Here's the thing - 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) groups are not supposed to "participat[e] in the 2012 election" (or any other election) in any meaningful way. Partisan political groups do not qualify for that status. So, I'm not sure that targeting conservative/tea party nonprofits would have stopped groups conservative/tea party groups from participating in the election, since the organizations that were targeted were not (or should not have been) involved in partisan political activities.
Well if the rule you’re obviously in favor of was followed by the dumbocrats, we’d have no participation by Media Matters, Rock the Vote, and ACORN. But the last time I checked, they weren’t following the rules as written, although we’re supposed to? With people like you at the helm, we’ll never win these battles.
I think maybe you have a slightly skewed idea of what these groups can and can not do. They can not support or oppose candidates directly; however, they can support or oppose issues ESPECIALLY contentious political issues.