Breaking: New ACORN video from Philadelphia
posted at 12:45 pm on October 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Surprise! ACORN and its defenders, including the media, have tried to argue that the organization was not totally corrupt because James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles got tossed out of its Philadelphia office. Media Matters even went so far as to air an interview with ACORN office director Katherine Conway-Russell that asserted that she refused to help them, called the cops, and threw them out. Big Government has now released some of the video of that visit — and it appears that a lot of media outlets will have some retractions to write this afternoon:
Big Government will air the full, unedited video and audio streams later today or tomorrow, in order to demonstrate the poor performance of the media in this story. Bertha Lewis and ACORN will be shown to have lied, and outlets like the Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer will have to scrape the egg off of their faces for accepting their word at face value.
At Western CPAC, Andrew Breitbart described himself as a “merry prankster” in the media. He’s certainly got reason for merriment today.










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EFCA is my own personal “checkpoint.” I think EFCA is THE biggest threat to our economy, more than TARP, more than excessive executive comp, more than Cap-and-Trade.
EFCA is the lurking snake.
She is definitely not for cardcheck. That alone plops here firmly into moderate territory.
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 2:21 PM
What really gets me is that all the talk and furor is over the politics of ACORN. That’s important but let’s remember that the organization did not bat an eye at helping to smuggle underage girls into the US for the purpose of prostitution. The bat in Baltimore even advised to get a house with a backyard so that they could bury their profits in a tin box.
That’s called human trafficking. It is morally reprehensible and I’ve got to wonder if ACORN has actually helped others with the same advice they gave O’Keefe.
highhopes on October 21, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Still nothing on the home page of CNN, ABC, NBC, or CBS.
omnipotent on October 21, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Do we really think they will retract anything?
By this time tomorrow the headlines will be “Andrew Breitbart, Evillll Jooooo Enterprise and the Trilateral Commission Go Back in Time to Make Fake ACORN Video, Racist Applaud”
Rbastid on October 21, 2009 at 2:23 PM
there aren’t any credible allegations that acorn ever attempted to influence the outcome of elections fraudulently. mickey mouse and dead people can’t vote.
sesquipedalian on October 21, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Imagine being a worker who helped them. Seeing video after video of acorn workers being exposed. Just waiting for your shoe to drop. Can anybody say ulcer.
Greed on October 21, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Funny how many radical politicians particularly from California and New York end up as “moderates” the year before it is time to run for office again. Notice how Harry Reid has kept his mouth shut over Obamacare?
And for the record, only in a socialist state like
CA would Feinstein be considered a moderate.
highhopes on October 21, 2009 at 2:26 PM
I deliberately link Fox, because, you know, it’s not real news….
notropis on October 21, 2009 at 2:28 PM
But all those felons and illegals that ACORN registered could and did. Why are you defending this corrupt organization. I saw what they did in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina. There is no credible reason to support this organization.
highhopes on October 21, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Ugh.
mankai on October 21, 2009 at 2:29 PM
From Big Government Site:
Keyser-Soze on October 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Brilliant!
mankai on October 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
If they dont check ids before voting, like some people want to have happen. Then yes the dead can vote.
Greed on October 21, 2009 at 2:30 PM
You’ve never lived in Illinois.
omnipotent on October 21, 2009 at 2:32 PM
A “moderate” Communist.
This is how incredibly warped many people’s minds are by the mainstream media. Their goal is not to simply tell lies, but to fabricate an entirely fictitious view of the world. There are literally millions of people today who think what they see most often on TV represents the “center” of American politics.
When viewed through that bizarre prism, people like Bill Ayers and Barak Obama are slightly left-of-center; and Dianne Feinstein is a “moderate”. Yep, in the World Of TV, they’re perfectly normal folks-next-door; just like Erkle and Big Bird. It is only within such an abjectly psychotic virtual world that someone like Sarah Palin can possibly be portrayed as a freakish aberration from the “norm”.
logis on October 21, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Although Feinstein is more liberal than I would like, I do have to admit that she has done some good things for California water, as well, so she does have some good points.
Barbara Boxer, on the other hand, is just an idiot. I think her IQ barely exceeds her shoe size.
tballard on October 21, 2009 at 2:34 PM
LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! That was just priceless and had me in giggles. *grins*
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 2:34 PM
My comment at MM is “under review.”
mankai on October 21, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Latest Media Matters spin:
mankai on October 21, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Too sweet. I’ve been wondering when THAT shoe would drop. It plops the whole blasted fiasco and video SQUARE on ACORN
‘s broad shoulders. lol Now to see if they actually respond. :-P
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 2:40 PM
if you had any proof, you could challenge the outcome of those elections. until 2006 the conservative majority could’ve destroyed acorn if they’d had the goods on them. apparently they didn’t.
1. good for them for expanding the pool of voters – getting people engaged, etc.
2. paying their staff for each completed registration form is obviously problematic. yet it’s just a simple fraud, not a conspiracy to influence the outcome of the vote.
sesquipedalian on October 21, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Please keep your head in the sand and do not read this.
So now you cannot repeat that “Talking Point”.
barnone on October 21, 2009 at 2:52 PM
The way that ACORN responded on the FNC article on this:
Feels to me like the police report may have been filed AFTER the actual incident occurred, and that the “pimp and prostitute” weren’t even there anymore when it was filed. So, the report would have to be tossed out of the argument, because it simply becomes a “he said/she said” argument.
The video is MUCH more damning proof of every lie that was told about the Philly encounter.
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 2:57 PM
don’t get me wrong – i’m not saying they’re clean. in fact, i’m sure they’re not. if they go down because of this case, so be it – they do a lot of good work in poor communities, but fraud is fraud. i just think they’re not as significant as you make them out to be.
sesquipedalian on October 21, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Seems like when Catherine whats-her-face thought about it a while, she decided to call the “reference.” That’s when she figured out she’d been snookered, and called the cops to try to save face.
notropis on October 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
From Pajamas Media a complete list of the ongoing investigations:
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.
That’s not all. So far this year at least 14 states have started investigations against ACORN.
Now STFU.
highhopes on October 21, 2009 at 3:03 PM
But you did say their shenanigans hadn’t queered any elections.
notropis on October 21, 2009 at 3:04 PM
forgive me if i can’t keep up with all the paranoia, but is factcheck.org considered a legitimate source in these circles?
sesquipedalian on October 21, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Except in New York, where, apparently, they did.
notropis on October 21, 2009 at 3:09 PM
The timeing is brilliant. The other news oganisations will have to choose between jumping on the bandwagon that they said they mistakenly missed last time or go against Obamas threat against following FOX. Awesome!!!
pageram on October 21, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Charlie Gibson twitter:
mankai on October 21, 2009 at 3:11 PM
That’s probably a good bet on what happened, I agree. Something suddenly didn’t feel right, so they called the cops and filed a complaint…repeat COMPLAINT…with no actual police investigation…after the fact, and are now trying to use that as evidence that it HAD to have gone the way that THEY said it did in the complaint. Which in would have had no input from the people actually being complained about (the report, I mean).
From watching the video, I’d say the Philly P.D. has all the evidence they would need to slap that ACORN office with a false police complaint, and totally negate all ACORN’s defense. ;)
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 3:13 PM
All fingers will be pointed at Ms. Russell…
By the end of the day, she will feel what it is like to be a Conservative on an episode of “the View”.
Seven Percent Solution on October 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM
snort.
Keyser-Soze on October 21, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Is there no Reporter or Blogger living in PA that can go get an official copy of the police report? Then contact the officer and get him on video?
barnone on October 21, 2009 at 3:19 PM
FOX Entertainment? Oh brother, that’s weak.
Keyser-Soze on October 21, 2009 at 3:19 PM
This one is baiting the Media as well as ACORN. They cut the audio with the intent that ACORN/Media will claim it’s a lie.
Are they really dumb enough to fall for this again?
DSchoen on October 21, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Just as a note, time passes. In 2007, no african-american had ever been elected to the Presidency. Today that is different. When that fact check came out, no illegal votes had been found, now some have.
The question is whether they will review their fact check and whether your mind can be opened with new facts. Or will you just slink away to another posting?
barnone on October 21, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Keyser-Soze on October 21, 2009 at 3:19 PM:
Yeah, looks like ACORN is playing the Obama sycophant organ. lol…
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 3:27 PM
“Let’s leave this one to the cables.” – Charlie Gibson
BlueStateBilly on October 21, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Yeah, and I’m wondering if ACORN comes out and DOES say the video and everything on it is a lie, that Breitbart and O’Keefe will just say “TO HELL WITH THE LAWSUIT!” and release the audio anyway without permission. ;)
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM
That is actually the bait. If they claim it is a lie, then the release becomes a news event to counter slander and they can release it to defend themselves. Devious.
barnone on October 21, 2009 at 3:35 PM
The drama continues…
http://moelane.com/2009/10/20/democratic-election-fraud-in-troy-ny-a-follow-up/
mankai on October 21, 2009 at 3:36 PM
I love these two!!
Viper1 on October 21, 2009 at 3:37 PM
You’re not having a very good day today, Nimrod.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 3:41 PM
I love the media matters swipe at the end.
ted c on October 21, 2009 at 3:41 PM
ACORN V. Haliburton?
Haliburton did not mess with voter registrations.
BTW, I wonder if anything is new with The One and the strange Social Security number he was using. Someone posted a link to a private investigsator’s report on that.
Pulling ‘grey area’ identification fraud was apparently all the rage for a number of years….but it would never occur to anytone to use it for crimes like fake voter registrations.
IlikedAUH2O on October 21, 2009 at 3:44 PM
So, what was the police report all about that the Philly office filed? Was it a fake, or did the Philly Acorn office file a false report?
Someone needs to investigate that.
MississippiMom on October 21, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Just read the posted police report over at Media Matters. Not sure who said it earlier but it appears that report was filed well after they left. I would be curious to know what time they left and how soon after the cops were called. She was definitely pwned and calle dthe cops as a CYA move. The report is so basic, it lacks any details, aside of what the complainant alledges. “The complainant was advised” is a way of relating advice on what to do if they ever came back, which they won’t, the damage had been done.
ChicagoBlues on October 21, 2009 at 3:45 PM
This suggestion would be appropriate if issues such as ACORN occurred in isolation and were independent of others such as the honesty of the president, the outcomes of elections and interstate criminal activity. The unfortunate reality for your suggestion is that they are not independent, they are inter-related. If ACORN continues to get exposed, then it reveals problems in other areas. If your assertion were true (that ACORN is a side issue, independent, and unrelated to the office of the president and other issues) then it would be just fine and dandy for the President, the DOJ and FBI et al. to allow a RICO investigation to occur (since it wouldn’t taint them anyway). However, we ain’t seein’ that happenin’ now are we. They are trying to isolate, contain and restrain this story simply because it IS related.
Keep digging.
ted c on October 21, 2009 at 3:45 PM
…
Not from Chicago, are you?
ChicagoBlues on October 21, 2009 at 3:46 PM
And don’t forget Democrat President Lyndon Johnson’s long ties with the company. He climbed into bed with KBR in 1936 and never left. They became a part of Halliburton and until her death a couple of years ago Lady Bird was still on their Board of Directors.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 3:49 PM
The One is trying so hard to fix actual problems that He has run to 22 fundraisers and a score of other activities while He lets our brothers fall in “His Necessary War” in Afghanistan.
I have been predicting a pull out of there for months. Right after I heard Him promise a new strategy. And that was after He led people to believe that He was going to win it during the campaign. And this followed months of the left slashing President Bush for fighting the ‘wrong war’ and making us less safe. Since their base has the memory of goldfish, it all works.
What is scary is that He has been nice with military ceremonies and comments lately. They should really smell something coming after that.
IlikedAUH2O on October 21, 2009 at 3:53 PM
LOL, you really ARE having a bad day.
Since 2004, there have been 26 people investigated, 21 charged and 5 convictions of ACORN voter registration fraud.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 4:02 PM
“Continued.” Cute!
Katherine is dumber than a bag of hair, isn’t she?
PattyJ on October 21, 2009 at 4:05 PM
No, it’s not, because it’s an Annenberg Foundation project. You know them, they gave O’bama one of his first jobs?
You should take your ball and go home. You just had the getalife beaten out of you.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 4:08 PM
The Philly police department has some ‘splaining to do. The “police report” seems a tad bogus at this point.
rollthedice on October 21, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Snort!
jwolf on October 21, 2009 at 4:16 PM
No, I have a feeling its a legitimate COMPLAINT REPORT. The culprit is ACORN who filed the report AFTER who was being complained about had already left the premises…and as the video shows, filed what looks like a COMPLETELY FALSE report.
Highlar on October 21, 2009 at 4:18 PM
“Heavy editing?”
You mean, like a Michael Moore mockumentary?
Hieronymus on October 21, 2009 at 4:22 PM
You just had the getalife beaten out of you.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Besides that, it’s time to go ride his unicorn around the back yard.
kingsjester on October 21, 2009 at 4:25 PM
With Simpleshithead riding “b!tch.” :)
NathanG on October 21, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Rbastid, with your accuracy about the headlines can you give me some lottery numbers?
Hyunchback on October 21, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Dang, where’s the T-shirt maker when you find a great line?
Hyunchback on October 21, 2009 at 4:31 PM
This is so delicious I’m virtually drooling.
Two kids, a camera, and a dedication beyond description is all it takes to expose the liberal under-belly in all it’s ugliness.
These two deserve Freedom Medals. (Awarded by a conservative President….named Palin)
All the high-powered help at the top of the RNC can do is watch as their incompetence is exposed by 2 true conservatives.
2 words for the RNC: Eat this!
BobMbx on October 21, 2009 at 4:36 PM
BOOM!
The sound of Bertha Lewis being slammed down. Acorn is over.
HornetSting on October 21, 2009 at 4:37 PM
besides the ny case (which seems relatively inconsequential), what other instances can you cite that go beyond voter registration fraud? do you have any proof that obama is implicated in any way with acorn shenanigans besides his guilt-by-association as a former community organizer? and what interstate criminal activity do you mean?
the suggestion that acorn is engaged in some sort of conspiracy is patently ridiculous. but hey, go after them all you want – the less time you spend on important things, the better for the rest of us; see my original comment.
sesquipedalian on October 21, 2009 at 4:38 PM
What’s absurd is how long it took for this situation to be fixed.
It reminds me of Intervention, where the people are so at the bottom, what other choice do they have?
LOL*
I mean, really.
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Thanks for your concern, but don’t worry, there’s enough of us to handle the load. Plus, we practically invented multi-tasking.
(Thats being able to do more than one thing at a time, FYI)
BobMbx on October 21, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Oh yes, read the affadavits from people regarding ACORN activities in the Texas caucuses.
It’s disgusting.
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Andrew has sometimes a great notion. He really throws the Obama Kool-Aid ACORN Test “Further”
OnUnder the Bus and has defenders of The One flying over the Cuckoo’s Nest.Christien on October 21, 2009 at 4:41 PM
ACORN is relevant because the Democrats protected this group for years and years, ignoring all complaints.
Well, guess what. They let a group without any real moral compass steer the boat.
That is why this story is relevant.
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 4:42 PM
you must be one of the few surviving PUMAs that still hold a grudge. let it go.
sesquipedalian on October 21, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Hey! Looky here…here’s one of those Obama voters who changed their mind.
Next thing we’ll see from Ann is how ObamaCare will crash the current health care system and eventually bankrupt the US.
You know who is missing in action lately? Clenis. Not a word for weeks. My money is on him garnering support, quietly, for a Hillary run in 2012.
BobMbx on October 21, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Translation:
Yeah, there was that little New York thing, and, ok, ACORN may have cost Hillary the nomination, but other than that, really, what harm have they done?
notropis on October 21, 2009 at 4:53 PM
I dont know about you but I think imperiling trust in the democratic system is pretty big. If you cant trust the outcome of your elections then how do you trust your leaders to be rightfully elected?
I think you are wrong to assume that ACORN is playing an insignificant part.
Have you seen the news about the Afghanistan elections lately? How about the trouble with Iran’s elections?
canditaylor68 on October 21, 2009 at 4:55 PM
AMAZING.
Bang up job, guys!
RedNewEnglander on October 21, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Come on, kid. What is voter registration fraud, anyway? It’s an attempt to fraudulently register voters in order to influence the outcome of an election.
Even the idiots at wiki know that much.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Liberal fight!!!
uknowmorethanme on October 21, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Snort. I’m rooting for Ann. She’s more likeable.
NathanG on October 21, 2009 at 5:19 PM
I hope they infiltrated some training sessions, too.
darwin-t on October 21, 2009 at 5:20 PM
HHAAHA….I love it. MMFA response on their website is laughable, but then you figure out they are being serious. Their organization is actually quite sad. How are they a 5013(C)??
nazo311 on October 21, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Millions and millions of yours and my tax dollars going to this corrupt group is not significant. I’m glad you’ve got money to throw away.
fbcmusicman on October 21, 2009 at 5:29 PM
No doubt she’s the House favorite.
uknowmorethanme on October 21, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Nah. All Obama has to do is throw ACORN under the bus and all will be tearfully forgiven. (BTW, that’s only the acronym “A.C.O.R.N.” It will have to be changed. Of course the organization itself – the nationalized version of the Daley Political Machine – isn’t going anywhere.)
In in the near future – once a large enough pile of dirty laundry has been cleaned out – Obama will issue his two-hundredth-in-a-row Most Articulate Speech in the History of Articulate Speeches railing about how “This was not the ACORN I knew I thought about”. (Or something. It never matters in the slightest what actual words He uses, or the order He puts them in. All that ever matters is how gosh-darned articulately He says them.)
…And they’ll all come running back to him. Because this time he means it. Really. They can tell. They can just tell. This time it’s for real.
logis on October 21, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Someone care to ask Eric Holder exactly at what point between now and the collapse of Western Civilization does he plan to officially open a criminal investigation of ACORN and its affiliates?
pilamaye on October 21, 2009 at 5:35 PM
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Acorn is corrupt through and through, and Obama is hip-deep in it. I’ve been wondering how long he could keep his corruption below the surface. The more Acorn gets investigated, the closer it gets to Obama personally.
Most important issue? Maybe not. But it’s no minor distraction, no matter how hard you try to pretend otherwise.
tom on October 21, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Voters are practical. I disagree.
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 5:48 PM
I don’t think so. I think it’s about as relevant as the story about Hillary being on the Wall-Mart board.
The truth was that Sam couldn’t stand her. *haha
AnninCA on October 21, 2009 at 5:49 PM
he’s too busy right now, investigating the New Black Panthers intimidating voters in Philadelphia.
Oh, that’s right. He gave them a pass.
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 5:54 PM
I took all that dead air as a nice piece of sandbagging too… Excellent move! Miss Whatsherface will be racking her brain in an attempt to recall the details she lied about up till now. Lets the media maggots squirm a bit too while they wonder just how badly they were had by Obama’s alma mater… Acorn
-
RalphyBoy on October 21, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Talk about an immature post. You are seriously lacking. No wonder Obama won. There is a reason the left dumbed down our schools and you are a shining example.
CWforFreedom on October 21, 2009 at 6:01 PM
If indeed O’Keefe shows the whole video, and it disputes what ACORN told Police after the fact, in order to get a police report to flail around at media, then they in fact filed a false police report… which is against the law.
Gosh, ACORN… just can’t find law on your side.
Enoxo on October 21, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Oh puh-leeze. You’ve conveniently forgotten what Captain Ed posted here on Hot Air a month ago.
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/22/john-fund-lets-not-forget-obamas-acorn-connections/
Del Dolemonte on October 21, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Proving once again the sagacity of the old adage, “Revenge is a dish which is best served cold.”
smellthecoffee on October 21, 2009 at 6:21 PM
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