They have discretion over how to enforce the laws. They do not have discretion if laws get enforced. There is a difference.
And, no, the IRS did not treat liberal groups the same as conservative groups. The IRS did not limit the right to political participation and free speech of liberal groups – but they did just that to many conservative groups. The IRS scandal is as bad as Watergate in terms of its seriousness. The obstruction of a real investigation by the White House (through the “Justice” Department) makes me suspicious of them just like Nixon’s did back then. Yes, I was around then and have followed both very closely.
Does it matter to you that Americans had their political participation limited and interfered with by a government agency with vast enforcement powers? It should, because it could happen to anyone now that the precedent has been set. Does it matter to you that an election could have been interfered with and the results distorted or altered? It should. Does it matter to you that the White House is stonewalling any real investigation? First Obama says it is a scandal, completely unacceptable, and that he’ll get to the bottom of it. Then 8 months later nothing is happening because his “Justice” and Treasury Departments will not do a real and impartial investigation.
I wonder what would happen if a Republican president did something like this? I wonder if we will ever again have a news media with the intellectual and personal integrity to set aside their personal prejudices and political preferences and do their jobs?
They have discretion over how to enforce the laws. They do not have discretion if laws get enforced. There is a difference.
And, no, the IRS did not treat liberal groups the same as conservative groups. The IRS did not limit the right to political participation and free speech of liberal groups – but they did just that to many conservative groups. The IRS scandal is as bad as Watergate in terms of its seriousness. The obstruction of a real investigation by the White House (through the “Justice” Department) makes me suspicious of them just like Nixon’s did back then. Yes, I was around then and have followed both very closely.
Does it matter to you that Americans had their political participation limited and interfered with by a government agency with vast enforcement powers? It should, because it could happen to anyone now that the precedent has been set. Does it matter to you that an election could have been interfered with and the results distorted or altered? It should. Does it matter to you that the White House is stonewalling any real investigation? First Obama says it is a scandal, completely unacceptable, and that he’ll get to the bottom of it. Then 8 months later nothing is happening because his “Justice” and Treasury Departments will not do a real and impartial investigation.
I wonder what would happen if a Republican president did something like this? I wonder if we will ever again have a news media with the intellectual and personal integrity to set aside their personal prejudices and political preferences and do their jobs?