IRS specifically targeted "conservative" organizations for review of their tax-exempt status while leaving liberal organizations alone.
Examples
- 2014-11-03, Daily Caller: 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"
Reality
This is completely false, and was a fake scandal created and maintained by the Republican Party:
- The IRS was specifically requested by House Republicans to investigate conservative groups.[1]
- The IRS investigated some liberal groups anyway.[2][3]
- The media helped magnify public perception of the "scandal" by selectively reporting only the actions against conservatroll groups.[4]
News
- 2013-01-04 Mother Jones: Dark Money Group Promised the IRS it Would Stay Out of Politics, Then Didn't
- 2013-05-11 The Wire: Why the IRS Abruptly Apologized to the Tea Party
- 2013-05-13
- 2014-08-26, Mother Jones: Here's the Latest Right-Wing IRS Fantasy
- 2014-11-04, PolitiFact: Jeanne Shaheen hit by last-minute attack over Lois Lerner controversy at IRS: rated FALSE
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 2013-06-26 IG: Audit of IRS actions limited to Tea Party groups at GOP request
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 2013-06-24 Darrell Issa just had a bad day: IRS 'targeted' groups with 'Occupy' and 'Progressive' in names
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 2013-08-02 The Media's Shameful Role in the Phony IRS Scandal