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Barack Obama Addresses IRS Scandal In Interview

Obama: Not A 'Smidgen Of Corruption' In IRS Scandal
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Politics Social Media Editor, HuffPost

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During an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly ahead of Super Bowl XLVIII, President Barack Obama said there wasn't even a "smidgen" of corruption at the heart of the Internal Revenue scandal that surfaced last year.

The agency admitted to improperly scrutinizing tea party groups when they applied for tax exemption during the 2010 and 2012 elections.

"There were some boneheaded decisions," Obama said, but insisted corruption did not play a role in the decision-making processes.

"Not even a smidgen of corruption," he said.

At the close of the interview, O'Reilly asked the president who he favored in the upcoming game. Obama refused to pick a winner, but guessed the final score would be 24-21.

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Before You Go

Obama Playing Sports
Baseball(01 of07)
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Wearing a Washington Nationals jacket and a Chicago White Sox hat, President Barack Obama delivers the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (credit:AP)
Football(02 of07)
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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: In this handout provided by the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama throws a football at Soldier Field following the NATO Summit working dinner on May 20, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Basketball(03 of07)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shoots a basket as his friend Mike Ramos (R) watches as Obama plays basketball with children during the annual Easter Egg Roll on April 1, 2013 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer(04 of07)
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U.S. President Barack Obama bounces a soccer ball on his head while hosting a ceremony honoring players and coaches from the National Hockey League Stanley Cup-winning Los Angeles Kings and the Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles Galaxy in the East Room of the White House March 26, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tennis(05 of07)
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President Barack Obama eyes the ball during a tennis game at the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
Golf(06 of07)
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FILE - In this Dec. 31, 2009 file photo, President Barack Obama watches the ball after making a putt on the ninth green during his golf match at Mid-Pacific County Club in Kailua, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) (credit:AP)
Cycling(07 of07)
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U.S. President Barack Obama rides a bicycle along a state park track in West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 27, 2010. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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