GOP presidential hopeful, Marco Rubio, demanded the IRS Commissioner resign in a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew.
Dear Secretary Lew:
Recent revelations about the Internal Revenue Service’s selective and deliberate targeting of conservative organizations are outrageous and seriously concerning. This years-long abuse of government power is an assault on the free speech rights of all Americans. This direct assault on our Constitution further justifies the American people’s distrust in government and its ability to properly implement our laws.
The American people deserve answers about how such seemingly unconstitutional and potentially criminal behavior could occur, and who else was aware of it throughout the Administration. It is imperative that you, your predecessor, and other past and present high-ranking officials at the Department of Treasury and IRS immediately testify before Congress.
The public expects your complete cooperation with both congressional investigations and potential criminal inquiries. If investigations reveal that bureaucrats or political appointees engaged in unconstitutional or criminal targeting of conservative taxpayers, they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. At a bare minimum, those involved with this deeply offensive use of government power have committed a violation of the public trust that has already had a profoundly chilling effect on free speech. Such behavior cannot be excused with a simple apology.
Furthermore, it is clear the IRS cannot operate with even a shred of the American people’s confidence under the current leadership. Therefore, I strongly urge that you and President Obama demand the IRS Commissioner’s resignation, effectively immediately. No government agency that has behaved in such a manner can possibly instill any faith and respect from the American public.
Sincerely,
Marco Rubio
OOOOPPPPPs! Senator Rubio, there is no IRS Commissioner. The last IRS commissioner, Douglas Shulman, was appointed by George W. Bush in March of 2008 and resigned in November 2012.. Nice try, no banana. Do you think this was the fault of George W. Bush? Shall we call him back and demand an explanation? Stop trying to blame Mr. Bush.
It sounds like politics as usual to me. Lots of outrage and political grand-standing. The sharks circling because they smell blood.
Is Rubio really the GOP’s answer for 2016? Keep trying guys, its got to get better than this.
NBC’s Lisa Myers reported this morning that the IRS deliberately chose not to reveal that it had wrongly targeted conservative groups until after the 2012 presidential election
I can’t wait to here the IRS defenders explain this one…
I guess if the media says it, that makes it true.
Interesting that the Bush guy who was there until NOv. 2012 as the head guy. When will he be called in?
Does anyone else see a discrepancy?
And if he’s the one that pushed this…. hammer him too.
Moonhowlings posters, when informed of corrupt and illegal activities by one of their beloved government agencies: http://goo.gl/5MBcq
Cato, I suppose getting the truth of the matter is something you don’t care about?
I am sorry my level of concern doesn’t exactly reach yours. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think any people who function like the tea party or moveon or any of those guys should have tax free status nor should their contributors get to write off their contributions on their taxes.
its sort of difficult to get all worked up over something I dont think should be happening in the first place….for ANY of them.
Meet Douglas Shulman, Democrat Party donor: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/douglas-shulman/gIQAjjnrAP_topic.html
Nice try, no cigar.
Why wasn’t he called in? He was the director of the whole sha-bang. Is it because Bush appointed him? I don’t give a rat’s ass who he contributed to. That doesn’t answer the question.
My hunch (well-honed by a few early years in the tax vineyards) is that most of these 501(c) applications from either end of the political spectrum, if subjected to a literalist, conservative, strict construction of the law, ought to be denied tax exempt status. The problem is how these bureaucrats went about screening them. Sheer bureaucratic incompetence.
I am inclined to agree that most should be denied. However, since the Citizens United decision, all bets are off.
“Sheer bureaucratic incompetence.”
This wasn’t incompetence. This was on purpose.
Cargo, you don’t know that. You werent there. Let’s let the FACTS come out. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.
@Moon-howler
They’ve admitted it. That’s why they “apologized.”
It doesn’t look like Miller is going to apologize. I wouldn’t either if I had just gotten canned. I mean what are they going to do to him?
I agree with Cargo. Wait, did I just say that? Hell has apparently just frozen over!
From the congressional testimony last week, it’s clear that the IRS intentionally targeted right-wing groups for harassment. They targeted some left-wing groups, too, but the right-wing was clearly treated more harshly.
There is NO excuse for this. One could argue that none of these political groups, left or right, should be tax-exempt, as I would, but you HAVE to treat all the political groups the same. This is America, for heaven’s sake, not China or some two-bit dictatorship.
There was a HUGE increase in tea-party type 501 (C) groups in the 2010-2012 time frame, and the IRS may have been trying to stall, but this is no excuse, either. Or is the fact that churches have been crossing the line more and more and getting involved politically, further muddying the water. None of this changes the fact that right-wing groups were treated differently and unfairly by one of the most powerful agency in the federal government.
Those responsible should receive the maximum punishment. That includes those in the white house, if that proves to be the case.
@middleman
Not so fast, middleman. Check out this heavily researched article in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/us/politics/at-irs-unprepared-office-seemed-unclear-about-the-rules.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130519&_r=0
BTW, have you been on vacation? You have been missed.
@Cargosquid
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/us/politics/at-irs-unprepared-office-seemed-unclear-about-the-rules.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130519&_r=0
It’s worth reading.
Not much there, Moon. Twenty four liberal groups out of four hundred? No one noticed that this would seem partisan? It belies belief.
There is some evidence that the white house was aware of this in early 2012.
I believe in progressivism and generally agree with the democratic approach over the conservative approach, but the end cannot justify the means. We shouldn’t accept this behavior from anyone in government.
I dont think we read the same article.
I got the distinct impression it was not partisan
As bad as it is, the IRS debacle pales in comparison to the AP issue. The single most important freedom we have is freedom of speech, and a free press follows that freedom. The way the Obama administration has treated the press is chilling.
I would love to hear some rational explanation for why the administration did what they did with the AP, but I haven’t yet. It clearly appears to be intimidation.
All of these “scandals ” pale in comparison to what is going on with the sexual assault in the military. I suppose the fact that it can’t be pinned on Obama makes us less likely to prioritize it to item of top importance.
@Moon-howler
The NY Times article claims that the Cincinnati office was inundated by requests for non-profit status, but the total number of claims (see the link below) was actually lower in 2010 than in 2009.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/there-was-no-surge-in-irs-tax-exempt-applications-in-2010/275985/
There may well have been confusion in the Cincinnati office as reported by the NY Times, but it still does not explain why so many conservative groups were targeted and why the issue was not revealed until after the election.
The lack of disclosure is the much, much bigger issue. Why was this not revealed to Congress and the public until after the election? What was the justification for not revealing it to Congress? Who in the administration approved keeping it quiet until after the election?
1. It wasn’t just conservative groups.
2. Usually only conservative groups use tea party in their names.
I still dont feel like I read the same article you did.
I have read the Atlantic Article. I don’t think it really addresses the time line provided by the Tiomes.
Secondly, every accusation I read point to THE election. Do you seriously think it matters in terms of an election?
Perhaps it all matters as far as ethics in politics …..depending on intent. However i don’t think this knowledge in October 2012 would have affected the election one iota.
What is more apparent is the absolute need to rewrite tax codes. This whole social welfare for the good of the cause is pure and utter bull crap. I think the IRS ought to come down hot and heavy on any group who applies on the basis of social good if they have anything to do with an election. You want to teach about the constitution? Fine. Then stay out of the political end of it if you want to be a c4. None of this sorta kinda equivocating. I don’t care what your political stripes are.
The whole tax code sounds like a license to steal.
@middleman
I appreciate the consistency of your viewpoint, especially given your overall agreement with the progressive approach. The principled, consistent basis of argument that you bring to the table is largely absent in today’s political debates.
And here I thought he had drunk poison.
Thanks, Kelly. As an American, first and foremost my allegiance has to be to be to our country and its people, not to any particular politician or party.
Although I may believe that this president’s heart is in the right place, we cannot allow ANY chief executive to trample our democratic institutions. I’m not saying he did that- the jury’s still out- but if he did, we cannot allow it to stand. I don’t care HOW happy it makes the idiots on Fox news!
ah…folks see!! He spit out the poison pill!!!
So…let’s get this straight…Miller was promoted…just to take the fall, and was “fired” just a few days he was schedule to leave….noooooo this wasn’t staged.
Now we find out that the apology was staged to preempt the report and do damage control.
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/17/irs-commissioner-yeah-we-staged-that-lerner-apology/
And we’re crazy enough to not only keep this agency in power, but to give it control over our health care system?
Cargo, you would go with any conspiracy theory. Seriously, do you think that publication is an objective one?
Where is the guy who was appointed by Bush again? He was the commissioner when all of this picking on tea party (and some liberal groups) was supposed to have happened.
I am more concerned over the fact that any groups can get tax write offs for political activities. I am also concerned that social security is taxed.
The fact that there are a billion pages to the tax code is simply wrong. Much of the tax code favors the wealthy.
@Moon-howler
I actually agree with you. The only solution is to junk the current tax code, simplify it, and destroy the intrusive power of the IRS. Repeal the 16th amendment, or flat tax.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/21/irs-tea-party-senate-hearing/2345605/
Moon…you were wondering about Bush’s IRS guy.
I saw where he was going to be subpoenaed but didn’t know when.
It sounds like they bullied him also. He doesnt know what he doesn’t know.
I can’t get all upset over something that don’t think should be going on in the first place.
I had another friend try to stand me down that Planned Parenthood was a c4. It really is not. Its a c3. It shouldnt be a C4. It actively participates in the election process. No one’s donation to PP should be tax exempt if they have given to the federation. Foundations are another thing and keep separate books.
The lines have now become so blurred that I don’t see any point in even having rules.
I also feel badly for Bush’s guy.
I get tickled listening to the grand-standing about now the trust in the IRS has been dissolved.
Question–what person has ever trusted the IRS? I sure haven’t.
@Moon-howler
Who said that? That’s just stupid.