One of the most recent conniptions is the accusation that the IRS was unfairly targeting the teahadists and other Koch front groups. The only problems with their accusations is that the IRS was also targeting liberal groups and that they right wing front groups were, indeed, breaking the law.
This prompted the Koch's sock puppets of Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal to write almost duplicate letters blasting the IRS and demanding people get fired.
My colleague Jeff Simpson touched on this earlier, pointing out that when it comes to corruption, Walker would be best off keeping his weasel mouth shut.
Jeff was also kind enough to duplicate Walker's letter. There was one part that caused me to almost do a spit take (emphasis mine):
We write to you today disturbed after learning that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been unfairly targeting and applying added scrutiny to applicants for tax-exempt status based on their conservative beliefs. To be blunt, this is Big Brother come to life and a witch hunt to prevent Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights.
The First Amendment gives Americans the ability to freely express their opinions regardless of their political beliefs. The actions of the IRS are an attempt to gag the voices of Americans who may disagree with the policies and left-leaning ideology of your administration. Quite frankly, this is un-American.
My jaw hit the keyboard when I saw that.
Walker has much to say about Free Speech as Charlie Sykes has to say about race relations, Rush Limbaugh about the sanctity of marriage or Robin Vos on fidelity. I mean, come one, even after two and a half years in office, Walker still won't show up anywhere unless the scene is very secure and very controlled.
But the hypocrisy doesn't end there.
I can point out to the time that Walker tried to shut up a certain blogger up for speaking truth to power as the beginning of Walkergate was starting to come out.
I could also point to the way Walker and his minions went after Professor William Cronon, who peeled back the mask on ALEC.
And it would be irresponsible to point out the way that Walker is sending his stormtroopers to the private homes of the Solidarity Singers in the dark of night to intimidate and harass people for making a joyous noise against evil.
Most recently, they have finally gotten one of those horrible outlaws that actually go and draw pictures with chalk!
Walker's all for free speech alright...as long as its a word from his corporate sponsors. For anyone else, not so much.
I am confident that Walker supports free speech for Karl Rove to spend $70 million on elections using tax exempt and anonymous donations. The real scandal is how all these political groups across the political spectrum have tax exempt status. Only 75 out of the 300 targeted political groups are conservative.
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