How bad is it??

[kentuck]

In your honest opinion, do you think the White House is involved in any of these charges? Did they know anything about what was going on with the IRS, an independent agency, but is under the purview of the Treasury Dept? How much did they know about the information that was subpoenaed from the AP and their reporters? Was Benghazi just a made-up conspiracy of the Republicans just to try and get their supporters fired up for the next election or was there more to it?

What is your opinion? Is the White House clear on all charges?

Do you want to know the truth or would you prefer not to know?

[quinnox]

1. I don't know but

it doesn't look good in any case. It looks terrible, to be honest. America shouldn't be acting like North Korea or an old style Soviet police state when it comes to freedom of the press.

[cali]

2. I doubt the WH is involved, but that doesn't absolve it of responsibilty

[B2G]

3. How many times can they say they knew nothing

about ANY of these things without looking like complete liars or total buffoons?

Who is running all of these departments? Low level employees? Sheesh.

[quinnox]

9. + 1000

Exactly, WTF is going on, is the White House really that out of the loop??

[villager]

25. Many here defend the President's "powerlessness" over Executive Departments,

and thus, his inability -- they say -- to carry out any of the truly important ideas/programs his supporters elected him to implement.

All this while simultaneously praising his "great leadership" abilities...

[BainsBane]

34. federal law prohibits the President from being involved with the IRS

dating from when Nixon used the IRS to go after political enemies. The President should not know what the IRS is investigating.

[peace13]

14. Pretty hard to reply to buffoons over and over.

That is the point here. The right does nothing but invent problems for the administration all while refusing to move forward on any real solutions for the American people!

We are not talking about audits here. We are talking about people applying for a tax free designation. When the application is received the IRS determines if the organization will be granted tax free status. If they do not qualify they will be declined. There is a qualification process, they don't just send in the papers and a check. They don't have a right to tax free status if they do not qualify!

Oh look....a pony!

[B2G]

15. what did the right have to do with the AP & IRS?

Do tell.

[randome]

18. How many times can Republicans shout 'Scandal' in a crowded theatre?

The IRS chief behind the TP audits is already gone.
The DOJ is supposed to be separate from the Executive branch.
The Benghazi crap? No 'there' there.

So yeah, they can keeping saying they knew nothing when there is no scandal present in the first place.

Just because the GOP is throwing everything they can at the wall to see if it sticks does not mean we have to bow down to them.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[a kennedy]

28. How many times can Republicans shout 'Scandal' in a crowded theatre?

I agree, and I'm hoping that all three of these issues will all be false and the next time some situation comes up that looks bad for the POTUS.... NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE WILL GIVE A D*MN. Like in crying wolf to d*mn many times.....so I hope this IS it with these "scandals". I can't take it anymore.....I'm watching all old movies from now on. I'm done with the news. Ugh..... I just can't take it anymore.

[marshall]

37. It made me sad to hear him say he found out Friday on the news, like the rest of us

It's mind boggling and frightening to imagine that the president is no more informed about issues of national security than the rest of us who watch the nightly news or read our daily paper.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. It's all a distraction created by the GOP and the media IMO

Where was the media when Bush took the US to war under false pretenses which cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars? Where were they when Bush crashed the economy?

[clarice]

16. As I recall, they beat up W. pretty badly on BOTH issues. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

20. Ya...just like they beat him up for allowing the greatest ever terror attack on US soil

not.

[clarice]

46. As I recall...the MSM didn't like him at all...with good reason. nt

[Mnemosyne]

31. When did they ever go after that fucking war criminal about anything? Show something

Last edited Wed May 15, 2013, 06:55 PM - Edit history (1)

to back up your comment, please.

[upaloopa]

5. The White House has nothing to do with any of this

Just look at who is making the claims.
The right has no policy to speak of. They have no viable candidates. They have a dwindling constituency. All they can do is make up shit and hope something sticks.
That part is up to us.

[peace13]

6. You need to take a couple of minutes and check this out.

Lawrence can explain the IRS issue to you. As usual there is a problem but not the one in the headlines!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017118893

[kentuck]

21. Thanks!

I would disagree with one small point: Lawrence says the IRS was just doing their job. No, if they were doing their job, most of these Tea Party groups would not have been approved for tax exemption. I think there is a large degree of intimidation from the right wing toward the IRS and the IRS has been cowed by them...

[peace13]

22. I agree with that.

The MSM and the right are tireless children who hold the rest of us hostage....all for money!

[pinto]

7. I think the media has jumped to conclusions in all cases. In the 24/7 cable world it's what they do.

And, fwiw, the Repubs have been aiding and abetting the media's over-the-top "outrage" meme.

I'm fine with waiting to see how it all plays out. Deliberately and accurately. Also, I feel the Administration wants to see it resolved deliberately and accurately as well.

[CJCRANE]

8. Warrantless wiretapping started before 9/11.

No one cared or noticed apart from a few bloggers (when the story came out in 2005).

It's just more MSM sound and fury.

[gateley]

10. I don't think the WH knew of the IRS thing, not sure about the AP activities (but kind of

doubt that, too). Those in charge don't check in with the POTUS on every move. Didn't Nixon only find out about the Watergate break in AFTER the fact?

Did you see Rachel's piece on the IRS story? My take away from that is the fault lies with Citizens United, and as long as that's in place both sides are going to abuse it, and the IRS has justification in going after both sides. I don't know if it's a high-up Dem or Republican in the IRS who determines where the majority of focus should be, or if it's almost like a default to "support" whatever Party is at the helm.

Get rid of Citizens United, and this will cease to occur and be an issue.

AP -- don't know enough about that yet to base an opinion on if there was actually a leak with potential consequences, or if the Dems were just pissed because the story broke before they wanted it to. What do you think?

In both cases, justified or not, this will reflect poorly on the WH and the Republicans can add these incidents to their arsenal for the 2014 War.

[B2G]

13. Every move?

What about major ones?

The WH looks like a train that hit a clown car right now.

[gateley]

23. You're clumping every thing together.

I admit it doesn't look good, but again, I don't think the President was aware of either of these actions. This shit goes on all the time -- I don't think it rises to his level. And Underlings are heady with their power and think they don't need his okay when obviously, at times they do.

What would have happened if he'd been aware of either of these things?

[B2G]

26. Maybe have prevented this clusterfuck??

Of course I'm clumping everything together. How can you not?

[gateley]

27. Because some things are valid, some are not.

[B2G]

32. How do you know that?

Carney & Holder offered NO information today. I don't know whey they were even trotted out.

[gateley]

44. Oh - I was being more broad with my statement, not referring only

to these latest situations.

[CakeGrrl]

11. The MSM spits out GOP allegations and corners of the Left freak out

...or join the feeding frenzy because they think the Obama administration "hates" them.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

[a kennedy]

29. I know......and I just can't take it anymore.....

I'm done watching anything remotely related to news.....

[Marrah_G]

12. I hope not. I hope not. I hope not. yes.

I don't have an opinion yet, have to wait for more information.

Yes I want to know. When Government oversteps and behaves badly it is our right and responsibility to know.

[clarice]

17. +1,000,000

[sinkingfeeling]

19. Clear of all 'charges'. I think Benghazi is a GOP-made-up crock. The IRS

did the same to hundreds of anti-war organizations, the NAACP, and ACORN, so a big, "So what?" The AP thing was done in the 'line of duty' in an investigation and probably within the confines of the terrible snoop laws put in place during GWB.

[Hekate]

24. Past is prologue. In all things, I consider the GOP's record of the past 20 years.

President Obama and the members of his administration are human beings like the rest of us, and can make mistakes. (Cheney's moles should not be considered part of this admin, btw.)

However, I always ALWAYS consider the source of rumors, investigations, and screeches of "scandal!" The GOP is toxic. And they don't quit.

Given a choice, I will support this Democratic administration every single time.

[a kennedy]

30. thank you for this post....it makes me feel better.

Given a choice, I will support this Democratic administration every single time. Ditto to this.

[GoCubsGo]

35. Yep. It's just par for the course.

This is the kind of shit that happens during the second term of a Democratic president when the House is controlled by the rethuglicans. They were accusing the Clintons of murder, and Bill of rape--on top of the Monica Lewinsky crap, during this point of his second term. Nobody should be surprised that they're attempting the same damn stunts with Obama.

[Hekate]

40. Ah yes, I remember the charges of murder and rape. How soon something similar for Obama?

The GOP controls the House, and if we are not both lucky and careful, they will control the Senate as well. Just imagine what else they will try to come up with, besides what they've already done? What gravels me is how many here are willing to repeat whatever crap they spew...

[GoCubsGo]

43. Yeah, that makes two of us.

Some days, I feel like I stumbled on some right-wing site.

I'm surprised the GOPers haven't contrived some murder conspiracy yet. I don't think they'd get much traction with rape and murder charges with our current president, however.

[BainsBane]

33. I doubt it

If they were, it would be VERY serious since federal laws have prevented the White House from meddling in IRS affairs since the post-Nixon era. I can't believe Obama would do something like that. Knowing how the tea baggers hate federal employees, IRS officials could very well have looked into the groups entirely on their own initiative.

[JoePhilly]

36. Its CNN's coverage of the Boston Bombing, without the Bombing.

Lots of breathless speculation about nothing.

[Hamlette]

38. The head of the IRS was a Bush appointee when this happened

why blame Obama?

This only looks bad if you just changed the channel. The GOP has nothing better to do because they hate government.

Hang on, when the dust settles Obama will be the last man standing. With Hillary.

[H2O Man]

39. Recommended.

I find the AP story to be disturbing. I am interested in knowing more about it, because it appears to be a threat to Amendment 1. And that is dangerous -- no matter which political party happens to hold the White House, attacks on the media should be of serious concern to all of us.

[Luminous Animal]

41. I think there were some misteps with Benghazi but it was a volatile situation

and as a consequence, difficult to get a handle on. I don't think it deserves an investigation.

I think the IRS thing is turning into an ACORN scandal. I think people jumped the gun with conclusions.

The AP thing is a big rotten pile of crap and probably legal which doesn't make it any less a pile of crap. These 3rd party subpoenas has got to stop. And in the case of journalists, receiving classified information is not a crime and targeting the journalists and an entire news organization, as if they themselves committed a crime, is bullshit.

[deaniac21]

42. There is NO WAY that the most ethical

administration was involved in ANY of this stuff.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

45. "The buck stops here." Harry Truman

If the White wasn't involved then Obama must act quickly to rid the administration of those who were. If the White House was completely unaware, they'd better start paying more attention to what their appointees are doing.