Cracking the ACORN Case

re: Cracking the Acorn Case

max in fl — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:07:15 GMT

Media campaigns immediately before elections were a key part of voter caging operations.

Part of the strategy was to call a press conference to announce the filing of mass challenges

on the eve of the filing deadline. The challenges were billed as evidence of massive voter

fraud although the voter caging lists were, in fact, only evidence of returned mailings.

Frequently, the pre-election media campaigns alleging voter fraud were as vigorously, or

more vigorously, carried out than the challenges themselves.

• After an initial voter caging operation in Arizona in 1958, a nationwide voter caging

campaign dubbed “Operation Eagle Eye” was conducted in 1964 by the RNC and state

Republican parties in major metropolitan areas. Voter caging and other voter challenge

operations continued in isolated states during the 1980s and early 1990 and re-emerged

on the political scene as nationwide campaign strategy in 2004.

• I n 2004, political operatives targeted more than half a million voters in voter caging

campaigns in nine states. At least 77,000 voters had their eligibility challenged between

2004 and 2006.

• A t least five states with competitive political environments enacted changes to their voter

challenge statutes just before and after the 2004 election. Three states with Republican controlled

legislatures, Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio, made it easier for private individuals

to challenge a voter’s eligibility while Washington and Minnesota passed laws making it

harder for private persons to challenge voters. Minnesota specifically outlawed the use of

caging lists compiled from returned mail sent by a political party.

http://projectvote.org/fileadmin/ProjectVote/Publications/Caging_Democracy_Report.pdf

re: Cracking the Acorn Case

max in fl — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:10:53 GMT

Voter caging is a practice of sending non-forwardable direct mail to registered voters and

using the returned mail to compile lists of voters, called “caging lists,” for the purpose of

challenging their eligibility to vote. In recent years, other techniques, such as database

matching, have been used to compile challenger lists.

• State voter challenge statutes permit partisan individuals to challenge and disqualify voters,

frequently without providing clear standards. These statutes often have their origins in post-

Reconstruction laws that were enacted to deprived African American voters of their franchise.

• These voter caging campaigns, as noted by three researchers at Rice University, arose

simultaneously with the development of the Republican “Southern Strategy” in the

1960’s. Under that strategy, the Party decided to woo disaffected white voters in the

South through rhetorical appeals to “states rights.”

• Documents submitted during civil litigation have established that voter caging operations were

directed consciously and specifically at jurisdictions with large numbers of minority voters. At

least one public statement by a state Republican office-holder and private communication

between party officials evidence an unambiguous intent to suppress Black votes. Precincts

that had historically high percentage of voters supporting Democratic candidates, which were

often minority precincts, were also targeted for voter caging operations.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Nins — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:55:30 GMT

Funny how no one mentions that the GOP has filed lawsuits in several key states to block voters from voting who don't have drivers licences, and further that the address has to match the address on the voter registration. Why did they do this? Because 18% of blacks don't have a drivers license. This is Rove's way of squelching the black vote. Also, the matching address law is another tactic to bar legitimate citizens from exercising their right to vote. Younger voters are more likely to vote for Obama. Younger people move more often than seniors, so their addresses are less likely to match their voter registration. Bingo!, another key bloc of Obama supporters are being targeted by the GOP and barred from the polls.

Most of these Acorn allegations don't hold water anyway. Good article by the Stumper.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

orion12 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:28:22 GMT

This is a good one, Andrew. I must say that this is what I call good journalism.

What bothers me with the way people discuss these issues is that they just accuse without having the fact. This article is clears the air. And I am sure that there will not be many negative comments because there is nothing to argue about.

Let us see how you handle the debate and how you can get a good discussion going.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Average Joe2 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:04:08 GMT

You forget that early voting is occuring and at some point these votes are going to be counted without challenge. Too much work with too little time.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

pastorized — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:16:15 GMT

Romano, you, like Acorn, are a nut. Voter registration fraud is ok? How much time and energy has to be wasted, and could be directed elswhere, because of these incidents? I know I am just a stupid conservative who is not nearly as smart as you in the media, but any kind of tampering with the election is harmful to the overall process. The Democrats know where they have lost the election in 2000 & 2004, they are trying to correct it. Why can't you intelligent type see the truth?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

woohoo — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:36:53 GMT

People will hound ACORN forever but will say nothing about Repugs stealing the 2000 and 2004 elections. There's always that pesky double standard when color is concerned.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

arkay — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:40:18 GMT

I cannot believe this convoluted thinking. If there were instances of voter registration fraud then there were instances of voter fraud that probably was not detected. For example, how many people voted with a deceased persons name or the someone who moved out of the state and did not inform the election offices.

This is the type of thinking that politicians put out, only part of the story.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

rogerhall — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:43:24 GMT

ACORN is *not* attempting to create fraudulent registrations. They are encouraging people in the poorest neighborhoods in the US to engage in ownership of their own country.

I am constantly bemused by Republican assertions; they repeat the lie until the sheep believe it must be true (since everyone is saying it).

ACORN is trying to rebuild the fabric of our democracy, so John McCain says they are “undermining” it. What they undermine is Republican power, not American democracy.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

thetruthandnothingbut — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:09:14 GMT

A report by the league of Women Voters in Ohio interviewed Boards of Elections in all 88 Ohio counties and found that of the 9 Million votes cast in 2000 and 2004 general elections, a total of 4(four) fraudulent votes were cast. Most Americans now see these claims of fraud for what they are: a huge attempt to distract and mislead.

ACORN'S historic and actually VERY Organized campaign to register 1.3 Million voters was a hugely patriotic endeavor-bringing more Americans into the voting process, making our democracy more vibrant. Registering 1.3 M new voters, hiring and managing over 14,000 workers and a sophisticated Quality Control operation that actually flagged and turned in most of the bogus cards is an incredible undertaking!

For all those who are concerned about the "Voter Registration Fraud", I call on you to join in efforts to enact Universal voter registration, so that every American is automatically registered, I'm sure you support that, right?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

joebloww — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:14:06 GMT

@ Pastorized:

You suffer from selective hearing apparently. The article states: "This has undoubtedly made life more difficult for the local officials tasked with verifying applications, and ACORN should be held accountable."

The point here is that whatever ACORN is responsible for, it IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE ELECTION. IMAGINARY PEOPLE CANNOT CAST A VOTE.

If you're so concerned with election tampering, why don't you read up on the bogus "hanging chad" incident in Florida last election, that allowed our current Moron In Charge to be re-elected. Or, why the RNC is trying to have ~200,000 voters removed from the general election in Ohio, even though it is illegal to have systematic voter removal within 90 days of a federal election.

We intelligent types CAN see the truth, because we seek it out. YOU "stupid conservatives" [sic] prefer to see only what you want to, when you're not sticking your head in the sand. Republican politicians are typically shady and corrupt, and they gain power by manipulating the naive conservative citizens of our country.

Please put down the Bible for a little while and educate YOURSELF.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

clearthink007 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:34:34 GMT

How dense can people be regarding the apparent advantages to Obama's campaign and the Democrat party of ACORN registering people to vote? Without a doubt, the overwhelming majority of ACORN employees are registered Democrats. Most of the photos showing offices and workers in ACORN offices show they a staffed primarily by African Americans. And yes, I can already hear the howls of readers yelling: "Racist!" and "Redneck". I am neither. Nor am I a hardcore Republican. I am an independent voter. I have grave concerns regarding both the Democrats and Republicans in terms of best serving our country. There is far too much pandering to special interest groups, too much 'political correctness', too much ignoring the long-term and even the short-term consequences of pledging billions of dollars toward every conceivable problem by our national leaders. But back to the primary problem: why is it important for a government-funded program like ACORN to be registering potential voters? If there wasn't a clear benefit to ACORN's special interests, they wouldn't be so militant in defending their voter registration involvement. And if there wasn't significant value to Obama's campaign, why would they be donating money to ACORN and groups with close ties to ACORN? And registering large blocks of voters, and promoting people who normally do not vote to become active and involved in a presidential campaign? You want everyone to believe all of this is completely unbiased and objective? How stupid do you think the American public is? Voter registration should only be promoted by non-paid, completely unbiased groups such as the League of Women Voters who have no political agenda or financial stake in registering only the 'poor and disadvantaged'. There needs to be a special investigation into why ACORN is involved in registering voters and why it should receive funding when it is obvious that it was originated and designed to be a special interest activity that benefits the Democrat party.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

no-american — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:50:12 GMT

Are you also on the campaign payroll? You tried very hard to play down and make light of the voter fraud of ACORN. Damn Obama....who cares? We all know he will stop at nothing and say anything to get elected. But you are making light of voter fraud....to the point of joking. This is a federal CRIME....thousands of the. This is not funny. The media has already stolen this election, yet, you keep gouging! I have cancelled all my news magazine at home and the offices. When I want unbiased news, I will buy an Inquirer, You are pathetic. Since everyone knows who the golden boy of ACORN is, you are not hot on the trail of this story. You would rather spend your time on something that is really ridiculous as troopergate. I would have done more than fire someone if they had tassered a little boy. Do you know whay 'mountain oysters' are?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

thehappyamerican — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:50:41 GMT

ACORN's is about getting a President in the whaite house sympathetic to Ayres causes...which are to take over the DNC and to bring the violence around the world to the American streets!

That Obama was 8 years old once upon a time is entirely LAME and if elected we will hear plenty of lame explinations with the old Clinton Americans Suck First campaign which messmerizes America's Leftists and Liberals.

Obama did noy stay 8 years old and the goals and radicalism of the Weather Undrground is alive and well!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

mixman34 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:02:03 GMT

You fool, Obama gave cash to ACORN which is also a recipient of taxpayers cash. To perform ANY sort of vote fraud is completely unacceptable! FOOLS we are for giving them any money. While I don't believe Obama gave them cash so as to influence the election, his bad judgment didn't see this organization as being so fraudulent. THEY are the ones defrauding the electoral system and shouldn't be givena dime by candidates or taxpayers for that matter.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Jack 8590 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:13:11 GMT

Hey HappyAmerican -

Get a life.

McCain says Obama is a good man, a good family man, and would be fine as president. They just have different views.

Holy Mary - you are the problem with America, not the solution.

The KKK is still alive and well - does that mean all "conservatives" are allied with them? I am sure you can find more than a handful of conservative politicians that have the same kind of ties you accuse Obama of having with Ayres.

For heaven's sake, they were colleages at the U. of Chicago. What's he supposed to do, ignore him?

If you think Obama is a terrorist, then vote for McCain.

But if you relly think Obama is a terrorist - then you need to get a life.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Texanna33 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:13:39 GMT

You mean Obama may steal the election....kinds like Bush did?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Jack 8590 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:14:14 GMT

mixman -

There is no get out the vote drive done by conservatives? C'mon - get real.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Mark in PA. — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:18:04 GMT

Typical Fox News non-logic. Thanks to Newsweek for explaining things rationally. Republican in PA voting for Obama ( only once this time around)

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Mary E — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:18:40 GMT

Why do we even need ACORN? It's because counties and state governments don't both to attempt to register all voters. Why doesn't government send out neutral volunteers to register voters in all areas? Instead, we have a system whereby each political party is forced to send volunteers to areas to register voters. Since Republicans are more affluent, they have been able to register their constituents. ACORN has leveled the playing field by registering lower income voters, who also have the right to vote too. ACORN has voluntarily turned in the bogus registrations. Furthermore, in order to vote here in my state, you have to show your driver's license or state ID card. In order to register, you have to also show a valid ID. If the bogus registration do not have the proper ID, they are simply tossed.

Finally, let us not forget how in 2000, Kathryn Harris, the Florida Secretary of State, prevented about 20,000 legitimate voters from voting by improperly linking their names to felons. Talk about voter fraud and stealing an election!!!!!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

thehappyamerican — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:21:12 GMT

At one time Ayres is making bombs and exploding them in a war declared by the Weather Underground on the American government (specificly) which was also a war on the american people as being Guilty of some fanatical idiots' paranoia.

From there, Ayres has graduated to attacking the USA election and due process!And serially and for years.

Obama may have been 8 years old once upon a time but he's not anymore! Unless he is 8 years old between the ears...in which case he should not be the next president of the USA!

But he's a great ROCK STAR! The Europeans thought an American 8-year-old was awesome!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Commonsense67 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:22:31 GMT

What is really amazing is the double standard that the media blatantly practices and the unabashed bias of liberal journalists.

Here we have a defense of an organization that uses bullying tactics to intimidate bankers to give loans to people who don't qualify (aka subprime mortgages). Here we have an organization that is admittedly radical - and here we have a journalist calling it "patriotic". Here we have Moral relativism at it's best.

Let's pretend for a moment that this was a group of far right Christians who submitted false names on registration forms and this group favored John McCain. Would it still be "patriotic" or would it then become "voter fraud"? I think we all know the answer to that.

As for Mr. Obama. It would be one thing if the man had one asssociation that was shady. Or even a few shady associations from different types - but isn't it odd that EVERY single association he has is with a radical group or person? Rev Wright - radical anti white and anti gov't. Ayers? radical terrorist who sets off bombs and feels it more important to teach radicalism than math. Mr Odinga of Kenya? Wait, Obama was 20 at the time, he didn't know the man was a murderer and Marxist. ACORN? A radical group.

And no one finds this disturbing in the media? The ones that do - Fox and Drudge are merely "whipping up anti Obama stories, trying to discredit him". I recall the mere rumor of McCain having an affair with a lobbyist garnering front page news. Dan Rather had no issue attacking Bush without evidence in 2004 - but day after day we discover evidence of Obama's radical beliefs, and that's ok.

Mr. Romano, your blatant bias might be better put to use writing fiction.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Hameiri — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:27:39 GMT

It seems to me, that although this could be somewhat innocent like you say, having bogus registrations would make it easier to commit voter fraud by voting with your real registration, and then voting, maybe in other locations, with a bogus one (or more). Probably, this would be done with another name than Mickey's.

So, I would like to think you are right, we have nothing to worry about, but that may not be true.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Hameiri — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:33:27 GMT

Imaginary people CAN cast a vote! If they are registered, you just have to show up and vote under their name.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

tonyzito — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:34:05 GMT

Clearthink007, there is absolutely nothing illegal or unethical about attempting to register voters while being registered with a political party. I don't know where you get such a notion. And there will be virtually no case in which any of the fake registrations lead to illegal voting (nine US attorneys were dumped by Bush in part because they couldn't find any evidence of this kind of voter fraud!). There is nothing - N-O-T-H-I-N-G - here for anyone to complain about. I wish that there was as much outrage about tactics like massive purges of the voting rolls and intimidating mailing campaigns, which tend to keep people from voting. You appear to be angry because of how you think those registered might vote. If it is likely that most newly registered voters will vote Democratic, that is a problem for the Republican Party to fight by honest campaigning, not by means of their usual "stop the vote" strategy. If you are truly an independent, you will not abet this nonsense.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

MarkInColumbus — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:40:36 GMT

Ohio had one week when people could register and vote at the same time. ACORN was heavily involved in rounding up people and sending them into vote. There were reports that they told homeless people what address to use and who to vote for. Ohio's Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, is resisting calls to investigate these practices. If there is any actual voter fraud involved, Brunner will not be the one to find it.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Lancesmother — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:40:46 GMT

Republicans will use an tactic necessary to try to win this election. It is not the "Liberal" media that is sheds a bad light on these Right Wing desperados, the "bad light" is a self inflicted wound.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

magnolialover — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:47:14 GMT

I have read a few comments on here, specifically from right wingers, who cry foul and liberal bias about this piece. Funny thing is, they can't denounce it, because it provides actual real facts. Only in the world of crazed right wingers is this "liberal" bias (which doesn't exist) in the media when they are presented with the facts behind ACORN.

And we keep hearing the same canard about Obama being associated with "shady" individuals. This is blatantly NOT true either. William Ayers, once a very bad man, has turned his life around, and has been working on creating better educational systems in and around Chicago for years now. This doesn't excuse what he did in the 60's, but from the time that Obama came to casually know him, he was a decent hard working man at that point in his life, and wasn't "shady" at all. Obama has no ties to Odinga of Kenya. This has been debunked, time and again. If you want to talk about actual real shady associations, how about the FACT that McCain's transition team leader once lobbied for Saddam Hussein and Iraq? ACORN is NOT a radical group. Why are they radical? You people keep saying that they are, but they're not. They work within the confines of the law to advance their agenda.

This article is not biased. Rather attacked Bush, and was right (Bush was AWOL from his National Air Guard duties, nobody disagreed with that). Ayers ties to Obama had a front page story just this last week, although this had already been debunked. The McCain story about his alleged affair with an aide, that died off in about a day. Liberal bias in the media is a myth, and looking at the stories out there, proves it out on a daily basis.

Why don't we hear about McCain's ties to Saddam Hussein if we're playing the guilt by association card so much? Why don't we hear about McCain's direct ties to Gordon Liddy? What about McCain's ties to Keating?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

mixman34 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:49:41 GMT

Jack 8590,

Who said there wasn't? All I'm saying is this organization is under federal indictment for the past few election cycles. Not to mention in one case was giving a man cigarettes and cash so as to vote 72 times! Anyone who can defend this group of corrupt exploiters, is a fool as well.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

tiredoflies — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:54:00 GMT

In other words:

A whole lot of ado about nothing.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

mixman34 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:54:56 GMT

Not to mention they registered the entire Dallas Cowboys team in I believe Utah but may be wrong on the state. Tell me again they're not acting in foul territory?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

cjay21 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:54:59 GMT

First, to say that "the group (ACORN) unfortunately failed to flag a few" goes beyond misleading. In Lake County, IN, the first 2,000 ACORN registrations were reviewed and HALF were bogus. Second, a group of students registering voters in Ohio claimed residency and were issues absentee ballots and early voting privileges. They are not residents of Ohio. Please explain to me how the Ohio system will prevent this VOTER FRAUD which was the result of Voter Registration fraud. The Ohio State's Attorney is investigating. Furthermore, what about responsibility for your employees? The exectuves of a company are accountable for the actions of their employees. To say that ACORN is the victim (as Obama said in the debate last night) is ridiculous. Finally, no one has said that Obama is trying to steal the election. But given his history with, and large contributions ($800k +) to ACORN, he certainly has some sway with that organization. A candidate with integrity would require them to stop registering voters until the voter fraud and registration fraud ceases. Everyone who reads this post knows that won't happen. And whether they admit it or not, they also know why.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

bennettsusan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:55:18 GMT

no-american: You obviously wanted this column to say something different than it does so you just pretend so. No one is saying that Acorn shouldn't be held accountable for it's paid staffers who are padding their registration lists with made up voters. The point is, that this is wrong. It mucks up the voter registration lists. It is called VOTER REGISTRATION FRAUD and is a misdimeanor offense. Those staffers committing this offense are doing so most likely because it's easier than actually signing someone up. They are cheating their employer, Acorn, by not actually registering as many people as they claim they have. This is counterproductive for Acorn, as their entire purpose is to get more people out to vote and fake ones aren't going to show up at the pols. VOTER FRAUD, as you have accused them of, means Acorn would somehow get unqualified people to vote, thus skewing the election. No one is accusing Acorn of this.

clearthink007: Your ranting has no basis whatsoever. First of all, Acorn, is a grass-roots community organization, not a government funded one. Both the GOP and the DNC give money and resources to organizations that support their platforms.

Acorn has a much broader purpose than voter registration. It is an organization that promotes lots of causes of the lower income community, so yes, their members would be far likelier to vote Democrat. Of course the Obama campaign wants this organization to be sucessful in it's voter drives as it will mostly benefit his campaign, no doubt. Do you for one minute think that there are not organizations that help drive Republican voter registration? Do you think it's also wrong for the GOP to promote and/or give dollars to these groups, because they most certainly do. I would bet that there is more than one Anti-abortion group working mightily to register voters who will vote based on pro-life and that is certain to help John McCain. Environmental groups? Obama

How about the NRA? Definitely McCain. The playing field is level. All sides play by the same rules. My feeling is, our country has dismal election turnout. Using passionate issues to get folks to the pols is not a negative thing.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

grego27 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:58:26 GMT

Registering dead people and fake names gives them the opprtunity to use those peoples identity to vote more than once especially sinse the Libs are so against using a simple proccess as showing a photo id to verify that they are who they say they are. Why are you so against some one verifying that the voter is who they say they are???? Maybe voter fraud?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

kpokeefe — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:00:30 GMT

I received a phone call last month by an Acorn representative who tried to entice me into agreeing to vote at multiple voting sites throughout Atlanta. When I asked, "How many votes for Obama do you need from one individual like me?" He said, "As many as you can cast in a 12 hour period." I ask him, "Isn't that illegal?" He responded, Only illegal if you get caught, but who's looking anymore?" I politely hung up on the fella because when this all gets exposed (and it will) somebody will be going to jail and it ain't going to be me. So watchout for this group they're radical, for sure!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

kpokeefe — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:03:59 GMT

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

News and Notes — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:09:07 GMT

Obama can't squirm out of this one. ACORN allegedly registered one voter 73 times. They stuff the registrations with names of dead people, people who live in other states, etc. During the primaries it was worse, particularly in states with no ID requirement, and same day register and vote. ID requirements ensure that nobody impersonates someone else at the polls.

To dismiss Obama's affiliation of the Community Organizing agency is irresponsible. To dismiss the severity of registration fraud is irresponsible.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

News and Notes — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:12:42 GMT

It makes you wonder what happened during the primaries, especially in NC with same day registration and voting

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

chefcdb — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:15:57 GMT

The real problem of voter fraud and voter suppression will be found on the Republican side, as it has been done in the last two Presidential elections. I agree ACORN has more than its share of organizational irresponsibility, but do they actually have the ability to disrupt voters from placing their legal vote? No, the Republican party has two aces in the hole on that count: a) the Secretary of State in each state determines how many poll workers and voting machines are assigned to each precinct. The same Secretary can determine that voter rolls need to be purged, and the most partisan among them, like Katherine Harris of Florida in 2000 and Ken Blackwell of Ohio (both Republican hacks who lost their next elections because their state's voters realized what awful jobs they did by denying voters' rights), systematically remove minority voters and give a nod and a wink to laws designed to protect infrequent and/or newly registered voters. We are seeing the same patterns of disenfranchisement going on in battleground states now, from Ohio to Nevada, where Republican operatives want to disqualify thousands of voters on shaky grounds, thus causing embarrassment, long lines, and less likely to be counted provisional votes. This type of thuggish behavior by Republicans is a cynical yet predictable effort to steal the election by suppressing votes from people who are properly registered.

The easiest thing to do is to refuse to provide enough voting machines to poor minority voting precincts, thus making voters wait in long lines where they may have to choose whether to vote or to go to work/school/childcare/etc. On the nefarious side, you simply choose to wrongly expand the class of voters who are suddenly ineligible to vote by wrongly accusing them as felons, having mismatched info between driver's licenses and where they vote, mismanaging info from newly registered voters, etc.

B) Many states have accepted bids to move to electronic voting machines that are not reliable. Some view that Diebold voting machines can easily be manipulated to kick out votes by one party in an undetected manner, if pre-programmed to have a minor statistical glitch. Since Presidential elections are always the most heavily voted elections, if the voting machine in a state kicks out a small percentage of Democratic votes in every precinct as "a glitch" that obviously tightens a race. The manufacturers of some voting machine companies are starkly partisan, and the worst Secretary of States often rushed to by Diebold voting equipment. Many electronic machines do not have adequate back-up paper trails. There were big discrepancies in 2004 between exit polls in New Mexico and Ohio and the paucity of Democratic votes actually counted in those two states. Kerry decided not to drag the country into another prolonged dispute, but many believe that voter manipulation and suppression, especially in Ohio, stole the election for Bush just as Florida was stolen in 2000.

Luckily, it seems that Republicans are losing too badly to steal another election with their usual array of dirty tricks to cheat voters, but rest assured, the slimy Republican operatives are still trying desperately to deny newly registered voters all across the nation. When you can't win, cheating is the last resort of a scoundrel.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

springfield7 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:27:04 GMT

sign this petition to require a photo id to vote in this election:

http://www.rallycongress.com/voterid/1326/emergency-voter-identification/

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

molsongrrrl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:28:21 GMT

I find it absolutely hilarious that right wingers will go on and on about this organization "stealing" an election after what happened in the last two elections. Both parties support ACORN's efforts. John McCain spoke at an ACORN rally in 2006 - does this mean he too is associated with the group and is trying to steal the election?!? And why is the assumption immediately that the election would be stolen for Obama - when both parties are involved with the group?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Mr Deeds — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:29:38 GMT

I'm sure Mr Romano here knows a lot about Mickey Mouse. He's probably still playing with him! LOL. This guy looks 13.

This is nothing but a political bias article... he's trying to persuade you that Obama's serious lack of judgement in virtually ALL OF HIS ASSOCIATIONS is nothing but a smear tactic. WHAT?? Obama picks his associates, not us... so how is anyone besides Obama responsible for this? Answer that, Andy. This is just one more reason to doubt that Obama has the character to represent us in the high office.

NOTE- Obama led a huge "get out the vote campaign" that he was recognized for in the Chicago area. Then he goes to Acorn to TRAIN THEM. Now they are out collecting fraudulent signatures, using intimidation tactics on people, etc. Now note this- Hillary charged Obama with fraud in the caucauses- you can look it up online.

But I guess Andy, in all his love for Mickey Mouse, just doesn't want to give you true facts. And Newsweek once again disappoints it's readers with a crap article.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

vidadude — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:32:35 GMT

I think the real story here is the Republicans effort to suppress legitimate voters from voting. Now that the Republican machine has opened the door with their hyperbole accusations against ACORN, you will here a lot more about what the Republicans are up to with voter suppression in the near future.

Hardcore illiberal Republicans Lie!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

vidadude — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:34:48 GMT

Hardcore illiberal Republicans Lie!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

snowdogbob2 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:36:59 GMT

To clowns like thehappyamerican and anyone else who thumps the Ayres bandwagon, I have but two words for you-- "Charles Keating". Notice that Obama has not stooped to the level of the Republican candidate by repeatedly (and incessantly) bringing up the past of the Republican "family values" candidates ?? After all, which presidential candidate is divorced?? Oh, yeah, the Republican "family values" man, McCain. And who associated with the man (Charles Keating) who contributed to the taxpayer 3.2 billion dollar bailout of the Savings & Loans and got reprimanded by the Senate?? Again, it is John McCain, one of the "Keating Five". Invoking Ayres is a lot like the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it??

What do we face now? Economic meltdown and crisis. Should we believe McCain, the "deregulator" has changed his stripes or learned anything from the S & L failures?

ACORN and voter fraud?? How do these "known" bad registration cards (not votes, just registrations)compare to the election stealing of the Republican-controlled/appointed Supreme Court? A mere five votes by the Justices "stole" the entire presidential election for Bush!! No fraud? Most legal scholars will tell you that the U.S. Supreme Court should never have even taken up the case, as the U.S. Supreme Court took up a case involving the interpretation of Florida law made by the Florida Supreme Court and interpreted Flodrida's law for them!! Five of the most fraudulent votes ever cast, deciding the outcome of a National election, and noone is prosecuted.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

tiredofextremes — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:41:13 GMT

You know what I hate about the disenfranchisement charges, is that liberal pundits claim that only republicans do this sort of stuff, as if somehow all Republicans are rich, all Democrats are poor, and so only the dems are affected at the polls. In truth, what about the problems with all of the partisan tricks that occur with "get out the vote" registration drives? There's nothing stopping people from getting rid of republican forms since most of those positions are designed to get democrats registered. There have been some reports of that happening, but is that somehow not also disenfranchisement?

Stop the bull-hockey and realize that both parties are as likely to try and stop the other side from voting. Wake up and stop self-medicating on psychotropics. In politics, there is no real high-moral-road taken. Both parties are as dirty as the other. Anybody who claims otherwise really has drunk the party kool-aid. Hypocrites...

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

bennettsusan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:41:15 GMT

clearthink007: Your statement that Acorn has a high percentage of African American staffers, as if this is suppose to point out some inherent flaw with the organization. It is a grass roots organization that lobbies for low income issues, so it makes sense that minories would be interested in this group. So? It's like pointing out that an Anti-Abortion group is made up mostly of Christians, like that somehow diminishes it's purpose.

Acorn is an organization comprised of united low income citizens, who give voice to their common issues and lobby government to address them. You may not agree with their views, but that is no more a measure of legitimacy than anyone discounting your views. Acorn doesn't want Obama to be president because he is African American, though I'm sure they love the aside that he is. They want him to be president because as a Democrat, he is far more likely to look at their issues than a Republican is. Acorn knows that minorities are a large underrepresented voting block in our country and Acorn is trying to get them registered to vote. Sure they know this helps them get a Democrat in office. So what.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

bennettsusan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:41:15 GMT

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

bennettsusan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:41:15 GMT

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

tiredofextremes — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:47:42 GMT

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

rational777 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:03:09 GMT

All this Republican talk about ACORN is vastly exaggerating things to detract from actual voting fraud by Republicans.

From Wikipedia: “During investigations, ACORN has publicly supported the investigations of employees submitting fraudulent voter registration information, has fired them if evidence supports the charges, and has stated its concern with false information on registration forms.[47][48] Officials have stated that ACORN has been cooperative in these investigations”

ACORN, instead of commiting fraud, has instead been helping authorities to ELIMINATE registration fraud. Cries by Republicans that ACORN is perpetrating VOTING fraud is not just FALSE but is also DETRACTING from thePROVEN, ACTUAL VOTER FRAUD PERPETRATED BY REPUBLICANS.

Witness againwhat happened in 2000 and 2004:

1. Voter purges. Florida illegally purged thousands of voters based on very "loose" criteria for ID matches with felons. The criteria for "matches" disregarded dates of birth, genders, middle initials, Jr./Sr., and race, and counted only the first 4 letters in the first name. Illegal purging of voters must never again be tolerated.

2. Conflicts of interest of Elections Officials: Katherine Harris, the chief elections officer for Florida, was also the co-chair of the Bush campaign. Jeb Bush was overseeing Florida's elections even though he was the brother of one of the candidates. Antonin Scalia did not recuse himself in Gore vs. Bush despite that two of his sons were lawyers working for the Bush campaign. Clarence Thomas did not recuse himself despite that his wife had the job of reviewing resumes for potential Bush administration appointees.

3. Illegal counting of absentee ballots: Ballots that were postmarked late were counted.

4. Harrassment/obstruction of voters: Police were citing voters for loitering even when they were just standing in the voting line. Multiple forms of identification were asked for at the polls that were not required by law. No bilignual support at the polls.

5. Shortage of voting machines: Voters stood in line for hours only to be told they couldn't vote because of a shortage of voting machines.

In the current election, there are real conscerns about the electronic voting machines. Scientists at institutions like MIT, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins have reported that there are many potential opportunities for programmers to tamper with voting results tabulated by these machines. Many manufacturers of these voting machines have conflicts of interest, since Diebold (now called Premier Election Solutions), ESS Election Systems & Software, Sequoia, actively raise money for political parties and candidates. Since 2000, many instances of electoral irregularities and fraud surrounding these machines have been reported: See Wikipedia regarding "Electronic Voting."

Everyone should be VIGILENT to prevent these tactics from operating in the upcoming election, with special attention to the REPUBLICANS, since they have actually demonstrated tendencies to commit VOTING FRAUD.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

sandyben — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:06:30 GMT

I don't know why I even bit on the headline about ACORN but foolishley I did. I think your attitude is very condesending in that you had to break the article down in three segments? Who do you think you are? We may be mainstream Americans but we are not stupid or ignorant! I hold a doctorate. Now for point 2 - you need to check your investigative facts about ACORN and Obama. You will find, if you were objective and without spin, that there is a lot of crooked things going on with Obama and ACORN and the FBI is doing a lot more investigating, Consider the registration of the Dallas Cowboys, 4000 in Pennsylvania and more in Ohio and St. Louis. Check the NEWS rather than NEWS WEEK before you do your so called investigative report broken into three digestible parts for understanding. Point 3 - For snowdogbob2 - You are not up on history. Go back and consider the facts about McCain and the Keating group . Read the articles and findings. You will find that you are very wrong or mislead. Also, consider this truth - If Barak Obama had to pass an FBI/CIA background investigation for a Secret/Top Secret Security clearance he would abjectively fail based on his associations alone and then not considering the other involvments in his background. Louis Faracon referrs to him as the messiah? Yet, you want him to be Mr. President? Please don't listen to NewsWeek.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

paulte — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:08:33 GMT

It's not just ACORN. It's Dems going out to register the homeless and stuff like that which is the real story. Wouldn't it be funny if the Republicans swayed the homeless by offering them free pillow cases after the Dems registered them?

Wake up America!

NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA, NOBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:13:58 GMT

Voter caging is overlooked as ACORN expected because it is a system that has been in place for some time and has not been challenged EVEN NOW. The same thing that happened in 2004 is happening now as we type.

http://projectvote.org/fileadmin/ProjectVote/Publications/Caging_Democracy_Report.pdf

ACORN believe it or not is trying to keep things fair, The problem is that for TOO long, no one bothered to see how the votes have been manipulated so Bush got a break... TWICE. McCain had hoped that he would get one also using the same technique. Just as the cat burgular gets caught by going to the same place over and over, McCain is stuck because the Democrats are beginning to place more security in THAT voter manipulation point. The republican's job now is to take out ACORN BEFORE the public LISTENS to what going to happen in 2008. Just like a game of chess, if the Secretary of State or the Attorney General is fired afterwards, that is the cost of McCain winning.

This is not the first time the republicans went after ACORN as an EXCUSE to suppress voter turnout, but SOME people (Democrats) are beginning to see a pattern. The question is WILL they do anything about it in 2008?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

rational777 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:16:43 GMT

It is the Republican Campaign that will go out to commit massive voting fraud, as they have done in the past two elections. I don't know why they try so hard to win in their campaigns but have sucked so much at actually governing the country.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

snowwhitemother — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:25:14 GMT

I don't care the past, but this year ACRON = Democratic. period.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Jim Johnson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:26:46 GMT

Obama's view of the future of America - Socialism which is the next step to Communism!!

Under socialism a ruling class of intellectuals, bureaucrats and social planners decide what people want or what is good for society and then use the coercive power of the State to regulate, tax, and redistribute the wealth of those who work for a living. In other words, socialism is a form of legalized theft.

The morality of socialism can be summed-up in two words: envy and self-sacrifice. Envy is the desire to not only possess another's wealth but also the desire to see another's wealth lowered to the level of one's own. Socialism's teaching on self-sacrifice was nicely summarized by two of its greatest defenders, Hermann Goering and Bennito Mussolini. The highest principle of Nazism (National Socialism), said Goering, is: "Common good comes before private good." Fascism, said

Mussolini, is "a life in which the individual, through the sacrifice of his own private interests??realizes that completely spiritual existence in which his value as a man lies."

Socialism is the social system which institutionalizes envy and self-sacrifice: It is the social system which uses compulsion and the organized violence of the State to expropriate wealth from the producer class for its redistribution to the parasitical class.

Despite the intellectuals' psychotic hatred of capitalism, it is the only moral and just social system.

Capitalism is the only moral system because it requires human beings to deal with one another as traders--that is, as free moral agents trading and selling goods and services on the basis of mutual consent.

Capitalism is the only just system because the sole criterion that determines the value of thing exchanged is the free, voluntary, universal judgement of the consumer. Coercion and fraud are anathema to the free-market system.

It is both moral and just because the degree to which man rises or falls in society is determined by the degree to which he uses his mind. Capitalism is the only social system that rewards merit, ability and achievement, regardless of one's birth or station in life.

Yes, there are winners and losers in capitalism. The winners are those who are honest, industrious, thoughtful, prudent, frugal, responsible, disciplined, and efficient. The losers are those who are shiftless, lazy, imprudent, extravagant, negligent, impractical, and inefficient. [What about the role of luckbeing in the right place at the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time? R. R. Pope}

Capitalism is the only social system that rewards virtue and punishes vice. This applies to both the business executive and the carpenter, the lawyer and the factory worker.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

bennettsusan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:32:28 GMT

I see lots of comments here about how this possible voter registration fraud could turn into voter fraud, certainly a legitimate statement. What is not legitimate, however, is the immediate jump to 'it will turn into voter fraud' or even more illegitmate, 'that it's intention IS voter fraud'. There are absolutely no facts at this point to support this. There is, however, lots of biased propaganda, trying to convince Americans that there is a highly orchestrated attempt, by Acorn, to pad registration lists that will then set the stage for a host of illegal votes. This is akin to saying that if you are speeding on the freeway, you should be given a sentence for involuntary manslaughter before it occurs because it most certainly will occur or you are actually planning on it occuring.

First of all, Acorn has admitted to problems with it's registration process, and has turned into authorities names of individuals it fired before this was pointed out to us by FOX news. I certainly have concern about Acorn's apparent inconsistencies, and these should be addressed,but until there is substantiated data to support such gross charges as voter fraud, I will judge them on what has occurred only. That is, that they have not been judicious enough on who they hire or to the training, or lack of, that they provide.

Secondly, Acorn is getting this heat, deservedly, but there are lots of private voter registration groups from all sides, that are causing local voting administrators headaches. It seems it may be more a problem with the laws that guide these groups than the groups themselves. Local officials say many of these groups hide their registration results until the deadlines, which then flood them with names to check, but cite surprise as the most likely reason for the last minute entries instead of attempted fraud. The vast majority of officials say that it is not a partisan issue and it is unfortunate that some have chosen to insinuate that it is.

Lastly, I can't help but comment on kpokeefe's claim that he/she was prompted by an Acorn rep. to vote 12 times in different locations in Atlanta. This smells as funky as the blog that says "I have been a registered Republican all life, I'm pro-life, anti-gun control, anti- taxes, anti-government programs, and I hate all the Democratic leaders in Congress, but McCain is so bad that I have to vote for Obama." Do you ever read those and say "Yeah, right." Acorn, despite it's problems, has been around for decades. Though a liberal group to be sure, it is not considered fringe. It is also simply not stupid.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:35:21 GMT

Anytime ACORN quality control staff has identified a suspicious application, we have separated that application out and flagged it for election officials. We turn any suspicious applications to election officials separately, along with a cover sheet identifying the nature of the problem and an offer to provide election officials with the information they would need to pursue an investigation or prosecution of the individual. (Note that civic organizations are required by law to turn over ANY signed voter registration applications even when they are known to have problems). We immediately dismiss any employees we suspect of submitting fraudulent registrations.

It was surprising that law enforcement officials appeared suddenly at our Las Vegas offices Tuesday, because ACORN and its attorneys have already been proactive in providing information about problematic cards and any employee suspected of misconduct. In July, ACORN staff and our attorney set up a meeting with Clark County elections officials and a representative of the Secretary of State’s office to urge them to take action on information ACORN had provided. Since then, and as recently as September 29^th , ACORN has provided officials with copies and—in some cases—second copies of many of the personnel records and the "problem card packages" and cover sheets with which we originally identified the problem cards.

ACORN is a community organization dedicated to making everyone’s voice count in the vital public policy debates in our country. Helping citizens become active voters is a crucial part of our work to help build a fairer and more inclusive democracy. We will continue with this important work by encouraging every eligible voter to the polls this November.

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22368&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12387&cHash=b73691350d

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

neos — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:37:24 GMT

Thank you, Andrew, for being a responsible journalist. It is refreshing after seeing Fox and Lou Dobbs do their shoddy slander pieces based on disconnected facts tied together with sleazy innuendo. Bravo!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:45:10 GMT

The republicans are willing to risk disenfranchising some new republican voters if means they can take out MORE new democratic voters

Over the past year, ACORN has worked hard to help over 80,000 people in Clark County register to vote.

Hundreds of canvassers and volunteers have worked for months talking to citizens from Nevada’s most disenfranchised communities and encouraging them to exercise their right to participate in our democracy. Their work has been tireless—they deserve a great deal of credit for spending days in the hot sun at public places from parks to community centers to shopping centers helping citizens complete voter registration applications. Most of the 80,000 registrations they have collected and turned in to election officials come from young people, low income people and minorities—the very people whose voices are too often left out of our electorate.

As part of our NONPARTISAN voter registration program, ACORN staff reviews every single application submitted by our canvassers. Special, dedicated staff makes up to three phone calls attempting to reach the voter listed on EVERY SINGLE CARD before they are turned in to verify the information. Our callers verify the information on the cards before turning them in to election officials to make sure that as many new voters as possible get on the rolls and to make sure that all of our voter registration workers are doing the high quality work they are trained to do.

While the vast majority of our voter registration canvassers do a great job, there have been several times over the past ten months that our Las Vegas Quality Control program has identified a canvasser who appears to have knowingly submitted a fake or duplicate application in order to pad his or her hours.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:58:42 GMT

The partisan attacks, according to ACORN, are nothing new. "All of this has happened before," Whelan said, referring to previous attacks and investigations of ACORN that not only turned out to be politically motivated, but also turned up nothing. Whelan mentioned specifically the New Mexico investigation led by U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in 2004, which turned out later to have been part of the Attorneygate scandal; Iglesias has said he was fired for failing to bring trumped-up charges against ACORN.

The attacks from the McCain campaign were surprising on another front, Kest said, since McCain stood shoulder-to-shoulder with ACORN as the featured speaker at an event in 2006. "We assumed he was a friend, until he decided he wasn't," said Kest.

The speakers all agreed that it was unfortunate that the allegations were being allowed to distract from the real story: the extraordinary enthusiasm and interest of new voters this election cycle. "We have an opportunity this year," said Rapoport. "People by the hundreds of thousands and millions are anxious and eager to register to vote and be part of it. I think the criticism of ACORN is a diversionary issue that should not be allowed to cloud what is happening this year, which is an extraordinary flowering of democracy. ACORN is to be applauded for encouraging that, not criticized, and I am proud to stand with them."

One of the millions of new voters this year is Enrique Peralta who was sworn in as a new citizen on September 25 and registered to vote the day after in Fairfax County. Peralta said he is looking forward to voting, takes the responsibility very seriously, and is looking forward to holding his elected officials accountable.

Asked whether, as a new voter, he himself was concerned about voter fraud, Peralta said "I am mainly concerned that everyone who has the right to vote is allowed to."

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&L=1%2Findex.php%3Fid%3Dhttp%253&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22390&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12346&cHash=0513a006ed

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:08:58 GMT

"Government records show that only 24 people were convicted of or pleaded guilty to illegal voting between 2002 and 2005, an average of eight people a year," according to the Project Vote report.

On the other hand, there is substantial evidence that Republicans continue to engage in "election fraud," using "caging lists" of unforwarded mail to registered voters to challenge their eligibility at the polls. The 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which Fund calls "a machine for corruption," prohibits political parties from using caging lists. The U.S. Justice Department issued a consent decree against the National GOP from operating illegal caging lists, but state chapters continued the practice.

"In 2004, political operatives targeted more than half a million voters in voter caging campaigns in nine states. At least 77,000 voters had their eligibility challenged between 2004 and 2006," according to a September 2007 Project Vote report, "Caging Democracy: a 50-year history of partisan challenges to minority voters."

The Republican caging machine is already operating in high gear this election season, putting in harm's way nearly 600,000 unsuspecting Ohio registered voters. On Sept. 5, Ohio elections officials sent out a mass mailer stamped "do not forward" to all registered voters with an absentee ballot and other information for Nov. 4.

After being pressed by a persistent NPR caller, Fund admitted to Republicans committing election fraud.

"Intimidation at the polls, blocking people from voting, sending out mailings to people that target them on the basis of race, has been part of Republican activities," Fund said on NPR. "Not recently that I've discovered in the research for my book, 'Stealing Elections.' But it has to be condemned, and it has been condemned. I condemned it."

With the country facing perhaps the most important election of this century, Fund should practice what he preaches in "condemning" voter suppression by focusing on the facts of empowering Americans to participate in our great democracy, rather than propagating fiction that further disparages voters from exercising their rights.

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&tx_ttnews[pointer]=2&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22322&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12386&cHash=f8c53f277e

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Mr Deeds — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:42:30 GMT

Acorn is in danger of being exposed. That's why they are sending out all their PR persons... even to the point of blogging here. They just want to sway your opinion with some candy coated explanation. It won't work.

Here is a great article about BHO and Acorn, which goes to great depths to show what Acorn really does. (http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI=&w=MA==)

This is NOT an unbiased "bi-partisan" organization. Their fundamentals are well rooted in leftist idealogy, even to the point of socialism. Somebody, please... explain to me how that goes hand-in-hand with the conservatives, and helps promote their philosophy. It is a major contradiction of philosophy!! So, to say that they are out collecting votes for both sides, while maintaining their leftist agenda is a farce. And when they go out of their way to hire convicts, drug users, and other societal degenerates to facilitate this endeavor... why are we supposed to trust them??

I want to hear about how they intend to clean up their act. But all we get from Acorn is "We try hard and don't know what else to do". RIGHT! Seems to me that they like things the way they are. Now ask yourself, after so many lawsuits and allegations in numerous states, why do they reject change? Why are they still engaging in the same illegalities?

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

ATXIndependent — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:11:08 GMT

What a whitewash! ACORN is a group which has endorsed Barack Obama and is working for his election. Every fraudulent registration is a possible fraudulent vote. The only reason to obtain the fraudulent registrations is so that they can be used to cast fraudulent votes. Even if most of the bad registrations get weeded out, a few thousand fake votes could effect a close state.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Mr Deeds — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:23:08 GMT

Max in FL: you obviously work for ACORN. And now, you are revealing your "nonpartisan" colors. Where is your equal attack on the Democrat voter tainting tactics? It's non-existant, right? Acorn exists to promote the left-wing agenda.

And, to be truthful, challenging a voter registration is not unethical or unfair. The rules are the same for all voters. To insist that those rules be enforced isn't "unfair tactics". It would appear from your comments that Acorn would love to see that no voter ever gets challenged... thus opening the door wide to voter fraud.

Also- Acorn cannot claim "nonpartisan" while recruiting more heavily in left-leaning demographics. When they balance their recruting efforts and funds to include heavy recrutiing in right-leaning demographics, then they can assert "nonpartisan" with some degree of truth. Until then, Acorn is lying!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

ehenly — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:47:02 GMT

YouTube has a video of John McCain at an ACORN event in 2006. Please provide balance and context regarding McCain and ACORN, since he is the one seeking to villify it...

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

devesh_f10@hotmail.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:47:10 GMT

The author tries to analyze the problem very nicely breaking it into individual hypotheses, however there is one thing the author did not consider. And that being the fact that liberals also balk at any voter id requirements - absence of which can very easily turn voter registration fraud into voter fraud - come election day.

Secondly, the problem of voter registration fraud itself is not as rare as has been made out to be in this article by the author. Its not an isolated case of Mickey Mouse or Scoobie Doo. From the ongoing investigations, the numbers are in the range of 40-50% of voters registered by certain acorn units.

Large scale voter registration fraud + opposition to voter Id laws + Obama camp paying close to a million dollars to the effort = smoking gun.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

nyoka57 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:48:49 GMT

why is noone can see mccain has ties with [ACORN] the person that over acorn said mccain spoke at a rally or a fund raiser i just don't understand and not us for get who broke the story on mccain on a committe oversight think and he's has recieve free equipment from verizon and att and t explain this to me and he look like beadie eye crazy man last night at the debate and when he think he got something he like a crazy person like with joe the plummer or not a plummer but he like throw ing out lies like he do he offend him when Sen.Obama call him a liar he's a bald face liar

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Captaintomo — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:55:34 GMT

Thank you for that informative story. This story clearly exposes the myths, half truths, exaggerations, and the concerted efforts of McCain/Palin and the RNC to do everything they can to suppress voter turn out. They know that most new voters will be Obama voters and they want to do everything possible to stop them from voting. Actual voter fraud, as your story aptly points out, is an extremely rare occurrence and historically has had a virtually negligible effect on federal elections. Voter suppression, on the other hand, can and has had an effect. As McCain/Palin continues their guilt by association routine, you know, I saw you walk by the prison therefor you must be a criminal, the whole Acorn thing is just another distraction, like Sarah Palin herself, to try to change the subject and get voters to think about something, anything else beside the terrible mess 8 years of Republican rule have left us in. Acorn, like all organizations that conduct voter registration drives, cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information placed on voter registration forms they collect. They are by law, required to submit them all to the appropriate elections officials in each state who's job it is to register those voters who are eligible to vote in each jurisdiction. In the end, you are quite correct to point out that while it is possible to submit a voter registration form with incorrect information on it, it is quite another thing and nearly impossible for a submitted form with incorrect information on it to result in a ineligible voter being registered and actually being allowed to vote.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

shonkin57 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:04:29 GMT

Great points made, and may I say as someone who has worked at least a bit some years ago with Acorn, seeing them made into the Republican's latest weapon is laughable. Acorn is an activist group, the people who do the registration are paid, and sometimes those people register non-existent voters in order to make more money. As you also point out, it is an easy matter to cull out such bogus ballots, both initially when they are sorted out and later on when (or if) one makes it into the voter books. Judges at election day precincts look at each voter's signature and name. Betcha Mickey Mouse doesn't show! This sort of conspiracy mongering always works with a certain number of people, esp. those who want to believe the worst of their opponents and/or are willing to demonize said opponent with a handy narrative unaffected by reality. Good luck with that, McCain folk. And meanwhile, you try to clear out some of those pesky new voters in Ohio, Montana, and elsewhere... talk about hypocrisy!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

rational777 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:51:16 GMT

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

sandeebubbe — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:30:58 GMT

I assume that your next article will go on to refutecharges Democratic charges made against Republicans that they commited fraud in the 2000 and 2004 elections. That would only be fair,.

Oh, nevermind, I forgot this is newsweek.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Not4BO — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:18:09 GMT

I am amazed that absolutely NOTHING sticks to Barack Obama. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's probably a duck. Obama has been involved with ACORN and many other undesireable folks for years. There's nothing wrong with getting out the vote efforts but ACORN is picking homeless people off the street, showing them what to do and telling them to vote for Obama - give me a break. That's plain wrong.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

tim_horstmann — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:23:33 GMT

NOT4BO,

Why is it "plain wrong" to encourage homeless people to register to vote, and then try to convince them to vote for Obama? Because they're homeless? Because they're poor? Aren't homeless people entitled to vote just as much as you and I?

Ultimately, the homeless person, in the voting booth, will decide. Encourarging the person to vote for your candidate is not a bad thing. Its what millions of Americans do every day. If you have a problem with it, I suggest you get out there, work for $8 an hour, and register those homeless people and try to convince them to vote for McCain.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

haynessemperfi — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 06:02:21 GMT

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TO BE HELD SUNDAY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

The Free and Equal Elections Coalition (FREE) and the Columbia Political Union are pleased to announce that a Presidential debate will be held this coming Sunday, October 19th, 2008, on the campus of Columbia University.

ALL SIX of the Presidential candidates who appear on enough state ballots to acquire the 270 Electoral Votes needed to become President are invited. They are as follows (listed in alphabetical order by affiliation):

Constitution Party Candidate: Chuck Baldwin

Democratic Party Candidate: Barack Obama

Green Party Candidate: Cynthia McKinney

Independent Candidate: Ralph Nader

Libertarian Party Candidate: Bob Barr

Republican Party Can John McCain

The Columbia Political Union will present the debate from 8:00pm to 10:00pm in the Altschul Auditorium, located at 417 International Affairs Building. The debate will be moderated by Pacifica Radio's Amy Goodman, the host of "Democracy Now!". CSPAN will cover the debate, and live radio broadcasts are expected.

"The Columbia Political Union is committed to energizing political discourse on Columbia's campus," said Allon Brann, Columbia Political Union Publisher. "As a non-partisan organization, we work to provide students with opportunities to encounter and engage with political ideas across a wide ideological spectrum, and on a wide range of issues."

"It is with these goals in mind that we have organized this Presidential Debate: to give all candidates-- either within or outside of the political "mainstream"-- the opportunity to speak directly to students about their goals on the issues they deem critical for this country."

"We have invited all eligible candidates, and it is our sincere hope that all will participate, to ensure the substance and rigor of the dialogue which we believe is crucial at this time."

Certified letters officially inviting each candidate have been sent to the respective campaigns.

The Free and Equal Elections Coalition and the Columbia Political Union await the response from the candidates. All candidates' supporters are encouraged to contact the Presidential campaigns and urge them to attend.

The Columbia Political Union seeks to enhance involvement in the political process, domestic and international, and draw every member of the campus community into an ongoing discussion of political ideas.

FREE is a coalition of political parties, independent citizens and civic organizations formed to promote free and equal elections in the United States.

http://www.freeandequal.org/events.php?id=7

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

haynessemperfi — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 06:02:22 GMT

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TO BE HELD SUNDAY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Constitution Party Candidate: Chuck Baldwin

Democratic Party Candidate: Barack Obama

Green Party Candidate: Cynthia McKinney

Independent Candidate: Ralph Nader

Libertarian Party Candidate: Bob Barr

Republican Party Can John McCain

"We have invited all eligible candidates, and it is our sincere hope that all will participate, to ensure the substance and rigor of the dialogue which we believe is crucial at this time."

Certified letters officially inviting each candidate have been sent to the respective campaigns.

FREE is a coalition of political parties, independent citizens and civic organizations formed to promote free and equal elections in the United States.

http://www.freeandequal.org/events.php?id=7

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

haynessemperfi — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 06:06:11 GMT

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TO BE HELD SUNDAY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Constitution Party Candidate: Chuck Baldwin

Democratic Party Candidate: Barack Obama

Green Party Candidate: Cynthia McKinney

Independent Candidate: Ralph Nader

Libertarian Party Candidate: Bob Barr

Republican Party Can John McCain

"We have invited all eligible candidates, and it is our sincere hope that all will participate, to ensure the substance and rigor of the dialogue which we believe is crucial at this time."

Certified letters officially inviting each candidate have been sent to the respective campaigns.

FREE is a coalition of political parties, independent citizens and civic organizations formed to promote free and equal elections in the United States.

http://www.freeandequal.org/events.php?id=7

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

ApolloKnowsAll — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 06:49:46 GMT

check these links for more ACORN scum--

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003808207_votefraud27m.html

"To boost their output, the defendants allegedly went to the downtown Seattle Public Library, where they filled out voter-registration forms using names they made up or found in phone books, newspapers and baby-naming books.

One defendant "said it was hard work making up all those cards," and another "said he would often sit at home, smoke marijuana and fill out cards," according to a probable-cause statement written by King County sheriff's Detective Christopher Johnson.

Prosecutors in King and Pierce counties filed felony charges Thursday against seven employees of ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, claiming they turned in more than 1,800 phony voter-registration forms, including an estimated 55 in Pierce County.

The defendants have not entered pleas. They are scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 2."

guilty plea-- http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/336893_acorn26.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/325217_registrations27.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003581589_voters21.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/304474_voters21.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003585183_acorn23m.html

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/2007/07/settlement_in_phony_voter_registration_case.html

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

4th gen floridian — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:09:36 GMT

Acorn Attacks are Cover for Republican Voter Suppression (200,000 removed in Ohio), and Vote Fraud Operations!

In 2004 Ohio exit polls all day had Kerry ahead by 6-7%, then late afternoon and evening after polls closed... totals REVERSED!

The GOP continues to resist attempts to subpoena Michael Connell, a shady Republican computer operative who programmed the 2000 Bush-Cheney web site. Connell was also hired by former Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell in 2004 to tabulate the Ohio vote count. Under Connell, Ohio's vote totals were shunted to a computer bank in the same basement in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that housed the servers of the Republican National Committee. In the early hours of the morning after election day, vote totals mysteriously began shifting from Kerry to Bush, swinging the 2004 election. Connell's cyber-security industry colleague Stephen Spoonamore, a Republican and former McCain supporter, has said that Connell may be able to shed light on vote count rigging in the 2008 vote count as well. Attorneys in the King-Lincoln- Bronzeville civil rights lawsuit have thus far been unable to secure Connell's sworn testimony.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10553

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Jim Johnson — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:47:57 GMT

Everyone of voting age should read these two books written by Obama, 'Dreams of My Father' and 'Audacity of Hope'. Don't buy them, get them from the library before they are removed from the shelves.

From 'Dreams of My Father', "I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

From 'Dreams of My Father', "'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race."

From 'Dreams of My Father', "There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white."

From 'Dreams of My Father', "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names."

From 'Dreams of My Father', "I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself , the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela."

And FINALLY the Most Damning one of ALL of them!!!

From 'Audacity of Hope', "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Jim Johnson — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:48:50 GMT

Obama's view of the future of America - Socialism which is the next step to Communism!! He admitted to Joe the Plumber than he wanted to spread the wealth! He said that he wanted to make everyone equal! Is America ready for Socialism? The Iranian president, Ahmadinejad, said today that he is glad to see the end to capitalism in America!! Are you glad?????

====================================================================================================

Mussolini, is "a life in which the individual, through the sacrifice of his own private interests??realizes that completely spiritual existence in which his value as a man lies."

Despite the intellectuals' psychotic hatred of capitalism, it is the only moral and just social system.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

austin c — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:21:54 GMT

Lets not forget an important and historical role played by ACORN in the subprime mortgage crisis, i.e. it has served as an enforcer of CRA by humiliating banks to comply with the law and gave reckless loans to low income community which normally could not be qualified to get bank loan for mortgages. Now these loans have grown into trillion dollars worth of bad or toxic loans in financial institutions worldwide with no ending in sight.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Nowforthetruth — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:12:10 GMT

Look and listen for yourself. Hear Obama in his own words discusses his links to both ACORN and the mortgage meltdown, and praises bundling and securitizing mortgages by banks as a means to float loans to the poor. Never mind the link commentators point of view, just listen to what Obama says in his own words. A picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe more in the case of the last half of the second link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJcVgJhNaU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1M1T2Y314&feature=related

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Nowforthetruth — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:12:27 GMT

Who "Joe the plumber" may be is not the issue, though it's easy to see why the Dems want it to be. That's because the real issue is what Obama's comments to him revealed about Obama. In the exchange with "Joe the plumber" we find out that Obama really is as radical as his early political acquaintances, Davis, Ayers, Wright, etc., and that he is into the failed economic policy of wealth redistribution. Obama's tax and spending plans alone would be bad enough, but add Reid and Pelosi to the mix, with the three of them controlling both houses of Congress and the executive branch without any effective restraint, and you have something that should causes concern even among moderate Democrats.

See Wall Street Journal: A Liberal Supermajority:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html

And whether McCain won or lost the third debate is also not relevant. He succeeded in the first half hour to plant the seeds of a Reagan style wipeout. Reputable historians and economists overwhelmingly agree that the taxation imposed by Hoover and FDR, and the "stimulus" spending and public works programs of FDR, actually deepened and prolonged the Great Depression. It was the production demands of WWII that got the economy going again. And when the war was over, the economy promptly went into recession.

See e.g. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/03/opinion/main4499465.shtml

And

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/FDR-s-Policies-Prolonged-Depression-5409.aspx

Point is, Obama's programs are tax, and it does not really matter who he taxes, those taxes are going to be passed through the economy. He has to tax, because it is they only way he can pay for his massive social engineering experiments. Any first year economics student knows that taxation is a tool used to contract an economy experiencing inflation, because it reduces demand by reducing the amount of money individuals and businesses have to spend. It is contractionary, which is exactly what you do not want to do when the problem is that the economy is contracting already into recession. Like Hoover and FDR, Obama's plans will only make it worse for longer.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

krohn2 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:36:39 GMT

Obama, the excuses are wearing thin. what excuse do you have for this one?:

http://www.againstobama.com/2008/10/obama-praised-searing-and-timely-book-by-ayers/

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

krohn2 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:08:43 GMT

This is so true about how the election is already bought and paid for:

http://www.againstobama.com/2008/10/what-is-it-that-barack-obama-knows-that-the-rest-of-us-don%E2%80%99t/#comment-1929

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:28:37 GMT

To all republican lets talk about Nathan Spoul ...

Larry Noble, executive director of CRP, considers such future expenditures for, say, "Lodging, Transportation" rather odd, but he gives the RNC the benefit of the doubt. "My guess is that it's an error," he suggests. "It's possible that they're cleaning up voter registration lists in September, but it's also possible they made a mistake."

Even if that mistaken date is just a typo, it is, to say the least, not likely that they made the same mistake in nine uniquely dated items for 2004.

In any case, all the payments by the RNC to Sproul add up to a whopping $8,359,161--making it the RNC's eighth biggest expenditure of the 2004 campaign.

Sproul is currently under investigation by the Oregon Attorney General's office, for altering the voter registration forms of several thousand students in that state. Whether the new numbers are in part mistaken, they represent a huge expense for the Republicans. Given Sproul's history of serious electoral mischief, affecting countless Democratic voters in the last election, it is important that we ask some sober questions: Where did all that money come from? Why did the RNC suppress their real expenditures? And what exactly did Sproul do for all that pay? If we're going to get some reasonable answers, the FEC must undertake a very thorough audit of the books.

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/070505Miller-Irmus.shtml

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:35:22 GMT

As the RNC chants Nathan Sproul, Nathan Sproul...

On June 17, the RNC submitted a (third) revised report. In it, those three suspicious Sproul expenditures labeled "Voter Registration Costs" had been changed to "Political Consulting." As a "clarification," it was as vague as possible. Although it only raised more questions, there seems to be no letter in the FEC database concerning that unedifying correction.

Moreover, there are some big surprises buried in the paperwork. It turned out that the RNC paid Sproul not only for their pre-election work, but also paid them for work after the election. According to their Year-End Report, filed on Jan. 28, 2005, the RNC paid Sproul for "Political Consulting" in December--long after all the voter registration drives had ended.

And two months later, when the RNC filed their amended Year-End Report on May 3, the dates of those December expenditures mysteriously changed. A payment of $210,176, once made on Dec. 20, was changed to Dec. 22. A payment of $344,214, initially recorded on Dec. 22, was changed to Dec. 9.

As to why Sproul was being paid in December, and why the dates were changed, one can only speculate. But it may be worth noting that the Ohio recount took place from Dec. 13 through Dec. 28.

Because these amendments were made in 2005, the Center for Responsive Politics' website mistakenly allocated that money to the 2006 cycle. When we informed them of these missing numbers yesterday, CRP was quick to adjust them. They also included two more expenditures: a $323,907 payment for more "Political Consulting" (10/12/04) and $450,257 for "Mailing Costs" (10/04/04).

And there was more--much more.

The documents also suggest that the RNC may have changed the dates of nine payments to suggest expenditures in 2005, thereby shifting focus from the 2004 election.

In going through the documents, CRP located nine expenditures from the future: Sproul somehow received a total of $1,323,154 between Sept. 2 and Sept. 29, 2005. Another $472,642 is hidden in 2005. Four of those prospective items were (or will be) for "Generic Media Buys" or "Lodging, Transportation." The other four are (or will be) for "Voter Registration Efforts"--surely an expense incurred in September of last year, not this year.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:41:47 GMT

More on how republican stole the show while blaming ACORN is 2004....

If you went online last week to look up how much money Sproul received from the Republicans in 2004, you would have found that, according to the party (whose figures had been posted by the Center for Responsive Politics), the firm was paid $488,957.

In fact, the RNC paid Sproul a great deal more than that. From an independent study of the original data filed by the Republicans with the Federal Election Commission, it is clear that Sproul was paid a staggering $8.3 million for its work against the Democrats.

How the true figures came to be revealed

On Dec. 3, 2004, the Republican National Committee filed their Post-General Report with the FEC, accounting for all expenditures between Oct. 14 and Nov. 22.

Among the Itemized Disbursements there were listed six expenditures to Sproul & Associates, amounting to a total sum of $4.5 million. Three of them were for "Political Consulting," and the other three were for "Voter Registration Costs." The RNC paid Sproul the biggest amount on the day before the election: $1,668,733.

On Jan. 7, 2005 and again on May 3, 2005, the RNC sent in revised reports. Those items were unchanged in all of them.

After they received the RNC's second revised report, the FEC expressed dissatisfaction with the vague phrase "Voter Registration Costs." In a May 18 letter to Michael Retzer, Treasurer of the RNC, the FEC requested that itemized disbursements labeled thus be further clarified.

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/070505Miller-Irmus.shtml

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

max in fl — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:51:57 GMT

I'm referencing the 2004 election because ACORN milkers are about to see storm of news coming their way of REAL VOTER FRAUD because they couldn't leave ACORN alone so.....

In the months before the 2004 presidential election, a firm called Sproul & Associates launched voter registration drives in at least eight states, most of them swing states. The group--run by Nathan Sproul, former head of the Arizona Christian Coalition and the Arizona Republican Party--had been hired by the Republican National Committee.

Sproul got into a bit of trouble last fall when, in certain states, it came out that the firm was playing dirty tricks in order to suppress the Democratic vote: concealing their partisan agenda, tricking Democrats into registering as Republicans, surreptitiously re-registering Democrats and Independents as Republicans, and shredding Democratic registration forms.

The scandal got a moderate amount of local coverage in some states--and then the election was over. Now anyone who brought up Nathan Sproul, or any of the other massive crimes and improprieties committed on or prior to Election Day, was shrugged off as a dealer in "conspiracy theory."

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/070505Miller-Irmus.shtml

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

waterspirit — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:57:59 GMT

Excellent breakdown of yet another GOP smear based on tenuous or totally not there long convoluted transitive associations.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

krohn2 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:46:26 GMT

FactCheck.Org is owned by the Annenberg group of Chicago! Talk about a conflict of interest! And Obama has been telling people on the trail to check out the site to verify his opponents claims. Funny, every time that he endorsed something, it turns out to be a part of his spin machine! Like he raised objections in the primaries when Indiana required photo I.D. to vote. He Protested that It took away people's right to vote! I

knew then and there that he was up to no good! America, wake up from the MASS HYPNOSIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWTs1YyhFRg&feature=related

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Nowforthetruth — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:15:20 GMT

Obama in this video, addressing his work with ACORN litigation relating to the community reinvestment act and the failure of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as they relate to the current real estate and financial crisis, states that, and I quote:

"Subprime lending started out as a good idea, helping Americans buy homes who previously could not afford to. Financial institutions created new financial instruments that could securitize these loans, slice them into finer and finer risk categories, and spread them out among investors and around the country, as well as around the world. In theory, this should have allowed mortgage lending to be less risky, and more diversified."

He further states:

“"The original idea was a good one, which was, lets see if we can distribute risk more broadly, and make it easier to provide loans to people who otherwise might not be able to get one."

Listen for yourself. You cannot dispute the mans on words recorded live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1M1T2Y314&feature=related

Obama in this second video is campaigning at a convention of Acorn and I believe two other "Community Activist" organizations. Ask if he will be their ally if he becomes President, Obama says, quote:

“Yes, but let me say that before I even get inaugurated, during the transition we are going to be calling all of you in to help us shape the agenda. We’re going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so that you have input into the agenda for the next presidency of the United States of America.

See and hear it for yourself. Obama promised that Acorn and other groups like it will setting his agenda if elected:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJcVgJhNaU

Stating that Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act wasn't what caused the meltdown, and noting that "economists on both sides of the political spectrum have suggested that the act has probably made the crisis less severe than it might otherwise have been."

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Concerned Canadian — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:09:10 GMT

NBC=ACORN=LEFT-WING NUTJOBS=ANTI-AMERICAN=NY TIMES=SOCIALISM=CNN=OBAMA

DOES ANYONE DISPUTE THIS? ....THOUGHT SO ....ENJOY REID=PELOSI=OBAMA REGIME FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS...YIKES!

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Concerned Canadian — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:09:59 GMT

WHEN OBAMA WAS IN TAMPA BAY ON HIS CAMPAIGN STUMP HE SAYS HE’S CHEERING THE DEVIL RAYS.

WHEN OBAM WAS IN PHILADELPHIA ON HIS CAMPAIGN STUMP HE SAY’S HE’S CHEERING THE PHILLIES.

WHAT HAPPENED TO OBAMA’S “WE DON’T NEED DOUBLE-TALKIN POLITICIANS ANYMORE IN DC”?

OBAMA SAYS HE’S A WHITE SOX FAN...ASK HIM TO NAME SOMEONE ON THE TEAM...HE DOESN’T KNOW.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Concerned Canadian — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:10:38 GMT

TODAY, AT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S DAMAGE CONTROL PRESS CONFERENCE ATTRIBUTED TO

JOE BIDEN'S "RHETORICAL FLOURISHES" RELATING TO OBAMA NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE PENDING CRISIS IF HE WERE ELECTED. BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA GOES ON TO PROMOTE HIS ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF "SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND" SO THAT HE CAN CREATE AN AMERICAN SOCIETY WHERE ALL CITIZENS ARE AS EQUALS AND ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN ORDER TO PURSUE PERSONAL PROSPERITY. WELL, IN OTHER WORDS BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS TELLING TO EVERY AMERICAN'S FACE THAT HE WILL BE "DICTATING" YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES. AND ALL YOU GUYS ARE EATING IT ALL UP.

THIS POLITICAL DOCTRINE THAT OBAMA WILL IMPLEMENT IS KNOWN AS SOCIALISM, MARXISM, COMMUNISM, OR WHATEVER TERM ONE WANTS TO USE...BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS IS AN AFFRONT

TO THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA...CAPITALISM.

TO IMPOSE THESE DRACONIAN MEASURES SUCH AS RAISING TAXES TO SUPPORT THOSE IN SOCIETY WHO DO NOT EVEN WANT TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES BUT OBAMA DECLARES "SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND" WILL LEAD TO AN ECONOMIC ABYSS.

IS THIS THE IDEOLOGY OBAMA ADOPTED FROM HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH WILLIAM AYERS WHO ALSO IS A BIG PROPONENT OF MARXISM?

AMERICANS, IF INDICATIONS ARE CORRECT AND OBAMA GETS ELECTED, IT WILL PROVE TO BE THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW THAT AMERICA REGRETS WHO THEY ELECTED AS PRESIDENT.

AN OLD WISE MAN ONCE SAID ..." BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR ...."

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Concerned Canadian — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:11:33 GMT

FOR WHAT ITS WORTH....CANADA WAS UNDER A SOCIALIST TAX POLICY THAT WE SHOOK OFF BUT THE USA FOR SOME INSANE REASON WANT TO EMBRACE IT IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS.

IN CANADA, SOCIALIST PARTIES LIKE THE LIBERAL PARTY AND THE NDP (NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY)

ARE OUT OF FAVOUR. THEY 'VE RAISED TAXES TO SUPPORT SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE WELFARE, INTRODUCED POLICIES TO MAKE IT EASIER TO UNIONIZE ETC., THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTROLS TO THIS DAY ITS OWN NATIONAL TV BROADCAST NETWORK CALLED THE CBC. FURTHERMORE THEY HAVE FEDERAL POLICY IN PLACE THAT CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF FOREIGN CONTENT THAT MEDIA OULETS LIKE RADIO AND TELEVISION CAN BROADCAST. IT MUST COMPLY WITH A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF CANADIAN CONTENT.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE USA IS THAT THEY ARE ADOPTING SOCIALISM WHICH MIRRORS OBAMA'S POLICY HE IS SELLING TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. WHY DOES THE USA WANT TO GO DOWN THE SOCIALIST CANADIAN ROAD? WE CANADIANS JUST VOTED IN A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT TO THE USA'S REPUBLICAN PARTY ....TO GET TAXES LOWERED AND REDUCE WELFARE BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES SECTORS OF SOCIETY TO NOT LOOK FOR WORK. IT WAS A DRAG ON THE CANADIAN ECONOMY BUT OUR COUNTRY HAS IMPROVED ECONOMICALLY BY MOVING AWAY FROM THIS IDEOLOGY BUT THE STATES IN ALL THEIR WISDOM ARE MOVING TO THE LEFT-WING SOCIALISM AGENDA....AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

ukboy — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:38:15 GMT

Concerned Canadaian "THE STATES IN ALL THEIR WISDOM ARE MOVING TO THE LEFT-WING SOCIALISM AGENDA....AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY."

Simple really its because they aren't and its in your imagination.

It appears you are against a system that would take care of the poor, sick or elderly. Shame on you.

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

USAGal — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:10:35 GMT

Why is Concerned Canadaian screaming all these irrelevant/ disproven GOP talking points, and spreading lies... when based on their screen name, they're not even eligible to vote here in the US election???

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

haynessemperfi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:43:37 GMT

C-SPAN THIRD PARTY DEBATE

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/includes/templates/library/flash_popup.php?pID=281952-1&clipStart=&clipStop=

C-SPAN THIRD PARTY VP DEBATED NOVEMBER 2

re: Cracking the ACORN Case

Concerned Canadian — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:05:55 GMT

Now Barack Hussein Obama is a close friend of and praises a PLO supporter in Rashid Khalid

and the LA Times has the video tape proof.

Obama makes Bill Belichek look like an angel with all these disturbing videos floating around of

Obama's radical associations.

It’s pretty easy for Obama or anyone else to attack George Bush on his economic policies but Obama can't attack George Bush on his record on fighting terrorists to protect America while he

is busy wining and dining with terrorists !!

Barack Hussein Obama should be tried for treason and being a threat to US national security.

Barack says he has the right to distribute your money the way he sees fit. That’s dictatorship.