No, really. Former Obama adviser David Plouffe took to Twitter to spin the IRS’ targeting of conservative groups. And boy, did he step in it.
What IRS did dumb and wrong. Impt to note GOP groups flourished last 2 elections, overwhelming Ds. And they will use this to raise more $.
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) May 13, 2013
Important to note that they totally asked for it. By being successful fundraisers.
Then came the immediate backpedaling attempt. Call him out for his ludicrous tweet? You are a conspiracy theorist, natch.
Conspiracy theorists out in full force tonight. IRS actions seem indefensible. That rightly is where focus should be. 1/2
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) May 13, 2013
My previous point was that coverage in more narrow space of political impact should capture reality of what transpired last 2 elec. 2/2
— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) May 13, 2013
Basically, politics trumps morals. As usual, for Democrats.
Why would Plouffe cast himself into the arena with a tweet like that? Not like anyone was bugging him for his opinion and he sounds stupid.
— Sunny (@sunnyright) May 13, 2013
The whole @davidplouffe argument seems to be 'What the IRS did was bad, but…' There should be no 'but'.
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) May 13, 2013
Rough week. RT @HotlineJosh: Obama adviser @davidplouffe stepped in it, on the IRS scandal http://t.co/KQGVdNDa4z
— Jonathan Blake (@jblakemn) May 13, 2013
National Journal’s Ron Fournier followed up with Plouffe via Twitter.
.@davidplouffe serious questions: Why is that important to note? Is it justification for the action you called wrong? If not, why note?
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) May 13, 2013
And by email.
"Did David Plouffe Try To Justify the IRS Targeting Conservative Groups?" http://t.co/Qegc7xIIkw #IRS
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) May 13, 2013
I asked Plouffe to respond via Twitter, email or my cell phone. He responded within an hour. Here is his unedited email:
“In terms of impact. Reading much of the coverage layperson would get sense premeditated attempt to effectively silence political opponents. I do think not as a justification but as an evaluation of any impact it is important to note that it would not appear their aims or fundraising were affected. So indefensible behavior by IRS clearly the story. As people are doing analysis it’s a secondary point.”
Oh, well. Stupid laypeople and stuff. Or something.
Twitter users understand more than Smarter Than You Plouffe thinks that they do.
Plouffe didn't "justify," he just explained why Team Obama would clearly want the IRS to do this. So which is worse? http://t.co/QOQkChKkiE
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) May 13, 2013
Follow up: Does Plouffe not consider the GOP fundraising advantage a possible motive to target them? @ron_fournier @davidplouffe
— RBe (@RBPundit) May 13, 2013
Exactly @batchelorshow: Odd plouffe: why speak up at all? @ron_fournier: @RBPundit
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZitoTrib) May 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/LoganDobson/status/333781797164941313
@ron_fournier @rbpundit @davidplouffe Shorter plouffe. "It's a wash." That is outrageous.
— GeorgeKevin (@agoodeye) May 13, 2013
According to David Plouffe: Because so many patriots support conservative groups the IRS is justified in targeting them.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 13, 2013
Best part of Plouffe's IRSplaining: the GOP you've been told is going extinct is suddenly "flourishing" – https://t.co/6fnHUx2hxv
— Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) May 13, 2013
Heh. Good point!
Shorter Pfieffer / Plouffe: "None of this on IRS was political and even if it was Boosh."
— Brad Cundiff (@bradcundiff) May 13, 2013
Twitter users respond to Plouffe via Twitter and rightly give him the business.
@davidplouffe @BethKing53 I must have missed that Newspeak class in my failing government school!
— Robert F Beers (@bobbyboy55) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe @jamestaranto So you're not excusing what the IRS is doing. You're just reminding us why it's okay.
— Jim Treacher (@jtLOL) May 13, 2013
@JasonBWhitman With his tweet tonight, @davidplouffe may well have invented ‘situational amorality’.
— WitCoHE (@E__Strobel) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe but your "important to note" thought seems justify IRS actions because they "overwhelmed" D's fundraising. Wrong is wrong.
— Hair (@SHannitysHair) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe You're trying to change the subject and reframe the debate. Oh, wait, am I going to get audited now?
— Thomas Galvin (@ThomasGalvin) May 13, 2013
Politicize EVERYTHING MT @davidplouffe What IRS did dumb & wrong. Impt to note GOP flourished last 2 elex…& will use this to raise more $
— Carthago delenda est (@JayCostTWS) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe Important to note why? How are future GOP fundraising #s relevant to federal agency engaging in political persecution?
— Sunny (@sunnyright) May 13, 2013
So where does the buck stop? MT @davidplouffe: What IRS did dumb and wrong, (but) GOP groups flourished last 2 elections, overwhelming Ds.
— Will ʕ·͡ᴥ·ʔ ☕️ (@ImPoliticalWill) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe Are you mad? Conspiracy theory? Clever use of code words. Truth out in full force, better go hide.
— llsmith2449 (@llsmith2449) May 13, 2013
@ron_fournier @rbpundit Something awfully wrong w your assessment –>@davidplouffe Trading politics for morals, get that.You sold your soul.
— GeorgeKevin (@agoodeye) May 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/JasonBWhitman/status/333779024138612736
@davidplouffe doesn't seem like this is a "yes, but…" type of issue.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) May 13, 2013
@ron_fournier @davidplouffe what plouffe said was extraordinary and stupid at the same time. I hope I don't get audited now.
— John Feehery (@JohnFeehery) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe that "condemnation" of what your boss' IRS did to conservative groups must have taken an *awfully* long time to compose…
— Sister Toldjah ツ (@sistertoldjah) May 13, 2013
@davidplouffe You know that makes you sound like you live in a moral vacuum, right?
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 13, 2013
Too bad Nixon didn't have someone as smart as @davidplouffe to explain that the Watergate break-in wasn't even successful. No big deal.
— #NeverTrump (@OrwellForks) May 13, 2013
Using @davidplouffe’s logic, bank robbers should be excused because the banks have way more money than the robbers do.
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) May 13, 2013
https://twitter.com/JasonBWhitman/status/333758946819059713
Doh! David – stop digging! Or.. go ahead really.. RT @ron_fournier: Thank you, @davidplouffe, for getting back to me: http://t.co/oGiVsGndbw
— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) May 13, 2013
Yes, David. Keep spinning. Spin like the wind! It can only serve to further expose your lack of morals.
ICYMI: Obama's IRS targeted #TeaParty groups & advisor @davidplouffe's biggest concern is…GOP fundraising. #p2 http://t.co/qf5BDm5vwe
— Sister Toldjah ツ (@sistertoldjah) May 13, 2013
Yo @davidplouffe @iowahawkblog is talking to you. If you think IRS is bad only insofar as they help the GOP you are pathetic moral cretin
— Andrews Dad (@Andrew_Dad) May 13, 2013
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