IRS Admits To Flagging ‘Tea Party’ And ‘Patriot’ Groups During Election Audits, New Statement Contradicts Older Ones

By Brandon Jones

http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/irs-admits-to-flagging-tea-party-and-patriot-groups-during-election-audits-new-statement-contradicts-older-ones-57684/

The Internal Revenue Service “inappropriately flagged” conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status, a top IRS official said Friday. A new statement on Saturday contradicts the previous ones, saying “… the majority of cases centralized were not based on a specific name.”

Photo/donkeyhotey donkeyhotey.wordpress.com

Lois Lerner, head of  the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups, stated that organizations were singled out because they included the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications for tax-exempt status. Some groups were even asked for their list of donors, which violates IRS policyin most cases, she said.

“That was wrong. That was absolutely incorrect, it was insensitive and it was inappropriate. That’s not how we go about selecting cases for further review,” Lerner said at a conference sponsored by the American Bar Association.

“The IRS would like to apologize for that,” she added.

IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman — a Bush appointee whose 6-year term ended in November — told Congress in March 2012 that the IRS was not targeting groups based on their political views.

“There’s absolutely no targeting. This is the kind of back and forth that happens to people” who apply for tax-exempt status, Shulman told a House Ways and Means subcommittee.

Now the new statement darkens the waters with confusion and contradiction. The statement issued is very much opposite to Lerner’s confessions.

Between 2010 and 2012, the IRS saw the number of applications for section 501(c)(4) status double. As a result, local career employees in Cincinnati sought to centralize work and assign cases to designated employees in an effort to promote consistency and quality. This approach has worked in other areas.

However, the IRS recognizes we should have done a better job of handling the influx of advocacy applications. While centralizing cases for consistency made sense, the way we initially centralized them did not. Mistakes were made initially, but they were in no way due to any political or partisan rationale.

We fixed the situation last year and have made significant progress in moving the centralized cases through our system. To date, more than half of the cases have been approved or withdrawn.  It is important to recognize that all centralized applications received the same, even-handed treatment, and the majority of cases centralized were not based on a specific name.

In addition, new procedures also were implemented last year to ensure that these mistakes won’t be made in the future. The IRS also stresses that our employees – all career civil servants — will continue to be guided by tax law and not partisan issues.

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It’s about Honesty

By Tom Rhodes, 4/12/2013

Barack Obama demanded a “national conversation” about gun control. What he didn’t demand was an “honest” conversation about gun control. The reason he left off the word “honest” is because he has proven again and again to use lies to promote his irrational hatred for those who would be self reliant and not depend on the largess of government for protection.

Lets start with the Fast and Furious lie that 90% of the guns recovered in Mexico were from US gun dealers. In sworn testimony before congress, Bill McMahon, deputy assistant director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, swore that only eight percent of the arms recovered in Mexico were from licensed gun dealers, noting: Of the 100,000 weapons recovered by Mexican authorities, only 18,000 were determined to have been manufactured, sold, or imported from the United States, and of those 18,000, just 7,900 came from sales by licensed gun dealers. Considering 2500 were known to have been smuggled into Mexico by the Obama administration as part of Fast and Furious it’s clear the 90% number was a known lie propagated by Obama and company.

Now the more recent 40% lie. Obama claimed that 40 percent of the gun purchases in the nation are conducted without a background check. It is another outright knowing lie. The Statistics he used were not only 20 years out of date but included all transfers not purchases. The survey he used was started before the Brady Bill became law and background checks were required. Even the generally supportive of Obama, Washington Post < a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/obamas-continued-use-of-the-claim-that-40-percent-of-gun-sales-lack-background-checks/2013/04/01/002e06ce-9b0f-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_blog.html>had to report on this lie, giving Obama three Pinocchio’s .

There are two key problems with the president’s use of this statistic: The numbers are about two decades old, yet he acts as if they are fresh, and he refers to “purchases” or “sales” when in fact the original report concerned “gun acquisitions” and “transactions.” Those are much broader categories of data.

As we noted before, the White House said the figure comes from a 1997 Institute of Justice report, written by Philip Cook of Duke University and Jens Ludwig of the University of Chicago.

This study was based on data collected from a survey in 1994, the same year that the Brady Act requirements for background checks came into effect. In fact, the questions concerned purchases in 1993 and 1994, and the Brady Act went into effect in early 1994 – meaning that some, if not many, of the guns were bought in a pre-Brady environment.

Digging deeper, we found that the survey sample was just 251 people. (The survey was done by telephone, using a random-digit-dial method, with a response rate of 50 percent.) With this sample size, the 95 percent confidence interval will be plus or minus six percentage points.

. . . .

The Police Foundation report did not break out gun purchases, so in January we asked Ludwig to rerun the data, just looking at guns purchased in the secondary market. The result, depending on the definition, was 14 percent to 22 percent. That’s at least half the percentage repeatedly cited by Obama. (In a recent article for National Review, Cook and Ludwig wrote “we don’t know the current percentage – nor does anyone else.” But they say if the percentage is lower it actually strengthens the case for expanding background checks because it would be less expensive to implement.) Since our initial report on this statistic appeared, The Washington Post in February included a question on background checks on a survey of Maryland residents, asking whether they went through a background check during a gun purchase in the past 10 years. The result? Twenty-one percent say they did not.

Coincidentally or not, 21 percent falls within the 14-to-22 percent range for gun purchases without background checks in the 1994 survey.

So Obama wants a national conversation, but his actions clearly dictate he wants the conversation not to be based on logic, reason, and practical solutions. His actions clearly demonstrate he wants the conversation to be one sided, based on lies and emotional rhetoric to the exclusion of truth and substantial debate.

When the President has deliberately chosen to distort facts, and lie to the people to promote and instill further restrictions on fundamental rights he has in fact destroyed the ability of “moderates” to effect any meaningful discussion much less change. The clear exposure even by liberal supportive media, of the lies and distortions by the government make any honest debate impossible. Obama’s brief 5 years in office is so filled with clearly demonstrated lies and deceptions that no rational person could reasonably consider the arguments he or his representatives present on any topic as truthful or trustworthy. Not just on Gun Control but on oil, healthcare, immigration, spending, in fact virtually every major issue, the default position of the Obama and his Whitehouse is to lie, and distort the facts. The reason compromise is so difficult with Obama, is because he and the entire Democrat party have proven that they are not trustworthy.

Having been caught in multiple lies, especially concerning gun control, how can anybody reasonably work with the Democrats in an honest conversation?

Republicans and Democrats vote for new Internet tax

posted on LP.org

Refocusing the Tea Party

By Thomas Pastore

Have you ALL truly lost your way? There has been NO admittance (on your part), that the “Tea Party” surge (Fad, if you will), ended-up “Sleeping with the Enemy” when you all jumped on the Republican Band-Wagon!! Did you really think you were going to change things by dining-out with the same people who are Part of the Problem??

True Tea Party Americans have to be able to see outside of the “Political Party-Box”, and realize that America must come first. Neither Republicans Nor Democrats, wish to serve the People, when they take an Oath to “Serve their Party first”.!!!!…………..By the way,…..Do you really think that you can “do Battle” by forming another PAC, just like the ones that True American Citizens Resent????……Can’t you see that you are becoming the same “Monster” of Greed, that Tea Party Patriots were supposed to Vanquish????

I said from the very beginning that the Tea Party people Boarded the Ships of Discontent, but instead of Throwing the Tea overboard, you decided to sit down and drink it with Republicans………Now you want the People to continue supporting your misdirected ways, when you have Not even admitted to the errors of your ways…………..You (all) really need to re-assess the direction you are going in!! Stop thinking that the solution lies within the system. The system is Broken, and it needs to be repaired from the outside, not from within. The Original Tea Partiers, knew their system was in dis-repair, and that Great Britain wasn’t going to provide the answers. They knew that those on the “Inside’ were the Cause, and could never be the Solution. They took extraordinary steps to make a difference and re-define what the Colonies were to be…………………………Are you ALL ready to do that?????

I am sure there are some dedicated People within your organization, but like the “Abused Spouse” who keeps thinking that you can Stop receiving the Abuse, and “Change” the way the relationship is, you are Failing to recognize that will never Happen…….NOT until you leave the relationship, and realize the Need to Start over!!!……………It does sound scary, but No less so, then it was for the original Tea Party Patriots,………but there is NO other way. It would be Foolish to Embrace and Cherish our History, if we choose to ignore the Lessons from that History!!!

I have had the good Fortune of trying to instill that spirit of Patriotism, and the Tea Party Loyalty to Americans far long before any of these Tea organizations were ever even thought about. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. Our History shows that, so don’t Disrespect the sacrifices of those before you, and Never think you have (all) the answers,………… Learning starts when you admit your own errors!!!

The letter above was in response to an email Thomas Pastore received from the Tea Party Patriots which we have included below. Mr. Pastore was removed from their email list within minutes of them receiving his response

 

Dear Patriot,

If we are going to save our country we have to be able to TAKE ON and DEFEAT free-spending establishment politicians in primary and general elections.

The sell-outs who just voted to raise our taxes will never take tea party Americans seriously until we are ready, willing, and able to defeat them at the ballot box.  It’s time for you and I to take a stand.

So, I am proud to announce the formation of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund.

Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund is a federal Political Action Committee.

Since Tea Party Patriots was founded in 2009, the establishment Republicans have made it clear that they simply don’t care about the grassroots.  Its that simple… THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU OR ME.

They don’t care about the grassroots, but they do care about getting reelected.  So now we are going to “fight fire with fire!”

And I need your help.

Please become a charter supporter of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund by making a generous contribution of $35, $50, $100, $200 or whatever you can afford today.  

My goal is to recruit our first 5000 donors in just one week and show the Republican sell-outs that we mean business.

Our message to Washington:  “If you vote to raise taxes, increase spending and undermine our economy, YOU WILL PAY!”

We are going to support good pro-liberty candidates who will win and then go to Washington and help fix our fiscal mess.

And we are going to go after “Republicans” who vote like liberal Democrats with massive ad campaigns that blanket their districts or states. We are going to develop a ground game of tea party supporters around the country who can compete with both the right and the left from American Crossroads to Organizing for Action.

This truly is a battle for the future of America.  It is a battle that we must win.

Please become a charter supporter of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund by making the most generous contribution possible.

This is a grassroots PAC like no other.  We are going to harness the incredible energy of millions of Tea Party Americans and hold both Republican and Democrat politicians accountable.

However it won’t be easy.

That’s why I need your help.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the group that endorsed now-Democrat Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio for senate in 2010, has pledged to spend millions helping tax and spend Republicans win nomination fights next year.

In January, on the pages of The Hill newspaper, a former top GOP aide in the House called for the purge of Tea Party Member of Congress from the Republican Party! 

And, just this week the New York Times is reporting Karl Rove announced plans to launch a new PAC to protect incumbents from challenges by Tea Party enthusiasts.

The Republican Political Establishment is going to fight hard.  Its members won’t give up their power or perks easily.

So Tea Party Patriots have to rise to the challenge.  We have to build our movement at the ballot box.  And we have to prepare for political battle.

Please become a charter supporter of the Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund by making a generous contribution of $35, $50, $100, $200 or whatever you can afford today.  

We need to recruit 5000 donors in the next week!

I’m counting on you.  Thank you in advance for your help!

Frustrated! Don’t Vote Libertarian Unless You’re Serious About Slashing Government!

By Jote Thompson

Today, Washington DC has become the opulent city of an empire. Beautiful buildings, luxurious shops and luscious parties, all paid for with your money. Almost everyone has a well paid job while America burns. New buildings are being erected everywhere to serve the Oligarchy. The best and the brightest Washington employees, drive in limo’s, eat at the best restaurants, vacation around the world and bring along their friends.

Who wouldn’t want this life?

What member of congress would want to give this up? Meanwhile you, the stupid people  (as they see it) continue to whine and cry about what’s wrong with the nation, while asking, how is this happening and why is it happening to us?

The answer is simple.

You caused it! Yes you! Now I must admit, I too was part of the problem. I too, voted Republican when I was well aware the GOP was lying to me. I worked in the Republican Party for years, and my silence allowed GOP operatives to help democrats ruin my state and my nation, while I defended their unconstitutional actions.

No More! Never again will I compromise my values for a party.

Last Friday night, I had the displeasure of watching Bill Maher, the narcissistic late night talk show host on TV who previously was cancelled due to poor ratings. Maher had his dear friend Nancy Pelosi on as a guest. Feeling empowered to attack, condemn and ostracize the GOP, Maher included lambasting Kentucky Senator Rand Paul for questioning Hillary Clinton on the Senate floor. Maher called Paul every foul name possible, while running the most edited news clip in history to back his claim. His audience laughed knowing the clip was a bit fraudulent. His attacks on Rand Paul were clearly designed to be personal, a sign of great desperation mouthed by a Marxist leaning show host.

Maher on the other hand spoke of his adoration for…… you guessed it, John Boehner. Yes Bill Maher raved and raved about the Speaker of the House. He said Boehner was the only Republican in congress with a brain and who cares about the nation. Yes Republicans, John Boehner has a fan! Pelosi also showed her optimism over a new deal with Boehner. Doesn’t it just give you goose bumps to know John Boehner is making such progress?

Does the GOP deserve these attacks?

Of coarse they do! Any group in Congress with such a lack of resolve should be laughed at. Even Rush Limbaugh is running from the GOP. I mean running! Rand Paul is not as deserving of the ridicule but he’s a Republican and there is no escaping the obvious. If Paul was so committed, he would leave the GOP by rocket. His father Ron Paul did and he’s the most respected man in America.

Meanwhile tonight, in Marco Rubio’s America, he and his co-conspirator John McCain (or as some would say, John McAmnesty) have worked out a deal to give Barak Obama everything he wants to legalize those here illegally, thereby guaranteeing another Democratic victory in the next election. They’re all in cahoots I assure you. CBS News tonight is reporting that many, possibly thousands, of Chinese couples are now coming to the US as tourist and giving birth to mostly baby girls so they can all now claim US citizenship. CBS also reports there are baby hospitals out West just for these immigrants who journey here. Must I remind you it was the Tea Parties that elected Marco Rubio and rescued John McCain when he was about to lose his seat in Arizona.

So what on earth do you do when you know your party has failed you? Stay home on election day? That can work! Get drunk, hold your nose and vote for the Rat Pack again? Talk about ruining the nation.

Again, let’s review the definition of insanity. Voting for the GOP over and over again expecting different results.

Even Michigan Congressman Justin Amash, a GOP Libertarian, thrown out of committee by Boehner for desiring cuts in the budget, has fallen on his knees before Boehner pleading for forgiveness. Boehner has been merciful to Amash……….Just wait!

You could, if you had courage, vote for the only party who has consistently voted against big government. Please don’t believe me, look at the facts. Libertarians have a proven track record of fighting brutally hard against the one party system, higher taxes and have championed civil rights. But please what ever you do, don’t support Libertarians unless you want to greatly reduce the size of government, protect free speech, the right to bare arms and the right to choose your own path.

Libertarians are not Republicans. They are deeply in love with freedom. A freedom that would light up the whole world. No, if you’re frustrated with Washington, the Oligarchy, the corruption, the endless wars, the crime and the lies, please don’t vote Libertarian…. unless…. you’re serious about slashing government. Any Libertarian win in 2014 would scare Washington, but many Libertarian wins in 2014 would bring Washington to it’s knees. Choose carefully!

The LPF of Florida has named it’s May convention “Liberty Rising”. I wonder if even they, realize how right they are?

CLICK HERE TO ATTEND “LIBERTY RISING” MAY 24-26

Frain Campaign Kickoff Party

Come help kick off the Tommy Frain for City Commissioner campaign at Lagerheadz!

Tommy will be there to talk about the campaign, and hear ideas from you! Appetizers will be provided and a full bar is available for drinks! Come out to show support, and get everyone excited to start campaigning and showing the community why Tommy Frain is the choice for seat 4!

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