Republican Accidentally Debunks GOP Narrative at IRS Hearing

[Hissyspit]

Source: Raw Story

Republican accidentally debunks GOP narrative at IRS hearing

By Eric W. Dolan
Saturday, May 18, 2013 16:22 EDT

During a congressional hearing regarding the IRS on Friday, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) inadvertently led the head of the IRS to contradict the notion that conservative nonprofits were singled out for scrutiny.

At the hearing, outgoing acting IRS commissioner Steve Miller repeatedly objected to the use of the word “targeting.” He said the so-called “be on the lookout” (BOLO) list was an “inappropriate” organizational tool or “shortcut” that IRS staff used to find potential political cases. Miller claimed the tea party groups would have be subjected to extra scrutiny regardless of the BOLO list.

“If the targeting wasn’t targeting, if the targeting wasn’t based on philosophy, how come only conservatives got snagged?” Roskam confidently asked.

“They didn’t, sir,” Miller responded. “Organizations of all walks and all persuasions were pulled in. That’s shown by the fact that only 70 of the 300 organizations were tea party organizations, of the ones that were looked at by TIGTA (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration).”

- snip -

Of the 298 groups subjected to additional review, 72 were “tea party” groups, 11 were 9/12 groups and 13 were “patriots” groups, according to the inspector general’s report.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/18/republican-accidentally-debunks-gop-narrative-at-irs-hearing

[KansDem]

1. They need better actors.

I've seen and heard better acting in middle-school productions.

Time to send in the "first string" (provided they have one).

[ewagner]

2. This IS the first string...

this is the best they've got and we still can't put them away...shame on us.

[elleng]

7. Shame on THEM,

they WON'T stop, EVER.

[otherone]

12. We need better players

[FogerRox]

13. Yeah right. What a wasted opportunity.

[Bolo Boffin]

3. The IG report also said most of the Tea Party-type groups would have been selected

with an impartial standard.

The IG found 91 out of the 296 potential political applications that did not have any indications of significant political campaign intervention. That's 31% and that seems high. However, the IRS disputed that finding for a number of reasons, and the IG conceded in a footnote that when additional information was sent in by the groups, evidence of significant political campaign intervention was found in a "number" of those 91. How many, the IG did not say.

However, in another footnote, the IG also revealed that only 17% of the 91 "indication-free" applications were Tea Party-type organizations. That would be about 15. Using the figures in the OP, 72 plus 11 plus 13 equals 96 Tea Party-type groups.

So out of 96 of these improperly targeted groups, 81 of them would have been selected if an impartial standard had been used. That's 84% of them, the vast majority. When the IRS used the improper standards to flag the Tea Party-type groups, it was the equivalent of the LAPD framing OJ Simpson.

[underpants]

6. Good info

thanks Bolo

I posted this from my own experience
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101663838

[DhhD]

9. Republicans wanted jail time for IRS workers. Looks like the defense makes a court case frivolous.

[chuckstevens]

4. Not The Narrative

The media WANTS an Obama scandal, so this revelation won't see the light of day

.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Nuthin like watching these "tough guys" become crybabies.

[SoapBox]

8. And will Diane Sawyer carry this story?

Hell no!

Hey Limp Media...you are acting in a criminal fashion!

[GeorgeGist]

10. TIGTA was targeting too.

[Berlum]

11. k & r

Thanks for posting.