Originally Posted by Botnst

The IRS, having selectively targeted one political persuasion, has compromised its trust. It doesn't matter whether or not it was justified or not. Having done so shifts the IRS to becoming a part of the political discussion. This necessarily undermines its authority.

Ignore for a moment that it targeted right-leaning groups and imagine it was targeting left-leaning groups under a rightwing president (I'm pretty sure it has happened).

Can we not agree that targeting one side or the other, real or perceived, is bad for the perception of fairness, which is necessary for the people to trust that tax collection is impartial?

If people lose trust in IRS fairness, who wins? Nobody.

Is Issa a partisan? Of course he is! And he will make hay where they grass is green. As he should and as has every other congressman in his position. It is quite literally impossible for the congress to do anything that is not political. It defies reason to assume otherwise.

It is up to the IRS (and the administration) to make sure that the Issa's of this world do not have anything worth investigating. The IRS and the administration have failed in that regard and they are paying the penalty for it. As they should.