On the Hannity show last night, Sean Hannity and Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin ignored the latest developments blowing the GOP scandal to smithereens. Instead, Malkin ratcheted up the hostility by sneering, “All roads lead to Washington D.C. and all fingers, at some point, will lead straight to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.” Then, in a likely attempt to make her far-fetched, baseless dream come true, she urged "whistleblowers" to come forward.
As Media Matters noted about this segment:
On the June 26 edition of his Fox News show, host Sean Hannity attempted to resuscitate the dying right-wing media narrative that the improper IRS targeting of groups was directed by the White House in an effort to punish opponents, by citing an IG audit of the IRS which found that some conservative groups received improper scrutiny when seeking tax-exempt status. Hannity dismissed reports that progressive groups had received similar scrutiny and the IG’s investigation had been directed by House Republicans, citing the IG report in an attempt—as he put it—to “correct the record” saying: “If you’ve been paying attention to this scandal you know that the inspector general report outlined very clearly the distinct ideological imbalance.”
A June 25 Hill article answered Hannity’s question. The Hill reported that a spokesman for the Treasury inspector general for tax administration, J. Russell George, said they were asked by Issa “to narrowly focus on Tea Party organizations”:
…Prior to this report, Issa had leaked incomplete transcripts that were used by right-wing media to suggest that the IRS’ use of improper criteria for determining which groups requesting tax-exempt status required additional scrutiny was directed by officials in Washington D.C., and potentially by White House officials. Other transcripts released later debunked this claim.
In other words, this so-called scandal was goosed – if not manufactured outright – by the GOP’s own Darrell Issa. It’s worth reminding folks that Issa’s history includes multiple arrests (including car theft) and allegations of arson by his associates.
But instead of questioning the legitimacy of previous accusations that the White House somehow masterminded the IRS inquiries in order to help its 2012 election chances, Malkin doubled down.
We need continued vigilance and continued voices from the American people, the American taxpayers. Not just people who were persecuted and those who were sympathetic to… these groups. …But also I think anyone with a sense of decency or fairness. And we need to get back to that…
…I know… that there are many rank and file IRS agents, people who’ve worked in enforcement, people who’ve worked and put years and years and decades into trying to do a good job. It has to be done by somebody. People who have that sense of fairness that I talked about – who still may be very fearful about blowing the whistle but are this close. And I would urge them to continue to come forward and seek out many of these non-profit legal organizations that are providing protection safe harbors and representation for them to come forward and blow the whistle.
It had everything but the phone number: 1-800-HELPGOP. (H/T reader Rob)
Video below via Media Matters.
She’d be cute if she weren’t so full of hate.
Problem definitely is that I’m sure she’d squeal like a stuck piglet should anybody dare to blow the whistle on people who sit on her side of the aisle.