“All roads lead to the White House. Bob Bauer, White House Counsel, got out of town before the sh*t hit the fan.”
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303603904579493831524666494
Motive: Republicans began this investigation looking for a direct link between the White House and IRS targeting. The more probable explanation all along was that Ms. Lerner felt emboldened by Democratic attacks against conservative groups to do what came naturally to her. We know from the record that she disdained money in politics. And we know from her prior tenure at the Federal Election Commission that she had a particular animus against conservative organizations.
As the illuminating timeline accompanying the Camp letter shows, Ms. Lerner’s focus on shutting down Crossroads GPS came only after Obama adviser David Axelrod listed Crossroads among “front groups for foreign-controlled companies”; only after Senate Democrats Dick Durbin, Carl Levin, Chuck Schumer and others demanded the IRS investigate Crossroads; only after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a website to “expose donors” of Crossroads; and only after Obama’s campaign lawyer, Bob Bauer, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about Crossroads.
The information in Mr. Camp’s letter shows that Ms. Lerner sprang to action following a January 2013 meeting with Democracy 21, a campaign-finance outfit petitioning for a crackdown on Crossroads and the liberal big-dollar Priorities USA. (She never touched Priorities, run by former Obama aides.) The Camp outline suggests cause and effect, and that’s new.
White House Counsel Robert Bauer: Architect of IRS Abuse?
June 4th, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98OYWvY5Pc
Obama’s Eligibility Attorney Bob Bauer Behind Illegal IRS Targeting
President Obama Announces His Intent to Appoint Individuals to the Presidential Commission on Election Administration
WASHINGTON, DC Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint ten individuals to the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The Presidential Commission on Election Administration was created following President Obamas State of the Union pledge to identify non-partisan ways to shorten lines at polling places, promote the efficient conduct of elections, and provide better access to the polls for all voters.
Robert F. Bauer Co-Chair, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Benjamin L. Ginsberg Co-Chair, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Brian Britton Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Joe Echevarria Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Trey Grayson Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Larry Lomax Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Michele Coleman Mayes Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Ann McGeehan Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Tammy Patrick Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
Christopher Thomas Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
(snip)
https://www.supportthevoter.gov/the-commission/
The Co-Chairs
Formerly the General Counsels for competing Presidential campaigns, the Co-Chairs bring bipartisan leadership to the Commission.
Robert F. Bauer
Co-Chair and Member
Benjamin L. Ginsberg
Co-Chair and Member
As always thanks for all your hard work on this stuff.