The People Vs. Barack Obama

by Ben Shapiro

  41. Kenneth T. Walsh, “Obama Says Race a Key Component in Tea Party Protests,” USNews.com, March 2, 2011, http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/03/02/obama-says-race-a-key-component-in-tea-party-protests_print.html.

  42. “NBC News Takes on Tea Party ‘Terrorists,’ ” FoxNews.com, July 29, 2011, http://nation.foxnews.com/nbc-news/2011/07/29/nbc-news-takes-tea-party-terrorists-theyre-strapped-dynamite-sitting-middle-time-square-rush-hour.

  43. Joe Klein, “Republicans’ Debt Ceiling Charade Is Downright Dangerous,” Time.com, July 28, 2011, http://swampland.time.com/2011/07/28/republicans-dangerous-debt-ceiling-charade/.

  44. “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, April 7, 2009, http://michellemalkinblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/hsa-rightwing-extremism-09-04-07.pdf.

  45. Eliana Johnson, “E-mails Suggest Collusion Between FEC, IRS to Target Conservative Groups,” NationalReview.com, July 31, 2013, http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/354801/e-mails-suggest-collusion-between-fec-irs-target-conservative-groups-eliana-johnson.

  46. “Obama’s State of the Union address: Criticism of the Supreme Court Campaign Finance Ruling,” LATimes.com, January 27, 2010, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/01/obamas-state-of-the-union-address-criticism-of-the-supreme-court-campaign-finance-ruling.html.

  47. Eric Lichtblau, “Republicans See a Political Motive in IRS Audits,” NYTimes.com, October 6, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/us/politics/07irs.html.

  48. Eliana Johnson, “The Missing Koch Report,” NationalReview.com, August 20, 2013, http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356260/missing-koch-report-eliana-johnson.

  49. Lichtblau, “Republicans See a Political Motive in IRS Audits.”

  50. Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller, “J’Accuse! President Obama Says Chamber of Commerce Using Foreign Funds to Influence U.S. Elections,” ABCNews.com, October 7, 2010, http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/10/obama-says-chamber-of-commerce-using-foreign-funds-to-influence-us-elections/.

  51. John Sexton, “Lois Lerner Discusses Political Pressure on the IRS in 2010,” Breitbart.com, August 6, 2013, http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/08/06/Lois-Lerner-Discusses-Political-Pressure-on-the-IRS-in-2010.

  52. Steven Sloan, “Shulman Says IRS Will Focus on ‘High Risk’ Return Preparers,” BusinessWeek.com, November 15, 2011, http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-15/shulman-says-irs-will-focus-on-high-risk-return-preparers.html.

  53. “Senate Democrats Urge IRS to Impose Strict Cap on Political Spending by Nonprofit Groups—Vow Legislation if Agency Doesn’t Act,” Schumer.Senate.gov, March 12, 2012, http://www.schumer.senate.gov/Newsroom/record.cfm?id=336270.

  54. Jonathan Weisman, “Scrutiny of Political Nonprofits Sets Off Claim of Harassment,” NYTimes.com, March 6, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/us/politics/irs-scrutiny-of-political-groups-stirs-harassment-claim.html.?pagewanted=all&_r=0.

  55. “Former IRS Chief Shulman Reportedly Visited White House at Least 157 Times,” FoxNews.com, May 30, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/30/former-irs-chief-shulman-reportedly-visited-white-house-at-least-157-times/.

  56. Caroline May, “Shulman Never Looked Into IRS Targeting, Though 132 Congressmen Contacted Him,” DailyCaller.com, May 22, 2013, http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/22/shulman-never-checked-out-irs-targeting-though-132-congressmen-contacted-him/.

  57. “Former IRS Chief Shulman Reportedly Visited White House at Least 157 Times,” FoxNews.com, May 30, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/30/former-irs-chief-shulman-reportedly-visited-white-house-at-least-157-times/.

  58. “Flashback: Doug Shulman in March 2012: ‘There Is Absolutely No Targeting,’ ” FreeBeacon.com, May 13, 2013, http://freebeacon.com/flashback-doug-shulman-in-march-2012-there-is-absolutely-no-targeting/.

  59. “Issa Talks IRS Targeting Investigation, Previews Thursday’s Conference Spending Hearing on CNN SOTU,” House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, June 2, 2013 http://oversight.house.gov/release/issa-talks-irs-targeting-investigation-previews-thursdays-irs-conference-spending-hearing-on-cnn-sotu/.

  60. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, “Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review,” Treasury.gov, May 14, 2013, http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/auditreports/2013reports/201310053fr.pdf.

  61. “Lois Lerner’s Own Words,” WSJ.com, September 11, 2013, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324549004579068914192280866.html.?mod=opinion_newsreel.

  62. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, “Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review.”

  63. Gregory Korte, “IRS List Reveals Concerns over Tea Party ‘Propaganda,’ ” USAToday.com, September 18, 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/17/irs-tea-party-target-list-propaganda/2825003/.

  64. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, “Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review.”

  65. “Lois Lerner’s Own Words,” WSJ.com, September 11, 2013, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324549004579068914192280866.html.?mod=opinion_newsreel.

  66. Patrick Howley, “White House, IRS Exchanged Confidential Taxpayer Info,” DailyCaller.com, October 9, 2013, http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/09/white-house-irs-exchanged-confidential-taxpayer-info/.

  67. Patrick Howley, “155 White House Meetings Involved Key IRS Scandal Figures,” DailyCaller.com, October 10, 2013, dailycaller.com/2013/10/10/irs-white-house-officials-that-shared-confidential-taxpayer-info-had-155-white-house-meetings/.

  68. Matthew Boyle, “Romney Donor VanderSloot: I Was Audited Twice by IRS, Once by DOL & Investigated by Former Senate Staffer,” Breitbart.com, May 19, 2013, http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/19/Businessman-Frank-VanderSloot-I-was-audited-twice-by-IRS-once-by-DOL-investigated-by-Senate-staffer-after-giving-1-million-to-Romney-Super-PAC.

  69. Sean Higgins, “Major GOP Donor Sheldon Adelson Scrutinized by IRS,” WashingtonExaminer.com, May 14, 2013, http://washingtonexaminer.com/major-gop-donor-sheldon-adelson-scrutinized-by-irs/article/2529649?custom_click=rss.

  70. Joel B. Pollak, “Obama Now Scapegoating Jewish Donor Adelson,” Breitbart.com, August 8, 2012, http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/08/08/Obama-Now-Scapegoating-Jewish-Donor-Adelson.

  71. “Conservative Group Claims It Has Proof IRS Leaked Donor List,” FoxNews.com, June 4, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/04/chairman-anti-gay-marriage-group-says-has-proof-irs-leaked-donor-details/.

  72. Kim Barker and Justin Elliott, “IRS Office That Targeted Tea Party Also Disclosed Confidential Docs from Conservative Groups,” ProPublica.org, May 13, 2013, http://www.propublica.org/article/irs-office-that-targeted-tea-party-also-disclosed-confidential-docs.

  73. Paul Sperry, “IRS Gave Black Nonprofits Preferential Treatment,” Investors.com, September 6, 2013 http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-viewpoint/090613-670166-irs-holder-advised-black-nonprofits-tax-law.htm?p=full.

  74. Associated Press, “IRS Admits Bias Against Conservative Political Groups for Tax-Exempt Status,” Guardian (U.K.), May 10, 2013, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/10/irs-bias-conservative-tax-status.

  75. Gregory Korte, “Planted Question Gambit Backfires on IRS Officials,” USAToday.com, May 18, 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/18/irs-scandal-planted-question/2216747/.

  76. Aaron Blake, “ ‘I’m Not Good at Math’: The IRS’s Public Relations Disaster,” WashingtonPost.com, May 10, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/05/10/im-not-good-at-math-the-irss-public-relations-disaster/?hpid=z1.

  77. Glenn Kessler, “A Bushel of Pinocchios for IRS’s Lois Lerner,” WashingtonPost.com, May 20, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/a-bushel-of-pinocchios-for-irss-lois-lerner/2013/05/19/771687d2-bfdd-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_blog.
html.

  78. Juliet Eilperin and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “IRS Officials in Washington Were Involved in Targeting of Conservative Groups,” WashingtonPost.com, May 13, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-denounces-reported-irs-targeting-of-conservative-groups/2013/05/13/a0185644-bbdf-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html.

  79. Julie Bykowicz, “IRS Focus on Tea Parties Stirs Dissent on Health Care Law,” Bloomberg.com, May 13, 2013, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-14/irs-focus-on-tea-parties-stirs-dissent-on-health-care-law.html.

  80. C. J. Ciaramella, “Target Acquired,” FreeBeacon.com, May 16, 2013, http://freebeacon.com/target-acquired/.

  81. Korte, “Planted Question Gambit Backfires on IRS officials.”

  82. C. J. Ciaramella, “Chilling Effect,” FreeBeacon.com, May 14, 2013, http://freebeacon.com/chilling-effect/.

  83. Alana Goodman, “IRS Crosses Green Line,” FreeBeacon.com, May 30, 2013, http://freebeacon.com/irs-crosses-green-line/.

  84. Carol D. Leonnig, “IRS Stalled Conservative Groups, but Gave Speedy Approval to Obama Foundation,” WashingtonPost.com, May 16, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/irs-stalled-conservative-groups-but-gave-speedy-approval-to-obama-foundation/2013/05/16/90c53e8a-be57-11e2-89c9-3be8095fe767_story.html.

  85. Chris Moody, “Conservative Group Says IRS Approved Nonprofit Status After Applying with ‘Liberal-Sounding Name,’ ” Yahoo! News, May 15, 2013, http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/conservative-activist-green-name-gets-irs-stamp-approval-193457897.html.

  86. Eilperin and Goldfarb, “IRS Officials in Washington Were Involved in Targeting of Conservative Groups.”

  87. “IRS Official Who Oversaw Unit Targeting Tea Party Now Heads ObamaCare Office,” FoxNews.com, May 17, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/17/second-irs-official-to-leave-amid-tea-party-scandal/.

  88. Eilperin and Goldfarb, “IRS Officials in Washington Were Involved in Targeting of Conservative Groups.”

  89. “Sen. Durbin Defends Asking IRS to Target Conservative Group,” Breitbart.com, May 26, 2013, http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/26/Durbin-defends-letter-IRS.

  90. Bykowicz, “IRS Focus on Tea Parties Stirs Dissent on Health Care Law.”

  91. Becket Adams, “Obama During Surprise News Conference: We’ve Fired the Acting IRS Commissioner Over Tea Party Scandal,” TheBlaze.com, May 15, 2013, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/15/watch-live-president-obama-addresses-the-irs-scandal/.

  92. “Obama: Acting IRS Chief Steven Miller Resigns,” Politico.com, May 15, 2013, http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/obama-acting-irs-chief-resigns-91441.html.

  93. Kelly Phillips Erb, “IRS Hearing Marks End of Their Worst. Week. Ever but Congress Signals More Hearings Are on the Way,” Forbes.com, May 20, 2013, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2013/05/20/irs-hearing-marks-end-of-their-worst-week-ever-but-congress-signals-more-hearings-are-on-the-way/.

  94. “Testimony of the Honorable J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration,” Hearing Before the Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, May 17, 2013, http://www.scribd.com/doc/142597193/George-Testimony-IRS-Hearings.

  95. Tom Cohen, “IRS Official in Charge of Targeting Unit Takes the 5th,” CNN.com, May 23, 2013, http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/22/politics/irs-targeting.

  96. Patrick Howley, “IRS Supporters 0-for-3 on Putting Scandal to Rest,” DailyCaller.com, July 8, 2013, http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/08/irs-supporters-0-for-3-on-putting-scandal-to-rest/?print=1.

  97. Kelly Phillips Erb, “IRS Issues Initial Report and Action Plan Following Tax Exempt Organization Scandal,” Forbes.com, June 24, 2013, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2013/06/24/irs-issues-initial-report-and-action-plan-following-tax-exempt-organization-scandal/.

  98. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, “Inappropriate Criteria Were Used to Identify Tax-Exempt Applications for Review.”

  99. “Issa Talks IRS Targeting Investigation, Previews Thursday’s Conference Spending Hearing on CNN SOTU,” House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, June 2, 2013, http://oversight.house.gov/release/issa-talks-irs-targeting-investigation-previews-thursdays-irs-conference-spending-hearing-on-cnn-sotu/.

  100. Jonathon M. Seidl, “Unraveling Narrative? New Transcripts Reveal ‘Low-Level’ IRS Officials Naming Names of Those in DC Who Oversaw Targeting,” TheBlaze.com, June 6, 2013, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/06/unraveling-narrative-new-transcripts-reveal-low-level-irs-officials-naming-names-of-those-who-oversaw-targeting/.

  101. “IRS Chief Counsel’s Office Demanded Information on 2010 Election Activity of Tea Party Applicants,” Oversight.House.Gov, July 17, 2013, http://oversight.house.gov/release/irs-chief-counsels-office-demanded-information-on-2010-election-activity-of-tea-party-applicants/.

  102. Seidl, “Unraveling Narrative?”

  103. Bernie Becker, “Issa Vows IRS Hearing Will Show DC Involvement in Tea Party Targeting,” TheHill.com, July 18, 2013, http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/312001-issa-hearing-will-show-dc-involvement-in-irs-controversy.

  104. “IRS Chief Counsel’s Office Demanded Information on 2010 Election Activity of Tea Party Applicants,” Oversight.House.Gov, July 17, 2013, http://oversight.house.gov/release/irs-chief-counsels-office-demanded-information-on-2010-election-activity-of-tea-party-applicants/.

  105. Dana Bash, “First on CNN: IRS Collects Docs from 88 Employees in Investigation,” CNN.com, May 31, 2013, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/31/first-on-cnn-irs-collects-docs-from-88-employees-in-investigation/.

  106. Leticia Domenech, “IRS Scandal Shows No Signs of Slowing Down,” HNGN.com, May 29, 2013, http://www.hngn.com/articles/3891/20130529/irs-scandal-shows-signs-slowing-down-more-evidence-fuels-anti.htm.

  107. Stephen Ohlemacher, “IRS Supervisor in DC Scrutinized Tea Party Cases,” Associated Press, June 16, 2013, http://news.yahoo.com/irs-supervisor-dc-scrutinized-tea-party-cases-222846717.html.

  108. Ed O’Keefe, “Issa: ‘This Is More Important than Any One Election,’ ” WashingtonPost.com, May 22, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/05/22/the-houses-irs-hearing-live-updates/?hpid=z1#liveblog-entry-42560.

  109. Eliana Johnson, “Did the IRS Fire Holly Paz?,” NationalReview.com, June 13, 2013, http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/350990/did-irs-fire-holly-paz-eliana-johnson.

  110. Siobhan Hughes, “Rep. Issa Asks IG for Broader IRS Review,” WSJ.com, July 29, 2013, http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/07/29/rep-issa-asks-ig-for-broader-irs-review/.

  111. Rebekah Metzler, “House Panel Scrutinizes IRS Inspector General Report,” USNews.com, July 18, 2013, http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/07/18/house-panel-scrutinizes-irs-inspector-general-report.

  112. Fred Lucas, “Gowdy Denounces IRS, Democrats for Ever-Shifting Defense in Tea Party-IRS Scandal,” CNSNews.com, July 19, 2013, http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gowdy-denounces-irs-democrats-ever-shifting-defense-tea-party-irs-scandal.

  113. David Nakamura, “Carney Acknowledges ‘Legitimate Criticisms’ of White House’s IRS Response,” WashingtonPost.com, May 22, 2013, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/05/22/the-houses-irs-hearing-live-updates/.

  114. Rich Noyes, “Broadcast Networks Drop the Ball on Obama’s Smarmy ‘Phony Scandal’ Mantra,” Newsbusters.org, August 9, 2013, http://newsbusters.org/blogs/rich-noyes/2013/08/09/broadcast-networks-drop-ball-obama-s-smarmy-phony-scandal-mantra.

  115. “Carney Identifies Which Scandals Obama Thinks Are Phony: Benghazi and IRS,” RealClearPolitics.com, July 31, 2013, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/07/31/carney_identifies_which_scandals_obama_thinks_are_phony_benghazi_and_irs.html.

  116. Paul Bedard, “IRS Agent: Tax Agency Is Still Targeting Tea Party Groups,” WashingtonExaminer.com, August 9, 2013, http://washingtonexaminer.com/irs-agent-tax-agency-is-still-targeting-tea-party-groups/article/2534044.

  117. Justin Sink, “Schock: IRS Can�
�t Stop Illegal Behavior,” TheHill.com, August 17, 2013, http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/317507-schock-irs-cant-stop-illegal-behavior.

  118. Bernie Becker, “Van Hollen to Join Lawsuit Against IRS,” TheHill.com, August 20, 2013, http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/317937-van-hollen-campaign-finance-advocates-to-sue-irs.

  119. Tom Tillison, “Homeland Security Monitors Tea Party at Florida IRS Protest,” BizPacReview.com, May 21, 2013, http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/05/21/homeland-security-monitors-tea-party-at-florida-irs-protest-71096.

  120. Kelly Phillips Erb, “Defying Directive, IRS Set to Pay Out $70 Million In Employee Bonuses,” Forbes.com, June 20, 2013, http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2013/06/20/defying-directive-irs-set-to-pay-out-70-million-in-employee-bonuses/.

  121. “Price: 16,000 IRS Agents Will Enforce Obama Health Care Law,” Politifact.com, June 29, 2012, http://www.politifact.com/georgia/statements/2012/jul/10/tom-price/price-16000-irs-agents-will-enforce-obama-health-c/.

  122. Eliana Johnson, “IRS Source: Lerner Placed on Administrative Leave,” NationalReview.com, May 23, 2013, http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/349199/irs-source-lerner-placed-administrative-leave-eliana-johnson.

  123. Deirdre Shesgreen, “House Panel Moves to Force IRS Official to Testify,” USAToday.com, June 28, 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/06/28/oversight-committee-irs-lois-lerner-issa/2471943/.

  124. Katie Pavlich, “After Taking the Fifth, Lois Lerner Wants Immunity over IRS Scandal,” Townhall.com, July 3, 2013, http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/07/03/after-taking-the-fifth-lois-lerner-wants-immunity-over-irs-scandal-n1633351.

  125. Angela Hunt, “Lois Lerner’s Summer Vacation,” WSJ.com, July 25, 2013, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323610704578627880966088710.html.

  126. Johnson, “Did the IRS Fire Holly Paz?”

  127. “IRS Official Who Oversaw Unit Targeting Tea Party Now Heads ObamaCareoffice,” FoxNews.com, May 17, 2013, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/17/second-irs-official-to-leave-amid-tea-party-scandal/.