Less than two months into 2014, Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) already has a contender for 2014’s “Lie of the Year.” And it comes, once again, from President Barack Obama.
Commenting on the recent findings — or lack thereof — in the Obama administration’s investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups, Labrador called the president out for alleging there wasn’t a “smidgen of corruption” at the agency. This statement, the Idaho conservative, said, is just another falsehood spread by the Obama White House.
“I find it fascinating that this administration said that there’s not a smidgen of corruption, which I think will be the lie of this year,” Labrador said during a press availability Wednesday.
President Obama told Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly in an interview Sunday that corruption was not at play in the IRS’ targeting of conservative groups. He currently holds the title for 2013’s “Lie of the Year” for repeatedly telling the American people, “if you like your plan, you can keep it.”
Labrador noted the Obama administration’s haste in opening an investigation into New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) recent “bridgegate” scandal — which he clarified needs to be investigated — as compared to the time it took before looking into the IRS scandal.
“They’re both allegations of political payback,” Labrador, who isn’t too fond of Christie, said. “One seems to go straight to the top of the Obama administration, and that’s because it’s an investigation of a Republican. And something that is clearly just as bad or even worse, we’re not even getting to the bottom of it.”
The Justice Department opened an independent investigation — led by an Obama donor — into the IRS scandal more than eight months after it was first revealed. An internal auditor found several months ago the agency had singled out tea party groups applying for tax-exempt status, but the Justice Department has yet to conclude its investigation.
The Idaho Republican, who was one of eight representatives in the House working on immigration legislation, also spoke about the possibility of such a bill making its way through the House. Republicans in the lower chamber met for its annual retreat last weekend and unveiled a set a principles for immigration reform, but Labrador said the passage of such legislation was unlikely this year.
Instead, the congressman encouraged the GOP to focus on economic issues ahead of the midterm elections and move on immigration “when we take back the Senate in 2014.”
