# So, what was the iRS's "Secret research project"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 6, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652 "2014-09-06T12:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/21 "2014-09-07T04:45:04Z")
What’s hard to take seriously is one who “debates” by not addressing the issue. It’s not like I just brought this up on my own. It’s in the news, it’s an issue, it’s worth talking about. If you don’t want to talk about it(which is clear), then don’t. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/22 "2014-09-07T05:12:59Z")
I was sure i’d seen a thread on the SDMB that addressed these issues. I did a bit of a search, and managed to find it. [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=700971) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/23 "2014-09-07T05:15:56Z")
I’ve also reported the OP for failing to properly indicate quoted material in his post. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/24 "2014-09-07T05:16:43Z")
I know the Internet loves breaking juicy stories and then loses interest later on when more information comes out. But I thought it was widely known that the IRS also targeted liberal/progressive groups as well, [which was confirmed in the most recent congressional report](http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5773476). > [@](#): > > What the IRS was guilty of, according to the Senate committee report, was using “inappropriate screening criteria when it flagged for increased scrutiny applications based upon the applicants’ names or political views rather than direct evidence of their involvement with campaign activities.” > > But the new report **faults the inspector general’s office for igniting a false furor over the targeting of conservatives, while its early evaluation ignored liberal groups that had received extra scrutiny based on having names with words such as “ACORN,” “Occupy” and “progressive.”** > [@adaher](#): > > It would be dead if they’d just come clean. WHy does it take legal action to get the IRS to comply with the Freedom of Information Act? ThinkProgress (yes, clearly not an impartial site; however, they have a link to the IRS documents themselves at the end of the post) received the IRS documents they requested through the FOIA, although it took nearly a year. They requested the BOLO keyword lists used between 2010-2013, and these [“included more explicit references to progressive groups, ACORN successors, and medical marijuana organizations than to Tea Party entities.”](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/04/23/3429722/irs-records-tea-party/) IInterestingly, it looks like the IRS began scrutinizing liberal/progressive groups _first_, even pre-2010: > [@](#): > > From the earliest lists through 2012, \*\*the “historical” section of the lists encouraged reviewers to watch out for “progressive” groups with names like “blue,” as their requests for 501(c)(3) charitable status might be inappropriate. Their inclusion in this section suggests that the concern predates the initial 2010 list. > > Explicit references to “Tea Party,” included in the “emerging issues” section of the lists, also began in August 2010 — but stopped appearing after the May 10, 2011 list. \*\*From that point on, the lists instructed agents to flag all political advocacy groups of any stripe. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/25 "2014-09-07T05:21:08Z")
The BOLO list and scrutinizing applications at the DC office are two different issues. The BOLO list did indeed include both conservative and liberal groups. But only conservative groups were forwarded to DC. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/26 "2014-09-07T06:06:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > What’s hard to take seriously is one who “debates” by not addressing the issue. It’s not like I just brought this up on my own. It’s in the news, it’s an issue, it’s worth talking about. If you don’t want to talk about it(which is clear), then don’t. No, Judicial Watch is a loony bin not a news site. Its founder, Larry Klayman, is so crazy he has accused his own organization for being part of “the conspiracy” against him. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/27 "2014-09-07T06:32:20Z")
While that might be good enough on a discussion board, the courts don’t consider whether an organization is credible or not when deciding whether the government is required to comply with FOIA. THe IRS has not been compliant, which in itself is criminal. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/28 "2014-09-07T06:58:19Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > …Lois Lerner should enjoy her freedom while she can. WTF, dude? What are you planning on doing to Lois Lerner? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/29 "2014-09-07T07:35:35Z")
All the illegal actions point to her. Unless she gets immunity, she’s probably going to jail. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/30 "2014-09-07T07:59:34Z")
_All_ of them? Woman is a one-person crime wave, worse than Lex Luthor! And think about that! Lex Luthor, Lois Lerner! Coincidence? Maybe. And maybe that’s why Hussein Obama ordered that reporter beheaded, had his Muslim brothers get the story off the front page, give the liberal media something else to talk about! First he frames that cop down in Missouri… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652/31 "2014-09-07T08:23:15Z")
YOu should hope so. You need it to be a rogue official. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-irss-secret-research-project/697652.md?page=1)