ABC News' Tapper Advances "Defund ACORN" Story

Earlier this week, our own Ryan Grim reported on the incredibly true story of how Congress, in its zealous race to shower ACORN with digestive leavings, accidentally passed a bill written so broadly that it could potentially "defund the entire military-industrial complex." The bill itself could face major constitutional obstacles, but the whole process by which it came about is such a scrumptious stab at the heart of government dysfunction and comic absurdity that it would be a crime if the story didn't get broad play. By and large, we're still waiting for anyone to take an interest.

That said, put ABC News' Jake Tapper on your honor roll! Yesterday, Tapper took up the story in a post on Political Punch, entitled "Will House "De-Fund ACORN Bill" De-Fund Military Contractors?" Tapper advances the story in two ways.

First, from Representative Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), he highlights another example of contractor malfeasance that Congress should -- and now, potentially can -- pursue with fury:

"We can't have a situation where the laws of justice are applied to one organization and not to any of the others, particularly when there are organizations that are polluting water for our soldiers and electrocuting them," Grayson says.

Contractor KBR installed electrical wiring in Iraq that led to electrocution deaths of US soldiers. One such death, of Green Beret Sgt. Ryan Maseth, was classified by the Army Criminal Investigations Division as a "negligent homicide," though the Pentagon ruled it would not pursue criminal charges.

Second, Tapper gets a spokesperson for Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) -- who sponsored the Defund ACORN bill -- on the record, accepting the premise that some measure should be deployed to fight widespread contractor abuse. Sort of, anyway!

I don't know how anyone can successfully argue those who actually perpetrate fraud and misuse taxpayer dollars shouldn't be held to a more scrutinized standard. But if people want to start a crusade defending federal dollar recipients who have committed fraud and mismanaged taxpayer dollars - they are welcome to make that case to the American people. For far too long, recipients of federal dollars have been given free reign and some have acted in a reckless and cavalier way and whether it be ACORN or anyone else - abuse and fraud will not be tolerated.

Is that a commitment to take this oversight fight far beyond ACORN? Well, it's not not a commitment!

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Comments

[sueno]

ABC and Tapper are non-stories,
because they lack credibility anyway.
Why not talk about former FBI translator turned whistleblower Sibel Edmonds has responded to a parting shot taken at her by Rep. Jan Schakowsky's office, concerning Edmonds' allegations that she overheard details of a blackmail scheme directly involving the 9th-district Illinois' 9th-District U.S. Congresswoman, while working on the FBI counterintelligence division's investigation into the Turkish lobby following the 9/11 attacks?????.
ACORN is a target, because that's all the GOP can hold on to.
What about Sibel Edmonds, long-term claims, that the GOP, don't want to touch-

[6bd]

I have come to expect this from ABC, but today's WaPo exhorts Dick Armey as an "organizer....just luck Obama"! In Armey's Army Marches Against Obama : Former House Leader Organizes Populist Movement Against an Expanded Government by Ben Persing ( I think Dick co authored it really.)

[happykiddo]

Umm, incompetence at a work site is not the same thing as Child prostitution.

lacking middle school login on this site, as usual.

[happykiddo]

*logic, for the petty.

[jwredd]

Hmm....... actual de@ths......... hypothetical prostitution???? Yeah, let's just forget about the de@ths, corruption, and war profiteering and keep talking about the prostitution that doesn't exist.

[CaptainSunshine]

I doubt very seriously if Acorn was involved in a widespread effort to file fraudulent tax returns for prostitutes. The fact that someone is able to walk into an office and stage a prank is not evidence of past behavior. If it was, every celebrity who was tricked on "P-unked!" would be behind bars.

Contractor incompetence which results in the deaths of US service men and women is by far the greater wrong.

I wonder if the same people who attacked ACORN, will now attack GOP push pollster Western Wats for employing children as young as 13 to do their dirty work.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090930/ap_on_re_us/us_call_center_fined

http://zip06.theday.com/blogs/east_haven_courier/archive/2009/09/29/gop-denies-dirty-tricks-in-political-poll.aspx

[wafuu]

I'm guessing that Acorn did some good, perhaps much good, which is not be recognized. Any chance the baby won't be thrown out with the bath water?

[H321]

If this is the end for ACORN let it be the end for Halliburton and other corrupt government organizations. Republicans are only interested in politics as a blood sport and not as an avenue to govern responsibly. They are no longer the party of business but a party of hooligans, neanderthals and obstructionist. Angry and insane becuase success for Barack Obama will mean to them a success for the principles of Liberalism and they are not going to see that happen as far as they are concerned. Americans need to realise what the Republican Party and some Democrats have become.

[OLEGAR]

Is HUFPO so strapped for funds they will post the advert for the nutcases wanting to "defund Acorn"?

I was really astounded to see the advert at the end of the "comments" on a page not exactly related to the Acorn issue. It was in a "box" of "ads by Google". "freedom something" or other.

[RGKahn]

The Defund ACORN is unconstitutional, it violate Article One Section nine line 3 "3 No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed."

[Gidster]

If it applies to all government contractors equally, then it is in action, Constitutional.

If they ignore every contractor to just focus on ACORN's $53 million over the last 15 years, then there is an issue.

[OneLiberalLady]

I don't think it is an ex post facto problem because it would apply to prospective actions, and also is not imposing criminal penalties, but just saying we won't hire contracvtors who have displayed certain negative behaviors. But as the main article points out, that would apply across the board, to Halliburton and KBR, Lockheed-Martin etc.

[RonInCharlotte]

repubs are in trouble too. ppl are seeing that establishment repubs are voting like dems and dems are voting like socialists and repubs can't get rid of the Jesus mesage so they suck too. how about voting for freedom?

[stateretiree]

What is a socialist??

[ywcachieve]

Yeah, what is a socialist?

[Gidster]

What defines freedom for you?

I bet it is the removal of the capital gains tax........

[ArticleFriendly]

Freedom? That's a teabagger staple slogan that makes absolutely no sense since no one has lost any freedoms since Obama took office. I'd vote for a bowl of jello before voting for a libertarian since they are the basically the same as a republican (despite their denials)....

[Angiefranci]

I'm going to donate $10 to ACORN, and suggest that anyone else who can should.

[So Calif Ind]

You support their practices?

[OLEGAR]

I support anything that the rethugs are against!

[Gidster]

Yes I do.

The work to raise the minimum wage, register low income folks of all races to vote, work with impoverished folks for housing assistance, and generally advocate for the poor, and act as a lobby for the people that need help the most.

What is your issue with that? Some conservative fake pimp and the gullible employees that tried to treat them as people? They went office to office until they found some less than sharp employees.

Have you not heard? they don't work there anymore!

[ArticleFriendly]

Helping people save their homes from forclosure? Yes. Helping the poor eat? Yes. Helping homeless people find shelter? Yes. What has your party done for anyone lately?

[snoopjohnny]

Yes. Acorn clearly orchestrated the banking crisis. This evil and endlessly sophisticated institution is crawling with criminal geniuses. The amount of money they spend giving clever tax dodging advise to slave traders alone is probably enough to put new steel belted radials on a Suburban owned by Blackwater.

[nonofyabusiness]

Funny how they are still not "Outraged" on the fact that we were LIED into a totally Manufactured war in Iraq

[OLEGAR]

and any pol wishing to curtail funding for Bushies war was considered a traitor!

[JerryLevy]

It now turns out that ACORN has taken tax exempt money and given it to their lobbying organization which is not tax exempt. This is illegal and comes as 19 states are investigating ACORN's role in voter fraud. There are actually some people who believe ACORN should continue to receive taxpayer subsidies.

[Non Sibi]

I happen to be one of them.

The "voter fraud" issue has been so thoroughly debunked that, if there are 19 states "investigating," they should probably be investigated for misuse of their taxpayer dollars.

A group that can register over a million poor and middle class voters, and manage 400,000 volunteers, has my vote any time.

There are probably more corrupt republican congress people opposing healthcare reform while sucking up money from the insurance industry than there are bad apples in all of Acorn.

[swift goat pet for truth]

If Halliburton and KBR should continue to receive taxpayer money...
If Blackwater and Xe should continue to receive taxpayer money...
If Lockheed Martin and Boeing and Northrup Grumman should continue to receive taxpayer money...
If our biggest banking institutions should receive taxpayer money....

THEN ACORN's money should be TRIPPLED.

[So Calif Ind]

The old two wrongs make a right argument.

Lame.

[stateretiree]

Wake up, there was no voter fraud. It would only be voter fraud if votes were actually cast.

[So Calif Ind]

An organization that practices extremely questionable values and even gives advice on cheating the government should not be receiving money from that same government.

Are you backing up ACORN's practices? Do you believe their principles?

All this is common sense for which this country is sadly lacking these days.

[Gidster]

Hey Jerry!

Around $3 million a year for housing assistance for the poor. $53 million over 15 years.

Compare that to the $55 million that Blackwater is being forced to repay for 1 single contract.

Your outrage is misplaced and misdirected.

[miksmaster]

Before you go dumping on Acorn, anybody out there upset that the Supreme Court stopped a vote recount in FL in 2000? Doesn't this seem a little out of the ordinary? A little suspicious? Acorn tries to register voters. They are being set-up so less and less minority voters, THAT DON'T VOTE REPUBLICAN, cannot vote in upcoming elections. Ask yourselves one question:
Why do republicans want to make it harder to vote?
Answer: Whenever there is higher voter turnouts, republicans LOSE. That's why.
This is an attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters so republicans can get more votes.
The party of NO IDEAS always seem to have sneaky, underhanded, dirty trickery, cheating ideas. They just don't have any good ideas that actually help Americans.

[JerryLevy]

Republicans do not want to make it "harder to vote." But Republicans only want legally registered voters to vote. And given the fraud we have seen over the last four years, they have a good point.

[Non Sibi]

The voter fraud issue is bull.

However, the republican voter caging is real. How about if you get a little self-righteous about that?

[swift goat pet for truth]

Republican VERY MUCH want to make it "harder to vote".

They have PROVED it for DECADES.,

So, was your koolaid yummy?

[Karen Bernauer]

and that is what Acorn does, registers voters who are legal.......what do you want? do they have to be landowners? White? Male? I thought we were past all that.

[Gidster]

Jerry, Remember a company called Diebold? They manufactured the voting machines, and the CEO of that company, a large Republican contributor, and conservative activist, promised to deliver Ohio for Bush.

300,000 mostly minority voters were unable to vote due to machine availability, and breakdowns.

Katherine Harris obstructed the recount, and GOP staffers "Rioted" to interrupt and delay the recount.

Yes, there is actual evidence of GOP led vote caging.

[ArticleFriendly]

The only fraud concerning ACORN is the fraud being perpetuated by conservative, gop'ers and low information voters that ACORN committed any voter fraud.

[Poiks]

It's so sad to see the Republicans out-maneuver the Democrats in virtually every way. From Van Jones to town halls to Acorn, the Republicans are playing a ruthless game that Democrats can't or won't play, and they're kicking butt.

[Icantbelieveher]

Which is why they have the majority and the White House and their approval ratings are so much higher than the president's! Oh, wait!

[miksmaster]

It's so sad to see republicans lose so many red states in the last election.

[taquinas]

I agree, the Democrats are about fair play and won't play dirty.

[Angiefranci]

There are choice that lay between playing fair and playing dirty, and it's called doing the right thing.
I think the so-called 'watch dogs' that illegally wiretapped the ACORN workers should be investigated. I'm certain they were planted there by the right.
Democrats should let themselves be side-tracked by the GOP. There are rules, laws, and procedures that govern how things work, and people who aren't playing by the book need to be called out.
Get fooled once it's their fault, get fooled twice, it's your own. The GOP managed to do it with Clinton, are we going to let them with Obama.

[miksmaster]

Republicans don't really out-maneuver Democrats. What they really do is cheat. They fired US Attorneys that didn't go after enough Democrats. They use the Patriot Act to collect data on Democratic strategy. (yeah, just like Richard Nixon). They use their "buddies" on the Supreme Court to stop the re-count in FL in 2000.
You can call that out-maneuver if you like. I call it cheating.

[Gidster]

yeah poiks!
It's all easy when you ignore rules, make crap up and invent scandal.

It also helps when you have a cable news network and several newspapers furthering the lies 24/7.

[OrangeCountyCat]

This is a corporate backed smear campaign against Acorn. The right-wing doesn't want poor people to vote and they don't want the minimum wage raised. They are against anything that helps our most disadvantaged citizens and that is the focus of Acorn's activities.

[oldguydude]

ACORN is a criminal organization. That maybe not be how it started out, but that's what it has become.

ACORN has brought this dishonor on themselves. All of these problems are self inflicted.

[CostaMesaJoe]

As it should be for Glenn Beck_ and Michele Bachmann_ who should be held accountable for inciting the hatred_ that lynched_ Mr. Sparkman....and zombies like you, quaff it down.....

[Icantbelieveher]

So you have no problem with KBR, Blackwater, Haliburton, Lockhead Martin and all the other organizations who have been accused of fraud, prostitution, and even murder having their federal funds cut off?

[ClubStyle DJ]

oldguydude wrote: "ACORN is a criminal organization"

PROVE IT !

[ilse]

oldguydude - ACORN has brought this dishonor on themselves. All of these problems are self inflicted.

Acorn is suing for millions against O'keefe and Giles for wiretapping, and apparently it's against the law in Maryland. Acorn should have no problem winning. As you say, all of O'Keefe and Giles problems are also self inflicted.

[taquinas]

You are dishonoring Jesus when you spew hate. ACORN helped people just like Jesus did. They hired people who have happened to have made mistakes in the past. ACORN the establishment is not bad but had to hire people with questionable pasts. Because these people too can be productive to the society. If nobody hires ex-cons what will happen to these people.
The election won't be fair when only a certain demographic can register and vote. Usually, the minorities, the poor and people who have no time register won't vote. ACORN made voting available for everybody not just the affluent. That is forming a good democracy. Republicans want minorities and the poor not registered so as to skew the election in their favor.

[CostaMesaJoe]

EXCELLENT. FANNED.



righties are p!gs....

[oldguydude]

Lefties are drones, hypocrites and racists.

[billhodges]

Read the Congressional Staff report from July 2009

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11079244/Is-ACORN-Intentionally-Structured-as-a-Criminal-Enterprise

[JerryLevy]

ACORN has been caught in a systemic criminal act of voter fraud, tax evasion, and giving aid to criminals. So what does ACORN do? They scream racism.

[Non Sibi]

And the criminal charges are .... where?

[taquinas]

Where's the guilty verdict? Why weren't they shut down then? Please provide a source.
In every organization there are bad employees. Take BlackWater for example. The employees of blackwater are getting charged for killing brown people in Iraq. If you're not outraged by the actions of Blackwater you're a certified racist. Don't be ashamed of that Obama's going fix that too.

[research]

FOX "Kelly noted police in California say ACORN worker called them after encounter with filmmakers" http://mediamatters.org/research/200909220026

Didn't I tell you they were playing along?

Apologies accepted.

shut down mercenaries, and corrupt KBR and Haliburton!

Fund ACORN.

[oldguydude]

So how are Holder and Obama coming with the KBR and Haliburton indictments?

Why aren't you hammering your AG and President over their lack of action on this?

As they like to remind us often : They won. So where are they now?

[research]

We still have to prosecute Cheney and the BushCo for war crimes and treason. At this rate, the criminals will die happy.

[Non Sibi]

We will get to them, never fear.

Or perhaps that is what you do fear.

[So Calif Ind]

Your link is left wing nutballz.

[research]

Is that what truth looks like to you????

[ArticleFriendly]

guess it only matters if it comes from fox news huh?