IRS Investigation: Not So "Phony"

Townhall.com ^ | July 24, 2013 | Carol Platt Liebau

[Kaslin]

Today, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew gave an interview to Scott Pelley.  In the clip below, he attempts to bat aside the IRS targeting scandal by asserting that there's "no evidence" any political employee was involved in the targeting.

It sounds good, of course -- but his "no evidence" formulation, designed to suggest the administration's innocence (i.e., that "no evidence" exists), means only that investigators have so far been prevented from uncovering all the facts.  When a key witness takes the Fifth; the President's hand-picked new IRS chief misleadingly "reports" that lefty groups were targeted, too; and Democrats seek to attack the Inspector General rather than get to the truth, then it's entirely foreseeable that evidence will take a while to emerge, but that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist.

In an interview with Hugh Hewitt, Rep. Trey Gowdy notes that there are plenty of questions that still need to be addressed to the IRS Chief Counsel, William J. Wilkins, the President's man at the IRS:

Here’s what I would want to ask Mr. Wilkins. Look, the 50% has not changed since we got our numeric code. Political activity, we’ve had, you know, when I was a kid, it was the Moral Majority and John Birch Society. So political activity isn’t new, 50% isn’t new. Why the different level of scrutiny for conservative groups starting in 2010? Well, the code hadn’t changed. Why did the scrutiny change? And why did the scrutiny emanate out of the Chief Counsel’s office in D.C?

As Gowdy also pointed out, the story from the IRS has changed numerous times as new facts have emerged -- never a good sign.  That's why, contrary to Jay Carney's claims, it's not a "phony scandal" -- real abuses occurred, and the American people still don't know how it happened.

New IRS chief Danny Werfel can try all he wants to insist that both political ends of the spectrum were targeted, but that dog really won't hunt.  Even Politico -- which earlier this week tracked down some liberal groups that received IRS screening -- noted significant differences in the way their cases were handled versus the treatment of the Tea Party and other like-minded groups.

Obviously, both Lew and Carney can try all they want to downplay the scandal as "phony" or lacking in evidence.  But many questions remain -- and that they are still unanswered is evidence of the administration's strategy to slow walk the investigation, in hopes it will be downplayed and ignored by the press and people.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Kaslin.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew... attempts to bat aside the IRS targeting scandal by asserting that there's "no evidence" any political employee was involved in the targeting. It sounds good, of course -- but his "no evidence" formulation, designed to suggest the administration's innocence (i.e., that "no evidence" exists), means only that investigators have so far been prevented from uncovering all the facts.

No OBAMA ordered it all, and should be impeached. Meanwhile, Lew can state, "look, all I said was there was no evidence for it, y'know, to make sure I wouldn't be thought to have knowledge of an illegal operation; and because I didn't deny that it took place, there's no chance of claiming I lied about anything."

[Yosemitest]

Does he really want to talk about "Phony" ?
How about the phony short birth certificates he submitted?
How about the phony long birth certificate he submitted?
How about the phony investigation and certification of his alleged U.S. Citizenship that Congress said they did?
How about the phony oath that he screwed up when he swore to uphold the Constitution, as well as all the laws, to the United States?
How about the phony investigation of Benghazi?
How about the phony investigation of "Fast and Furious" ?
How about the phony investigation of the helicopter crash of Seal Team 6 ?

[Kaslin]

Nope, of course not

[Kaslin]

I believe also that he ordered it all, or at least hinted that it be done

[ReaganGeneration2]

The sheeple today think “taking the 5th” means heroically standing up to an unfair prosecutor of phony charges. Think that’s what Wilkins will do if called before Congress?

[Ann Archy]

Dear Trey Gowdy....Love you but get a new talking point about the 50%......NOBODY KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!

[Mouton]

Greta was on fire last night about the “phoney” scandals. Too bad she is not on at 8.

[SueRae]

I would love it if Fox would dump Shemp and put her on at 7.

As for the ‘phony’ statements..we all know they are liars..doing their best to suppress.

Not to denigrate the 3 Stooges..but these administration crooks are doing a classic Duck, Dodge and Dive.

I make 2-3 calls a week to Congress and Senate..just on the IRS alone. That and Benghazi are THE two issues (for me) to concentrate on. Keep up the heat.

[bert]

The crime against the Republic is far too severe for mere impeachment. The penalties must be terminal

[Right Wing Assault]

I think I've figure out this "phony" thing. Obama knows he and his people are phony, so when they get investigated/caught, we have a "phony scandal."

That's not really it, huh?

I'd like to know who came up with this "phony scandal" phrase. It's SO "progressive."

[I want the USA back]

Complete lie. It was ordered from the top and carried out to please the One. Those who did it were rewarded.

[FES0844]

Greta would clear up the waste & fraud in a heartbeat.
Make her a czar!

[GOPJ]

Dems are thugs... and they don’t like it when people notice.

[Travis McGee]

[Kaslin]

That is factual

[Buckeye McFrog]

Side note: The author took over for Barry Obama the following year as editor of the Harvard Law Review.

She has tacitly admitted that she found one helluva mess waiting for her, implying that Barry had not done jack shiite when he had the job.

[Whenifhow]

This is a clip of Greta and Trey Gowdy

IRS Scandal - Carney: Obama Is Focused On The Economy, Not On “Pretend Scandals” From GOP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQnwMVsGDsU

[Washi]

Some actual journalist needs to ask Obama's paid liar, Jay Carney, at the next press conference:

"Which of these scandals are 'phony'? Is Benghazi a 'phony' scandal? Is the NSA spying on Americans a 'phony' scandal? Is the IRS being used as a political tool to punish political opponents a 'phony' scandal? Just which of these items does the president consider 'phony' scandals?"

[Portcall24]

How about the phony social security number he possesses?