Not exactly a bastion of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, US News connects the dots between public rhetoric and policy efforts by Democrat Senators that specifically mention right wing groups, with the ongoing partisan actions taken by the IRS against conservative and TEA party groups.
From “Senate Democrats pushed for Tea party snooping before criticizing it…”
“From Max Baucus to Chuck Schumer to Jeanne Shaheen, key Senate Democrats publicly pressured the IRS to target groups that held differing political views and who, in their view, had the temerity to engage in the political process. The IRS listened to them and acted. And other Democrat senators like Kay Hagan and Mark Pryor said and did nothing about it.”
One of the other signatories, Senator Bennet (D- Colorado), who released the IRS letter to the public as part of his own press release in Feb 2012, specifically mentions conservative non-profit groups as suitable targets for review.
In a press release issued today, ‘Citizen’s for a Strong New Hampshire‘ quote Senator Shaheen as she revisits her concerns about these politically active non-profits, this time specifically mentioning a conservative groups operating as 501(c)(4)’s.
“For example, there’s a 501(c)(4) called Americans for Prosperity (AFP) that was founded by David Koch, one of the billionaire Koch brothers. The Koch brothers own oil refineries in several states and have a combined wealth of $35 billion. According to the Center for Responsive politics, the AFP received donations from the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry trade group who has opposed several efforts to repeal subsidies to oil companies.
That same press release points out that Senator Shaheen has no problem accepting over $80,000.00 in contributions from a partisan organization like MoveOn.org, while she is busy bad mouthing the TEA Party, crafting legislation, and needling the IRS to suppress opponents from raising money for Republicans.
No Liberal groups are ever mentioned by Shaheen, even though New Hampshire is bristling with them, some created for the sole purpose of helping Democrat candidates in her own state.
Groups like the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action NHCAA have engaged in candidate-specific partisan left wing politicking under the cover of the same tax exempt status that Shaheen finds so dangerous to an open political process. A process suppressed by the IRS’ own admission, while the Senior Senator from New Hampshire was prompting them to act, and finger pointing at conservative 501(c)(4)s along the way.
Shaheen is now demanding an investigation.
Look in the mirror Senator. Investigation completed.
