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“Sarah Hall Ingram Served As The Commissioner Of The Office Responsible For Tax-Exempt Organizations Between 2009 And 2012.” “Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the office responsible for tax-exempt organizations between 2009 and 2012. But Ingram has since left that part of the IRS and is now the director of the IRS’ Affordable Care Act office, the IRS confirmed to ABC News today.” (John Parkinson and Steven Portnoy, “IRS Official In Charge During Tea Party Targeting Now Runs Health Care Office,” ABC News, 5/16/13)

Under Ingram’s Tenure At The IRS’s Tax-Exempt Organizations Division, The Division Targeted Conservative Groups. “The Internal Revenue Service official in charge of the tax-exempt organizations at the time when the unit targeted tea party groups now runs the IRS office responsible for the health care legislation.” (John Parkinson and Steven Portnoy, “IRS Official In Charge During Tea Party Targeting Now Runs Health Care Office,” ABC News, 5/16/13)

• IRS Officials In Washington And At Least Two Other Offices Were Involved In Investigating Conservative Groups. “Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington and at least two other offices were involved with investigating conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, making clear that the effort reached well beyond the branch in Cincinnati that was initially blamed, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.” (Juliet Eilperin and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “IRS Officials In Washington Were Involved In Targeting Of Conservative Groups,” The Washington Post, 5/13/13)
   
• “The IRS Admitted Last Week It Began Over-Scrutinizing Conservative Groups In 2010.” (“Health Care tax Official Used To Lead IRS Tax Exempt Office,”CNN, 5/16/13)

Sarah Hall Ingram Now Leads The Office Of That Is Charged With Enforcing ObamaCare. “Sarah Hall Ingram, who heads the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at the IRS, formerly led the agency’s tax exempt/government entities division, the same division that’s now taking heat for targeting conservative groups in the past few years.” (“Health Care tax Official Used To Lead IRS Tax Exempt Office,” CNN, 5/16/13)

How Can Americans Trust Ingram And The IRS To Implement ObamaCare?

The IRS Will Play A “Dominant Role” In Enforcing ObamaCare’s Tax Provisions. “Get ready for the Internal Revenue Service to play a dominant role in health care. When ObamaCare takes full effect next year, the agency will enforce most of the laws involved in the reform-even deciding who gets included in the health-care mandate.” (Mark Koba, “When It Comes to Health-Care Reform, the IRS Rules,” CNBC, 5/6/13)

• IRS: “Health Care Reform Will Likely Be The Most Extensive Social Benefit Program The IRS Has Been Asked To Implement In Recent History.” (Taxpayer Advocate, “Report To Congress: Fiscal Year 2011,” IRS, p. 27)

ObamaCare Allows The IRS To Send “Scary Letters And Threats” To Taxpayers That Don’t Comply With ObamaCare. “So how can the IRS enforce the mandate? Scary letters and threats to withhold tax refunds. The law allows the IRS to withhold tax refunds to collect the penalty, and most filers get refunds. This year, 77 percent of the 135 million individual income tax returns processed by the IRS qualified for a refund. The average refund: $2,707.” (Stephen Ohlemacher, “The Tax Man Cometh To Police You On Health Care,” The Associated Press, 7/7/12)

Obama Elevated The Role Of The IRS To Enforce ObamaCare Which Has Renewed Questions On Whether The IRS “Is Capable Of Policing The Health Care Decisions Of Millions Of People.” “The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold most of President Barack Obama’s health care law will come home to roost for most taxpayers in about 2 1/2 years, when they’ll have to start providing proof on their tax returns that they have health insurance. That scenario puts the Internal Revenue Service at the center of the debate, renewing questions about whether the agency is capable of policing the health care decisions of millions of people in the United States while also collecting the taxes needed to run the federal government.” (Stephen Ohlemacher, “The Tax Man Cometh To Police You On Health Care,” The Associated Press, 7/7/12)

• Democrats Own The ObamaCare IRS Debacle, “And The Headwinds Coming With It In Future Elections.” “Like Republicans with Iraq, Democrats own the issue, and the headwinds coming with it in future elections.” (Josh Kraushaar, “Obama’s Legacy: “A Health Care Law That Hurts His Party,” National Journal , 5/2/13)

The post IRS SCANDAL TAINTS OBAMACARE appeared first on GOP.

JUST DAYS AGO, THE NUMBER TWO HOUSE DEMOCRAT SAID HE HAS CONCERNS WITH OBAMACARE

Democrat Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD): “We’re Concerned About The Implementation.” (Mike Lillis, “Hoyer: Dems Fear ObamaCare Glitches,” The Hill’s Health Watch , 5/14/13)

• According To Democrat Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Democrats Are Concerned About The Political Fallout And “Conceded That Stumbling Blocks Are Inevitable” As ObamaCare Is Implemented. “Democrats anticipate glitches in ObamaCare’s implementation and are anxious about the potential political fallout, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday. But with the central reforms set to be installed within the next year, the Maryland Democrat also conceded that stumbling blocks are inevitable and Republicans will likely pounce on each one.” (Mike Lillis, “Hoyer: Dems Fear ObamaCare Glitches,” The Hill’s Health Watch , 5/14/13)

AND OVER THE LAST WEEK, TWO MORE SENATE DEMOCRATS SAID THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT OBAMACARE’S IMPLEMENTATION

Democrat Senator Chris Coons (D-DE): I’ve Got “Real Concerns” About ObamaCare Implementation. “The implementation is critically important. as the final provisions of the Affordable Care Act become effective in 2014, there’s a real push by the White House to insure that states are participating, that folks who can and should sign up for the new exchanges do. I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll work in partnership with the White House to insure that it’s implemented appropriately, but I’ve got some real concerns and we have to keep a close watch on it as it’s rolled out.” (WCAU, 5/12/13)

Senator Angus King (I-ME), Who Caucuses With Senate Democrats, Said He Was “Very Worried About The Way It’s Going To Be Implemented And The Regulations That Are Going To Be Promulgated In Response.” “Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) is worried that unaccountable and overly aggressive regulators will undermine the Affordable Care Act. ‘I’ve got to tell you, as a person who supported the Affordable Care Act, I’m very worried about the way it’s going to be implemented and the regulations that are going to be promulgated in response,’ King said at a conference on regulatory reform on Thursday.” (Julian Hattem, “Angus King: Regulators Could Jeopardize ObamaCare,” The Hill’s Reg Watch, 5/9/13)

THEY JOIN A THRONG OF DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED THEIR ANXIETY WITH THE LAW HEADING INTO 2014

Democrat Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) Said That Increasing Premiums Will Be A Cause For Concern To The Democrat-Led Senate. “‘There is reason to be very concerned about what’s going to happen with young people. If their (insurance) premiums shoot up, I can tell you, that is going to wash into the United States Senate in a hurry,’ said Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat.” (David Morgan, “ObamaCare Is On The Horizon, But Will Enough People Sign Up?” Reuters, 5/5/13)

Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Conceded That ObamaCare Will Be Partly Responsible For Higher Health Insurance Rates. CHUCK SCHUMER: “Our insurance department is empowered to protect families and we’re going to watch them like a hawk to make sure they do. Because if they don’t, these rates could go through the roof.” WHEC’s RAY LEVATO: “Is it because of ObamaCare?” SCHUMER: “It’s in part because of ObamaCare but health care costs have been going up by double digits for years and years and years.” ( WHEC, 5/2/13)

Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Agreed With Senator Max Baucus That ObamaCare Could Be A “Train Wreck” If ObamaCare Implementation Stumbles. “‘Max said unless we implement this properly it’s going to be a train wreck, and I agree with him,’ Reid said, echoing a warning delivered last month by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.).” (Alexander Bolton, “Reid: More Funding Needed To Prevent ObamaCare From Becoming ‘Train Wreck,’” The Hill’s Health Watch , 5/1/13)

Democrat Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) Has Been “Moderately To Very Concerned” With ObamaCare Increasing The Costs Of Health Care. “‘I’m moderately to very concerned,’ Bera said. ‘I have been consistently concerned about the cost of care going up.’” (Dan Morain, “Ami Bera Dings Obama Dings Obama Administration For Rollout Of Affordable Care Act,” The Sacramento Bee’s The Swarm, 5/1/13)

Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Who Is Facing Reelection In 2014, Told The White House That Small Businesses In Her State Are Clueless In Complying With ObamaCare. “Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, who is up for re-election next year, said, ‘We are hearing from a lot of small businesses in New Hampshire that do not know how to comply with the law.’” (Robert Pear, “Democratic Senators Tell White House Of Concerns About Health Care Law Rollout,” The New York Times , 4/26/13)

Democrat Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) Is Concerned About ObamaCare’s Impact On Health Care Premiums As Health Insurers In Maryland Have Filed Rate Increases Averaging 25 Percent. “Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, said he told White House officials on Thursday that he was concerned about big rate increases being sought by the largest health insurer in his state. The company, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, has sought increases averaging 25 percent for individual insurance policies that will be sold in the state insurance exchange, and it is seeking increases of about 15 percent for small businesses. The company said the higher premiums reflected costs of complying with the new law.” (Robert Pear, “Democratic Senators Tell White House Of Concerns About Health Care Law Rollout,” The New York Times , 4/26/13)

Democrat Senator Max Baucus (D-MT): “I Just See A Huge Train Wreck Coming Down.” MAX BAUCUS: “I just see a huge train wreck coming down, you and I have discussed this many times, and I don’t see any results yet.” (Committee On Finance, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 4/17/13)

Democrat Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) Said ObamaCare Was “Probably The Most Complex Piece Of Legislation Ever Passed” And That “Up To This Point It Is Just Beyond Comprehension. JAY ROCKEFELLER: “I believe that the Affordable Care Act is probably the most complex piece of legislation ever passed by the United States Congress. Tax reform obviously has been huge too, but up to this point it is just beyond comprehension.” (Committee On Finance, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 4/9/13)

“One High-Ranking Democrat” Shared His Concerns On ObamaCare And Said “The White House Is Going To Have To Step Up Its Game.” “One high-ranking Democrat told The Hill that it is his leading concern. ‘The White House is going to have to step up its game,’ the lawmaker said.” (Elise Viebeck, “Botched ObamaCare Rollout Tops Democratic Fears For 2014 Election,” The Hill’s Health Watch , 5/1/13)

IT’S NO WONDER DEMOCRATS ARE RUSHING TO CRITICIZE THE LAW – SMALL BUSINESSES AGREE THAT OBAMACARE IS BAD FOR THEM

Democrats Are Now Being More Vocal In Their Criticism Of ObamaCare, Partly Due To The Negative Effects On Small Business. “But they’re more willing to support certain changes to the law, such as repealing its medical device tax. And they’re more open to criticizing the implementation – particularly on an issue like choices for small businesses, which was a key part of the rhetorical push to pass healthcare reform in 2010.” (Sam Baker, “ObamaCare Takes Friendly Fire,” The Hill’s Health Watch, 4/12/13)

Gallup Headline: “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them.” (Dennis Jacobe, “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them,” Gallup , 5/10/13)

Small-Business Owners Are Worried About ObamaCare And Its Impact On Their Livelihoods. “Small-business owners are worried about the way the Affordable Care Act is going to affect their business, with about half believing the law is going to be bad for business, add to their healthcare costs, and simultaneously reduce the quality of care they and their employees receive.” (Dennis Jacobe, “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them,” Gallup , 5/10/13)

• “Forty-Eight Percent Of U.S. Small-Business Owners Say” That ObamaCare “Is Going To Be Bad For Their Business.” “Forty-eight percent of U.S. small-business owners say the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) is going to be bad for their business, compared with 9% who say it is going to be good, and 39% who expect no impact.” (Dennis Jacobe, “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them,” Gallup , 5/10/13; Gallup, 603 SBO, MoE 4%, 4/1-5/13)

55 Percent Of Small Business Owners Anticipate Health Care Costs To Increase. “In a separate question, 55% of small-business owners expect the money they pay for healthcare to increase. Five percent expect their healthcare costs to decline, while 37% say the health law will have no impact on what they pay for healthcare.” (Dennis Jacobe, “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them,” Gallup , 5/10/13; Gallup, 603 SBO, MoE 4%, 4/1-5/13)

“52 Percent Of Owners” Say That ObamaCare Will “Reduce The Quality Of Health Care They And Their Employees Receive.” “Similarly, 52% of owners say the ACA is going to reduce the quality of health care they and their employees receive. This contrasts with 13% who feel it will improve the quality of care their employees get, and 30% who see no impact.” (Dennis Jacobe, “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them,” Gallup , 5/10/13; Gallup, 603 SBO, MoE 4%, 4/1-5/13)

Under ObamaCare, “41 Percent Of Small-Business Owners Say They Have Held Off On Hiring New Employees And 38 Percent Have Pulled Back On Plans To Grow Their Business.” “When asked if they had taken any of five specific actions in response to the ACA, 41% of small-business owners say they have held off on hiring new employees and 38% have pulled back on plans to grow their business.” (Dennis Jacobe, “Half of U.S. Small Businesses Think Health Law Bad for Them,” Gallup , 5/10/13; Gallup, 603 SBO, MoE 4%, 4/1-5/13)

The post Side Effects: ObamaCare Causing Distress For Democrats appeared first on GOP.

George Rodriguez, former president of the San Antonio Tea Party, said that when the organization applied for non-profit status, leaders were intimidated by IRS workers with excessive paperwork and meddling questions.

“They asked us all sorts of things that were out of the norm,” Rodriguez, now head of the conservative South Texas Alliance, told Fox News Latino. “We knew these questions were not the norm and we had our suspicions about them.”

Rodriguez said the group received a questionnaire from the IRS with “well over 50 questions,” including inquiries into who the group met with, where they held their meetings, who was in attendance and what the subject of their internal emails were.

“They should have been worried about the numbers, not who we were meeting with,” he added. “It was flat-out dirty politics.”

The complaint from the San Antonio group is  one of many nationwide leveled against the embattled federal agency, in the escalating case that surfaced last week when Lois G. Lerner, director of the IRS’ exempt-organizations division, let slip that low-level IRS staffers had given extra scrutiny to conservative groups with words such as “tea party” or “patriot” in their names.

Republicans have pressed the Obama administration for heads to roll. On Wednesday, Obama asked for and received the resignation of the agency’s acting commissioner, Steve Miller.

The scandal sparked a furor among conservative groups and pundits, forcing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to announce that the Justice Department would open a criminal investigation into the matter.

Holder followed the announcement by adding Wednesday that the FBI’s criminal investigation could include charges of civil rights violations, false statements and potential violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in some partisan political activities.

“I can assure you and the American people that we will take a dispassionate view of this,” Holder said. “This will not be about parties, this will not be about ideological persuasions. Anybody who has broken the law will be held accountable.”

The revelations also spurred calls for investigations into the practices of the administration of President Barack Obama and allegations of a potential cover-up operation.

Read More

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“As Virginians watch the IRS scandal unfolding in Washington, DC, they should realize that Terry McAuliffe would bring the same style of overreaching, intrusive government to Richmond. Terry McAuliffe’s only claim to fame is being a cheerleader for big government Democrats—the same Democrats who allowed the IRS to harass law-abiding citizens on their watch. Ken Cuccinelli is the only candidate running for governor in Virginia who will stand up for the freedoms of Virginia voters, defend their rights, and fight against Obama-McAuliffe big government politics.

“Allowing the acting-head of the IRS to resign is not enough. President Obama’s insufficient action yesterday was clearly a scapegoat that distracts from answering the core questions.

“It’s time for Terry McAuliffe to tell Virginians where he stands. Will McAuliffe denounce President Obama for letting his administration run wild? Or will he do nothing and just be part of the problem?” 

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“OBAMA STRUGGLES WITH ROCKY START TO SECOND TERM”

“An Outburst Of Controversies Threatens To Swamp President Barack Obama’s Second-Term Agenda.” “An outburst of controversies threatens to swamp President Barack Obama’s second-term agenda, while giving Republicans new opportunities to galvanize their base ahead of the battle for control of Congress in the 2014 elections.” (Peter Nicholas and Janet Hook, “Controversies Threaten President’s Agenda,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/15/13)

• “It’s Been A Rough Week For The Obama Administration…” “It’s been a rough week for the Obama administration with revelations the Justice Department tracked reporters’ phone lines adding to the pressure already building over the response to that attack in Benghazi last September and the IRS’s targeting of conservative groups.” (Jake Tapper, “Obama’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week,” CNN, 5/15/13)

“The Latest Controversies-Internal Revenue Service Probes Of Tea-Party Groups And The Seizure Of A News Organization’s Phone Records-Have Provoked Intense, Bipartisan Criticism That Is Hampering Mr. Obama’s Efforts To Draw Attention To His Agenda.” (Peter Nicholas and Janet Hook, “Controversies Threaten President’s Agenda,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/15/13)

• CNN Headline: “Obama’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week.” (Jake Tapper, “Obama’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week,” CNN, 5/15/13)
   
• The Wall Street Journal Headline: “Controversies Threaten President’s Agenda.” (Peter Nicholas and Janet Hook, “Controversies Threaten President’s Agenda,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/15/13)
   
• NPR Headline: “Controversies Risk Starving Obama’s Agenda Of Air.” (Frank James, “Controversies Risk Starving Obama’s Agenda Of Air,” NPR, 5/14/13)
   
• The Washington Post Headline: “Obama’s Second Term Clouded By Controversies.” (Dan Balz, “Obama’s Second Term Clouded By Controversies,” The Washington Post, 5/14/13)
   
• CNN Headline: “Obama Struggles With Rocky Start To Second Term.” (Tom Cohen, “Obama Struggles With Rocky Start To Second Term,” CNN, 5/14/13)
   
• National Journal Headline: “Does Obama Need Staff Shakeup To Manage Scandals?” (Ron Fournier, “Does Obama Need Staff Shakeup To Manage Scandals,” National Journal, 5/14/13)

During This “Critical Moment” Of His Second Term, Obama “Had To Make Real Progress On His Second-Term Agenda And Thus Forge His Legacy.” “This was the critical moment, the brief time between his inaugural and when the nation’s collective focus turns to whom his successor will be, when President Obama had to make real progress on his second-term agenda and thus forge his legacy.” (Frank James, “Controversies Risk Starving Obama’s Agenda Of Air,” NPR, 5/14/13)

• Instead Of Moving His Agenda Forward, Obama Is Mired In Controversies. “Instead, the president finds his administration, the public, Congress and the news media distracted by controversies over Benghazi, the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups and a leak investigation in which the Justice Department secretly obtained months of phone records of Associated Press journalists.” (Frank James, “Controversies Risk Starving Obama’s Agenda Of Air,” NPR, 5/14/13)
   
• “The Result? Precious Time White House Officials And Other Democrats Hoped To Spend On Pushing The President’s Goals Is Instead Being Spent On Damage Control, And With Dubious Effect At That.” (Frank James, “Controversies Risk Starving Obama’s Agenda Of Air,” NPR, 5/14/13)

OBAMA IS “BESIEGED” BY SCANDALS THAT ARE THREATENING TO DRIVE HIS AGENDA “SERIOUSLY OFF TRACK”

“The White House Was Besieged Tuesday By Three Controversies That Threatened President Obama’s Second-Term Agenda And His Administration’s Credibility.” (Justin Sink, “Controversies Threaten President Obama’s Second-Term Agenda,” The Hill, 5/14/13)

The Way Obama Handles His Second-Term Scandals Will Determine Whether He Becomes “Seriously Off Track” In Implementing His Second-Term Agenda . “He will have to spend some of that precious time trying to clean up unexpected messes that have landed on his desk. How seriously off track his administration is will depend in large part on how skillfully Obama handles what is before him.” (Dan Balz, “Obama’s Second Term Clouded By Controversies,” The Washington Post, 5/14/13)

“The President And His Advisers Have Tried To Insulate The White House From The Actions Of The IRS And The Justice Department, Claiming Ignorance. The IRS, Officials Argued Friday, Is Quasi-Independent.” (Dan Balz, “Obama’s Second Term Clouded By Controversies,” The Washington Post, 5/14/13)

• “It Took The President Three Days To Express His Outrage At The Agency’s Actions.” (Dan Balz, “Obama’s Second Term Clouded By Controversies,” The Washington Post, 5/14/13)
   
• “As For The Justice Department’s Leak Investigation, White House Officials Said Monday Night That It Was A Department Decision That Was Not Forwarded To The President.” (Dan Balz, “Obama’s Second Term Clouded By Controversies,” The Washington Post, 5/14/13)

“President Obama And His Insular Team Are Violating Almost Every Principle Of Crisis Management. Shoot Straight. Ditch The Spin. Don’t Feed The Fire. Restore Trust.” (Ron Fournier, “Does Obama Need Staff Shakeup To Manage Scandals,” National Journal, 5/14/13)

NBC’s David Gregory: “All Of These Things Taken Together Become At The Very Least A Distraction. … Any Day You Waste Is A Day You Cannot Get Back…” GREGORY: “But all of these things taken together become at the very least a distraction. That word gets thrown around a lot here. But in a second term, as one adviser told me, any day you waste is a day you cannot get back when you’ve got a limited window to get done the business you want to get done in a second term.” (NBC’s “Today,” 5/15/13)

OBAMA’S 2013 SCANDALS ARE ALREADY CREATING 2014 DIVISIONS

“It’s No Secret That Many Democratic Lawmakers Have Never Been Enamored Of President Obama.” “It’s no secret that many Democratic lawmakers have never been enamored of President Obama. He lacks schmooze, an element crucial to building relationships on Capitol Hill. It’s something he’s moved to remedy in the last few months, wining and dining senators in both parties ahead of critical votes on his second term agenda.” (“The Edge: For Obama, Relationships Would Help,” National Journal, 5/15/13)

• In The Wake Of Obama’s “Scandal Trifecta,” Democrats Have Not Hesitated To Condemn The Administration. “But this week’s scandal trifecta has made it pretty clear the charm offensive was too little, too late. Democrats didn’t hesitate to condemn the IRS’s mishandled tea party probing and the Justice Department’s secret search of Associated Press phone records, all on the heels of the House inquiries into Benghazi.” (“The Edge: For Obama, Relationships Would Help,” National Journal, 5/15/13)

Obama’s Second-Term Scandals That Have “Forced The White House To Play Defense Have The Strong Possibility Of Hurting The President And His Party At The Polls In November 2014.” “Even though he’s done running for office, President Barack Obama has a lot at stake in next year’s midterm elections. And a trio of scandals that have ignited over the past week that have forced the White House to play defense have the strong possibility of hurting the president and his party at the polls in November 2014.” (Paul Steinhauser, “Will Scandals 2013 Impact Elections 2013?” CNN, 5/14/13)

• “As A Trio Of Scandals Threatens To Engulf President Barack Obama, Congressional Democrats Facing Election Next Year Are Talking Tough About The Administration And Taking The First Steps To Detach Themselves From The President.” (Jonathan Martin, James Hohmann and Alex Isenstadt, “Scandals Could Roil 2014 Elections,” Politico, 5/15/13)

“In A Worrying Sign” For Obama, Democrats Have Also “Criticized The President For Not Being More Aggressive In Responding To Trouble Within The Government.” “But in a worrying sign for the White House, some Democrats also criticized the president for not being more aggressive in responding to trouble within the government. Robert Gibbs, Obama’s former White House press secretary, said the president should have appointed a bipartisan commission of former IRS officials to look into the issue of targeting political organizations. And Gibbs gently chided his former boss for using passive language when he first addressed the political targeting during a White House news conference Monday.” (Julie Pace, “Obama Tries To Regain Control Amid Controversies,” The Associated Press, 5/15/13)

Democrats Are Raising “The Volume On Their Displeasure With The Scandals.” “The convergence of a renewed focused on the attacks on the U.S. facility in Benghazi, Libya, revelations about the IRS targeting conservative groups and the Department of Justice seizing phone records from Associated Press reporters is prompting Democratic calls for accountability and raising fears that their candidates next year could become collateral damage should voters grow unhappy with Obama. Add in concerns about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and you’ve got a party dreading another 2010-style backlash toward perceived Washington excess. Democrats on Tuesday raised the volume on their displeasure with the scandals, suggesting they were ready to create some distance from Obama.” (Jonathan Martin, James Hohmann and Alex Isenstadt, “Scandals Could Roil 2014 Elections,” Politico, 5/15/13)

• Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), On Both The IRS & DOJ Scandals: “It’s Very, Very Troubling.” “‘First of all, when you look at this, it’s like when it rains it pours,’ said Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), who’s up for reelection next year, about the IRS and Department of Justice stories. ‘It’s very, very troubling.’” (Jonathan Martin, James Hohmann and Alex Isenstadt, “Scandals Could Roil 2014 Elections,” Politico, 5/15/13)
   
• Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA): “Any Time You Have A Series Of Concerns Raised Like We’ve Been Seeing This Week, That’s A Bad Week…” “1st District Rep. Bruce Braley was asked in a Wednesday conference call with Iowa reporters if the recent events hurt Democrats. ‘I think any time you have a series of concerns raised like we’ve been seeing this week, that’s a bad week for whatever party is in the White House that is in charge of the executive branch,’ Braley said. Braley called for the resignation of Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations at the IRS.” (Jon Erickson, “Iowa’s Congressional Delegation United To Learn What’s Wrong In Washington,” The Gazette, 5/15/13)

• Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK), On The IRS Scandal: “Obviously And Clearly [There Was] A Lack Of Oversight Of What Was Going On Over There.” “But the actions by the IRS and Department of Justice are a different story, offering the appearance of unambiguous government overreach. ‘That’s a problem,’ said Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), who’s facing a potentially tough reelection next year, about the IRS story. ‘I don’t care if it was President Obama, President Bush or President whoever – obviously and clearly [there was] a lack of oversight of what was going on over there.’” (Jonathan Martin, James Hohmann and Alex Isenstadt, “Scandals Could Roil 2014 Elections,” Politico, 5/15/13)
   
• “As For The Tracking Of The AP’s Phone Calls, Begich Said Of Obama: ‘He Shouldn’t Tolerate It. He Should Have Zero Tolerance On This Issue.’” (Jonathan Martin, James Hohmann and Alex Isenstadt, “Scandals Could Roil 2014 Elections,” Politico, 5/15/13)

NBC’s Lisa Myers: “I Think The Democrats Now Are Starting To Worry” About Benghazi. MYERS: “There is something called Benghazi going on. And I think the Democrats now are starting to worry about it. I started–I got calls from a number of Democrats yesterday trying to undermine Greg Hicks’s testimony, saying he wasn’t demoted, etc. So I think they feel that some damage was done by those three witnesses on Wednesday.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 5/10/13)

“What Troubles Democratic Operatives Is The Possibility That No Amount Of Fancy Footwork Around The President Saves Candidates Running In States Where Obama Is A Drag.” “What troubles Democratic operatives is the possibility that no amount of fancy footwork around the president saves candidates running in states where Obama is a drag. The concern is that 2014 becomes a replay of the previous midterms: whether you supported the administration agenda or opposed key bills was ultimately irrelevant when the political tsunami struck.” (Jonathan Martin, James Hohmann and Alex Isenstadt, “Scandals Could Roil 2014 Elections,” Politico, 5/15/13)

The post Second-Term Derailment appeared first on GOP.

“Simply allowing the acting-head of the IRS to resign is not enough. This is clearly a scapegoat that distracts from answering the core questions from information that has been known within the administration for over a year: Who in the White House knew what and when? If they were aware earlier of improper activity, why wasn’t action taken sooner?

“The president still owes Americans—especially the targeted groups—an apology. He spent years maligning them. He called some groups ‘tea-baggers’ and said in 2010 he would ‘punish our enemies.’ There’s no denying he created a culture in his administration that encouraged the targeting of these groups. Ultimately, he should take responsibility for what happened and stop avoiding the tough questions.”

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Download the web video here.

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In 2009, President Obama Said That Part Of His “New Course” For Washington Was “Making Sure That When I Screw Up That I’m Taking Responsibility For It.” OBAMA: “It’s not going to be perfect. There are going to be bumps and fits and starts on this thing. But as long as I stay focused on them and putting them back to work, making sure that they have health insurance, making sure their kids can afford college, cleaning up attitudes around here, including making sure that when I screw up that I’m taking responsibility for it. I think that people will feel that three or four or five years down the road that you know we set a new course.” (President Barack Obama, Interview With Katie Couric Of CBS News, 2/3/09)

OBAMA HAS AVOIDED TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS SECOND TERM SCANDALS

Former Senior Obama Official: It’s Like Obama Officials “Don’t Know What They’re Here To Do.” “‘It feel like they don’t know what they’re here to do,’ a former senior Obama administration official said. ‘When there’s no narrative, stuff like this consumes you.’” (Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, “D.C. Turns On Obama,” Politico, 5/14/13)

“Obama’s Aloof Mien And Holier-Than-Thou Rhetoric Have Left Him With Little Reservoir Of Good Will, Even Among Democrats.” “Obama’s aloof mien and holier-than-thou rhetoric have left him with little reservoir of good will, even among Democrats. And the press, after years of being accused of being soft on Obama while being berated by West Wing aides on matters big and small, now has every incentive to be as ruthless as can be.” (Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, “D.C. Turns On Obama,” Politico, 5/14/13)

• “This White House’s Instinctive Petulance, Arrogance And Defensiveness Have All Worked Together To Isolate Obama At A Time When He Most Needs A Support System.” (Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, “D.C. Turns On Obama,” Politico, 5/14/13)

The Washington Post ‘s Dana Milbank: “President Passerby Needs Urgently To Become A Participant His Presidency.” “President Passerby needs urgently to become a participant in his presidency. Late Monday came the breathtaking news of a full-frontal assault on the First Amendment by his administration: word that the Justice Department had gone on a fishing expedition through months of phone records of Associated Press reporters. And yet President Obama reacted much as he did to the equally astonishing revelation on Friday that the IRS had targeted conservative groups based on their ideology: He responded as though he were just some bloke on a bar stool, getting his information from the evening news. In the phone-snooping case, Obama didn’t even stir from his stool. Instead, he had his press secretary, former Time magazine journalist Jay Carney, go before an incensed press corps and explain why the president will not be involving himself in his Justice Department’s trampling of press freedoms. ‘Other than press reports, we have no knowledge of any attempt by the Justice Department to seek phone records of the Associated Press,’ Carney announced. The president ‘found out about the news reports yesterday on the road,’ he added. ” (Dana Milbank, Op-Ed, “Obama, The Uninterested President,” The Washington Post , 5/14/13)

Obama “Is Trying To Rewrite The Lines Of Accountability” On The IRS Scandal

Former Clinton Adviser Vernon Jordan: On The IRS Scandal, Obama “Needs To Fire Somebody. He Needs Action, Not Conversation.” “Vernon Jordan, a close adviser to President Bill Clinton through his darkest days, told us: ‘It’s never all right if you’re the president. There is no smooth sailing. So now he has the turbulence, and this is the ultimate test of his leadership.’ Jordan says Obama needs to do something dramatic on the IRS, and quick: ‘He needs to fire somebody. He needs action, not conversation.’” (Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei, “D.C. Turns On Obama,” Politico, 5/14/13)

Wall Street Journal Editorial: On The IRS Scandal, “Obama Is Trying To Rewrite The Lines Of Accountability To Spare Himself.” “Congress gave the President the power to hire and fire the IRS chief precisely to ensure that the tax authority is politically accountable. By claiming the IRS is ‘independent,’ Mr. Obama is trying to rewrite the lines of accountability to spare himself, even as he demands for public soundbite purposes that any culprits be held ‘fully accountable.’ In any case it’s hardly reassuring if the politicized tax enforcement was done by career bureaucrats. This would mean such abuses are embedded in IRS enforcement culture.” (Editorial, “The ‘Independent’ Revenue Service,” Wall Street Journal, 5/14/13)

• With The IRS Scandal, “It Is Easier To Make A Case That A Mindset Of Inattention To Governing Detail And Excessive Attention To Politics Was At Work…” “But in the current atmosphere of multi-ring uproars, it is easier to make a case that a mindset of inattention to governing detail and excessive attention to politics was at work in the State Department on Benghazi, and the IRS on investigation of tea party groups, even if Obama isn’t shown to be directly involved.” (Alexander Burns and John F. Harris, “Obama’s Dangerous New Narrative,” Politico, 3/15/13)

National Journal ‘s Ron Fournier Says He Doesn’t Know Whether Obama’s Late Realization Of The IRS Scandal Is Due To His Insulation Or Simply “PR Incompetence.” MSNBC’s CHRIS MATTHEWS: “Now it’s pretty clear the White House knew about this particular problem two weeks ago.” MSNBC’s CHUCK TODD: “Two, three weeks ago.” MATTHEWS: “Why didn’t the Counsel’s office tell the president? Why did he have to wait to read the reports on Friday?” TODD: “That is not a question they’ve answered in any terms.” MATTHEWS: “Did anybody ask Carney why didn’t the White House Counsel tell the president what was going on here?” TODD: “Yes. They said that not everything gets told to the president.” MATTHEWS: “What’s the thinking behind that?” TODD: “If I was Denis McDonough I would be asking that question.” MATTHEWS: “Is there some insulation around the president, see no evil, hear no evil?” NATIONAL JOURNAL’S RON FOURNIER: “I don’t know if that’s it or it is just P.R. incompetence. That question should have been answered.” MATTHEWS: “You find out — I don’t care what numb skull we’re talking about. Not even a political pro. You know that the IRS is checking on people’s political, going particularly after right wing groups and you know the president has always been suspected of being a liberal and out to get those people. Then you find out there’s evidence that his IRS is doing that. Don’t you tell him, boss, we got a problem here.” (MSNBC’s “Hardball,” 5/14/13)

Obama Has “Failed To Offer A Credible Justification” For His Justice Department’s Decision To Spy On The Associated Press

The New York Times Editorial: The Obama Administration Has “Failed To Offer A Credible Justification For Secretly Combing Through The Phone Records.” “The Obama administration, which has a chilling zeal for investigating leaks and prosecuting leakers, has failed to offer a credible justification for secretly combing through the phone records of reporters and editors at The Associated Press in what looks like a fishing expedition for sources and an effort to frighten off whistle-blowers.” (Editorial, “Spying On The Associated Press,” The New York Times, 5/14/13)

USA Today Editorial: The Obama “Administration Needs Some Hard Thinking About Abuse Of Power.” “As for the IRS revelation, Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered a criminal investigation to determine whether anyone at the agency broke the law. That’s a start. But the Justice Department’s decision-making in the AP case doesn’t inspire confidence in the result. This administration needs some hard thinking about abuse of power.” (Editorial, “AP Phone Subpoenas Cross A Line,” USA Today, 5/14/13)

• USA Today Editorial: “True, The Government Has A Responsibility To Protect National Security, But Not Without Limit, And The AP Case Is An Escalation.” (Editorial, “AP Phone Subpoenas Cross A Line,” USA Today, 5/14/13)

FLASHBACK: OBAMA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN “COMPLETE CONTROL” OF HIS WHITE HOUSE

“Obama Has Begun His Second Term By Consolidating His Personal Control Of The White House, Democrats In And Outside The Administration Say.” “President Barack Obama has begun his second term by consolidating his personal control of the White House, Democrats in and outside the administration say, reflecting a shift from his less centralized first term. The shift has become clear in the new style of management under Obama’s new chief of staff, Denis McDonough, who – unlike his predecessors – acts more as Obama’s enforcer than as a principal in his own right.”(Evan McMorris-Santoro and Ben Smith, “Obama Takes Control In The Second Term,” BuzzFeed, 4/8/13)

• Former Obama Aide Jonathan Prince: “Obama ‘Is In Complete Control Of The White House.’” “Obama ‘is in complete control of the White House,’ said Jonathan Prince, a Democratic political consultant who was a foreign policy aide in Obama’s first term. And the coming years will reveal whether the president’s command of the details and sense of himself as the smartest man in the room will produce a newly effective presidency – or a worrisome centralization.” (Evan McMorris-Santoro and Ben Smith, “Obama Takes Control In The Second Term,” BuzzFeed, 4/8/13)

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Obama: “My Administration Is Committed To Creating An Unprecedented Level Of Openness In Government.” (President Barack Obama, “Memorandum For The Heads Of Executive Departments And Agencies: Transparency and Open Government,” Press Release, 1/21/09)

Obama: “Let Me Say It As Simply As I Can: Transparency And The Rule Of Law Will Be The Touchstones Of This Presidency.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President In Welcoming Senior Staff And Cabinet Secretaries To The White House , Washington, DC, 1/21/09)

• White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: “We Are The Most Transparent Administration In History, Without Question.” (Jay Carney, White House Press Briefing, Washington, DC, 9/28/11)
   
• Obama : “I Won’t Stop Fighting To Open Up Government.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At A Town Hall Meeting, Elyria, OH, 1/22/10)
   
• Obama: “But I Can Tell You We Have Put In Place The Toughest Ethics Laws And Toughest Transparency Rules Of Any Administration In History. In History.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At A Town Hall Meeting, Elyria, OH, 1/22/10)

Obama’s Justice Department Used A “Secret Subpoena” To Obtain Phone Records From Reporters

The Associated Press Headline: “Gov’t Secretly Obtained AP Phone Records In Probe” (Mark Sherman, “Gov’t Secretly Obtained AP Phone Records In Probe,” The Associated Press, 5/13/13)

Obama’s Justice Department Used A “Secret Subpoena” To Obtain Phone Records For Associated Press Reporters And Editors “Without Notifying The News Organization.” “The Justice Department used a secret subpoena to obtain two months of phone records for Associated Press reporters and editors without notifying the news organization, a senior department official tells NBC News, saying the step was necessary to avoid ‘a substantial threat to the integrity’ of an ongoing leak investigation.” (Michael Isikoff, “‘Nixonian’? The Justice Department Secretly Collected AP Reporters’ Phone Records,” NBC News, 5/13/13)

• “Anti-Secrecy Watchdogs Also Criticized The Move.” “Anti-secrecy watchdogs also criticized the move. ‘I’ve never heard of a dragnet collection effort against a media organization like this,’ said Stephen Aftergood, who tracks secrecy issues for the Federation of American Scientists. ‘This was not a targeted monitoring of an individual reporter. It’s a sweeping collection of an entire bureau’s communications.’” (Michael Isikoff, “‘Nixonian’? The Justice Department Secretly Collected AP Reporters’ Phone Records,” NBC News, 5/13/13)

NBC’s Chuck Todd: “Its Chilling … They Owe Us An Explanation.” NBC’s CHUCK TODD: “It’s chilling and I guess they owe us an explanation, but it’s absolutely chilling because the broad scope of what they subpoenaed in going after phone records.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 5/14/13)

National Journal ‘s Ron Fournier: The Department Of Justice’s Phone Record Seizure Is “Chilling” And “Stupid.” NATIONAL JOURNAL’s RON FOURNIER: “I used to be the bureau chief of the Washington bureau. I’ll say two things. One, this is chilling. This is only meant to intimidate whistleblowers who want to get out embarrassing information about the administration and to intimidate reporters. This is only to clamp down on information that might embarrass the president. That’s all this is about. Secondly, not only is it chilling, it is stupid.” (MSNBC’s ” Morning Joe,” 5/14/13)

Four Days Into The Scandal, Americans Are Still Waiting For All The Facts From Obama On The IRS Scandal

The Washington Post Editorial, On The IRS Scandal: “The Administration Should Provide Complete Answers, And Soon.” “Who else knew about the targeting? In subsequent testimony, IRS leaders assured lawmakers that no one did. Were they ignorant or deliberately untruthful? Did they even ask before reporting to Congress? … Considering that Ms. Lerner seems to have known about the targeting by 2011, did the IRS ever plan on revealing that it had singled out conservative groups? Or was it only the impending release of the inspector general’s report that compelled agency officials to ‘fess up? The administration should provide complete answers, and soon.” (Editorial, “The IRS’s Turn To Answer Questions,” The Washington Post , 5/13/13)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial: In His Comments On The IRS Scandal, Obama “Was Making Conditional What The IRS Has Already Admitted.” “Asked about the IRS news on Monday, Mr. Obama said that ‘if in fact IRS personnel’ targeted conservatives, that would be ‘outrageous’ and those responsible would be held ‘accountable.’ That’s nice to hear, but he was making conditional what the IRS has already admitted, which is not as bad as what we are learning it really did.” (Editorial, “The IRS Wants You,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/13/13)

The IRS Delivered Confidential Documents From The Groups It Targeted To ProPublica Which Contradicts Earlier Statements Made By The IRS And “May Represent A Violations Of Federal Guidelines.” “ProPublica on Monday reported that the same IRS division that targeted conservative groups for special scrutiny during the 2012 election cycle provided the investigative-reporting organization with confidential applications for tax-exempt status. That revelation contradicts previous statements from the agency and may represent a violation of federal guidelines. Lois G. Lerner, who heads the IRS sector that reviews tax-exemption applications, told a congressional oversight committee in April 2012 that IRS code prohibited the agency from providing information about groups that had not yet been approved.” (Josh Hicks, “IRS Released Confidential Info On Conservative Groups To ProPublica,” The Washington Post, 5/14/13)

IRS Officials In Washington And At Least Two Other Offices Were Involved In Investigating Conservative Groups. “Internal Revenue Service officials in Washington and at least two other offices were involved with investigating conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, making clear that the effort reached well beyond the branch in Cincinnati that was initially blamed, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.” (Juliet Eilperin and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “IRS Officials In Washington Were Involved In Targeting Of Conservative Groups,” The Washington Post, 5/13/13)

• IRS Officials In Washington Sent “Queries To Conservative Groups Asking About Their Donors And Other Aspects Of Their Operations.” “IRS officials at the agency’s Washington headquarters sent queries to conservative groups asking about their donors and other aspects of their operations, while officials in the El Monte and Laguna Niguel offices in California sent similar questionnaires to tea-party-affiliated groups, the documents show.” (Juliet Eilperin and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “IRS Officials In Washington Were Involved In Targeting Of Conservative Groups,” The Washington Post, 5/13/13)

And Obama Is Still Under Fire For His Shifting Story And Falsehoods About The Attacks In Benghazi

The Washington Post Fact Checker: “The President’s Claim That He Said ‘Act Of Terrorism’ Is Taking Revisionist History Too Far, Given That He Repeatedly Refused To Commit To That Phrase When Asked Directly By Reporters In The Weeks After The Attack.” “During the campaign, the president could just get away with claiming he said ‘act of terror,’ since he did use those words – though not in the way he often claimed. It seemed like a bit of after-the-fact spin, but those were his actual words – to the surprise of Mitt Romney in the debate. But the president’s claim that he said ‘act of terrorism’ is taking revisionist history too far, given that he repeatedly refused to commit to that phrase when asked directly by reporters in the weeks after the attack. He appears to have gone out of his way to avoid saying it was a terrorist attack, so he has little standing to make that claim now.” (Glenn Kessler, “Obama’s Claim He Called Benghazi An ‘Act Of Terrorism’,” The Washington Post Fact Checker , 5/14/13)

• The Washington Post Fact Checker: Obama Is “Pretending The Right Words Were Uttered.” “Indeed, the initial unedited talking points did not call it an act of terrorism. Instead of pretending the right words were uttered, it would be far better to acknowledge that he was echoing what the intelligence community believed at the time–and that the administration’s phrasing could have been clearer and more forthright from the start.” (Glenn Kessler, “Obama’s Claim He Called Benghazi An ‘Act Of Terrorism’,” The Washington Post Fact Checker , 5/14/13)

In His Press Conference Yesterday, “There Was Nothing Either Clinical Or Straightforward About The President’s Response” To The Attacks In Benghazi. “But there was nothing either clinical or straightforward about the president’s response to the ongoing Republican investigations of what happened in Benghazi last Sept. 11 or, more importantly, what happened inside the White House and the State Department in the days immediately following that attack when officials were battling with the Central Intelligence Agency over what to say. Here, without doubt, was an angry president, clearly outraged at what he sees as Republican partisan perfidy. He blasted the controversy over the talking points as ‘a sideshow.’” (George E. Condon, “Obama’s Outrage Focused On Republicans More Than IRS,” National Journal, 5/13/13)

• Obama “Dismissed The Emails That Showed More Extensive Administration Editing” And “Doubled Down” On His Arguments. “He dismissed the emails that showed more extensive administration editing, saying, ‘There’s no ‘there’ there.’ And he objected to the investigation itself, saying, ‘The whole thing defies logic.’ Those who hoped he would come out, acknowledge that some mistakes had been made in White House explanations and try to move beyond an argument over emails were disappointed. At this press conference, Obama signaled he is ready for a fight. If anything, he doubled down, guaranteeing an intensification of the showdown between the two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.” (George E. Condon, “Obama’s Outrage Focused On Republicans More Than IRS,” National Journal, 5/13/13)

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