At this rate, I suspect President Obama might soon step up
to a microphone and tell reporters, “I am not a crook.”
to a microphone and tell reporters, “I am not a crook.”
You know the Obama administration is in trouble when it
faces scathing bipartisan criticism on two different subjects in a matter of
three days.
faces scathing bipartisan criticism on two different subjects in a matter of
three days.
It only gets worse when both of those controversies conjure
the ghost of Richard Nixon.
the ghost of Richard Nixon.
Using the IRS to secretly target political foes – that one
is straight out of the Nixon playbook, and was the subject of one of the
articles of impeachment brought against him by Congress.
is straight out of the Nixon playbook, and was the subject of one of the
articles of impeachment brought against him by Congress.
Using the Justice Department to obtain news reporters’ phone
records – that’s another Nixon dirty trick, and one that’s sure to bring
unrelenting pressure on Obama from the media. Don’t mess with the First
Amendment.
records – that’s another Nixon dirty trick, and one that’s sure to bring
unrelenting pressure on Obama from the media. Don’t mess with the First
Amendment.
In four days, much of the information the IRS gave last
Friday about harassing tea party and “patriot” groups has proven false or
misleading. The former IRS commissioner and the acting commissioner both knew
what was happening with this selective abuse a year ago.
Friday about harassing tea party and “patriot” groups has proven false or
misleading. The former IRS commissioner and the acting commissioner both knew
what was happening with this selective abuse a year ago.
Now we have learned that the agency has been targeting a
wide array of conservative groups that operate as a nonprofit with 501(c) 4
status. And the little “field office” in Cincinnati is actually a national
center that works with IRS officials in Washington to scrutinize tax-exempt
groups.
wide array of conservative groups that operate as a nonprofit with 501(c) 4
status. And the little “field office” in Cincinnati is actually a national
center that works with IRS officials in Washington to scrutinize tax-exempt
groups.
At the same time, the
Justice Department is getting hammered for secretly obtaining two months of phone
records of journalists working for the Associated Press. The DOJ says it’s
working on a year-long investigation into the disclosure of classified information
about a failed al-Qaeda plot.
Justice Department is getting hammered for secretly obtaining two months of phone
records of journalists working for the Associated Press. The DOJ says it’s
working on a year-long investigation into the disclosure of classified information
about a failed al-Qaeda plot.
The issue, though, is that the federal
authorities’ subpoena was so broad that it included numerous anonymous sources
and whistleblowers that AP relies upon at the local, state and federal level. Eric
Holder’s DOJ obtained phone records from: cellular, office and home telephones of
individual reporters and an editor; AP general office numbers in Washington,
New York and Hartford, Conn.; and the main number for AP reporters covering
Congress. The AP is calling the DOJ’s actions a “massive and unprecedented
intrusion” into newsgathering activities, which is fairly accurate.
authorities’ subpoena was so broad that it included numerous anonymous sources
and whistleblowers that AP relies upon at the local, state and federal level. Eric
Holder’s DOJ obtained phone records from: cellular, office and home telephones of
individual reporters and an editor; AP general office numbers in Washington,
New York and Hartford, Conn.; and the main number for AP reporters covering
Congress. The AP is calling the DOJ’s actions a “massive and unprecedented
intrusion” into newsgathering activities, which is fairly accurate.
According to The Washington Post, the
Obama administration has repeatedly pursued current and former government
officials suspected of releasing secret material. Six officials have been
prosecuted, more than under all previous administrations – combined.
Obama administration has repeatedly pursued current and former government
officials suspected of releasing secret material. Six officials have been
prosecuted, more than under all previous administrations – combined.
Meanwhile, the poor Republicans have more scandals to
take advantage of than they can handle. Many pundits are already suggesting
that the GOP will focus on the IRS’ outrageous behavior rather than the
Benghazi cover-up (another Nixonian word) because it’s a juicy issue that
Americans can better relate to and understand.
take advantage of than they can handle. Many pundits are already suggesting
that the GOP will focus on the IRS’ outrageous behavior rather than the
Benghazi cover-up (another Nixonian word) because it’s a juicy issue that
Americans can better relate to and understand.
The Republicans will receive plenty of help from all
corners of the media.
corners of the media.
I could almost picture a collective cringe in the White
House this morning when Carl Bernstein, the former Post reporter of Watergate
fame, was on TV railing against the Obama administration. It was almost as if
Nixon had been brought back to life.
House this morning when Carl Bernstein, the former Post reporter of Watergate
fame, was on TV railing against the Obama administration. It was almost as if
Nixon had been brought back to life.
