Acting Irs Chief Ousted Over Tax Scandal As Obama Vows Change

[Jingthing]

I am against the political targeting by the IRS as are probably 99 percent of Americans. But Obama didn't order that. There is no way.

[Loptr]

Their mistake was not targeting ALL such political action groups, including religions.

NONE of them deserve to be tax free.

This is really bad now, because now with this "scandal" the extremist right wing groups will be given a special pass on LEGIT enforcement and some of these groups are really dangerous, even some favoring violent revolution against the legal government of the USA. So the decent peace loving tax paying American law abiding citizens will be subsidizing these far right wing extremist pro violence groups. Shocking.

It came out Tuesday that the IRS went after the Rev Billy Graham's organization too. Why, because he was a Romney support. No one was spared the wrath of the IRS if they opposed the current sitting administration.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/franklin-graham-irs-targeting-91362.html?hp=l6

Get off your high horse JT. The administration got caught with their hands in the cookie jar three times in the last week. What's next I wonder?

[Jingthing]

If there is an impeachable offense, impeach him and be done with it.

Otherwise, please don't waste the world's time on this crapola for the next three years.

[Loptr]

Their mistake was not targeting ALL such political action groups, including religions.

NONE of them deserve to be tax free.

This is really bad now, because now with this "scandal" the extremist right wing groups will be given a special pass on LEGIT enforcement and some of these groups are really dangerous, even some favoring violent revolution against the legal government of the USA. So the decent peace loving tax paying American law abiding citizens will be subsidizing these far right wing extremist pro violence groups. Shocking.

You surely win the prize for scatter-brained comment of the month!

Let's face it; You call these groups "extremist" and "pro violence" not because they are but simply because you do not like their political orientation. Also, they do not agree with you on your adoration of Saint Obama. If any of these organizations are violating the law in being "really dangerous" or "favoring violent revolution" then the FBI will handle them based upon their specific actions. The IRS (the federal agency concerned with taxation) is not the agency to handle such issues.

Whether "political action groups" should have specific tax exempt status is a matter of law that is decided by Congress. Until the law is changed, it must be applied equally to all, no matter what their political orientation. The current IRS actions of selecting groups for review based on words in their name and/or political beliefs is not justifiable nor appropriate.

It is obvious that the group-speak for the liberals these days is that the ends justify the means, even if it is illegal. They just don't get it.

[Jingthing]

Don't do that. I never said I approved of political targeting.

I do think many of these right wing political groups have violent tendencies and many of them ARE armed to the teeth.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Jingthing

[F430murci]

Does anyone here understand a 501©(4) and believe it should be applicable to political organizations? Does anyone know how many were applied for, approved, processing time and reason for some denials? . . . Or are we all just on a war path to trash the other guy we don't like even though we are not real sure of all of the underlying issues.

I would think lots of bells and whistles should go off if Tea party like group seeking 501©(4) status. Complicated tax provision that is rife for abuse.

Media Matters has held this status for years and Media Matters is a Leftist house organ for Democrats and obama ... The issue is about applying the law fairly with the same set of standards across the board... not exceeding regulatory authority nor allowing special privilege for some.

I am sure there are many left and right 501©(4)s. Can you specifically identify a few organizations that applied for 501©(4) and explain the basis for the denial and why the denial was incorrect.

We don't know the full story yet. I think some basic understanding the 501©(4), the application process and meeting the definition of primarily engaged in meeting the activities of public welfare is very ambiguous standard. Perhaps the IRS gave too much scrutity to those entitites applying for 501©(4) that have made a public anti tax stance. Would seem that they are prone to cheating the system or finding a way to not pay tax since that their ideology.

Conservative groups and Carl Rove did somewhat abuse the use of 501©(4)s back around 2010 as a method of secretly funneling unlimited contributions from big donors. Perhaps their own abuses created the unwanted scrutiny. I don't know, but you don't know either and you also seem very unknowledgeable about the history and purpose 501©(4)s. More will be revealed and I trust the issue will be resolved in appropriate manner.

Perhaps we should just completely do away with 501©(4)s and let everyone pay their fair share of taxes and eliminate these provisions that create potential for abuses.

[Jingthing]

Perhaps we should just completely do away with 501©(4)s and let everyone pay their fair share of taxes and eliminate these provisions that create potential for abuses.

Exactomundo! But that would be too easy and too logical and the republicans would have a fit because it would seen as a tax increase which apparently is against their religion.

[F430murci]

Their mistake was not targeting ALL such political action groups, including religions.

NONE of them deserve to be tax free.

This is really bad now, because now with this "scandal" the extremist right wing groups will be given a special pass on LEGIT enforcement and some of these groups are really dangerous, even some favoring violent revolution against the legal government of the USA. So the decent peace loving tax paying American law abiding citizens will be subsidizing these far right wing extremist pro violence groups. Shocking.

It came out Tuesday that the IRS went after the Rev Billy Graham's organization too. Why, because he was a Romney support. No one was spared the wrath of the IRS if they opposed the current sitting administration.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/franklin-graham-irs-targeting-91362.html?hp=l6

Get off your high horse JT. The administration got caught with their hands in the cookie jar three times in the last week. What's next I wonder?

Haha, Billy Graham. I would imagine there are many reasons to target and audit him, none of which have anything to do with him supporting Romney.

[Loptr]

Does anyone here understand a 501©(4) and believe it should be applicable to political organizations? Does anyone know how many were applied for, approved, processing time and reason for some denials? . . . Or are we all just on a war path to trash the other guy we don't like even though we are not real sure of all of the underlying issues.

I would think lots of bells and whistles should go off if Tea party like group seeking 501©(4) status. Complicated tax provision that is rife for abuse.

The Tea Party aspect of this investigation is just the tip of the iceberg. Cases have come out where the IRS went after college professors, donors to GOP candidates, religious organizations, etc... Don't focus on the Tea Party aspect as that is what they want you to do.

Here is another bombshell unleashed today.

Congressman: Justice Dept. Wiretapped the House of Representative's Cloak Room

California congressman Devin Nunes made the claim yesterday that the Justice Department wiretapped telephones in the House of Representative's Cloak Room, an exclusive part of the Capitol where members are able to privately interact with one another. Nunes made the claim on Hugh Hewitt's radio show.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/congressman-justice-dept-wiretapped-house-representatives-cloak-room_724606.html

This allegation will bring down the house, literally. The DOJ is now accused of wire tapping telephones setup in common areas around the House Chamber in the Capital. They were bugging Congressmen. Bugging reporters is one thing, but bugging the House of Representatives? The <deleted> has just begun to hit the fan.

[Loptr]

Perhaps we should just completely do away with 501©(4)s and let everyone pay their fair share of taxes and eliminate these provisions that create potential for abuses.

Exactomundo! But that would be too easy and too logical and the republicans would have a fit because it would seen as a tax increase which apparently is against their religion.

You ever hear of ACORN?

[Loptr]

So we agree. No smoking gun will be found because there isn't one to BE found. But the loons in congress will probably try to impeach him anyway.

No, we don't agree. So best agree to disagree.

[lannarebirth]

Perhaps we should just completely do away with 501©(4)s and let everyone pay their fair share of taxes and eliminate these provisions that create potential for abuses.

Exactomundo! But that would be too easy and too logical and the republicans would have a fit because it would seen as a tax increase which apparently is against their religion.

Not just Republicans. This falls under the heading of campaign finance reform and the Democrats will not act to do anything about it either.

[Publicus]

obama is 'Moderate" compared to ... say ... Mao, Castro, Chavez, Lenin, Stalin ... ??? obama is a Moderate ... what an absolutely hysterical joke. OMG...

To Europeans, Obama is a conservative and that is a fact.

Well - I'll take your word for it - but that only supports my point of view... Good Grief ... It is what Americans think about obama that is important... obama is a leftist pushing socialism into communism - and that is pretty far off the left end of the spectrum. And it is obama's bent for leftist dictatorial control that has led him to create an Administration where the IRS becomes a political enforcement arm, the Justice Department illegally taps the phones of the Associated Press, Homeland Security and the Justice Department smuggle guns into Mexico and the State Department and the White House makes up a fantastical lie as part of the cover up to hide wrong doing in the Benghazi fiasco... But obama is a 'moderate' and now a conservative. This claim is going to become the funniest joke of the year...

You and I are entitled to our respective opinion.

However, the above paragraph covers the waterfront of everything the Republican party says against Prez Obama. I've heard and read worse so at least you have some restraint by not repeating the real conspiracy theories, all of which come from your friends on the really extreme far right. So at least your restraint shows you are not a far right wingnut, just a guy with strongly strident views against the Obama administration.

Here, for instance, is from the OP, " Miller had previously served as deputy commissioner for Services and Enforcement, providing direction and oversight for all major decisions affecting the four taxpayer-focused IRS Divisions". He's your guilty guy. You and others need to accept the fact of the case to date. All of the above is wild opinion, speculation, conspiracy predicated.

Republicans anyway are always devising schemes to cheat the government and the rest of we taxpayers from paying their due taxes, what with offshore accounts and numbered Swiss bank accounts in particular. It for instance is the Obama administration that has begun to bring the long time renegade Swiss banks to heel by getting them to agree releasing names of tax evaders in the U.S. (Mitt Romney has a Swiss bank account and other offshore bank accounts - and he was the Republican party's guy in the 2012 quadrennial election. Pathetic for both Romney and the R party.)

The IRS perps in the Cincinnati tax office that handles the tax-exempt organization requests are going to pay, as well they should. You just can't connect Obama to that Cincinnati overexuberance, and you won't be able to either.

The country has serious problems to solve, so let's get on with it. Congress' approval ratings are something like 12%, a record low in the history of the republic. We can see why.

[NeverSure]

I am against the political targeting by the IRS as are probably 99 percent of Americans. But Obama didn't order that. There is no way.

You wouldn't mind waiting until there's actually an investigation, would you?

[Jingthing]

I am against the political targeting by the IRS as are probably 99 percent of Americans. But Obama didn't order that. There is no way.

You wouldn't mind waiting until there's actually an investigation, would you?

Waste of time. He's not as stupid as you think.

[Publicus]

A word from Prez Bush's former press spokesperson, Ari Fleischer, is in order here.

Ari Fleischer, in Twitter shorthand. “It doesn't matter if Tparty non-profit applications got approved. Because of their views, they had more legal costs & trouble”, Fleischer tweeted two Sunday nights ago. But he also had this to say to his Republican party: “Advice to GOP on Benghazi/IRS. Investigate facts--don't leap to conclusions (crime, impeachment). Let facts drive-not emotion.” (emphasis added.) Fleischer's twit was in response to criticism of the R party in the Congress that it is trying to investigate to prove what does not exist.

Further, unlike Bill Clinton, Obama isn’t handing ammunition to Republicans in the form of self-created personal scandals. And yet Prez Obama is presiding over a conflict-ridden era that is, if anything, even more wearying and exasperating than the Clinton era. The GOP is blocking his judges and Cabinet secretaries, attacking his budget proposals as both too austere and not austere enough, trying to withhold money for a smooth transition to the new health care law, and threatening again to ignore the debt limit and the perils of default. Now add multiple investigations of the IRS and Benghazi, some warranted and some excessive. Where will it all lead?

Shortly after the September 1998 release of the Special Counsel Kin Starr's report (with its graphic sexual references of Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, and its eagerly written 11 proposed articles of impeachment), and before the R party controlled House went on to impeach and the Senate try Clinton, Republicans contradicted historical patterns by losing House seats. The public, as it had turned out, were tired of investigations, and conflict. Obama thus might have some hope the same dynamic plays out in the 2014 Congressional elections.

Republicans have a history of being overexuberant, or overplaying even their weakest hand against a second term Democratic incumbent president. Former Prez Clinton was not removed from the office of president by vote of the Senate because impeachment and trial was seen by the great majority of Americans as partisan.

The same applies here on a much lesser scale.

[Jingthing]

I think Obama's best choice to do anything for the country is to ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK. Charge the truth that the republicans are deliberately blocking governance and make the 2014 midterms the Battle Royale. It's his only chance to get anything done for the country, to win back the house, and the only chance for the country to avoid severe damage from another three years of obstructionist insanity. Yes, I'm serious. This political situation is very serious. He shouldn't mince words. Cooperation is 100 percent impossible. These forces of right wing darkness need to be CRUSHED.

Obama has a HUGE untapped base of support ready to fight their American asses off to help him with his final election win in 2014. As long as he gets his clear voice.

Yes it is true the best thing Obama does is winning elections. He really, really needs to win this 2014 midterm for congress. We thought he was done with elections, but turns out this last one might be the most critical. Not saying this can or will be won, but I see no better choice for Obama at this point but to try really, really hard.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Jingthing

[snarky66]

obama, in typical weasel fashion, cleverly dodged the question "Did anyone in the White House know about the targeting?"

[Jingthing]

obama, in typical weasel fashion, cleverly dodged the question "Did anyone in the White House know about the targeting?"

You think he is going to hand the enemies an impeachment on a platter? Think again.

[Publicus]

obama, in typical weasel fashion, cleverly dodged the question "Did anyone in the White House know about the targeting?"

Obama is clever, but not diabolical in the way the Republicans are. Obama brought down the house at the correspondents dinner, "I'm just not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be."

Your post however is 100% innuendo. You don't provide Obama's answer, only your floating, unmoored characterization of it. Is Joe McCarthy going to be a part of this too?

obama, in typical weasel fashion, cleverly dodged the question "Did anyone in the White House know about the targeting?"

You think he is going to hand the enemies an impeachment on a platter? Think again.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Publicus

[landtrout]

Does anyone here understand a 501©(4) and believe it should be applicable to political organizations? Does anyone know how many were applied for, approved, processing time and reason for some denials? . . . Or are we all just on a war path to trash the other guy we don't like even though we are not real sure of all of the underlying issues.

I would think lots of bells and whistles should go off if Tea party like group seeking 501©(4) status. Complicated tax provision that is rife for abuse.

The Tea Party aspect of this investigation is just the tip of the iceberg. Cases have come out where the IRS went after college professors, donors to GOP candidates, religious organizations, etc... Don't focus on the Tea Party aspect as that is what they want you to do.

Here is another bombshell unleashed today.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/congressman-justice-dept-wiretapped-house-representatives-cloak-room_724606.html

Congressman: Justice Dept. Wiretapped the House of Representative's Cloak Room

California congressman Devin Nunes made the claim yesterday that the Justice Department wiretapped telephones in the House of Representative's Cloak Room, an exclusive part of the Capitol where members are able to privately interact with one another. Nunes made the claim on Hugh Hewitt's radio show.

This allegation will bring down the house, literally. The DOJ is now accused of wire tapping telephones setup in common areas around the House Chamber in the Capital. They were bugging Congressmen. Bugging reporters is one thing, but bugging the House of Representatives? The <deleted> has just begun to hit the fan.

Does anyone here understand a 501©(4) and believe it should be applicable to political organizations? Does anyone know how many were applied for, approved, processing time and reason for some denials? . . . Or are we all just on a war path to trash the other guy we don't like even though we are not real sure of all of the underlying issues.

I would think lots of bells and whistles should go off if Tea party like group seeking 501©(4) status. Complicated tax provision that is rife for abuse.

The Tea Party aspect of this investigation is just the tip of the iceberg. Cases have come out where the IRS went after college professors, donors to GOP candidates, religious organizations, etc... Don't focus on the Tea Party aspect as that is what they want you to do.

Here is another bombshell unleashed today.

Congressman: Justice Dept. Wiretapped the House of Representative's Cloak Room

California congressman Devin Nunes made the claim yesterday that the Justice Department wiretapped telephones in the House of Representative's Cloak Room, an exclusive part of the Capitol where members are able to privately interact with one another. Nunes made the claim on Hugh Hewitt's radio show.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/congressman-justice-dept-wiretapped-house-representatives-cloak-room_724606.html

This allegation will bring down the house, literally. The DOJ is now accused of wire tapping telephones setup in common areas around the House Chamber in the Capital. They were bugging Congressmen. Bugging reporters is one thing, but bugging the House of Representatives? The <deleted> has just begun to hit the fan.

Okay.

When you say that "this allegation will bring down the house, literally", I'm guessing that by "literally" you mean "not literally".

Right?

Or do you really mean to affirm that an "allegation" by a bat"<deleted>" crazy junior congressman from a backwater district in Central California will cause blocks of "literal" marble to fall in the "literal" street, thousands of miles distant?

The same way that, when Devin Nunes says "wiretapped", he really means "not wiretapped".

Right?

This is from your "bombshell" source:

"

UPDATE: Jack Langer, Rep. Nunes's communications director, emails this clarification:

I

wanted to make a clarification for your article. What Rep. Nunes meant

by “tapped” was that the DOJ seized the phone records, as has been

widely reported. There was a little confusion between him and the host

during the conversation: He did not mean to refer to phone records of

the cloakroom itself, but of the Capitol. This refers to the phone

records from the AP’s desk in the press gallery, which the DOJ admitted

to looking at. He was explaining that if those phone records were

seized, they would reveal a lot of conversations between the press and

members of Congress, since reporters often speak to Members from the

press gallery phones. The notion of the DOJ looking at phone records

from the Capitol of conversations between Members of Congress and

reporters is something that concerns Rep. Nunes, bringing up issues

related to the separation of powers.

Although his comments were a bit unclear, he clarified soon after in the interview:

DN:

So when they went after the AP reporters, right? Went after all of

their phone records, they went after the phone records, including right

up here in the House Gallery, right up from where I’m sitting right now.

So you have a real separation of powers issue that did this really rise

to the level that you would have to get phone records that would, that

would most likely include members of Congress, because as you know…"

Hmmmm......

Apparently, there was "a little confusion between him and the host".

Devin Nunes has been my congressional representative for 11 of the past 13 years.

Devin Nunes is a painfully dim bulb, and a tool of the highest order.

There are only two higher orders of tool than Mr. Nunes: Hugh Hewitt (and his disreputable ilk), and... anyone who would take those "arse" clowns seriously.

Again..... "<deleted>" is a word I've never heard uttered by an American citizen.

Where are you from, and.....what on earth are you doing in these threads?

Surely, there are uppity brown heads-of-state closer to wherever you're from?

Tally-ho, mate!

Edited May 16, 2013 by landtrout

[snarky66]

Tune in the Sean Hannity show to see mister weasel answer the question. Read my sig one more time.

[landtrout]

Tune in the Sean Hannity show to see mister weasel answer the question. Read my sig one more time.

I've been subjected to Mr. Hannity's "show" for hundreds upon hundreds of hours.

My wife has been exposed to his "unique" vocal stylings (she says that he sounds like a "rice field rat", or a "fish dead, only he don't know"...), and has been given permission to end my misery with a "mercy shot" to the temple (I'm American.... we have guns...) if she ever hears that I've summoned that particular demon again by free will.

That will never happen. By dead certainty.

I read your "sig" one more time, but...... I can't make heads or tails of it, honestly.

Could you repost it in English?

[JDGRUEN]

I am against the political targeting by the IRS as are probably 99 percent of Americans. But Obama didn't order that. There is no way.

You wouldn't mind waiting until there's actually an investigation, would you?

Waste of time. He's not as stupid as you think.

I don't happen to think obama is stupid.. But I do think he is filled with hubris that frequently spills out as arrogance. obama thinks he is Teflon man and has become reckless - soon to his political demise. obama is buffered by his many minions and henchmen. Personally, I think it will show after investigation to be Rahm Emanuel and Tim Geithner and their subordinates.

But, all in all it is obama who gives the general go ahead to guys like Emanuel and Geithner to do 'whatever it takes'

[JDGRUEN]

If there is an impeachable offense, impeach him and be done with it.

Otherwise, please don't waste the world's time on this crapola for the next three years.

But we must eat up all of obama's time in office... keep him dodging and running - out of focus... keep him so busy dodging political bullets that he has no time to do more dastardly things to my country.

[Publicus]

If there is an impeachable offense, impeach him and be done with it.

Otherwise, please don't waste the world's time on this crapola for the next three years.

But we must eat up all of obama's time in office... keep him dodging and running - out of focus... keep him so busy dodging political bullets that he has no time to do more dastardly things to my country.

Cynical and selfish POV.

My United States is optimistic and positive.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Publicus

[JDGRUEN]

If there is an impeachable offense, impeach him and be done with it.
Otherwise, please don't waste the world's time on this crapola for the next three years.

But we must eat up all of obama's time in office... keep him dodging and running - out of focus... keep him so busy dodging political bullets that he has no time to do more dastardly things to my country.

Cynical and selfish POV.

My United States is optimistic and positive.

"Cynical and selfish POV" ... You are prone to presupposition and delusions of self-importance criticizing others instead of saying something relevant to the topic. Edited May 17, 2013 by JDGRUEN

[JDGRUEN]

Does anyone here understand a 501©(4) and believe it should be applicable to political organizations? Does anyone know how many were applied for, approved, processing time and reason for some denials? . . . Or are we all just on a war path to trash the other guy we don't like even though we are not real sure of all of the underlying issues.

I would think lots of bells and whistles should go off if Tea party like group seeking 501©(4) status. Complicated tax provision that is rife for abuse.

Media Matters has held this status for years and Media Matters is a Leftist house organ for Democrats and obama ... The issue is about applying the law fairly with the same set of standards across the board... not exceeding regulatory authority nor allowing special privilege for some.

I am sure there are many left and right 501©(4)s. Can you specifically identify a few organizations that applied for 501©(4) and explain the basis for the denial and why the denial was incorrect.

We don't know the full story yet. I think some basic understanding the 501©(4), the application process and meeting the definition of primarily engaged in meeting the activities of public welfare is very ambiguous standard. Perhaps the IRS gave too much scrutity to those entitites applying for 501©(4) that have made a public anti tax stance. Would seem that they are prone to cheating the system or finding a way to not pay tax since that their ideology.

Conservative groups and Carl Rove did somewhat abuse the use of 501©(4)s back around 2010 as a method of secretly funneling unlimited contributions from big donors. Perhaps their own abuses created the unwanted scrutiny. I don't know, but you don't know either and you also seem very unknowledgeable about the history and purpose 501©(4)s. More will be revealed and I trust the issue will be resolved in appropriate manner.

Perhaps we should just completely do away with 501©(4)s and let everyone pay their fair share of taxes and eliminate these provisions that create potential for abuses.

Karl Rove - at the time you speak of was and still is a private citizen not an officer of the U.S. Government - such as an IRS Administrator. Officers of the Government have a duty of maintaining trust and honesty. If you know of something that Karl Rove has done that is illegal please report it to the U.S. Justice Department / FBI

[JDGRUEN]

obama is 'Moderate" compared to ... say ... Mao, Castro, Chavez, Lenin, Stalin ... ??? obama is a Moderate ... what an absolutely hysterical joke. OMG...

To Europeans, Obama is a conservative and that is a fact.

Well - I'll take your word for it - but that only supports my point of view... Good Grief ... It is what Americans think about obama that is important... obama is a leftist pushing socialism into communism - and that is pretty far off the left end of the spectrum. And it is obama's bent for leftist dictatorial control that has led him to create an Administration where the IRS becomes a political enforcement arm, the Justice Department illegally taps the phones of the Associated Press, Homeland Security and the Justice Department smuggle guns into Mexico and the State Department and the White House makes up a fantastical lie as part of the cover up to hide wrong doing in the Benghazi fiasco... But obama is a 'moderate' and now a conservative. This claim is going to become the funniest joke of the year...

You and I are entitled to our respective opinion.

However, the above paragraph covers the waterfront of everything the Republican party says against Prez Obama. I've heard and read worse so at least you have some restraint by not repeating the real conspiracy theories, all of which come from your friends on the really extreme far right. So at least your restraint shows you are not a far right wingnut, just a guy with strongly strident views against the Obama administration.

Here, for instance, is from the OP, " Miller had previously served as deputy commissioner for Services and Enforcement, providing direction and oversight for all major decisions affecting the four taxpayer-focused IRS Divisions". He's your guilty guy. You and others need to accept the fact of the case to date. All of the above is wild opinion, speculation, conspiracy predicated.

Republicans anyway are always devising schemes to cheat the government and the rest of we taxpayers from paying their due taxes, what with offshore accounts and numbered Swiss bank accounts in particular. It for instance is the Obama administration that has begun to bring the long time renegade Swiss banks to heel by getting them to agree releasing names of tax evaders in the U.S. (Mitt Romney has a Swiss bank account and other offshore bank accounts - and he was the Republican party's guy in the 2012 quadrennial election. Pathetic for both Romney and the R party.)

The IRS perps in the Cincinnati tax office that handles the tax-exempt organization requests are going to pay, as well they should. You just can't connect Obama to that Cincinnati overexuberance, and you won't be able to either.

The country has serious problems to solve, so let's get on with it. Congress' approval ratings are something like 12%, a record low in the history of the republic. We can see why.

"I've heard and read worse so at least you have some restraint by not repeating the real conspiracy theories, all of which come from your friends on the really extreme far right. So at least your restraint shows you are not a far right wingnut, just a guy with strongly strident views against the Obama administration" ...

Do you realize how arrogant you sound - judging others on a personal level instead of responding to the topic?

[F430murci]

Does anyone here understand a 501©(4) and believe it should be applicable to political organizations? Does anyone know how many were applied for, approved, processing time and reason for some denials? . . . Or are we all just on a war path to trash the other guy we don't like even though we are not real sure of all of the underlying issues.

I would think lots of bells and whistles should go off if Tea party like group seeking 501©(4) status. Complicated tax provision that is rife for abuse.

Media Matters has held this status for years and Media Matters is a Leftist house organ for Democrats and obama ... The issue is about applying the law fairly with the same set of standards across the board... not exceeding regulatory authority nor allowing special privilege for some.

I am sure there are many left and right 501©(4)s. Can you specifically identify a few organizations that applied for 501©(4) and explain the basis for the denial and why the denial was incorrect.

We don't know the full story yet. I think some basic understanding the 501©(4), the application process and meeting the definition of primarily engaged in meeting the activities of public welfare is very ambiguous standard. Perhaps the IRS gave too much scrutity to those entitites applying for 501©(4) that have made a public anti tax stance. Would seem that they are prone to cheating the system or finding a way to not pay tax since that their ideology.

Conservative groups and Carl Rove did somewhat abuse the use of 501©(4)s back around 2010 as a method of secretly funneling unlimited contributions from big donors. Perhaps their own abuses created the unwanted scrutiny. I don't know, but you don't know either and you also seem very unknowledgeable about the history and purpose 501©(4)s. More will be revealed and I trust the issue will be resolved in appropriate manner.

Perhaps we should just completely do away with 501©(4)s and let everyone pay their fair share of taxes and eliminate these provisions that create potential for abuses.

Karl Rove - at the time you speak of was and still is a private citizen not an officer of the U.S. Government - such as an IRS Administrator. Officers of the Government have a duty of maintaining trust and honesty. If you know of something that Karl Rove has done that is illegal please report it to the U.S. Justice Department / FBI

Haha, no wonder some of you guys are so gullible, impressionable and a bit noid with the poor reading comprehension and analytical ability. No where did I say Rove was in office.

Once again, you demonstrate very little grasp of 501©(4)s or you would know how 501s were abused by conservatives including Rove and used to secretly dump huge sums of money into Republican party.

Unfortunately, I know of the low life Rove all to well. Candidly, people like Rove brought 501 abuses to light and are perhaps the one's to thank for the heightened scrutiny.

Edited May 17, 2013 by F430murci