South Carolina GOP: IRS is "Obama's Gestapo" The state GOP's executive director then backtracked, saying "If anyone was upset, we certainly regret it"

The South Carolina Republican Party says that "if anyone was upset, we certainly regret" sending out an email referring to the IRS as "Obama's Gestapo."

On Tuesday, the state GOP sent out a fundraising email with a graphic and subject line making the reference, though it did not further the comparison within the text of the email. “Our South Carolina Republicans are fighting on so many fronts and need your help,” South Carolina GOP Chair Matt Moore writes in the email. “We’re working to defund ObamaCare, grow South Carolina’s economy, expose and abolish the IRS and get answers on the cover-up in Benghazi.”

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After the chair of the state Democratic party quickly condemned the remarks as "hateful," the S.C. GOP backtracked. “The State Party sent out a fundraising email earlier with a subject line meant to grab the attention of those receiving it," Alex Stroman, executive director of the party, told TPM in a statement. "If anyone was upset, we certainly regret it. Our goal was to highlight the IRS's questionable tactics and their decision to selectively scrutinize and target certain groups, including those in South Carolina.”