Two very different responses from TPM Readers on the unfolding IRS story and my post on the politics of it earlier this afternoon, each worth a read. First, from TPM Reader BF …
Yes, the politics of the IRS scandal are just awful. And yet, it would be a terrible mistake if Obama were to respond to this as a political scandal. So far he’s saying the right things, more or less. But at this point, he has to win the outrage battle. He has to demonstrate he’s more angry about this than are the GOP.
This is not in Obama’s DNA, I fear. He will be angry, but measured and responsible, and as a result he won’t be able to control the narrative. And the narrative is bad, bad, bad. You don’t have to be a right wing activist to be taken with it.
Right wingers have been ranting for years about out of control bureaucrats. It is mostly a fiction. But, suddenly we have a real life case here. The only way out is to let no one conclude that we in any way tolerate this. Indeed, a good government party can’t or shouldn’t.
But as a practical matter how do you demonstrate that? Over-reaction? Summary firings? Threatening to abolish IRS? I have no idea.
Second, from TPM Reader M, who I think may miss the political fallout since mid-terms are generally base turnout elections but I think may be on to something on the second point …
First, a question: Is there anything here that changes the electoral dynamic? Will this be something that moves a significant share of D voters into the R column? With the election well over a year away, I have trouble seeing it. Sure, it will excite the base, but they were already R voters.
Second, you point out that, as GOP messaging goes, this has the advantage of not being utterly batshit crazy. And that’s true. But I caution you: Stand by. They are going to become increasingly shrill and unhinged, because, frankly, that’s what they do, and you’re going to hear this framed in increasingly conspiratorial and apocalyptic terms. Countdown to the first “Hitler” in 3, 2, 1…
