IRS Has White House on the Defensive

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 20, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                         

              Pushing back more accusations about the White House role in ordering the IRS to investigate conservative 501c(4) nonprofits, presidential advisor and spokesman Dan Pfeiffer denied that President Barack Obama knew anything about it.  When the Justice Dept. asked the FBI to investigate the cell phone records of 20 Associated Press cell phones used by around 100 reporters, 62-year-old Atty. Gen. Eric Holder violated the First Amendment right of a free press to protect it sources.  Republicans on Capitol Hill, led by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kt.), accused the White House of a Nixon-like Watergate cover-up.  Barely containing their glee, the GOP has Obama on the ropes, fueling a conspiracy that the president ordered the Justice Dept. to harass GOP right wing groups to help his re-election campaign.

             Denying that the IRS did anything improper, former interim IRS Commissioner Steven Miller said his department did nothing illegal and was within its rights  to investigate any IRS tax-exempt nonprofit potentially abuses.  “The deputy secretary of the treasury was made aware of just the fact that the investigation was beginning last year,” said Pfeiffer.  “But no one in the White House was aware,” pushing back at GOP claims that the White House engaged in a dirty political trick targeting right wing groups.  Stirring the pot, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) suggested that there was a White House policy statement that targeted conservative groups.  “I haven’t seen a policy statement, but I think we need to see that,” said Paul, fanning the flames to right wing conspiracy theorists that blame Obama for anything from terrorists attacks to an insidious socialist revolution.

             Paul, the 50-year-old son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), hinted at running for president in 2016, something backed by the Tea Party.   Pfeiffer’s response was both conciliatory and contrary, denying that the White House had any role in IRS abuses or FBI investigations.  “The activity was outrageous and inexcusable and it was stopped and it needs to be fixed to ensure it never happens again,” said Pfeiffer, demonstrating the president’s outrage over targeting right wing groups.  A recently released Treasury Department Inspector General’s report confirmed that right wing groups critical of the White House were fingered by the IRS, while progressive groups were ignored.  While Pfeiffer would like the problem to disappear, the GOP plans to milk it until 62-year-old Atty. Gen. Eric Holder steps down.  Believing that the orders came from an obscure Treasury official is just naïve.

             Going on Sunday morning talk shows, Pfeiffer hoped to defuse an escalating crisis.  Obama had every opportunity last week to send Holder packing but instead allowed the AG to skate any real consequences.  Pfeiffer didn’t specify when the president first heard about the IRS’s surveillance on right wing nonprofit groups.  Calling for a Special Counsel to investigate the White House spying scandal, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said the White House was incapable of investigating itself.  “I think a special counsel is going to wind up being necessary,” said Portman, referring to the IG’s report fingering the IRS’s Ohio office for singling out right wing groups.  Already falling along party lines, the IRS scandal promises to dog Obama unless he takes decisive action to get out all the facts.  Appointing a Special Counsel would surely invoke executive privilege, raising even more controversy.

              Defending the IRS after getting fired, Miller said there was nothing improper about investigating groups abusing its IRS 501c(4) nonprofit status.  Were it not for the fact than only right wing groups were investigated, Miller might have a point, since many publicly-traded companies inappropriately use nonprofit groups to advance business and political agendas.  “I don’t see the point,” said Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), rejecting the GOP’s calls for a Special Counsel.  Without a Special Counsel, it’s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to get to the bottom of who ordered the special scrutiny of right wing political groups.  “This is about trust,” said Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), agreeing with Portman that a Special Prosecutor was needed.  While Democrats want to spare the president more embarrassment, it’s going to be difficult ascertaining the facts when both sides act so partisan.

             Sending Pfeiffer on five Sunday morning talk shows reveals White House concerns that the IRS scandal could spiral out of control.  “There is no Republican agenda other than to stop the president of the United States, “ said 83-year-old former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), digging in the extreme left wing position.  Rangel knows what it’s like to be disgraced after he was found guilty and sanctioned Dec. 2, 2010 by the House Ethics Committee for his offshore financial dealings, stripped of his powerful House Ways and Means Committee chairmanship March 3, 2010.  Whether justified or not, given the egregious abuse by the IRS, both Democrats and Republicans have a vested interest in getting to the bottom of the scandal.  If IRS and White House doesn’t come clean with more definitive facts, a Special Prosecutor may be necessary.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.