IRS used as strongman for White House foes
The Washington Times reports that an investigation by the House Ways and Means Committee documented that the IRS not only targeted conservative groups, but also some 10 percent of those groups’ donors were audited in the dragnet. This in the wake of official denials by the IRS to Congress that TEA Party groups were being singled out and audited. Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr., (R-La) said, “The committee uncovered new information indicating that after groups provided the information to the IRS, nearly one in 10 donors were subject to audit.” These findings are further proof that the IRS was used by the White House and the Democratic Party apparatus to strong arm political foes.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted April 29 to recommend the full House hold former IRS chief Lois Lerner in contempt of congress for refusing to testify about the IRS targeting. If the entire House holds Lerner in contempt, she could face jail time. Lerner, however, would seem a small sacrificial lamb for an entire Administration and Democratic Party members who used the unconstitutional agency to target those who disagree with their president and/or their incumbent Democratic candidates. A small slap on the wrist for a major breech in public trust and an abuse of power. The IRS is one of few “agencies” where citizens are guilty until they prove their innocence.
Yet at a Hollywood fundraiser Wednesday, the occupant of the Oval Office made a case to supporters that the government needed even more power. He warned a group of 90 leftist stars at the home of Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn against apathy in midterm elections which may prove difficult for Democrats where “people who have the most at stake in a government that works opt out of the system; those who don’t believe government can do anything are empowered; gridlock reigns, and we got this downward spiral of even more cynicism and more dysfunction. And we have to break out of that cycle and that’s what this election all about.”
In other words, this election is not about cleaning up the corruption of his Administration, but rather giving it more power to do more of what he has done. In a sense, he is right. We do have to break out of the cycle, but it is one of expanded government and tyrannical power. When a free people’s rights are oppressed by the tyranny of their government, and the ones entrusted with protecting those rights are lax in their duty, changes must be made. Exodus 18:21 gives the formula for choosing good leaders: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them…” This advice has no mention of political parties or tyrannical agencies.
