Current Events

Top IRS official to invoke Fifth Amendment, decline to testify at House hearing

May 22, 2013 - The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee meets today to investigate the issue of IRS agents unfairly targeting Tea Party-related groups. They have subpoenaed Lois Lerner, the director of the IRS division that has oversight of tax-exempt organizations. Her attorney has already said that she will invoke the Fifth Amendment and not answer questions that might incriminate herself.

Source: Fox

IRS Official in Charge During Tea Party Targeting Now Runs Health Care Office

May 17, 2013 -

Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the office responsible for tax-exempt organizations between 2009 and 2012. But Ingram has since left that part of the IRS and is now the director of the IRS’ Affordable Care Act office, the IRS confirmed to ABC News today.

Meanwhile, her second-in-charge of the scandal-plagued unit, Joseph Grant has taken oversight of the tax-exempt organizations

Source: ABC

In wake of scandal, Obama ousts IRS chief -- who was planning to resign anyway

Obama Appoints OMB’s Werfel as Acting IRS Commissioner - Bloomberg

Congressman gets standing O for nailing IRS chief

The IRS scandal: Is Sarah Hall Ingram the next head to roll? - The Week

Former FBI Agent: Brennan An Islamist Sympathizer At Best, Convert At Worst?? – OpEd

Feb. 11, 2013 -

This weekend, the Internet percolated with allegations that President Barack Obama’s national security advisor and soon to be confirmed CIA director may have converted to a radical form of Islam while working and living in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Jim Kouri - Albany Tribune

Hagel faces barrage of criticism during tense confirmation hearing

Jan. 31, 2013 - Republican Senators posed stiff questions to Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel during confirmation hearings. They asked about his past positions on Israel, Iran, and Iraq.

He had several sparring partners throughout the day, but was questioned perhaps most aggressively by fellow Vietnam War veteran Sen. John McCain and freshman Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, both Republicans.

Cruz played two tapes from appearances on Al Jazeera. In one, a caller accused Israel of war crimes and Hagel did not challenge him. In another clip he appeared to agree that America is "the world's bully."

Source: Fox

Feb. 19, 2013 - Report: Hagel Said Israel Headed Toward Apartheid, Netanyahu a ‘Radical’ - Free Beacon

Court: Obama Appointments Are Unconstitutional

Jan 25, 2013 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that President Barack Obama violated the Constitution by making appointments to the National Labor Relations Board while the Senate was in recess.

The unanimous decision is an embarrassing setback for the president, who made the appointments after Senate Republicans spent months blocking his choices for an agency they contended was biased in favor of unions.

Source: NewsMax

Obama nominates Hagel as secretary of defense

Jan. 8, 2013 - President Obama has nominated Chuck Hagel, the Republican former Nebraska senator, to serve as Secretary Defense. There is growing criticism about Hagel's positions on Israel and Iran. In a recent statement he said his record has been distorted, and he has shown “unequivocal, total support for Israel” and an endorsement of tough international economic sanctions against Iran.

Critics point to Hagel's reference to supporters of Israel as an intimidating "Jewish lobby" on Capitol Hill. He also opposed Iran sanctions and was unwilling to sign letters that called on the EU to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) said it is doubtful that Hagel can be trusted to "manage the special relationship the United States shares with our greatest Middle East ally.” He said,

“Hagel’s nomination telegraphs weakness in the Middle East and defeatism in Afghanistan, where our Afghan partners will surely be concerned, and our Taliban and Iranian adversaries will surely be emboldened.”

Source: Jerusalem Post

More information about Hagel: ChuckHagel.com

President appoints Hagel to be SecDef — here’s why it’s a terrible choice that will send wrong message to Iran - Joel Rosenberg's Blog

Chuck Hagel: Friend or foe? - Israel Hayom

The wrong man to be defense secretary - Senator Jim Inhofe - Washington Post