Polling Memo: The Numbers Behind the IRS

Washington Post: Americans on the IRS

Nearly three weeks ago, while the Obama Administration was already treading water over Benghazi, a new scandal erupted when Lois Lerner, director of Exempt Organizations for the IRS, acknowledged the “IRS had improperly scrutinized conservative groups.”¹  Since then, the Obama Administration has incessantly denied any involvement in the scandal.  In fact, in a joint press conference the President stated, “[he] first learned about it through the same news reports other people learned from.”²

The big question is—are Americans buying it?  The numbers would suggest they aren’t.

Data from last week’s Washington Post poll showed nearly three-fours (74%) of Americans believing the actions took by the IRS in intentionally targeting conservative groups was inappropriate.  Of that 74 percent, 51% said not only was it inappropriate, but it was illegal.  Respondents were then asked whether this “extra focus” on conservative groups was a “deliberate effort to harass these groups” or an “administrative mistake.”  Fifty-six percent said it was deliberate, including 59% of Independents.  Lastly, while they are relatively split, by a 45%-42% margin Americans believe the Obama Administration is trying to cover up the facts.

POLLSTER: Abt-SRBI for Washington Post

DATE: Conducted 5/16-19/2013

SAMPLE: Sampled 1,001 Adults; MoE ±3.5%

SOURCE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/polling/may-2013-postabc-poll/2013/05/23/16a98012-c1cb-11e2-9aa6-fc21ae807a8a_page.html

¹ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/irs-investigation-timeline-who-knew-when/

² http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/05/13/obama-on-irs-scandal-ive-got-no-patience-with-it-n1593814