IRS confesses to inappropriately targeting conservative groups.

[waggy]

Pleading the 5th can not and should not be seen as a sign of guilt.

I find it very curious that she would plead the 5th, I can't imagine anything she could say that would subject her to criminal charges...... unless she really did knowingly lie to congress about this mess.

If she goes in front of congress and pleads the 5th and refuses to answer questions, she needs to be fired. I'm sure the administration is not pleased to have this kind of egg on it's face with the person charged with overseeing Obamacare as it relates to the IRS pleading the 5th in front of congress for shady past activities.

agreed. the 5th is not a sign of guilt.

i agree she needs to be fired. Also something more needs to be done then the useless hearings.

 

[Double Trouble]

IMO, if she won't testify, she should be fired. She is a public servant, and she is supposed to work for us. If she is unwilling to discuss her activities as our employee, she should be out...immediately. That's not acceptable.

I agree. I'm not sold on the motivation for the additional scrutiny (your explanation seems plausible), but if she can't testify in front of congress about this, she should not be working in a public capacity with the IRS again.

 

[Oldgamer]

I was watching today, and Lois Lerner took the 5th. What was most interesting was one of the Republican Senators making a big stink about it and carrying on that she waved her right to the 5th when Darryl Issa asked her a question about an earlier statement she made from an earlier time, and all she said was "yes that she had made that statement". This guy carried on that she waived her right to the "5th" just by answering his question. But she has a pretty powerful attorney, and they all took a pause, and they said they would come back to her later, as I think they have to consult with their legal counsel before trying to push her further. It was really strange watching it today. Darryl Issa then gave this speech about this isn't a Partisan attack and we are here to find the truth and lets all be "Republcrats and Democruns today". That guy was seething..

 

[monovillage]

Yes, she basically said "I am not a crook!"
Where have we heard that before? I bet we'll hear it again when/if Obama is called to testify.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs...er-i-have-not-done-anything-wrong_728791.html

 

[OutHouse]

If there was nothing to hide why the 5th?

well so much for the promise of being the most transparent government in history...

 

[ivwshane]

Interesting change. You have a link for that?

I don't do many 501 (c)(4) applications (Form 1024), but had to do one last month and it was a PITA. Took a lot of research and most of the info is 'gray' or 'mushy'. The point being, seemed much of the rules etc have been developed by case law (tax courts etc.).

I have some problem believing the IRS unilaterally changed the rules as they only have that power in unusual situations (e.g., statutory regulations). The IRS creates their 'rules' primarily by Treasury Regulations and those must conform to law as passed by Congress.

I.e., I'm thinking the change, if it happened, would have been driven by court cases. So, I would appreciate a link if you have one.

TIA

Fern

Even more interesting is that the IRS is being sued now for that change:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/le...ailing-to-revise-rules-governing-501c4-groups

Info about the change can be found in the article as well.

 

[Incorruptible]

lois lerner what a disgusting piece of shit. This woman needs to answer for what happened and it's pathetic she refuses to answer.

 

[kage69]

If only she pulled an Alberto Gonzales instead, giving Issa dozens upon dozens of "I don't recollect" non answers.

 

[werepossum]

If only she pulled an Alberto Gonzales instead, giving Issa dozens upon dozens of "I don't recollect" non answers.

Sorry, that was long ago patented as the Hilary Defense.

 

[nehalem256]

Even more interesting is that the IRS is being sued now for that change:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/le...ailing-to-revise-rules-governing-501c4-groups

Info about the change can be found in the article as well.

from wiki

CREW has been variously referred to in media as an "independent",[2][3] "liberal",[4] "non-partisan"[5][6] watchdog group.

So a liberal group wants to go back to a time when 501c4 groups were almost exclusively conservative? :O

 

[kage69]

DIANNY RANTS: Putin Called. He Wants His KGB Back

A snippet follows.

...and articles like that are why those poor anti-Obama conservatives are seen as unstable drama queens.

You guys should really leave the hyperbole to the pros, such exaggeration dripping with indignation is closer to sad than funny.

 

[ivwshane]

from wiki


So a liberal group wants to go back to a time when 501c4 groups were almost exclusively conservative? :O

What does that have to do with anything I posted?

 

[kage69]

Sorry, that was long ago patented as the Hilary Defense.

Must be a Chinese patent, because that doesn't make sense.

Or, you could show me a link detailing Hillary having weeks to prepare for Congressional testimony then telling them "I don't remember" 64 times in one sitting. Did she have a chief of staff that did it for her 122+ times as well?

Funny how you bring up Hillary. I just read about how the public believes her more on Benghazi than it does the GOP echo chamber bent on political theatrics. Pretty much the opposite of the public's view on that asshole Gonzales.

 

[monovillage]

If only she pulled an Alberto Gonzales instead, giving Issa dozens upon dozens of "I don't recollect" non answers.

I'm pretty sure you're talking about Hillary Clinton pulling the "I don't recall" card.

 

[monovillage]

Must be a Chinese patent, because that doesn't make sense.

Or, you could show me a link detailing Hillary having weeks to prepare for Congressional testimony then telling them "I don't remember" 64 times in one sitting. Did she have a chief of staff that did it for her 122+ times as well?

Funny how you bring up Hillary. I just read about how the public believes her more on Benghazi than it does the GOP echo chamber bent on political theatrics. Pretty much the opposite of the public's view on that asshole Gonzales.

It was the "Whitewater Defense" sorry if you're not old enough to have seen it, it's a classic.

 

[brycejones]

well so much for the promise of being the most transparent government in history...

So much for understanding that taking the 5th is a personal right and not something that the President can tell her not to do.

Maybe if certain congressmen had made less noise about wanting to see people in jail over this debacle it wouldn't have come to this. People have a right under the Constitution to decline to answer questions. They are much more likely to exercise that right when publicity seeking blowhards start talking about wanting criminal investigations and charges.

If she has done nothing illegal she would still be a fool to answer any questions at this point.

 

[brycejones]

lois lerner what a disgusting piece of shit. This woman needs to answer for what happened and it's pathetic she refuses to answer.

What a mature and nuanced statement. So you have a problem with her exercising her Constitutional rights?

 

[etrigan420]

It was the "Whitewater Defense" sorry if you're not old enough to have seen it, it's a classic.

Just like Ronnie McRaygun and Iran/Contra?

Sorry if you're not old enough to have seen it, it's a classic.

 

[ivwshane]

What a mature and nuanced statement. So you have a problem with her exercising her Constitutional rights?

Lol! This should be good!

 

[boomerang]

I thought the new defense was, "At this point, what difference does it make?"

 

[monovillage]

So much for understanding that taking the 5th is a personal right and not something that the President can tell her not to do.

Maybe if certain congressmen had made less noise about wanting to see people in jail over this debacle it wouldn't have come to this. People have a right under the Constitution to decline to answer questions. They are much more likely to exercise that right when publicity seeking blowhards start talking about wanting criminal investigations and charges.

If she has done nothing illegal she would still be a fool to answer any questions at this point.

Which is why it's time for a special prosecutor that has the power to investigate the misfeasance and malfeasance the people in the IRS under the Obama administration have committed against the American people.

 

[brycejones]

Which is why it's time for a special prosecutor that has the power to investigate the misfeasance and malfeasance the people in the IRS under the Obama administration have committed against the American people.

Ah.....nothing like a good old fashion fishing expedition on the tax payer's dime.

 

[monovillage]

Ah.....nothing like a good old fashion fishing expedition on the tax payer's dime.

No fishing at all, in fact if you had read the OP you'd see that the IRS has already confessed to wrongdoing, now it's just a matter of prosecuting the criminals.

 

[Incorruptible]

What a mature and nuanced statement. So you have a problem with her exercising her Constitutional rights?

She works for the taxpayer and she needs to be held accountable for what she did. You're only supporting her because she went after the Tea Party.

 

[werepossum]

Must be a Chinese patent, because that doesn't make sense.

Or, you could show me a link detailing Hillary having weeks to prepare for Congressional testimony then telling them "I don't remember" 64 times in one sitting. Did she have a chief of staff that did it for her 122+ times as well?

Funny how you bring up Hillary. I just read about how the public believes her more on Benghazi than it does the GOP echo chamber bent on political theatrics. Pretty much the opposite of the public's view on that asshole Gonzales.

It was the "Whitewater Defense" sorry if you're not old enough to have seen it, it's a classic.

This.