Michele Bachmann: IRS Targeting Tea Party Groups 'Is a Stunning Abuse of Power'

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) criticized the Internal Revenue Service Friday after the agency admitted it gave extra scrutiny to conservative organizations:

“It is outrageous that the IRS has admitted to intimidating and targeting Tea Party and conservative organizations because of their political beliefs. This is a stunning abuse of power and the American people deserve answers as to who authorized it—it is hard to believe this was a 'low-level' decision. And as one of the key agencies charged with enforcing Obamacare, it is also reasonable to ask if any healthcare decisions have been based on political affiliation and what assurances we have that this type of intimidation will never happen again.”

In an interview at WND.com posted Sunday, Bachmann tied the IRS issue to Benghazi:

“I was in that Benghazi hearing,” she told WND. “I think the Obama administration is desperate to spin Benghazi, and they can’t. I think they saved this story [about the IRS] up for a day like today so that conservatives would focus on this admission.”

It won’t work, she insisted.

“Conservatives can handle two shocking stories at the same time,” she said. “Both are equally unconstitutional and call into question the very president.”

Veterans Symposium
Bachmann hosts a Veterans Issues Symposium on May 13, 2013, from 2–4 p.m. at the Ramsey Government Center, 7550 Sunwood Dr. NW, Ramsey. "Join me in Ramsey ... to discuss important issues facing Minnesota's veterans.," she said on Twitter.

Benghazi Hearings
Bachmann attended hearings into the 2012 Benghazi attacks at the House Oversight Committee on May 8, 2013. She wrote on Twitter:

Honored at today's hearing to sit by family members of those who lost loved ones in #Benghazi. Must never forget their brave service.

First time we heard what happened on the ground in #Benghazi by people with firsthand info. Still need more answers from Obama admin.

Obamacare 'Hurting Women'
Bachmann called Obamacare "a train wreck" in a Mother's Day statement:

“Obamacare removes health care choices from women and their families and inserts government bureaucrats between them and their doctors. Obamacare is leading to higher health care premiums, employers cutting workers' hours back to part-time, and Americans losing their current insurance. Obamacare is also stifling economic growth and making it harder for small businesses to grow their companies and create jobs. All of these negative consequences are hurting women and their families.

“Three years after being signed into law, Obamacare is a train wreck that is deeply unpopular with the American people and it must be fully repealed. Real health care reform is about bringing down the cost of health care through free-market competition and giving families more choices, not fewer.”

9/11 'Judgement'
Bachmann spoke at a prayer event at the U.S. Capitol on May 8, 2013, and advocated for a 9/11 day of prayer  because "our nation has seen judgement not once but twice on September 11." A transcript from Right Wing Watch (click on YouTube thumbnail to see clip, or visit YouTube.com):

It’s no secret that our nation may very well be experiencing the hand of judgment. It’s no secret that we all are concerned that our nation may be in a time of decline. If that is in fact so, what is the answer? The answer is what we are doing here today: humbling ourselves before an almighty God, crying out to an almighty God, saying not of ourselves but you, would you save us oh God? We repent of our sins, we turn away from them, we seek you, we seek your ways. That’s something that we’re doing today, that we did on the National Day of Prayer, it’s something that we have chosen to do as well on another landmark day later this year on September 11. Our nation has seen judgment not once but twice on September 11. That’s why we’re going to have ‘9/11 Pray’ on that day. Is there anything better that we can do on that day rather than to humble ourselves and to pray to an almighty God?