So let's review what happened, because the news has long since shuffled this to the circular file:
The IRS Tea Party Scandal, Explained | Mother Jones
why was it done? well in short, obama and team realize that this is their enemy and were poised to strike. an all front attack was needed and conceptualized. divert attention away (see occupy thread) and scare the opposition to "shut up" by flexing some political muscle.
stated off-line and behind closed doors between o-team reps and liberal IRS higher up, Lerner (appointed by Obama), it was voiced that she would be doing a service for country by sussing out enemies of the O-team.
no paperwork, just the directive: follow the rules but make it difficult for them
for o-team, it did not matter so much about "non-exempt status" it was more about making a statement.
that statement, you ask?
it was simple: "we can hurt you...we have the power to hurt you where it counts, your pocketbook. if we can tease out who you are for non-exempt status, we can audit, and ultimately fudge the numbers to screw you?"
It was an implied threat, of course, and the hope was that this scare tactic would dry up the movement. the tea-party folk in the trenches would be reluctant to wear the "yellow star" as it were and would be less active, less vocal and eventually fizzle out. if you wear the yellow star, we will hurt you.
The IRS Tea Party Scandal, Explained | Mother Jones
why was it done? well in short, obama and team realize that this is their enemy and were poised to strike. an all front attack was needed and conceptualized. divert attention away (see occupy thread) and scare the opposition to "shut up" by flexing some political muscle.
stated off-line and behind closed doors between o-team reps and liberal IRS higher up, Lerner (appointed by Obama), it was voiced that she would be doing a service for country by sussing out enemies of the O-team.
no paperwork, just the directive: follow the rules but make it difficult for them
for o-team, it did not matter so much about "non-exempt status" it was more about making a statement.
that statement, you ask?
it was simple: "we can hurt you...we have the power to hurt you where it counts, your pocketbook. if we can tease out who you are for non-exempt status, we can audit, and ultimately fudge the numbers to screw you?"
It was an implied threat, of course, and the hope was that this scare tactic would dry up the movement. the tea-party folk in the trenches would be reluctant to wear the "yellow star" as it were and would be less active, less vocal and eventually fizzle out. if you wear the yellow star, we will hurt you.
