Conservative groups containing the words “tea party, patriot, Constitution, Bill of Rights, or social / economic reform/movement” were specifically targeted by the IRS for “extra review” during the 2012 elections. This discriminatory policy which singles-out groups with certain political views has been in place since at least 2010.
“This is an outrageous abuse of power. Going after organizations for referencing the Bill of Rights or expressing the intent to make this country a better place is repugnant. There is no excuse for this behavior,” said Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s oversight subcommittee.
What is especially disturbing about the IRS’s actions is that it is not part of the U.S. government but is an independent “enforcement agency.” It is suspicious that the very groups targeted by these policies also happened to be proponents of abolishing the IRS and reducing the size and spending levels of the U.S. government.
Regardless of any statements the IRS makes to the contrary, they have a strong motive to do anything within their power to stop movements like the Tea Party. The “Tea” in tea party actually means, “Taxed Enough Already.”
What do you think about the actions of the IRS? Can this agency be trusted after becoming a political weapon?
Who really came up with these policies? The IRS official statement was that low-level agents are at fault and acted on their own, but in that same statement they also misrepresented how much the seniority knew about the practices.
Was this the IRS’s attempt to damage the groups that threatened its existence? Could someone from the Obama administration have given the order, or even the President himself?
These are very disturbing questions, and who knows if the truth will ever be known.
Sources:
IRS Apologizes for Targeting Tea Party Groups
IRS targeted tea party groups earlier than 2012
Rep. Charles Boustany (LA-07) Questions IRS Commissioner for Targeting of Groups on 3/22/2012
Carney Distances White House From ‘Independent Agency’ IRS’s Targeting Of Conservative Groups
10 crazy things the IRS asked Tea Party groups
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