Americans are right to demand answers from the Obama Administration about the wrongful targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  The controversy is a severe breach of the public trust and infringes the constitutional freedom of expression guaranteed to every American, regardless of his or her political beliefs.

Conservatives Targeted

As the inspector general’s report detailed, the IRS singled out groups based on words like “patriots” or “tea party” when reviewing their applications for nonprofit status.  IRS official Lois Lerner, who directs the division that handles tax-exempt organizations, publicly acknowledged the misconduct on May 10, waiting a year after the wrongdoing was uncovered by an internal IRS audit and nearly two years after Lerner reportedly learned about it.

The IRS has admitted “mistakes” and blamed the misconduct on a heavy workload, but one must wonder the reasons for the agency’s secrecy.  Senior IRS officials, including Lerner, misled Congress and the public at multiple congressional hearings last year after allegations surfaced that conservative groups were being treated unfairly.  Recently, Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. 

The White House’s passive response to the IRS controversy has not allayed concerns.  Amid conflicting storylines and excuses, questions linger about what the Administration knew before the investigation’s findings became public. 

When the scandal made headlines, President Obama maintained he had no prior knowledge of the agency’s political targeting.  Later, Press Secretary Jay Carney acknowledged that top White House officials were aware of the abuse but did not notify the President.  Carney also disclosed that the White House and Treasury Department had discussions about the release of the inspector general’s report – no doubt anticipating the ensuing public outrage.

Disturbing Pattern Across the Administration

In a recent speech on the Senate floor, I expressed my deep concerns with the “culture of intimidation” surrounding the Obama Administration and these revelations.  The disturbing pattern of behavior suggests that the Administration’s big-government heavy-handedness is not isolated to one agency or a select few individuals.  Despite President Obama’s promises that his Administration would be “the most open and transparent in history,” recent controversies reveal an intrusive and overreaching executive branch.

Joining the IRS in the public spotlight is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is responsible for overseeing implementation of the President’s health-care law.  Americans recently learned that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius improperly urged health industry officials to contribute financially to promote Obamacare in the media.  The fundraising wrongly ignores potential conflicts of interest, since HHS would regulate the groups it pressured to provide funds.

Meanwhile, details continue to emerge about the Administration’s mishandling of the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.  Misstatements and incomplete information have fueled public distrust and suspicions of a cover-up.  Instead of providing answers, the President has dismissed the criticism as a political “sideshow.”

Apologies alone will not mend the confidence shattered by these scandals.  Many Americans have already expressed misgivings about the power the IRS will have in handling the taxes and penalties implemented by the health-care law.  Adding insult to injury, the former commissioner of the tax-exempt division at the IRS will run the agency’s health-care office.

In America, those with power are not above the law. A functional democracy rests on the trust of its people. Americans deserve direct and straightforward answers. They deserve to know that those responsible will be held accountable.

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