Report: Liberals Were Not Targeted by the IRS Despite Claims to Contrary

[Mark B. Morrow]

A series of IRS documents, provided to ThinkProgress under the Freedom of Information Act, appears to contradict the claims by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and his House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that only Tea Party organizations applying for tax-exempt status “received systematic scrutiny because of their political beliefs.” The 22 “Be On the Look Out” keywords lists, distributed to staff reviewing applications between August 12, 2010 and April 19, 2013, included more explicit references to progressive groups, ACORN successors, and medical marijuana organizations than to Tea Party entities.

 

Explicit references to “Tea Party,” included in the “emerging issues” section of the lists, also began in August 2010 — but stopped appearing after the May 10, 2011 list. From that point on, the lists instructed agents to flag all political advocacy groups of any stripe. The documents instructed the agents to forward any “organization involved with political, lobbying, or advocacy” applying for 501©(3) or 501©(4) status be forwarded to “group 7822″ for additional review. Groups under both categories are limited in the amount of of lobbying and political activity each can undertake.

 

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/04/23/3429722/irs-records-tea-party/

[xr7g428]

Nothing like looking at the actual documents that were supplied to see how factual your source is Mark.

 

Based on this they could have been responsible for the Kennedy assassination and no one would know.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/219833547/Document1-Redacted-110910

 

 

 

 

[BlackHorse]

lmao, Nice xr7. Anytime you are linking a story from thinkprogress watch out for the liberal spin. Again, if there was no wrong doing taking place than we would not have had Lois Lerner coming forward and openly admitting that conservative groups were targeted and that it was wrong. And then she quickly retired.

[cal50]

Why apologize IF you did noting wrong ?

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2DnHAOH9I

[Langston Hughes]

Nothing like looking at the actual documents that were supplied to see how factual your source is Mark.

 

Based on this they could have been responsible for the Kennedy assassination and no one would know.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/219833547/Document1-Redacted-110910

 

 

 

 

There was 15 of those lists. All were factual.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Langston Hughes

[NickF1011]

The 15 or so lists are factual as released by the IRS.

Would you stop putting your replies inside other peoples' quotes LH?

 

And of course they are factual. The IRS supplied them! They've been nothing but honest and factual up to this point, right?

[Langston Hughes]

Would you stop putting your replies inside other peoples' quotes LH?

 

And of course they are factual. The IRS supplied them! They've been nothing but honest and factual up to this point, right?

I'm trying. On mobile sometimes things get messed up. I corrected it when I noticed.

[xr7g428]

Langston, which one of those black lines was factual. The back one or the really really black one?

[Langston Hughes]

Langston, which one of those black lines was factual. The back one or the really really black one?

 

They all are factual. Even the back one.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Langston Hughes

[BlackHorse]

Langston, which one of those black lines was factual. The back one or the really really black one?

 

The document equivalent of saying "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

[Langston Hughes]

 

The document equivalent of saying "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

No comment by the grammar Nazi about X's spelling.

[FiredMotorCompany]

I'm trying. On mobile sometimes things get messed up. I corrected it when I noticed.

Your excuse is ironic when you scold "the grammar nazi" for not remarking on a single letter difference in "black" vs. "back".

[BlackHorse]

Your excuse is ironic when you scold "the grammar nazi" for not remarking on a single letter difference in "black" vs. "back".

 

 

Is he still talking to me? lol And apparently hasn't learned how to get on here and not insult everyone he doesn't agree with. Why are you still interacting with him Fired? He isn't worth your time. Just put him on ignore like the rest of us.

[Mark B. Morrow]

The fact is that Issa lied. The number of liberal groups subject to special screening was greater than the number of Tea Party groups. Moreover not one single Tea Party Group was denied 501 C 4 status, while at least one liberal group had its status revoked.

 

The more important fact remains that these political groups do not qualify for 501 C 4 status based on their political activities.

 

It's not a conspiracy against conservatives.

[Langston Hughes]

Your excuse is ironic when you scold "the grammar nazi" for not remarking on a single letter difference in "black" vs. "back".

 

Fired, I make mention of it because you and i are both aware that he only criticized my spelling and grammar, despite mistakes by everyone here. Perhaps you could point out or link to a case where Blackhorse called out a conservative for a spelling mistake. If you could find such i would be perfectly happy to take it all back.

[BlackHorse]

The fact is that Issa lied. The number of liberal groups subject to special screening was greater than the number of Tea Party groups. Moreover not one single Tea Party Group was denied 501 C 4 status, while at least one liberal group had its status revoked.

 

The more important fact remains that these political groups do not qualify for 501 C 4 status based on their political activities.

 

It's not a conspiracy against conservatives.

 

 

It actually is a conspiracy against conservatives given that Lois Lerner sat in front of Congress and said precisely that it was a conspiracy and that conservative groups were intentionally targeted. It doesn't matter how much you or any pro left wing poster wants to rewrite history after the fact you can't erase that and you can't make everyone just magically forget it. All of these excuses and proclamations of fact that you have given us are nothing. She already confessed to what happened and she did it because she knew it was all about to come to light anyway and you can't change that. The argument and the debate about what happened is over. The IRS intentionally targeted conservative groups because of their political standing, the end.

[FiredMotorCompany]

The fact is that Issa lied. The number of liberal groups subject to special screening was greater than the number of Tea Party groups. Moreover not one single Tea Party Group was denied 501 C 4 status, while at least one liberal group had its status revoked.

 

The more important fact remains that these political groups do not qualify for 501 C 4 status based on their political activities.

 

It's not a conspiracy against conservatives.

Denying an application is one type of action. Delaying that decision for two or more years is also effectively denying an application. However, the delay allows the IRS to frame their case where they did NOT unfairly block TEA party groups from receiving Tax Exempt Status.....AND effectively stymie their attempts to get their message out. A Gag on their free speech.

[Langston Hughes]

Denying an application is one type of action. Delaying that decision for two or more years is also effectively denying an application. However, the delay allows the IRS to frame their case where they did NOT unfairly block TEA party groups from receiving Tax Exempt Status.....AND effectively stymie their attempts to get their message out. A Gag on their free speech.

It does in no way gag their speech. They are still free to say what they wish, they just have to pay taxes on the money collected.

[FiredMotorCompany]

It does in no way gag their speech. They are still free to say what they wish, they just have to pay taxes on the money collected.

It does gag them when the taxes on their funds effectively penalizes them in relation to the opposing voices. It wasn't a level playing field.

Edited April 25, 2014 by FiredMotorCompany

[Mark B. Morrow]

 

 

It actually is a conspiracy against conservatives given that Lois Lerner sat in front of Congress and said precisely that it was a conspiracy and that conservative groups were intentionally targeted. It doesn't matter how much you or any pro left wing poster wants to rewrite history after the fact you can't erase that and you can't make everyone just magically forget it. All of these excuses and proclamations of fact that you have given us are nothing. She already confessed to what happened and she did it because she knew it was all about to come to light anyway and you can't change that. The argument and the debate about what happened is over. The IRS intentionally targeted conservative groups because of their political standing, the end.

Lois Lerner did not say that before Congress. If she had Issa wouldn't be trying to have her charged with contempt of Congress for refusing to testify. The facts prove that more liberal groups were targeted than conservative groups for examination as to whether they were political activists who are not eligible for 501 C 4 status under the law. There is a standard for determining whether a group qualifies. That standard must be met to obtain 501 C 4 status.

 

The sad part is that groups on the Left and Right were permitted 501 C 4 status they do not qualify for under the clear language of the statute. There are other organizational forms that provide tax exemption for political groups however those forms require disclosure of donors. The Tea Party and Progressive political groups can get their tax exemption under the proper provisions existing in the Tax Code.

 

Issa's selectively chosen examples in his report were dishonest attempts to cover the fact that both conservative and liberal groups were examined. Issa knew the facts and had the evidence. He lied for his own political reasons.

 

The headline of this thread is based in Issa's lie and is untrue.

[Mark B. Morrow]

It does gag them when the taxes on their funds effectively penalizes them in relation to the opposing voices. It wasn't a level playing field.

They should simply file under the provisions of the Tax Code for which political groups qualify. No one stopped these groups on the left or the right from speaking.

[xr7g428]

I just love it when lawyers have to spin their way out of their clients blunders. Or better yet their own. I can see Mr. Lawyer now, his wife walks in on him in bed with his mistress. Caught in the act, Lawyer says who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?

[BlackHorse]

Lois Lerner, the director the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt organizations, said that organizations had been given additional scrutiny if their applications included the words "Tea Party" or "patriot."

 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/irs-admits-targeting-conservative-groups/story?id=19151646

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLR-MzrlEXw

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQxNOuRsA_8

 

 

 

 

 

Debate over. They were not targeting groups that had the words "progressive" or any other liberal buzz word in their application. They targeted conservative and they admitted to it when they got caught, case closed.

Edited April 25, 2014 by BlackHorse

[Langston Hughes]

It does gag them when the taxes on their funds effectively penalizes them in relation to the opposing voices. It wasn't a level playing field.

 

Compared to liberals groups that were denied, or to groups on both sides that slipped through.

 

I'm not sure but the first amendment doesn't provide for tax free speech does it?

[FiredMotorCompany]

 

Compared to liberals groups that were denied, or to groups on both sides that slipped through.

 

I'm not sure but the first amendment doesn't provide for tax free speech does it?

How can it be described as free speech if it isn't free? Pun not intended.

 

And how better to suppress dissent than to tax it out of existance.

 

We've learned there is no limit on what can be taxed or how much it costs.

 

Ask Justice Roberts.

 

I have no doubt your side would squeal like a stuck pig if/when the tables are turned. You are not just empowering your friendly administration, but whatever maliciousness that may follow.

Edited April 25, 2014 by FiredMotorCompany