Obama administration misuses rules to punish enemies and reward friends

By DIANA FURCHTGOTT ROTH | DECEMBER 17, 2013

President Obama has been taking lessons from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Just as Putin shut down the RIA Novosti news agency on Dec. 9, two new administration rules misuse the government to punish enemies and reward friends.

Over Thanksgiving the Internal Revenue Service issued regulations to silence Obama's tax-exempt political opponents within 60 days of a federal election--while leaving alone left-leaning organizations such as unions, environmentalists and feminists.

And on Dec. 12, since Obamacare wasn't working, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule, effective Dec. 15, to require insurance companies to cover health care benefits to those who have not paid premiums or completed enrollment.

If this were Russia, no one would be surprised. But this is the United States of America. The law is the law — or at least it used to be……To Read More……