Democrat Rep. Jim McDermott (WA) offered up the “they had it coming” case in today’s hearing on IRS abuse of taxpayers based on their political beliefs.
The facts of the IRS abuse are, that the agency sneakily confessed that it happened and apologized for it, while lying that it was only the work of a couple of “rogue employees.” Even President Barack Obama allowed that the abuse was “outrageous,” as he fake-fired the acting IRS commissioner.
None of those facts make any difference at all to Jim McDermott.
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McDERMOTT: As I listen to this discussion, I’d like to remind everyone what we’re talking about here. None of your organizations were kept from organizing, or silenced. We’re talking about whether or not the American taxpayers will subsidize your work. We’re talking about a tax break. If you didn’t come in and ask for this tax break, we would have never had a question to ask of you. You could go out there and say anything in the world. I get the feeling that many of you, and my Republican colleagues, just don’t believe — or believe you should be free not just from political targeting, but from any scrutiny at all.
Actually, the various threats of perjury that came with the IRS snooping did silence some groups. The expense and intrusiveness silenced some too.
Notice, by the way, McDermott’s use of the word “we” in this sentence.
If you didn’t come in and ask for this tax break, we would have never had a question to ask of you.
Who’s “we” in this context? Did McDermott just confess to something?
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