ACORN Praised by Prosecutors for Fighting Voter Registration Fraud
Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office has issued arrest warrants for 11 suspects accused of falsifying hundreds of voter registration cards. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle praised ACORN for its work exposing the fraudulent acts by some former employees. ``We've been very aggressive about a lot of these cases,'' she said. ``But we would not have known about these workers unless ACORN brought it to us.
ACORN quality control staff had spotted the fake registration cards and contacted the authorities in June of 2008. "It could not have impacted the voting process whatsoever. Nonetheless, we cannot turn a blind eye to this,'' Rundle added.
Of course-- that's not how the rightwing will frame the story. Expect them to ignore the prosecutor praise of ACORN and the fact that the problems were identified by ACORN months before the November election. Instead-- expect things like this at Freerepublic.com-- Breaking FOX news banner 11 ACORN arrests for voter fraud.
The lessons from the Van Jones smear and destroy operation is that progressives have to defend our allies more aggressively and not allow lies to fester unchallenged. We can't assume that the truth will out. We have to respond to news stories and educate ourselves and allies about the truth.
The reality is that ACORN registers lots of voters across the country and employs many people in doing so. Some fake registrations to justify their pay, a problem faced by everyone hiring anyone to register voters for elections or on initiative petitions. Precisely because they have been subject to malicious attacks by the rightwing, ACORN actually has a very aggressive anti-fraud operation internally, as evidenced by the story above.
As progressives, we need to get that story out there and repeat stories like Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle praising ACORN for its aggressive anti-fraud operations.
As progressives, we need to get that story out there and repeat stories like Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle praising ACORN for its aggressive anti-fraud operations.
==============================================
You bet!!! ACORN is a great bunch of folks!!! You should be busy repeating this story too!!!
http://www.examiner.com/x-6356-Wichita-Independent-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Breitbarts-Big-Government-exposes-Acorn-prostitute-scam-with-video-and-text-from-James-OKeefe
Breitbart's Big Government exposes Acorn prostitute scam with video and text from James O'Keefe
The buzz all over the internet this morning is BigGovernment.com's exlusive of the transcript from James O'Keefe's investigation that uncovered the Baltimore ACORN chapter promoting fraud and perpetuating child prostitution.
September 10, 2009 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can't make this stuff up!!
ACORN Outdoes Itself
ACORN helps set up a supposed brothel.
OPINION: JOHN FUND ON THE TRAIL
thought I'd heard every possible charge about corruption at ACORN, a feisty, union-backed activist group that became infamous last year when it was investigated for voter registration fraud in 15 states. Just yesterday, 11 ACORN workers were accused by Florida prosecutors of falsifying information on some 900 voter registration forms.
But this morning brings a Fox News report that ACORN officials in Baltimore offered to help get a housing loan and falsify tax documents for a proposed house of prostitution that would employ underage girls from El Salvador. The episode was captured on tape by an undercover filmmaker, James O'Keefe, who wanted to see just how far ACORN would go. Watching the tape -- which can be seen at Biggovernment.com -- is a creepy experience. ACORN itself has told Fox News the episode represents "gotcha journalism" but wouldn't comment further until it sees the full tape.
In helping Mr. O'Keefe set up his supposed brothel, ACORN employees also invited him to attend an August conference the group was holding for prospective home-buyers. But it linked attendance to Mr. O'Keefe joining ACORN and paying $120 in annual dues: "We ask that you join ACORN." The problem is that such a request is illegal, since the ACORN housing conferences are underwritten by federal government grants. ACORN has a political arm, so insisting that attendees at its housing conferences join the group and pay dues is a no-no.
It was precisely that kind of activity that got ACORN in trouble during the Clinton administration. The Inspector General of AmeriCorps, the government's volunteer agency, accused the group of "using government resources to promote legislation." ACORN was stripped of its federal grant as a result.
September 10, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nathan, where are you????
crickets crickets
Pretty embarrassing, huh
September 10, 2009 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have really nothing against them but ACORN is at it again. It seems that this organization can't recommend anybody do anything legal as ACORN, or Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, after it recommended people occupy foreclosed houses, is recommending that pimps and prostitutes commit tax fraud and tax evasion. They can't do anything legal, apparently. A recent video expose caught an ACORN tax specialist essentially telling a pimp and prostitute team how to cheat on taxes – calling the job "performance art" and how to declare illegally imported child prostitutes as "dependents." This organization is obviously unhinged, and perhaps after this ACORN will want some no fax payday loans no credit check for lawyers – as the video counts as conspiracy.
September 11, 2009 2:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whee.
Gotta love the coverage this is getting at TPM!
Crickets.
September 22, 2009 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink