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]

11:31 AM on 09/27/2009

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]

09:06 AM on 09/27/2009

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]

07:59 AM on 09/27/2009

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

lacking middle school login on this site, as usual.

[happykiddo]

08:00 AM on 09/27/2009

*logic, for the petty.

[jwredd]

09:30 AM on 09/27/2009

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.

[wafuu]

07:54 AM on 09/27/2009

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]

12:14 AM on 09/27/2009

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]

11:12 PM on 09/26/2009

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]

06:51 PM on 09/26/2009

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]

01:50 AM on 09/27/2009

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]

11:37 AM on 09/27/2009

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]

01:21 PM on 09/26/2009

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]

02:42 PM on 09/26/2009

What is a socialist??

[ywcachieve]

05:13 PM on 09/26/2009

Yeah, what is a socialist?

[Angiefranci]

09:30 AM on 09/26/2009

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

[So Calif Ind]

07:34 PM on 09/26/2009

You support their practices?

[OLEGAR]

11:13 PM on 09/26/2009

I support anything that the rethugs are against!

[Gidster]

01:54 AM on 09/27/2009

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!

[snoopjohnny]

04:53 AM on 09/26/2009

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]

05:51 AM on 09/26/2009

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

[OLEGAR]

11:14 PM on 09/26/2009

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

[JerryLevy]

01:11 AM on 09/26/2009

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]

01:49 AM on 09/26/2009

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]

10:43 AM on 09/26/2009

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]

07:48 PM on 09/26/2009

The old two wrongs make a right argument.

Lame.

[miksmaster]

09:42 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

01:12 AM on 09/26/2009

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]

01:51 AM on 09/26/2009

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]

10:44 AM on 09/26/2009

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

They have PROVED it for DECADES.,

So, was your koolaid yummy?

[Poiks]

09:26 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

09:32 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

09:44 PM on 09/25/2009

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

[OrangeCountyCat]

08:40 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

09:09 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

09:21 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

09:22 PM on 09/25/2009

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?

[CostaMesaJoe]

09:19 PM on 09/25/2009

EXCELLENT. FANNED.



righties are p!gs....

[oldguydude]

10:39 AM on 09/26/2009

Lefties are drones, hypocrites and racists.

[research]

08:39 PM on 09/25/2009

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]

12:04 PM on 09/26/2009

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]

12:25 PM on 09/26/2009

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

[Non Sibi]

01:08 PM on 09/26/2009

We will get to them, never fear.

Or perhaps that is what you do fear.

[So Calif Ind]

07:43 PM on 09/26/2009

Your link is left wing nutballz.

[research]

08:31 PM on 09/26/2009

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

[ArticleFriendly]

03:15 AM on 09/27/2009

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