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Originally posted by: pjstroh
Don Diego has already cried foul in a different matter where the IRS followed the exact wording of the law (as opposed to their traditional interpretation of it).
When the IRS was "targeting" conservative 501c groups for engaging in political activity - the right wing conspiracy machine's primary complaint was the IRS was following the law as it was written instead of the way the IRS had been historically interpreting it. And as I recall, Don Diego was front and center of that parade of outrage.
DonDiego is flattered that pjstroh believes he was "front and center in [a] parade of outrage". But actually he was merely adorning one of the floats midway back. "A poll released by Quinnipiac University on May 30 2013 revealed that 76% of registered voters — including 63% of Democrats — favored the appointment of a special prosecutor to independently investigate the allegations of wrongdoing [by the IRS]."
Oh, incidentally, the "Outrage Float" did lead the parade, but poor old DonDiego was aboard the "Float of Discomfort".
DonDiego may or may not agree with matters of complaint by the "right wing conspiracy machine". He has his own complaints.
The IRS did not follow the exact wording of the Law.
The outrage is/was over selective enforcement of the Law against applicants for 501c status. DonDiego doesn't understand why pjstroh placed the word targeting in quotes. The IRS was targeting Conservative 501c groups.
How does DonDiego know this?
__The IRS Inspector general concluded:
"The IRS used inappropriate criteria that identified for review Tea Party and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status based upon their names or policy positions instead of indications of potential political campaign intervention. . . .
. . . out of the 20 groups applying for tax-exempt status whose names contained "progress" or "progressive", 6 had been chosen for more scrutiny . . . compared to all of the 292 groups applying for tax-exempt status whose names contained 'tea party', 'patriot', or '9/12.' "
__U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) stated: "We should not only fire the head of the IRS, . . . but we’ve got to go down the line and find every single person who had anything to do with this and make sure that they are removed from the IRS and the word goes out that this is unacceptable."
__Lois Lerner, Director of the IRS Exempt Organizations Dvision [AKA "She-Who-Testifies-Before-Invoking-Her-Right-Not-To-Testify"] answered what was later revealed to be a planted question by stating that the IRS was "apologetic" for what she termed "absolutely inappropriate" actions. Ms. Lerner subsequently retired.
__President Obama [AKA "He-Who-Must-Be-Adored"] released a statement: "The IRS must apply the law in a fair and impartial way, and its employees must act with utmost integrity. This report shows that some of its employees failed that test. I’ve directed Secretary Lew to hold those responsible for these failures accountable, and to make sure that each of the Inspector General’s recommendations are implemented quickly, so that such conduct never happens again. But regardless of how this conduct was allowed to take place, the bottom line is, it was wrong."
Ref: IRS Scandal
DonDiego says the Law should be enforced as written by Congress, . . . not selectively.
And DonDiego recognizes many Laws should not be on the books at all; they should be repealed. He does not expect this to happen. (DonDiego does not see the World in black-and-white. He recognizes that not enforcing a bad law, . . . or even selective enforcement - but not for political gain, . . . or even "traditional" enforcement may have some merit. Nonetheless, he would prefer such legislation be repealed. It's more tidy.)
Oh, . . . and DonDiego thanks pjstroh for bringing up one of the more embarrassing moments of the Obama Administration in defense of the most embarrassing moment.
