When Lois Lerner preemptively “broke” the story in 2013 about the IRS targeting conservative groups from (at least) 2010 to the time leading up to the 2012 presidential election, there was outrage and a bit of curiosity because it was she, then director of the Exempt Organizations Unit of the IRS, who admitted to these illegal actions. Four days later, the Inspector General’s office issued a report confirming the targeting, and three years later, we are learning of additional targets such as Bristol Palin.
After his initial feigned outrage, Obama, of course, is adamant that there is not a “smidgen of corruption” at the IRS, but that remains to be seen as reports of ongoing IRS targeting of conservatives emerge.
Conservatives were—and are—justifiably outraged at such a blatant and illegal weaponization of the IRS against those whom Lerner and others in the IRS, perhaps on up to the White House, deemed threatening or otherwise “enemies.”
Public trust in federal government, generally, is very low in part because of this type of perceived corruption of the IRS and other executive agencies.
So you have to wonder what Governor Jindal was thinking when he stated during Thursday’s debate that if elected president he will send the IRS after Planned Parenthood:
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said tonight that the Planned Parenthood scandal is “absolutely disgusting” and the organization needs to be defunded.”Planned Parenthood had better hope that Hillary Clinton wins this election,” Jindal said, guaranteeing that if he’s elected president, he will send the Department of Justice, the IRS and every other possible agency after them.
I get that he, and we, would like to see Planned Parenthood defunded. I would love that. Love. It. I also understand his ordering investigations into Planned Parenthood in Louisiana following the vile and horrendous videos that have been released; however, he also says that he wants to use the federal government to target Planned Parenthood because the organization offends “our values and our ethics.”
Watch:
Defunding Planned Parenthood is Congress’ job, not the president’s, and I can’t help but feel that if I have a problem with Obama abusing the power of his office in this manner then I should also have a problem with “my guy” doing it.
Is it ever okay to send the IRS—DOJ, FBI, NSA, EPA, ITF, etc.—”after” those targeted by the president, those who offend the values and ethics of the president? Do the ends justify the means in this, or any, case?
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