New York City freezes ACORN funds, Cuomo launches probe

posted at 9:30 am on September 16, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

The media may be trying as hard as possible to ignore the series of undercover videos taken at ACORN offices around the nation, but politicians don’t have that luxury.  Even in New York, both state and city officials have reacted to voter outrage over the actions of ACORN staffers offering advice on hiding tax evasion and child prostitution, especially since these offices run in part on taxpayer money.  The New York Post reports that the city council in NYC have suspended payments to ACORN pending further investigation, and that Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo has launched an investigation (via JWF):

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo yesterday launched an investigation into pork-barrel grants given to ACORN by state lawmakers, as City Council Speaker Christine Quinn froze all city funding earmarked for the scandal-scared community-activism organization.

The actions by the Democratic officials followed release of a shocking undercover video that showed employees at a Brooklyn ACORN office giving illicit financial advice to activists posing as a pimp and prostitute who wanted to start a brothel. …

On Monday, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly to block federal funding to the community group, while Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes opened an investigation into the local office in response to a report in The Post.

A spokesman for Cuomo said the attorney general would seek to make sure pork-barrel grants directed to ACORN by state lawmakers were spent on tax-preparation and loan-counseling services, as intended.

Cuomo wants to replace David Paterson as the Democratic candidate for governor, which makes this a rather interesting scenario.  Democrats used ACORN for their GOTV efforts in 2008 and before, and presumably Cuomo would like to have that kind of effort for his primary campaign, but it doesn’t look like he’d need it to beat Paterson.  He’ll need ACORN to win a general election against Rudy Giuliani, if the former mayor decides to run, though.  How tough will Cuomo get if Rudy tosses his hat into the ring?

That support might mean even more for the City Council, which can’t run on name recognition.  That’s the level where “community organizers” have the most impact.  Freezing ACORN’s funds seems like a risky move for Quinn, but a gutsy one, especially since the media has hardly blanketed the city with coverage of the scandal.  The New York Times finally got around to reporting it today, focusing mainly on the partisanship rather than the scandalous behavior uncovered in the videos.

Will other states like Maryland and California follow suit?  Will they do what Congress should be doing with federal funds for ACORN?


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Got to pay to play.

VorDaj on May 13, 2013 at 5:33 PM

Surprise!

rob verdi on May 13, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Sooooo…

… What does one do on such a slow news day?

Seven Percent Solution on May 13, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Truth for power! Hillary 2016!

rob verdi on May 13, 2013 at 5:35 PM

All in the family…..

ted c on May 13, 2013 at 5:36 PM

I see. But it’s really a vast right-wing conspiracy?

John the Libertarian on May 13, 2013 at 5:36 PM

it’s all good
/

cmsinaz on May 13, 2013 at 5:36 PM

the liberal democratico-entertainment-newsmedia complex is more concerning than Eisenhower’s military industrial complex.

ted c on May 13, 2013 at 5:37 PM

Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds
No, it’s not like any other love
This one is different because it’s us

forest on May 13, 2013 at 5:38 PM

It’s no surprise NBC is just a cheap slut.

Marcus on May 13, 2013 at 5:38 PM

Kind of makes you wonder what is really going on behind the scenes…

… doesn’t it?

I wouldn’t be surprised if Obowma was getting fitted for his uniform…

Seven Percent Solution on May 13, 2013 at 5:39 PM

Apparently the AP guys don’t have anyone working there too.

Bishop on May 13, 2013 at 5:40 PM

It’s no surprise NBC is just a cheap slut.

Marcus on May 13, 2013 at 5:38 PM

NBC’s White House correspondent is Ben Dover.

aunursa on May 13, 2013 at 5:40 PM

Top CBS, ABC, CNN execs all have relatives working as advisors for White House

Maybe that’s where the AP screwed up. No White House hostage.

Cicero43 on May 13, 2013 at 5:41 PM

The GOP needs to eefectively shut down the government until the administration comes completely clean on the Benghazi, F&F, AP wire tap, and IRS issues.

NO legislation, NO judges, NO approvals of any sort until they have the answers they want on this WH’s activities. If he is going to act like a child, treat him as one.

Tater Salad on May 13, 2013 at 5:42 PM

Fox News red-headed step sister clearly.

hillsoftx on May 13, 2013 at 5:43 PM

I’m not so sure this level of incest is business as usual for the democrat party. I think the Obama administration purposely hired all these relatives of execs so they would have more influence over the networks. After all, you wouldn’t want to run with negative coverage on a story if it would get your son fired from his cushy government job.

Wigglesworth on May 13, 2013 at 5:44 PM

I wouldn’t be surprised if Obowma was getting fitted for his uniform…

He already had that fitted some time ago. Just awaiting the most appropriate moment to present himself to the nation in its inaugural appearance.

hawkeye54 on May 13, 2013 at 5:45 PM

If you think it’s bad now, just wait until Obama’s third term.

John the Libertarian on May 13, 2013 at 5:46 PM

This could explain why the other AP got their phone records seized.

Steve Eggleston on May 13, 2013 at 5:47 PM

Unexpected!

PattyJ on May 13, 2013 at 5:49 PM

If you think it’s bad now, just wait until Obama’s third term FDR’s seventh term.

John the Libertarian on May 13, 2013 at 5:46 PM

Since I can’t tell the difference between the two….

Steve Eggleston on May 13, 2013 at 5:49 PM

Top CBS, ABC, CNN execs all have relatives working as advisors for White House

Maybe that’s where the AP screwed up. No White House hostage.

Nah, the WH probably already has their communications devices bugged. No one is immune. Least of all those already in Barry’s house. In the back of your mind you always have to keep a closer eye and ear on those closest to you.

hawkeye54 on May 13, 2013 at 5:51 PM

Movin’ on up….
Movin’ on up…..
To a deluxe White House…in the sky..high..

Electrongod on May 13, 2013 at 5:51 PM

This is what happens when 99% of journalists are liberal. You get what you sow…lies and more lies…

kirkill on May 13, 2013 at 5:52 PM

I finally figured it out…Hugo Chavez died of tyrant envy!

cajunpatriot on May 13, 2013 at 5:52 PM

How about this?

President Obama told donors like Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake (who was wearing hipster glasses), and Tommy Hilfiger that Washington gridlock is pretty much Rush Limbaugh’s fault on Monday evening at a fundraiser at Harvey Weinstein’s house in New York’s Greenwich Village. Obama admitted that his theory — that after the 2012 election, the Republican “fever” would break, and they’d decide to co-sign some of his agenda — was wrong. “My thinking was when we beat them in 2012 that might break the fever, and it’s not quite broken yet,” Obama said, according to the White House pool report. This is because of a certain corpulent radio host. “I genuinely believe there are Republicans out there who would like to work with us but they’re fearful of their base and they’re concerned about what Rush Limbaugh might say about them. And as a consequence we get the kind of gridlock that makes people cynical about government.

aquaviva on May 13, 2013 at 5:53 PM

i know THREE, personally, guys named ben rhodes.

t8stlikchkn on May 13, 2013 at 5:54 PM

FDRs 7th
carters 2rd
nixons 3rd
rolled into one

t8stlikchkn on May 13, 2013 at 5:55 PM

And here I thought the most inbreed tyrants were the Game of Thrones Lannister clan…

Bruno Strozek on May 13, 2013 at 5:56 PM

I moved to get away from Chicago and then the ignorant imbeciles elected bat face to the white house who subsequently turned the damn country into Chicago.

tom daschle concerned on May 13, 2013 at 5:57 PM

May the clusterfarks all beget travesties.

They are destroying the land.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 5:59 PM

finally!!! completion of the white house and media circlejerk

burserker on May 13, 2013 at 6:00 PM

Top CBS, ABC, CNN execs all have relatives working as advisors for White House

I think I remember this movie coming out in the eighties.

All I’m saying.

Axe on May 13, 2013 at 6:00 PM

Celebs like Timberlake and Biel make their livings playing make believe. I am sure going along with the fairy tale of Obama is easy for them to do.

Rockshine on May 13, 2013 at 6:00 PM

It’s the Prog big tent..!
Grennell has been all over this on Twitter…BTW, wasn’t he the guy that Romney let go..?

d1carter on May 13, 2013 at 6:01 PM

Nothing to see here! Move on . org…………..

GarandFan on May 13, 2013 at 6:03 PM

It’s an especially vivid illustration of a wider problem.

Incest, at the highest levels.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:04 PM

Andrea Mitchell sleeps next to the money corps.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:05 PM

There seems to be pressure building on the MSM to go after Obama. I would love to know where this flood of negative coverage is coming from. This is the kind of stuff that used to happen to Gingrich or Palin.

It’s almost unthinkable to see this happen to Obama.

Doomberg on May 13, 2013 at 6:06 PM

Carney is a huge conflict of interest…well, tha’s the least about this Goebbels of the WH.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:06 PM

Russia laughs her collective azz off, so does the world.

The US has zero moral authority and decency left. Obama killed them, on purpose.

Clowns inhabit the WH. The fools who brung them deserve them in full.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:07 PM

The two top stories on HA, one next to the other, are prefect for the times.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:08 PM

WORTH REPEATING:

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

There is NO socialist-bias in the MSM.

…yeah – in your dreams!

TeaPartyNation on May 13, 2013 at 6:08 PM

It’s almost unthinkable to see this happen to Obama.

Doomberg on May 13, 2013 at 6:06 PM

Someone lifted the covers and found…the media and the gov’t in bed.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:09 PM

The Emperor’s News Clothes.

profitsbeard on May 13, 2013 at 6:11 PM

It gets better

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:13 PM

I found out about this from the press…” – Obowma

Seven Percent Solution on May 13, 2013 at 6:15 PM

This seems pretty apropos to our media and most media consumers in the US: Priorities

AZfederalist on May 13, 2013 at 6:19 PM

The trolls are verklempt today.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:25 PM

The trolls are verklempt today.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:25 PM

Which makes it every other day ending in “day”.

Steve Eggleston on May 13, 2013 at 6:25 PM

More inbred than a European royal family.

I expect in about 30 years, you’ll see a news anchor who’s four feet tall, with a three-inch underbite, bulging eyes, and an Adam’s apple that looks like he swallowed a doorknob.

CurtZHP on May 13, 2013 at 6:29 PM

Is there not a market out there for a network that would really present the “news” without spin? I divested my stock in GE years ago when they went lib and wrote a letter to I Melt. I would think shareholders would demand to make a little money on their investments. When 50% of the people don’t watch you no matter what, there is a problem.

hip shot on May 13, 2013 at 6:32 PM

More inbred than a European royal family.

I expect in about 30 years, you’ll see a news anchor who’s four feet tall, with a three-inch underbite, bulging eyes, and an Adam’s apple that looks like he swallowed a doorknob.

CurtZHP on May 13, 2013 at 6:29 PM

You misspelled “she”.

Steve Eggleston on May 13, 2013 at 6:38 PM

“Nattering Nay-Ho’s of Negativity”. Against Conservatives anyway.

chickasaw42 on May 13, 2013 at 6:43 PM

What you don’t know is how they’re hiding the lizard skin.

lester on May 13, 2013 at 6:48 PM

Just give me a chance, I’ll put the Science in Poly Sci!

You see, science has the answer.

The Founders wanted no restriction on the press so the vermin knew exactly where they were going to move in.

Species can develop into vermin if introduced into regions where they find favourable living conditions, and if they face few or no natural enemies there. In such cases, humans often choose to fill the role of the predator to limit the danger to the environment. Examples of vermin include goats on the Galápagos Islands, Rabbits in Australia or cats on Prince Edward Islands. Rats, mice, and cockroaches are common urban and suburban vermin.

IlikedAUH2O on May 13, 2013 at 6:48 PM

Tommy Christopher says that people who think Benghazi is important don’t even know where it is. Did you know that geography was an intricate part of your ability to care that your president is a lying S.O.B.?

Cindy Munford on May 13, 2013 at 6:49 PM

Correction

Andrea Mitchell sleeps next to the money corps. corpse.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:05 PM

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:54 PM

Top CBS, ABC, CNN execs all have relatives working as advisors for White House

Are the relatives of top NBC execs being punished by the WH or something? Is that why NBC is trying to suck up to and cover for the WH even more than the others?

farsighted on May 13, 2013 at 6:55 PM

lester has nothing.

Schadenfreude on May 13, 2013 at 6:55 PM

Why no mention that Ambassador Rice’s husband is producer of ABC News?

pat on May 13, 2013 at 7:22 PM

yeh lester does have nothing.

every time I think I have encountered the dimmest troll someone reminds me there is someone even dimmer.

CW on May 13, 2013 at 7:26 PM

I’m shocked shocked I tell you, NOT!

mmcnamer1 on May 13, 2013 at 7:55 PM

Yep I have a “I don’t believe the liberal media” bumper sticker on my car for a reason..but wow, I had no idea how far in bed they are with Obama..insanity

sadsushi on May 13, 2013 at 8:01 PM

According to Glenn Beck’s show today on The Blaze, NBC is also in the tank: Jay Carney is married to the senior national correspondent Clair Shipman.

FloatingRock on May 13, 2013 at 8:08 PM

Why no mention that Ambassador Rice’s husband is producer of ABC News?

pat on May 13, 2013 at 7:22 PM

According to Glenn Beck’s show today on The Blaze, NBC is also in the tank: Jay Carney is married to the senior national correspondent Clair Shipman.

FloatingRock on May 13, 2013 at 8:08 PM

We need this mapped out with that secret CIA software used to detect terrorist cells.

slickwillie2001 on May 13, 2013 at 8:17 PM

More inbred than a European royal family.

I expect in about 30 years, you’ll see a news anchor who’s four feet tall, with a three-inch underbite, bulging eyes, and an Adam’s apple that looks like he swallowed a doorknob.

CurtZHP on May 13, 2013 at 6:29 PM

We already have Candy Crowley.

slickwillie2001 on May 13, 2013 at 8:30 PM

Gee…Il Duce and his cronies are having quite a week huh?

workingclass artist on May 13, 2013 at 11:18 PM

Why did it take so long for anyone to notice this???

albill on May 14, 2013 at 8:53 AM