"Ugh. I'm so very disappointed with Forbes Magazine. I mean... That's... My base. Steve Forbes runs it.... um.... right? I... Don't.... know.... what to say."
Yes, you got that right: Forbes Magazine (which has rich guy Steve Forbes as its editor-in-chief and a part of the Forbes family that dates back to the founders of the magazine) has published a scathing article sharply criticizing the conduct of Darrell Issa as the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Chairman.
The focus: Issa's investigation on the IRS, which has been for the lack of a better word, partisan.
http://www.forbes.com/...
By Robert E. McKenzie
On May 10, 2013, Lois Lerner, of the IRS Tax-Exempt And Government Entities Division made a blockbuster announcement at an American Bar Association Tax Section meeting in Washington. She apologized because the IRS had given additional scrutiny to tea party and other apparently tax exempt groups seeking tax exempt status. The initial apology has caused a firestorm—one started and fanned by those who oppose the current tax system. Leading the charge has been Darrell Issa, chairman of the House subcommittee on Oversight and Government Reform. Through a campaign of innuendo and half-truths he has smeared one the world’s most efficient tax agencies.
Unless Robert McKenzie is otherwise a Democratic mouthpiece (which I highly doubt he is given the insight he provides on the IRS in this article), this kind of criticism may speak volumes to the business community considering Darrell Issa himself has had a long history of being a part of the business community before being a Congressman and even serving it in the CA-49 Congressional District which he represents.
After all, Issa is perhaps the richest man in Congress or at least one of the top five of them given he's sold millions on what? Oh yes, car alarms.
Here's this pointed out in the Forbes article:
http://www.forbes.com/...
Soon after the IRS apology Chairman Issa made the following statement:
“This was a targeting of the president’s political enemies, effectively, and lies [sic] about it during the election year so that it wasn’t discovered until afterwards.”
Forbes article author McKenzie, who himself served in the IRS in the 1970's and currently works with taxpayers in IRS-related matters, is not slow in pointing out the hypocrisy of Issa's investigation as being more about conservatives and Tea Party groups and trying to figure out a White House-IRS connection when there consistently has not been one:
http://www.forbes.com/...
Since that time he has conducted a series of hearings in a witch hunt against the IRS and its employees the likes of which have not been seen since Senator Joe McCarthy ran the Senate Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s. He has selectively released portions of transcripts that support his narrative of an alleged scandal and cover-up without releasing the portions that rebut that flawed theory. He has ignored facts that show that the IRS Tax Exempt unit also performed intensive reviews of liberal groups applying for tax exempt status. In fact, of the 200 groups receiving special scrutiny, only one group–a liberal group–was denied tax exempt status.
The fact that liberal groups were also subject to scrutiny has been ignored by Chairman Issa. He has continually alleged White House involvement but brought forth no evidence to support his wild speculation. He has alleged that an innocent visit to the White House by Bill Wilkins, IRS Chief Counsel with at least 10 other individuals for a photo opportunity with the President in April 2012, had a more sinister purpose of plotting an attack on tea party groups.
In addition, being a former IRS employee, McKenzie knows very well the inner workings of the agency, the attitudes of everyone there and points out how Issa's IRS investigation has brought down morale among IRS employees:
http://www.forbes.com/...
One must also look to the damage done to the morale of the IRS employees. The IRS is a model of diversity, with employees from all ethnic groups and political views. Most do their jobs in a businesslike and efficient manner. Each of them now bears the burden of being perceived as politically motivated in each of their enforcement decisions. As Chairman Issa systematically eviscerates IRS leadership, that leadership is now cowering in fear and not leading the agency through the current crisis. Who can blame them? Many have been forced to resign and new allegations are thrown at them each day by Congressmen who are acting like villagers with pitch forks in a horror movie.
And as expected, since author McKenzie has asserted that Issa is today's Joe McCarthy:
http://www.forbes.com/...
In 1954 Joseph Welch confronted Senator McCarthy with the following: “Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?” I conclude by asking: Congressman Issa, have you no sense of decency?
Here's Darrell Issa's answer:
Oh wait, my apologies! Darrell Issa has no answer. Nevermind.
I guess Steve Forbes isn't going to apologize either, particularly considering he contributes to the similar tone of propaganda on President Obama and his administration like Issa does. And of course, he's a part of the Heritage Foundation:
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If you can't stand to hear more of Darrell Issa's antics, keep the San Diego County Democratic Party busy since they're the most local and active Democratic Party nearby Darrell Issa's area of residence (not to mention his local office).
Make sure you mark down this information and pass it on to others for firing up the base in California's 49th Congressional District if you want to target Issa for re-election and get voter registration drives going. If you can find someone in the CA-49 who can run against Issa in 2014, the more the merrier:
San Diego County Democratic Party Website: http://www.sddemocrats.org/
Address: 8340 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suite 10 San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 277-3367
Fax: (858) 571-0275
E-mail: info@sddemocrats.org
Contact Form: http://www.sddemocrats.org/...
Oh and don't forget, the DCCC could use some action as well: (202) 863-1500