Not surprisingly, the party is hopping mad that the IRS appears to have targeted conservative groups, and Republicans have fanned out on the airwaves to express outrage at the administration.
Senator Collins called the singling out of conservative groups by the IRS 鈥渁bsolutely chilling,鈥� Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) of Minnesota called it a 鈥渟tunning abuse of power,鈥� and former Alaska Gov. and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin (R) called it proof of the 鈥渃orruption at the heart of big government.鈥�
The scandal is reenergizing conservatives and giving them a golden opportunity to unite against a common foe, as the NYT suggests:
鈥淸T]he accusations of I.R.S. abuse are sure to fuel an effort that appears to be uniting dispirited Republicans and their conservative political base: investigating Mr. Obama and his administration,鈥� . 鈥�Republicans are pushing a portrayal of an administration overreaching its authority and punishing its enemies.鈥�
