“All roads lead to the White House. Bob Bauer, White House Counsel, got out of town before the sh*t hit the fan.”
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303603904579493831524666494
Motive: Republicans began this investigation looking for a direct link between the White House and IRS targeting. The more probable explanation all along was that Ms. Lerner felt emboldened by Democratic attacks against conservative groups to do what came naturally to her. We know from the record that she disdained money in politics. And we know from her prior tenure at the Federal Election Commission that she had a particular animus against conservative organizations.
As the illuminating timeline accompanying the Camp letter shows, Ms. Lerner’s focus on shutting down Crossroads GPS came only after Obama adviser David Axelrod listed Crossroads among “front groups for foreign-controlled companies”; only after Senate Democrats Dick Durbin, Carl Levin, Chuck Schumer and others demanded the IRS investigate Crossroads; only after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a website to “expose donors” of Crossroads; and only after Obama’s campaign lawyer, Bob Bauer, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about Crossroads.
The information in Mr. Camp’s letter shows that Ms. Lerner sprang to action following a January 2013 meeting with Democracy 21, a campaign-finance outfit petitioning for a crackdown on Crossroads and the liberal big-dollar Priorities USA. (She never touched Priorities, run by former Obama aides.) The Camp outline suggests cause and effect, and that’s new.
White House Counsel Robert Bauer: Architect of IRS Abuse?
June 4th, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98OYWvY5Pc
Obama’s Eligibility Attorney Bob Bauer Behind Illegal IRS Targeting
President Obama Announces His Intent to Appoint Individuals to the Presidential Commission on Election Administration
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint ten individuals to the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The Presidential Commission on Election Administration was created following President Obama’s State of the Union pledge to identify non-partisan ways to shorten lines at polling places, promote the efficient conduct of elections, and provide better access to the polls for all voters.
• Robert F. Bauer – Co-Chair, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Benjamin L. Ginsberg – Co-Chair, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Brian Britton – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Joe Echevarria – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Trey Grayson – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Larry Lomax – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Michele Coleman Mayes – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Ann McGeehan – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Tammy Patrick – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
• Christopher Thomas – Member, Presidential Commission on Election Administration
(snip)
https://www.supportthevoter.gov/the-commission/
The Co-Chairs
Formerly the General Counsels for competing Presidential campaigns, the Co-Chairs bring bipartisan leadership to the Commission.
Robert F. Bauer
Co-Chair and Member
Benjamin L. Ginsberg
Co-Chair and Member
As always thanks for all your hard work on this stuff.