Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

MarineReconDad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:20:24 GMT

A new congressional report accuses the radical activist group ACORN of organized criminal activities. I will have a full article here on the American Spectator website in the morning about it.

The report, called "Is ACORN Intentionally Structured As a Criminal Enterprise?" comes from minority staff on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The ranking member on the committee, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California), is appearing on the "Glenn Beck Program" on Fox News today to discuss the report.

The report, available here , contains information about the ACORN network's interlocking directorates, various unethical and possibly unlawful activities, and the shocking fact that despite its mounting legal problems, ACORN remains eligible for $8.5 billion in federal funds this year.

Here's an excerpt from the congressional report:

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has repeatedly and deliberately engaged in systemic fraud. Both structurally and operationally, ACORN hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate.

Emerging accounts of widespread deceit and corruption raise the need for a criminal investigation of ACORN. By intentionally blurring the legal distinctions between 361 tax-exempt and non-exempt entities, ACORN diverts taxpayer and tax-exempt monies into partisan political activities. Since 1994, more than $53 million in federal funds have been pumped into ACORN, and under the Obama administration, ACORN stands to receive a whopping $8.5 billion in available stimulus funds.

Operationally, ACORN is a shell game played in 120 cities, 43 states and the District of Columbia through a complex structure designed to conceal illegal activities, to use taxpayer and tax-exempt dollars for partisan political purposes, and to distract investigators. Structurally, ACORN is a chess game in which senior management is shielded from accountability by multiple layers of volunteers and compensated employees who serve as pawns to take the fall for every bad act. [...]

Congressional Democrats have shown little interest in probing ACORN. After initially expressing interest in an investigation, House Judiciary Committee John Conyers (D-Michigan), a longtime ACORN ally, backed off saying "the powers that be decided against it."

The website of "Lou Dobbs Live" indicates Issa will also be on that show at 7 p.m. (Eastern) tonight to talk about the report.

Why should ACORN in light of this report get "One thin dime" of money? Would the government openly subsidize the Mafia?

If the Democrats and Obama and anyone else who voted, allow this money to go to ACORN they should be charged with conspiracy!

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

mayhaven — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:56:38 GMT

Hi MarineReconDad. Reading your post brought to mind something else about ACORN that happened several years back. Remember the so called "deal" they came to with the infamous, now defunct Ameriquest Mortgage? Look what happened afterward...ACORN kinda defeated one of their "many" purposes with that stunt dontcha think? I wonder if any of the citizens that ACORN was supposedly fighting for at the time are still living in their homes after the big "settlement"? I doubt it...but boy, oh boy, did ACORN get some good press after that "fight". But they won right? Oh, wait...how can you win anything against a company you ended up in cahoots with? Silly me.

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

imaxies9 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:26:52 GMT

ACORN.org Members Volunteers Donate Press Home About ACORN Our Work Take Action Join ACORN Donate Now Signup for Updates Offices

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Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now

Roots of a Social Justice Movement (1970-75)

The sixties were an important time in the history of American politics. The decade witnessed struggles for freedom for low-income people and minorities across the nation as well as a war that deeply divided all Americans. Amid the confusion and conflict, some important lessons were learned by those who cared deeply about America and her people - lessons that would endure and make a lasting impact on the nation.
One of the groups that took risks, explored new ideas and developed a unique formula for a politics of justice in America was the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO), led by George Wiley. Wiley developed and led the National Welfare Rights Organization in the mid-sixties to become a national force for the needs and rights of low-income people.
By 1966, the NWRO had 170 groups in 60 cities across the nation. Despite the very real needs of its members, NWRO was destined to remain a small minority with limited power in American politics unless it could build a network of friends and allies. When this reality became clear, Wiley began an experiment that would explore the possibilities of a larger constituency for economic justice. He sent Wade Rathke, his young and talented organizer, to Little Rock, Arkansas to apply his creativity to the problem.
Rathke's task in Little Rock was monumental. He had to create a movement that would bring NWRO organizing to groups that should support it yet had little sympathy for its cause, such as conservative, low- and moderate-income Southern whites. Even worse, he had to do this in a state that was deeply racially divided, fundamentally conservative and run by a wealthy political elite.
But, because Wiley, Rathke and the NWRO took the cause of economic justice seriously and studied and respected the traditions of social justice movements in American history, they saw possibilities and opportunities where others did not. They founded a movement that would unite races, join neighborhoods and unify the interests and efforts of low- and moderate- income people wherever they lived or worked.
When Rathke arrived in Little Rock in 1970, he began a campaign to help welfare recipients attain their basic needs - clothing and furniture. This drive, inspired by a clause in the Arkansas welfare laws, began the effort to create and sustain a social justice movement that would grow to become the Arkansas Community Organizations for Reform Now - ACORN.
The goal was to unite welfare recipients with working people in need around issues of free school lunches for schoolchildren, unemployed workers' concerns, Vietnam Veterans' rights and hospital emergency room care. Thus, an idea was born that would grow and adapt, thrive and flourish, and become a powerful movement from coast to coast.

ACORN History

> Roots of a Social Justice Movement (1970-75)

> Early Growth

> Electoral Campaigns

> The Growth of the Movement (1975-1980)

> ACORN 80 Results

> The Reagan Era (1980-1985)

> Organization Building

> Maturity and the Future (1985-90)

> Sharing the Dream

> Lessons Learned and Applied

> Opportunities and Threats (1990-95)

> Insider Opportunities

> New Threats

> New Victories, 1995 - 2002

About ACORN:

> The History of ACORN

> Program and Philosophy

> The People's Platform

> ACORN Accomplishments

> ACORN's Annual Reports

> Allied Organizations

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

imaxies9 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:34:23 GMT

and Applied This period also witnessed a series of ideas that ACORN® adopted to enhance its effectiveness: organizational alliances, electoral politics, national lobbying, diversification and the insiders' power game. While the movement maintained its core commitments, it added some effective means to enhance its power, the bottom line in all its efforts. Starting after the ACORN® 80 Plan and reaching its heights in the Rainbow Lobby work in 1988, ACORN® found ways to work effectively with other progressive groups, such as labor, churches- and political movements. The 1984 Reagan Ranches convinced other progressive folks of ACORN®'s resolve to work effectively with others. In city after city, groups provided members, resources and enthusiasm to the ranches to protest Reagan's domestic and foreign policies. The Rainbow Lobby was a strong force in Democratic Party politics in 1988 because of ACORN®'s hard work and ability to coordinate efforts with other groups. This experience confirmed the value of building and working within alliances. Electoral politics also became a powerful weapon in the ACORN® arsenal. While they were not new to ACORN®'s work - they were first tried in 1972 - they were refined and institutionalized within ACORN®. The work with the Rainbow Lobby was clear proof of ACORN®'s electoral abilities. APAC work in local and national electoral politics paid off, not just in campaigns won but in influence wielded within parties or among voters. ACORN® groups discovered the possibilities of getting candidates to see things their way before an election, push for turnout and support, and continue to influence officeholders. They were even successful in electing members to offices in city councils, boards of education and, in Connecticut, the state legislature. ACORN® also developed the capacity to influence office holders it had not been involved with in elections. The creation of the national office in Washington, DC made it possible to push ACORN® issues at the federal level. Their work in pushing for funding of innovative community programs to prevent rape was one example of the possible connections to local and community ACORN® efforts. The national lobbying arm of ACORN® is only one example of the diversification within ACORN® that was basic to its success. The ACORN® Housing Corporation worked to create affordable housing in conjunction with banks and state and local government. The United Labor Unions, now Locals 100 and 880 of the Service Employees International Union, became labor organizing arms of ACORN® which organize people where they work. ACORN® Services, Inc. and the canvassing operations enhanced ACORN®'s ability to create the financial resources needed to grow. The Arkansas Institute for Social Justice became the means for developing leadership skills and political talents among the ACORN® members. What was once a relatively simple organization of community groups has became a diversified system of institutions capable of applying specialized skills to solving the kinds of problems ACORN® encounters in its work. Finally, ACORN® began playing the insiders' game in American politics. Congressional lobbying is practiced by ACORN® staff. Leaders and members became a central part of the insiders' games, too. Members elected to office or serving on APACs acquire experience and skill applying power from the inside of the political process. Instead of confronting opponents in actions (something ACORN® will never stop doing), members could trade and negotiate from inside positions of power. ACORN®'s work on the savings and loan bailout provided effective means of developing and applying power for low- and moderate- income people. ACORN® members won appointment to the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) to help determine the management of the billions of dollars of assets the government seized. The payoff to these activities came, and still comes, when substantial numbers of ACORN® members developed the ability to move inside the political sphere that has for so long been closed to low- and moderate-income people.

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

bluebird — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:14:02 GMT

Obama ran on the reg.. g.i. joe, poor people, struggling to make ends me, like me and grandson.... why would i agree he give it to his friends???

what i draw barely pays house/light/water bills.... and he puts billions in corporations, and banks, and buddies.... lol

then they say medicare/medicaid is being trimmed lol again........

No his buddy should get what we get....::::: peanuts..

Obama ran on the platform of the little man, the reg. G>I> Joe... and the struggling american fighting to keep a roof over their families, and food on the table... now they speak of trimming medicaid/medicare... and health care....

he poured money into banks, corporations, and big guys games, and forgot about us poor.... lol...... what happen to his brain? or his words? Maybe Michelle could hit him over the head with his "beer" what a statment to invite others to the white house to drink Beer.... when so maybe kids go hungry now because Dad stops at beer store on Friday's instead of bringing pay check home to feed the family....

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

MarineReconDad — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:44:35 GMT

God Bless You for seeing this imposter and liar for what he is! But don't forget his friend in crime, Pelosi,Waxman,Frank,Schumer.. they ALL need to GO!

MRD

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

annette — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:57:46 GMT

You can't blame the president for some sorry loser stopping at the local liquor store to buy beer instead of feeding his children!!! Acorn has been around for how many decades???? And now every other SORRY LOSER is blaming the PRESIDENT for something that's been on going for years, just because he's BLACK????!!!!!!! WOW!! It takes a rocket scientist to figure this one out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Why Should ACORN get One Thin Dime Of Stimulus Money?

LocoLady — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:00:17 GMT

You're right, Acorn has been around for years and corrupt for years and Obama worked for them for years. He was their Lawyer and their community organzer, they are all community organizers. They helped Obama get into office and like all the other people and corporations that helped him they are being genrously paid back. They are mostly black , so what, does that make them exempt from scrutiny because they are black, are they entitled to a free pass because they are predominately black, thats a little racist don't you think? Aren't you black folks getting a little tired of using the race card? Obama is half white, his white Mother was a communist and so was his black Father and her boyfriend before him, its equal opportunity communism. When Black people stop defining themselves by their color maybe you will get somewhere, Michael Steel is black and no one is complaining about him and Alan Keyes who is blacker than Obama has just won a victory and a court date to prove that obama was not even born in this country. Hillary Clinton, who is white, is involved in this deception and will be in court as well, how is this racism? I think you are the one with the racial problem.