RNC Chair On Lerner: You Don’t Plead The Fifth If You’re Innocent

[DonViejo]

TOM KLUDT 10:25 AM EDT, THURSDAY MAY 23, 2013

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said Thursday that embattled IRS official Lois Lerner did more harm than good when she opted to invoke the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions at a House committee hearing on the agency's targeting of conservative groups.

During an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Priebus said that pleading the fifth "implies there are some criminal aspects" of the IRS scandal. John Heileman, a writer for New York Magazine who was sitting on the show's panel, cried foul at that characterization.

"But you don't need to plead the fifth if you've done nothing wrong," Priebus said.

"That's not true. That's not what the Fifth Amendment says," Heileman retorted. Priebus ultimately toned down his interpretation of Lerner's action, saying it "raises questions." Heileman scoffed at the chairman's suddenly vague assessment of the situation.

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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/rnc-chair-on-lerner-you-dont-plead-fifth--1?ref=fpb

[The Magistrate]

1. You Know, Sir, You Cannot Spell 'Rancid Penis' Without Reince Priebus

And oddly enough, drop out all the vowels and you get RNC PR BS....

[PearliePoo2]

2. I saw that session!

I don't think he was all that popular with ANYBODY on today's show.
I wonder why they even booked this smarmy, little, thin-lipped bastard.
This guy's "creep factor" is off the charts.

[CTyankee]

6. actually, it's that receding chin...

[blm]

3. LOIS LERNER was OK with you when she donated $2500 to Romney, though.

This whole GOP dog and pony show is beginning to be seen for what it is. GOP manipulation to protect Rove groups by feigning the 'targeting' of Tea Party groups. Fomenting increased hate and suspicion towards the IRS while Rove's groups pass with no scrutiny at all. Tea Party involvement guarantees big press.

Typical GOP move - put people in positions of power at government agencies that they want to see go under ansd blame incompetence of government bureaucracies.

[Hosnon]

4. Didn't a whole bunch of bankers or oil execs plead the 5th recently?

Go get 'em, Reince...

[tanyev]

5. I understand why he's confused.

I'll wager that nearly every Republican who invokes the Fifth does it because they're guilty.