Republican lawyers press for ACORN investigation; Update: Conyers wants probe of ACORN – and BigGov’t

posted at 4:45 pm on September 22, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

How badly does an organization receiving federal funds have to behave to get Congress to conduct a hearing into their activities? The Republican National Lawyers Association wants Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to keep his word to investigate ACORN when he learns of “credible” allegations of wrongdoing. Having ACORN employees on video offering tax-evasion strategies and advice on hiding child-prostitution trafficking should be credible enough to warrant a look at the least, right?

A powerful group of GOP lawyers is demanding that government officials open an investigation into the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now to determine if any of their government funds have been used for illegal purposes.

And, they’re making those demands directly to House Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Rep. Jerrold Nalder, New York, who said he would consider holding a hearing about “if I ever hear any credible allegations” about the group. Now that a pair of activist filmmakers have exposed ACORN workers giving advice on how to obtain federal funds to run a brothel on video the Republican National Lawyers Association says the evidence is piled high enough to get a hearing. RNLA put a web video out Wednesday that replayed Mr. Nadler’s remarks made last March. …

Cleta Mitchell, co-chairman of RNLA, said Mr. Nadler isn’t taking the charges against ACORN seriously and he needs to hold a hearing to track down how their federal dollars have been spent. Republican critics of ACORN estimate the group has gotten close to $54 million since 1994.

“When you get federal money you get it for a special purpose and you are supposed to spend it for that purpose and certify at the end of each fiscal year it was spent for that purpose,” Mrs. Mitchell said. “I don’t see how they could have possibly made those representations truthfully to the federal government.”

Nadler has done his best to avoid fulfilling his promise to Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). On the House floor, he decried the Issa amendment barring funds from ACORN as an unconstitutional “bill of attainder,” which demonstrates Nadler’s ignorance as well as his obstinance.  A bill of attainder creates a judgment of criminal or civil guilt by Congress rather than by a jury, making justice a political battle, which is why the founders were smart enough to proscribe the practice from the very start of the republic.

Congress has every right, however, to determine where it will and will not spend its money.  ACORN is not entitled to federal funding, and Congress can halt funds to it at any time its members so desire.  Such a finding does not carry a legal weight of conviction for violations, and indeed Congress doesn’t necessarily need to justify itself along those lines.  In fact, it would be the height of irresponsibility to allow taxpayer funds to go to an organization that had been caught on tape in several locations and instances giving advice on how to commit crimes and cover them up, including evasion of the very taxes that allow ACORN’s funding in the first place.

If Nadler is so concerned about the idea of a “bill of attainder,” then he should start a Congressional inquiry — with subpoena power for both sides — into ACORN’s business practices.

Update: John Conyers has now announced that he wants a Congressional investigation of ACORN — and of O’Keefe and Giles:

Conyers and House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts asked the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service today to provide an analysis on several aspects of ACORN, including any current or previous criminal investigations into the group; a breakdown of any funding received by the group and any violations of the terms of that funding; a report on alleged improprieties in collecting voter registration forms and “the extent … that resulted in people being improperly placed on voting roles and actually attempting to vote,” and the group’s programs to provide housing opportunities.

It also asked for a report on private sting activities “in which individuals have reportedly visited ACORN offices, misrepresented their identities and proposed activities, surreptitiously videotaped resulting conversations with ACORN workers, and widely distributed them.”

The letter went onto say, “Conflicting allegations have been made about the propriety of these activities. Please research and report on the federal and state laws that could apply to such videotaping and distribution of conversations without the consent of all parties.”

Yes, because the big issue here is a journalistic strategy that has been in place for the last several decades, used by all of broadcast networks and most local stations, and never before questioned by Congress.  Let’s put undercover jounalistic sting operations at the same law-enforcement priority as tax evasion, child prostitution, and human trafficking, by all means.

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Apparently, those who fired him did not find him credible. Why should we?

Apparently it was a knee-jerk firing…

Juan Carlos Vera was fired by ACORN after a videotape was aired on Fox News showing him discussing with a couple posed as a pimp and a prostitute the best ways to smuggle underage prostitutes into the U.S. from El Salvador

.

….

“This is new information (the police confirmed that Vera reported this incident to them) and we are reviewing it as part of our investigation. We will have no further comment at this time,” ACORN Political Director David Lagstein said in a statement,.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:45 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:45 PM

And somehow that’s not ACORN’s fault? Did I miss something?

If the guy did nothing wrong, why fire him. And then blame someone else besides ACORN?

Really, dude. Get back on the meds.

lorien1973 on September 22, 2009 at 5:47 PM

Me thinks ACORN is shovel ready.

ACORN is facing a financial audit. Their records will cost 20 times as much to audit if a financial audit is required. They are insolvent and I suspect ready for checks to bounce. Don’t be surprised if 20% of their phone lines are cut in 30 days.

seven on September 22, 2009 at 5:47 PM

ou see, Ed, even though the acorn worker waited until days later to, er, “report” this incident (not calling authorities mind you, but calling his family; its like talking to a banker brother-in-law and calling it ‘applying for a loan’), and even though he didnt do anything, ACORN IS TOTALLY ABSOLVED.

The Acorn worker followed the example set by Ted Kennedy.

ICBM on September 22, 2009 at 5:49 PM

And somehow that’s not ACORN’s fault? Did I miss something?

When you have an incriminating video posted nationally on FoxNews, have Congress voting to defund your organization, it puts a lot of pressure to cut ties with anyone who may be involved in sketchy behavior.

Yes, I don’t think they should have fired him. But, to their credit, it looks like they are reexamining the case.

I see that you guys on here aren’t so rational.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:45 PM

Someone take the shovel away from this dude before he buries himself.

Knucklehead on September 22, 2009 at 5:54 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM

So now it’s Fox News’ problem that ACORN fired a guy without figuring out what happened?

Really?

lorien1973 on September 22, 2009 at 5:56 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM

Then again, I think all companies should keep employees who condone and rationalize illegal behavior, then a few days later say “hey, that’s not right.”

Those are the quick thinkers and morally grounded people you want as the face of your organization.

lorien1973 on September 22, 2009 at 5:57 PM

I see that you guys on here aren’t so rational.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM

Rubes can never reach your leftie elitist level of rationale. You won.

Schadenfreude on September 22, 2009 at 5:57 PM

If the guy did nothing wrong, why fire him. And then blame someone else besides ACORN?

Yeah, I blame the two twits who filmed this — “as a latino man, I’d like your advice on how to best smuggle in these girls” — then sent to FoxNews not know anything beside what they filmed. By the time FoxNews aired this, the guy had contacted the police about the encounter and then found out that these guys set him up. The guy did the right thing and ends up getting fired thanks to a political vendetta. “Citizen journalism” at its finest.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

Yeah, I blame the two twits who filmed this —

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

Now we have evidence that lefties are crazy.

Schadenfreude on September 22, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Yeah, I blame the two twits who filmed this — “as a latino man, I’d like your advice on how to best smuggle in these girls” — then sent to FoxNews not know anything beside what they filmed. By the time FoxNews aired this, the guy had contacted the police about the encounter and then found out that these guys set him up. The guy did the right thing and ends up getting fired thanks to a political vendetta. “Citizen journalism” at its finest.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

The race baiting angle died , remember white woman?

the_nile on September 22, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

I do hear that abused spouse syndrome is tough to overcome. Hope your therapy goes well.

lorien1973 on September 22, 2009 at 6:01 PM

“Turn out that light!”

-John Conyers, D-MI

Blacksmith on September 22, 2009 at 6:05 PM

then sent to FoxNews not know anything beside what they filmed
Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM

Hey dingbat, the video tapes were released by Andrew Breitbart. Get your facts straight.

Oh yeah, did ever hear about the “Food Lion” story and all of those undercover videos? What was that NBC, ABC or CBS who did those?

Knucklehead on September 22, 2009 at 6:07 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

I guess it’s time to look into ACORN’s firing practices as well.

forest on September 22, 2009 at 6:08 PM

Am I misreading things, or are the Democrats digging themselves a very deep hole in districts that don’t lean left?

ProfessorMiao on September 22, 2009 at 6:09 PM

How do we know he actally called his brother in law when this happened and not last week when he got exposed? To trust anything this bunch says is stupid…

CCRWM on September 22, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Tom_Shipley = basket case

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 6:10 PM

Am I misreading things, or are the Democrats digging themselves a very deep hole in districts that don’t lean left?

ProfessorMiao on September 22, 2009 at 6:09 PM

They may be digging themselves a hole in districts that lean left too, but I think at least Pelosi and Rangel are safe.

forest on September 22, 2009 at 6:11 PM

I do hear that abused spouse syndrome is tough to overcome

Not as hard as sh*t-for-brains syndrome. Good luck with that.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:11 PM

There are at least two more ACORN tapes that have yet to be released – has any other ACORN staffer called the police?

BuckNutty on September 22, 2009 at 6:12 PM

Nadler can be bought for the price of a free meal… Schedule the hearings! ACORN first!

Khun Joe on September 22, 2009 at 6:15 PM

Yes, I don’t think they should have fired him. But, to their credit, it looks like they are reexamining the case.

I see that you guys on here aren’t so rational.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:53 PM

What you miss stating is that he was trying to get in on the action…the fact he reported it, after they had refused him, makes him an “okay” employee?
That is laughable…besides, he is just one of many…
So what is wrong with having an outside auditor, audit the books of an organization that is receiving public funds?
I still haven’t seen a reasonable answer as to why that shouldn’t be done.

right2bright on September 22, 2009 at 6:15 PM

There are at least two more ACORN tapes that have yet to be released – has any other ACORN staffer called the police?

BuckNutty on September 22, 2009 at 6:12 PM

Goody! MORE PUDDING!

Khun Joe on September 22, 2009 at 6:16 PM

Not as hard as sh*t-for-brains syndrome. Good luck with that.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:11 PM

Ouch.

So you’re in favor of not firing people who would actively support child prositution and slavery? Um yeah, it’s the other guy who’s got “sh*t-for-brains”. Keep digging.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:17 PM

Not as hard as sh*t-for-brains syndrome. Good luck with that.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:11 PM

Oh , so thats what you got, sorry.

the_nile on September 22, 2009 at 6:21 PM

This big ass pot of corruption is starting to boil over. Watch who’s hands try to turn the stove off.

Star20 on September 22, 2009 at 6:22 PM

the fact he reported it, after they had refused him, makes him an “okay” employee?

When did they refuse him?

So you’re in favor of not firing people who would actively support child prositution and slavery?

How is reporting this couple to the authorities “supporting” them?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

They called the police to cover their butts dingbat. They realized they were busted and took pre-emptive action.

OT- None of you liberal idiots will answer….why do you need big government to take care of you ? Are you still a child? You think like a child that is obvious. Ooops answered my own question.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Tom… you are bought and paid for. Bet you think you actually have an original thought. You are completely laughable. The problem with ACORN is systemic and you get stuck on one story among many. TOOL

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:25 PM

How is reporting this couple to the authorities “supporting” them?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:23 PM

How is saying that he has connections in Mexico that will help them with slave trafficing not “supporting” them?

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:27 PM

They called the police to cover their butts dingbat. They realized they were busted and took pre-emptive action.

And your evidence of this is where?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:27 PM

And your evidence of this is where?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:27 PM

It is obvious. Watch the tape . They were serious about assisting.

I have as much proof as you do

Also…answer the question WHY DO YOU NEED THE government to take care of you??

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:28 PM

Tom … you do know you are bought and paid for right? would you at least be honest and admit it?

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:29 PM

Let’s just cut to the chase: get some legitimate, hardworking investigators and put them on the cases of Osama Obama, Conyers, Frank and Soros.

Cut the heads off and the snakes die.

MrScribbler on September 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Tom….and all the other cases? Laughable.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM

How is saying that he has connections in Mexico that will help them with slave trafficing not “supporting” them?

Ever heard the adage “actions speak louder than words?” So, he TELLS them he can help them smuggle these teens in, then contacts the police to report possible human trafficking…

you’re going to tell me with a straight face that this guy was supporting the actions of these two?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Lefty trolls are something. Completely and utterly taken in by the corruption of their side. They go along thinking they will get the crumbs.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:31 PM

you’re going to tell me with a straight face that this guy was supporting the actions of these two?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM

.

Watch the video

Again why do you need government to take care of you?

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:32 PM

It is obvious. Watch the tape . They were serious about assisting.

If he was serious about assisting, why did he contact law enforcement about them that same day?

And, to be more specific, where in the tape do the couple refuse his attempt to help him?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:32 PM

Tom are you a boy or a man?

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:33 PM

Watch the video

You’re really not very smart, are you?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:33 PM

Tom are you a boy or a man?

Man. Where in the video do they refuse his offer to help?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:34 PM

So the ACORN employee told them he would not help?

Gotcha

Funny you are fixated when it is obvious this is a big problem with ACORN….. you are truly bought. Why cannot you admit it. Just say it– you will defend any ugliness of the left. Your check depends on it…..again why do you think you have to have the government take care of you? Boy or man? Your avoidance of the hard questions is TELLING

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Tom you are not a man

If you were you would act like one

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:35 PM

tom— so Mr. Acorn told the couple that what they wanted to do was illegal right?

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:36 PM

Ever heard the adage “actions speak louder than words?” So, he TELLS them he can help them smuggle these teens in, then contacts the police to report possible human trafficking…

you’re going to tell me with a straight face that this guy was supporting the actions of these two?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM

Yep, good one. Save your “straight face” crap for when you’re ready to be serious about how these sting operations have shown serious systemic problems within Acorn. Until then, I’ll sit here with my straight face and watch you wriggle around some paper thin technicallities in opposition to the blatanly obvious truth.

Your really reaching.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:36 PM

Man. Where in the video do they refuse his offer to help?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Are you really that clueless about how a sting operation works?

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:37 PM

Your really reaching.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:36 PM

He found one case that he thinks he can put all his eggs in. Laughable.

Tom’s a boy

Tomboy

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:37 PM

Are you really that clueless about how a sting operation works?

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:37 PM

Tomboy=Clueless

Oh and bought

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:38 PM

CWforFreedom,

Since you’re so hung up on the idea of being a man… be a man and answer my question. You said the couple refused his help and that’s why he went to police. Where in the video did they refuse his help?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:38 PM

Are you really that clueless about how a sting operation works?

I know enough to know that if the subject of the sting operation reports the illegal activities to police after the sting operation, the guy was not assisting in illegal activity.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:40 PM

I know enough to know that if the subject of the sting operation reports the illegal activities to police after the sting operation, the guy was not assisting in illegal activity.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:40 PM

Let’s compromise. I’ll give in and say the guy was doing what you said and you agree that ACORN is a corrupt organization that needs to be dissolved if democracy is to continue in this country.

Deal?

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 6:44 PM

Deal?

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 6:44 PM

Tomboy is dishonest and bought

Don’t count on it

Not that you would

Tom they guy changed his mind once he realized how obvious it was. Go talk to a few cops. It is not uncommon for crooks to lie when they realize they are busted . you are naive little boy.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:47 PM

Question: when will congressional investigations begin of NBC’s To Catch A Predator?

Erich66 on September 22, 2009 at 6:48 PM

I know enough to know that if the subject of the sting operation reports the illegal activities to police after the sting operation, the guy was not assisting in illegal activity.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:40 PM

Tom, prove to me that this senerio is not as plausible as your explination for why he would call the cops.

A while after having the conversation with this couple he came to think that it was most probably a sting (after all, after a little reflection, who would believe that kid was a pimp?) And with the suspicion that he had just been duped his first inclination is to cover his ass by calling the cops.

You have no more evidence to prove your assumed motive than anyone has for this potential motive. The only actual evidence (the video tape) shows explicit cooperation on his part. There are multiple motivations for making the call to the police that have been put forward. And so far I have not seen any evidence to support your assumption any more than any of the others. Please, make your case.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:50 PM

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 5:58 PM

Somebody call Chris Wallace and tell him we found another whiner…boohoo…

lovingmyUSA on September 22, 2009 at 6:50 PM

Tom_Shipley, you are an idiot… the guy didn’t call the cops… he called his cousin… who happened to be a detective… two days later… give me a break…

ninjapirate on September 22, 2009 at 6:51 PM

Deal?

Hell no. ACORN has over 400,000 members and what’s lost in focusing on a tiny fraction of the work that they do is the good they do in aiding those who live in poor, inner-city communities.

Those workers in Maryland absolutely should have been fired for the advice they gave, if they didn’t report their exchange to authorities.

As far as election fraud allegations go, those kinda fizzled out didn’t they? You know why? There was no organized fraud. What happened were cases of people getting paid for meeting quotas, so they falsely inflated their registration lists. Those people were report to authorities BY ACORN and fired.

Lastly, who do you suggest “dissolves” ACORN?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:52 PM

“Congressional hearings” are a means Congressmen can use to grind their opponents down with expense, wasted time, fatigue, and public humiliation. The reasons given for Congressional committee hearings, and for the existence of Congressional committees themselves, pertain to the enormous size and scope of the “federal” government. As long as the Americans persist in their corrupted, no longer federal orders, reasons for Congressional committees and hearings will always be found, the Congress will remain divided into fiefs, and the committee chairmen will continue to use their fiefdom and hearings to intimidate their opponents and grind them into submission.

I will keep saying, as best I can, that it seems the Americans must restore federal orders or be consumed by their growing disorders. And despite the danger to me and the things I love, if the Americans persist in their disorders and do not restore their federal constitution, I’ll be glad when they put an end to their public posturing and break out their knives in earnest.

Kralizec on September 22, 2009 at 6:53 PM

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 6:47 PM

So you admit you were just making shit up? Not surprising.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:53 PM

Amusing.

So to the Left, investigating an organization receiving federal funds is at least as suspect as running a child prostitution ring. These people really are our betters…aren’t they?

18-1 on September 22, 2009 at 6:54 PM

Please, make your case.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:50 PM

Oh yeah, and don’t forget to include the detail about why it took him two days to call “the authorities” (aka his cousins) rather than the moment the couple he obviously wasn’t interested in helping walked out the door.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:58 PM

As far as election fraud allegations go, those kinda fizzled out didn’t they? You know why? There was no organized fraud. What happened were cases of people getting paid for meeting quotas, so they falsely inflated their registration lists. Those people were report to authorities BY ACORN and fired.

Lastly, who do you suggest “dissolves” ACORN?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:52 PM

Look dork, the internet is a wonderful thing. All it takes is a few minutes of your time, and some courage … to find exactly what ACORN is being charged with and where in regards to voter fraud. It’s not just “cases of people getting paid for meeting quotas”.

Courage Tom, get some and face the facts. Learn how to use the internet to your advantage and stop repeating what you read at leftist/progressive/communist/Marxist/democrat/Obama websites.

Lastly, ACORN will “dissolve” itself if a true investigation were run. All the leadership and management would be in jail.

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 7:01 PM

Here you go Tom …

The Complete Guide to ACORN Voter Fraud

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 6:58 PM

Didn’t take him two days to call his cousin. He cousin contacted the human trafficking official two days later. It seems he contacted his cousin right away.

And yes, it’s possible that this guy was really trying to help these people out, then changed his mind and reported them. But, I don’t know. This guy (who has a brother in law enforcement) just happens to have contacts in Tijijuana that would help out in human trafficking? I think it’s a little more believable that he was just going along with them while there were there, then contacted authorities.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:03 PM

So you admit you were just making shit up? Not surprising.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 6:53 PM

It was my opinion based on dealing with people like them

You know the ACORN guy shipleyed his pants when the couple left and realized he had to cover his arse.

Again you say you are a man….which your words do not support…then why do you need the government to take care of you?

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:04 PM

Tom admit you are bought and paid for…do it…you will feel liberated

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:05 PM

And yes, it’s possible that this guy was really trying to help these people out, then changed his mind and reported them.
Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Seems maybe you were making stuff up…hmmm

Hypocrite

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:06 PM

I think it’s a little more believable that he was just going along with them while there were there, then contacted authorities.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Well, as other people here have said, they think other senerios are “more believeable”. What’s to make your version more accurate?

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 7:08 PM

darwin,

95% of the complaints listed there are exactly what I’m talking about… fraudulent or duplicate voter registration forms, which have been shown to be the work of contract workers trying to pad their stats. There’s been no evidence of any organized election fraud perpetrated by ACORN. In fact, in most cases ACORN itself caught and reported these irregularities.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:09 PM

Didn’t take him two days to call his cousin. He cousin contacted the human trafficking official two days later. It seems he contacted his cousin right away.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:03 PM

It seems you are taking another of your assumptions as truth. What we know, is that there is a two day lag there. you explination is no more valid than those you argue against.

Scrappy on September 22, 2009 at 7:10 PM

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:06 PM

You said that the guy only reported them to the police after they refused his help, yet the video does not show them refusing his help and in fact clearly has the guy saying “talk to you soon” at the end of it.

I never made up anything up, I’ve only stated facts as shown by the video and police reports. You saying the couple refused his help qualifies as “making stuff up.” Come on, be a man, admit it.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:12 PM

I guess congress is going to investigate ABC for their “To
Catch a Predator” series. They did the same thing..but I guess it is alright to liberals to catch pedophiles – but not anyone on the right. I hope they don’t get away with yet again, another double standard.

marnes on September 22, 2009 at 7:12 PM

There’s been no evidence of any organized election fraud perpetrated by ACORN. In fact, in most cases ACORN itself caught and reported these irregularities.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:09 PM

I’m sorry Tom. You have been successfully propagandized and indoctrinated by your Marxist masters.

You longer think for yourself and you have completely stopped believeing your own eyes and ears.

So sad. On the bright side, you’ll probably get preferential treatment under Obama DeathCare. Drones and Obamabots will get priority. They’ll just let the rest of us die.

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 7:13 PM

It seems he contacted his cousin right away.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:03 PM

Hmmm

It makes more sense to believe what they said on the front side of the episode. Of course one needs to be logical for that to happen.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:13 PM

I guess congress is going to investigate ABC for their “To
Catch a Predator” series.

I’m sure that Gary Studds would vote for that Bill of Attainder.

18-1 on September 22, 2009 at 7:13 PM

You just know Conyer’s investigation is going to find ACORN Innocent and it’s going to find the two film makers guilty of Murder, War Crimes and styling Blago’s hair.

When the people investigating are getting kickbacks from said group how ca we trust them, i.e. Richardson’s “Investigation”

Rbastid on September 22, 2009 at 7:14 PM

Come on, be a man, admit it.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:12 PM

I never said the faux pimp and faux ho refused his assistance….

the ACORN guy never said no. that is a fact

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:16 PM

darwin on September 22, 2009 at 7:13 PM

Think for yourself and really look into the ACORN voter fraud charges. You’ll see what I state is correct.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:16 PM

So this guy was fired? Will he sue ACORN there TommyBoy?

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:17 PM

Wow what a surprise ….ACORN fires them when they are busted all over the place then pretends it is not systemic.

They had NO choice but to fire them. You know the money train thing. It speaks loudly.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:18 PM

Funny how facts get in the way:

In November 2006, 20,000 to 35,000 questionable voter registration forms were turned in by ACORN officials in Missouri. Most all of these were from St. Louis and Kansas City areas, where ACORN purportedly sought to help empower the “disenfranchised” minorities living there. But the ACORN workers weren’t just told to register new voters. The workers admitted on camera that they were coached to tell registrants to vote for Democrat Claire McCaskill.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:19 PM

I never said the faux pimp and faux ho refused his assistance….

I must have misread what you had written earlier. Sorry for the confusion.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:22 PM

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:19 PM

What about every other case of fraud listed…

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:22 PM

It just gets uglier for the troll

North Carolina — State Board of Elections officials have found at least 100 voter registration forms with the same names over and over again. The forms were turned in by ACORN. Officials sent about 30 applications to the state Board of Elections for possible fraud investigation.

Ohio
— The New York Post reported that a Cleveland man said he was given cash and cigarettes by aggressive ACORN activists in exchange for registering an astonishing 72 times. The complaints have sparked an investigation by election officials into the organization, whose political wing has supported Barack Obama. Witnesses have already been subpoenaed to testify against the organization.

Nevada
— Authorities raided the headquarters of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now on Tuesday October 7, 2008, after a month-long investigation. The fraudulent voter registrations included the Dallas Cowboys starting line-up.

Indiana — More than 2,000 voter registration forms filed in northern Indiana’s Lake County filled out by ACORN employees turned out to be bogus. Officials also stopped processing a stack of about 5,000 applications delivered just before the October 6 registration deadline after the first 2,100 turned out to be phony.

Connecticut
— Officials are looking into a complaint alleging ACORN submitted fraudulent voter registration cards in Bridgeport. In one instance, an official said a card was filled out for a 7-year-old girl, whose age was listed as 27. 8,000 cards were submitted in Bridgeport.

Missouri — The Kansas City election board is reporting 100 duplicate applications and 280 with fake information. Acorn officials agreed that at least 4% of their registrations were bogus. Governor Matt Blunt condemned the attempts by ACORN to commit voter fraud.

Pennsylvania — Officials are investigating suspicious or incomplete registration forms submitted by ACORN. 252,595 voter registrations were submitted in Philadelphia. Remarkably, 57,435 were rejected — most of them submitted by ACORN.

Wisconsin — In Milwaukee ACORN improperly used felons as registration workers. Additionally, its workers are among 49 cases of bad registrations sent to authorities for possible charges, as first reported by the Journal Sentinel.

Florida — The Pinellas County Elections supervisor says his office has received around 35 voter registrations that appear to be bogus. There is also a question of 30,000 felons who are registered illegally to vote. Their connections with ACORN are not yet clear.

Texas
— Of the 30,000 registration cards ACORN turned in, Harris County tax assessor Paul Bettencourt says just more than 20,000 are valid. And just look at some of the places ACORN was finding those voters. A church just next door is the address for around 150 people. More than 250 people claim a homeless outreach center as their home address. Some listed a county mental health facility as their home and one person even wrote down the Harris County jail at the sheriff’s office.

Michigan — ACORN in Detroit is being investigated after several municipal clerks reported fraudulent and duplicate voter registration applications coming through. The clerk interviewed said the fraud appears to be widespread.

New Mexico
– The Bernalillo County clerk has notified prosecutors that some 1,100 fraudulent voter registration cards were turned in by ACORN.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:22 PM

I love Tom_Shipley here. Ya know, this is a curious thing to throw your reputation away on. Here’s Tom’s basic argument: “Look, those two people tricked poor innocent ACORN people and got them fired. How do I know they are innocent? Because one out of the many people on those tapes actually suggested to a cousin that he may have been had! And it’s illogical anyway that this guy would have had connections in Tijuana to help with smuggling! It’s almost as ridiculous an idea as fellow ACORN officials actively assisting people to set up a prostitution ring!”

Look, Tom–why the heck should we give this guy the benefit of the doubt? ACORN employees across the nation have shown that they are more than happy to enslave Hispanic underage girls into prostitution–why should this guy be any different?

Even if you are correct, and this guy somehow managed to redeem himself–how on earth does that mean we shouldn’t investigate ACORN as a whole? After all, we’ve seen Los Angeles, Baltimore, New York, etc. Those offices are redeemed solely by virtue of this guys 2 day repentance process?

Why are you choosing ACORN as the hill on which to throw away any credibility you may have, Tom? But I got to give you credit–it takes balls to argue this strenuously that child sex prostitution is something that we shouldn’t investigate and instead we should blame the reporters.

Do you also blame the reporters who get people fired from the local pizza parlor when they spit on your pizza?

Vanceone on September 22, 2009 at 7:24 PM

VANCE +1

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Let’s put conservative undercover jounalistic sting operations at the same law-enforcement priority as tax evasion, child prostitution, and human trafficking, by all means.

FIFY

Jed_Eckert on September 22, 2009 at 4:52 PM

Yeah..why not? We give Miranda rights to terrorists.

Itchee Dryback on September 22, 2009 at 7:28 PM

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:22 PM

Yes, exactly. Those are all cases of voter registration fraud perpetrated by ACORN employees trying to pad their registration stats. One person registered the entire Dallas Cowboy roster. Others filled in cartoon characters names. This wasn’t an attempt by ACORN to illegally register people to try and sway the vote, it was an attempt by some of its workers to get paid for not actually doing work. In many of these cases, ACORN flagged suspicious entries but turned them over to the state because the law required them to.

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:32 PM

Interesting :

We have the actions of ACORN

We have a government that reserves the right for rendition

They continue to hold those found on the battlefields without charge

They tell Insurance companies that they do not have free speech

They collect our information off of Government websites

The President tells those on the right to essentially shut up

Democrat leaders call protesters a mob

Yet….. not a word of dissent from the Troll

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:33 PM

Tom still no answer

Why do you as a “man” (your word not mine) feel the need to be cared for by big brother? Did your dad not teach you to take care of yourself? Your attitude is destructive. No wonder ACORN has an endless supply of clients.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:35 PM

I’ll expand on my question to our child sex defending troll here:

Let’s change this to a national Pizza chain. Our intrepid reporters dress up, grab a hidden camera, and walk into to Bigstuff Pizza in Baltimore and ask the local store manager to spit on every pizza that is going to a Hispanic couple. The guy enthusiastically agrees. Our reporters then show the same thing in New York. In Los Angeles. And in San Diego, the guy there says he can bring in all the crew they want to spit on those pizzas. Now, a couple of days later, the guy in San Diego says to himself, “hmm. Maybe that wasn’t the greatest idea. I’ll ask cousin george.” And george freaks out and reports it.

Now, National BigStuff Pizza headquarters starts firing everyone. Your position, Tom, is that the reporters here are responsible for all of this unemployment, right? That BigStuff Pizza doesn’t have any institutional problems with people spitting on pizzas, at least they say they don’t. And you are more than willing to take them at their word, and defend the entire organization simply because San Diego guy called cousin George for some advice.

That’s your argument, Tom. Now, let’s hang the reporters, and enjoy our spit-upon pizza.

Vanceone on September 22, 2009 at 7:36 PM

Yep TomBoy it is all just a coincidence:

Recent Fraud

State Year Details
AR 1998 A contractor with ACORN-affiliated Project Vote was arrested for falsifying about 400 voter registration cards.
CO 2005 Two ex-ACORN employees were convicted in Denver of perjury for submitting false voter registrations.
2004 An ACORN employee admitted to forging signatures and registering three of her friends to vote 40 times.
CT 2008 The New York Post reported that ACORN submitted a voter registration card for a 7-year-old Bridgeport girl. Another 8,000 cards from the same city will be scrutinized for possible fraud.
FL 2008 Election officials in Brevard County have given prosecutors more than 23 suspect registrations from ACORN. The state’s Division of Elections is also investigating complaints in Orange and Broward Counties.
2004 A Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman said ACORN was “singled out” among suspected voter registration groups for a 2004 wage initiative because it was “the common thread” in the agency’s fraud investigations.
IN 2008 Election officials in Indiana have thrown out more than 4,000 ACORN-submitted voter registrations after finding they had identical handwriting and included the names of many deceased Indianans, and even the name of a fast food restaurant.
MI 2008 Clerks in Detroit found a “sizeable number of duplicate and fraudulent [voter] applications” from the Michigan branch of ACORN. Those applications have been turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s office for investigation.
2004 The Detroit Free Press reported that “overzealous or unscrupulous campaign workers in several Michigan counties are under investigation for voter-registration fraud, suspected of attempting to register nonexistent people or forging applications for already-registered voters.” ACORN-affiliate Project Vote was one of two groups suspected of turning in the documents.
MO 2008 Nearly 400 ACORN-submitted registrations in Kansas City have been rejected due to duplication or fake information.
2007 Four ACORN employees were indicted in Kansas City for charges including identity theft and filing false registrations during the 2006 election.
2006 Eight ACORN employees in St. Louis were indicted on federal election fraud charges. Each of the eight faces up to five years in prison for forging signatures and submitting false information.
2003 Of 5,379 voter registration cards ACORN submitted in St. Louis, only 2,013 of those appeared to be valid. At least 1,000 are believed to be attempts to register voters illegally.
MN 2004 During a traffic stop, police found more than 300 voter registration cards in the trunk of a former ACORN employee, who had violated a legal requirements that registration cards be submitted to the Secretary of State within 10 days of being filled out and signed.
NC 2008 County elections officials have sent suspicious voter registration applications to the state Board of Elections. Many of the applications had similar or identical names, but with different addresses or dates of birth.
2004 North Carolina officials investigated ACORN for submitting fake voter registration cards.
NM 2008 Prosecutors are investigating more than 1,100 ACORN-submitted voter registration cards after a county clerk found them to be fraudulent. Many of the cards included duplicate names and slightly altered personal information.
2005 Four ACORN employees submitted as many as 3,000 potentially fraudulent signatures on the group’s Albuquerque ballot initiative. A local sheriff added: “It’s safe to say the forgery was widespread.”
2004 An ACORN employee registered a 13-year-old boy to vote. Citing this and other examples, New Mexico State Representative Joe Thompson stated that ACORN was “manufacturing voters” throughout New Mexico.
NV 2009 Nevada authorities indicted ACORN on 26 counts of voter registration fraud and 13 counts of illegally compensating canvassers. ACORN provided a bonus compensation program called “Blackjack” or “21+” for any canvasser who registered more than 20 voters per shift, which is illegal under Nevada law.
2008 Nevada state authorities raided ACORN’s Las Vegas headquarters as part of a task force investigation of election fraud. Fraudulent registrations included players from the Dallas Cowboys.
OH 2008 ACORN activists gave Ohio residents cash and cigarettes in exchange for filling out voter registration card, according to the New York Post. Some voters claim to have registered dozens of times, and one man says he signed up on 72 cards.
2007 A man in Reynoldsburg was indicted on two felony counts of illegal voting and false registration, after being registered by ACORN to vote in two separate counties.
2004 A grand jury indicted a Columbus ACORN worker for submitting a false signature and false voter registration form. In Franklin County, two ACORN workers submitted what the director of the board of election supervisors called “blatantly false” forms. In Cuyahoga County, ACORN and its affiliate Project Vote submitted registration cards that had the highest rate of errors for any voter registration group.
PA 2009 Seven ACORN workers in the Pittsburgh area were indicted for submitting falsified voter registration forms. Six of the seven were also indicted for registering voters under an illegal quota system.
2008 State election officials have thrown out 57,435 voter registrations, the majority of which were submitted by ACORN. The registrations were thrown out after officials found “clearly fraudulent” signatures, vacant lots listed as addresses, and other signs of fraud.
2008 An ACORN employee in West Reading, PA, was sentenced to up to 23 months in prison for identity theft and tampering with records. A second ACORN worker pleaded not guilty to the same charges and is free on $10,000 bail.
2004 Reading’s Director of Elections received calls from numerous individuals complaining that ACORN employees deliberately put inaccurate information on their voter registration forms. The Berks County director of elections said voter fraud was “absolutely out of hand,” and added: “Not only do we have unintentional duplication of voter registration but we have blatant duplicate voter registrations.” The Berks County deputy director of elections added that ACORN was under investigation by the Department of Justice.
TX 2008 In Harris County, nearly 10,000 ACORN-submitted registrations were found to be invalid, including many with clearly fraudulent addresses or other personal information.
2008 ACORN turned in the voter registration form of David Young, who told reporters “The signature is not my signature. It’s not even close.” His social security number and date of birth were also incorrect.
VA 2005 In 2005, the Virginia State Board of Elections admonished Project Vote and ACORN for turning in a significant number of faulty voter registrations. An audit revealed that 83% of sampled registrations that were rejected for carrying false or questionable information were submitted by Project Vote. Many of these registrations carried social security numbers that exist for other people, listed non-existent or commercial addresses, or were for convicted felons in violation of state and federal election law.

In a letter to ACORN, the State Board of Elections reported that 56% of the voter registration applications ACORN turned in were ineligible. Further, a full 35% were not submitted in a timely manner, as required by law. The State Board of Elections also commented on what appeared to be evidence of intentional voter fraud. “Additionally,” they wrote, “information appears to have been altered on some applications where information given by the applicant in one color ink has been scratched through and re-entered in another color ink. Any alteration of a voter registration application is a Class 5 Felony in accordance with § 24.2-1009 of the Code of Virginia.”
WA 2007 Three ACORN employees pleaded guilty, and four more were charged, in the worst case of voter registration fraud in Washington state history. More than 2,000 fraudulent voter registration cards were submitted by the group during a voter registration drive.
WI 2008 At least 33,000 ACORN-submitted registrations in Milwaukee have been called into question after it was found that the organizations had been using felons as registration workers, in violation of state election rules. Two people involved in the ongoing Wisconsin voter fraud investigation have been charged with felonies.
2004 The district attorney’s office investigated seven voter registration applications Project Vote employees filed in the names of people who said the group never contacted them. Former Project Vote employee Robert Marquise Blakely told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he had not met with any of the people whose voter registration applications he signed, “an apparent violation of state law,” according to the paper.

http://www.rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:36 PM

Hmmm

http://www.rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:37 PM

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:35 PM

Listen fuckwad, don’t mention my family. And if you do, have the balls to do it to my face so I can show you how much of a man i in fact am. And yes, that’s a threat to your physical well being.

second, why do you need the government to take care of you? or are you against paying taxes for the police, FBI and CIA?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:41 PM

San Diego guy called cousin George for some advice.

That’s your argument, Tom. Now, let’s hang the reporters, and enjoy our spit-upon pizza.

Vanceone on September 22, 2009 at 7:36 PM

SanDiegoGuy shipleyed his pants then called George.

The devil is in the details.

See my last link…it is systemic. To deny it takes complete and utter dishonesty or stupidity. That or a government check and a block of cheese.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:42 PM

second, why do you need the government to take care of you? or are you against paying taxes for the police, FBI and CIA?

Tom_Shipley on September 22, 2009 at 7:41 PM

Laughable .

Calm down boy. Oh so you don’t believe in welfare and socialism gotcha.

Oh and by the way just for the record….yes you did threaten me. I will call my friends in law enforcement. When you hear the sirens remember you screwed up.

CWforFreedom on September 22, 2009 at 7:44 PM

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