IRS confesses to inappropriately targeting conservative groups.

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Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
Instead of writing this you could just tell us what you think happened. You clearly have an idea in your head, why so reluctant to share it?

You are just itching for me to say I think Obama was behind it. I highly doubt it went that far.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
I think that Obama personally had nothing to do with this particular situation with regard to the IRS targeting conservative, Jewish and religious organizations.

Now I can link to this post while still bashing him in future posts to show how balanced and even handed I am.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
Anyone who thinks this is Obama's personal doing is a dimwit, pure and simple. That said, he's ultimately the guy in charge so he's accountable to take the proper actions to ensure it doesn't happen again. If he doesn't, then that IS on him. At this point, it's highly premature to make that assertion.
 

ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
33,515
17,019
136
Anyone who thinks this is Obama's personal doing is a dimwit, pure and simple. That said, he's ultimately the guy in charge so he's accountable to take the proper actions to ensure it doesn't happen again. If he doesn't, then that IS on him. At this point, it's highly premature to make that assertion.

Yes I agree, now that Obama is in office we should NOW start holding government accountable.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/irs-targeted-naacp-in-2004-91284.html?hp=f1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/31/AR2006083100737.html
 

berzerker60

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2012
1,233
1
0
Frankly, in some ways this is a success story. Sure, the focusing on Tea Party groups is completely inexcusable and those involved should absolutely be fired at the least. But it's nice for any major entity to come forward and say, "we fucked up, this is pretty bad and we're to blame for it." May all governmental (and corporate) fuck-ups be as transparent and forthcoming!
 

HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
39,327
32,830
136
The IRS may have engaged in what some say needs to be done with Muslims, profile. I heard there was a major influx of applications for tax-free status apps coming from Tea Party organizations. If it turns out to be a large imbalance of apps from conservative groups as opposed to liberal, maybe they were profiling.

No saying I agree with this but just making a point.
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
The IRS may have engaged in what some say needs to be done with Muslims, profile. I heard there was a major influx of applications for tax-free status apps coming from Tea Party organizations. If it turns out to be a large imbalance of apps from conservative groups as opposed to liberal, maybe they were profiling.

No saying I agree with this but just making a point.

There is no "may" about it, they even confessed to doing it. I know it's difficult for you, but try to be honest about it.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. I had the exact same opinion then as I do now. You can't expect the president to know everything that happens, but ultimately he's in charge and we should expect him to make sure that the responsible parties are held accountable. If he doesn't, that's his failure.

I think use of government power against political opponents is a very serious issue. Even the appearance of such harms our society. Seems to me the president is taking the right steps at this point.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
The IRS may have engaged in what some say needs to be done with Muslims, profile. I heard there was a major influx of applications for tax-free status apps coming from Tea Party organizations. If it turns out to be a large imbalance of apps from conservative groups as opposed to liberal, maybe they were profiling.

No saying I agree with this but just making a point.

There is no doubt about it, they've admitted the inappropriate conduct.

As it relates to profiling, do you have any information to show that conservative non-profit groups are more likely to run afoul of non-profit regulations? Even if that were the case, the IRS is not charged with preventive screening of non-profits to prevent future issues, they are charged with collecting taxes. Your comparison doesn't hold water.

I don't get it, why do you and some others in the thread see the need to defend this action? It was clearly inappropriate, regardless of what groups were targeted.
 
Oct 16, 1999
10,490
4
0
There is no doubt about it, they've admitted the inappropriate conduct.

As it relates to profiling, do you have any information to show that conservative non-profit groups are more likely to run afoul of non-profit regulations? Even if that were the case, the IRS is not charged with preventive screening of non-profits to prevent future issues, they are charged with collecting taxes. Your comparison doesn't hold water.

I don't get it, why do you and some others in the thread see the need to defend this action? It was clearly inappropriate, regardless of what groups were targeted.

The IRS is absolutely tasked with seeing if these groups qualify for the exemption they are seeking. It's not some sort of inappropriate profiling to give groups that openly advertize their political affiliations more scrutiny on the matter. Are we all really going to pretend throughout this "scandal" that these Tea Party groups aren't primarily political?
 

Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
6,762
1
0
The IRS is absolutely tasked with seeing if these groups qualify for the exemption they are seeking. It's not some sort of inappropriate profiling to give groups that openly advertize their political affiliations more scrutiny on the matter.

Is there any evidence that they were targeting political groups on both sides, or just one?
 

monovillage

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2008
8,444
1
0
What groups on the other side with a big red flag in their name should have been targeted?

Of course, only conservative associations should be targeted because we all know that they are inherently evil while liberal/progressive groups are always pure and sweet and smell like unicorn farts and rainbows.
 
Oct 16, 1999
10,490
4
0
Of course, only conservative associations should be targeted because we all know that they are inherently evil while liberal/progressive groups are always pure and sweet and smell like unicorn farts and rainbows.

I know it's hard to see through your conservative persecution glasses, but this in all likelihood had to do with degree of political activity and not the persuasion of it. When you put a very active, very political label on your organization while seeking tax exemption based on not being primarily an active political organization you damn well deserve more scrutiny.
 
Nov 8, 2012
20,842
4,785
146
I think that Obama personally had nothing to do with this particular situation with regard to the IRS targeting conservative, Jewish and religious organizations.

Now I can link to this post while still bashing him in future posts to show how balanced and even handed I am.

Really? Shit that had letters flying around since 2011 and Obama doesn't hear a peep? Really? Really? REAAAAAAAAAAAALLY? :colbert:

Whatever.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
The IRS is absolutely tasked with seeing if these groups qualify for the exemption they are seeking. It's not some sort of inappropriate profiling to give groups that openly advertize their political affiliations more scrutiny on the matter. Are we all really going to pretend throughout this "scandal" that these Tea Party groups aren't primarily political?

And? 501C4 is what lobbying/political non-profit groups are supposed to use....
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
The IRS may have engaged in what some say needs to be done with Muslims, profile. I heard there was a major influx of applications for tax-free status apps coming from Tea Party organizations. If it turns out to be a large imbalance of apps from conservative groups as opposed to liberal, maybe they were profiling.

No saying I agree with this but just making a point.

I am failing to understand why the IRS would use the entities supposed political affiliation to determine if further scrutiny was necessary or not.