ACORN: The Bogeyman in the GOP Closet

Sometimes, in my copious spare time, I like to peruse what various folks in the media, both new and traditional, are saying about ACORN. Sometimes this makes me happy, for example when I see Ben Ehrenreich's well done article on what people are doing to combat the foreclosure crisis at the heart of the economic meltdown. And sometimes it leaves me perplexed. Like now, watching the right-wing blogs and then right-wing traditional media outlets pick up the ridiculous talking points from the GOP leadership attacking Obama's stimulus package by claiming that it gives ACORN a $4.19 billion bailout.

Puh-lease, people! When we heard that we fell over ourselves to see the language in the bill that would make us the richest organization of poor people in world history. We scrambled to set-up a direct deposit account. We wondered if check cashing outlets would take government checks. Turns out, though, that this $4 billion is pretty much like the last billion we read about in GOP press releases: a complete fabrication of overheated partisan fever dreams.

At this point I'm not sure what is more amusing: watching respectable elected officials parrot zombie talking points from the party that brought us the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression or watching so-called journalists mimic the charges without asking for proof. Or calling us for our comment.

So let's be clear. ACORN isn't getting any of this money. Since it is set aside for non-profit housing developers to help purchase, rehab, and resell foreclosed properties, we aren't eligible for it in the first place.

But wait. National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Ken Spain goes one better, "It's hard to decipher which is the most fraudulent notion -- the fact that ACORN is a law-abiding entity worthy of a $4.2 billion bailout or that $1.1 trillion in out-of-control government spending is going to defy the experts and have some sort of immediate effect on the economy."

Oh my. All this invective for a group of 450,000 low- and moderate-income families living in 110 cities in the United States. This year we are definitely going to go as ourselves for Halloween. Clearly nothing is scarier - not the 2.3 million families facing foreclosure in 2008, not the nearly 70,000 layoffs so far this month, not the loss of over 2 million jobs in 2008, not the fact that over 50 million people lack health insurance.

But those are the reasons why ACORN supports President Obama's call for a stimulus package that creates 3-4 million new jobs. And those are the reasons why we are bemused by the tired partisan talking points being trotted by conservatives in their desperate attempts to continue with the catastrophic economic policies of the Bush years.

ACORN members won't be stopped by this petty partisan back-biting. We are ready to do what it takes to help America get back on its feet and get Americans back to work. We've been doing this for years. For the past decade ACORN worked hard to warn about the impending foreclosure crisis caused by unchecked predatory lending. Since 1996 ACORN worked hard to pass living wage and minimum wage laws at the local and state levels to close the wage and wealth gap. And in 2008 we ran one of the largest non-partisan voter registration drives in United States history. We helped over 1.3 million low-income people, young people, and people of color complete voter registration applications, one of the most patriotic activities in which any organization can engage.

Come to think of it, maybe those are the reasons conservatives have their panties in a bunch when they think of ACORN. But we think the time has come for the GOP leadership to pull their pants up, roll their sleeves up, and work together with the new Administration to put America back to work.

Because the consequences of the failure of our political leadership at this crisis point in our nation's history are much much scarier than anything contained in a GOP press release.

Comments

[Michael Ielpi]

01:34 AM on 02/13/2009

No offense Bertha, but a person in your position should not be partisan. Some of us conservati­ves can use some help, too. Not all Republican­s are wealthy and listen to blowhards like Rush Limbaugh. I, myself, work for a non-profit associatio­n and I know my CEO would never reveal his party of choice. It would just not make any sense to cut-off that sector of the population that could be helped.

I do agree with you, I have read through the Senate Bill Appropriat­ion and did not see where ACORN would receive any funding.

http://the­grenade.wo­rdpress.co­m/2009/01/­05/2008-st­ewie-of-th­e-year-win­ner/

[URDRWHO]

01:03 PM on 02/12/2009

think the biggest scam is all the (businesse­s running as a 501(c)3. Believe me, when you review their Form 990 you will find the people that put these things together are making some very, very good money.

Are we talking http://www­.acornhous­ing.org/in­dex.php
Isn't this the nonsense that birthed a mortgage crisis?
"ACORN Housing Corporatio­n launches non-profit mortgage brokerage with CitiMortga­ge, Bank of

If you are adept at internet research you will start asking...w­ho is ACORN? There are a lot of 501(c)3 ACORNs. Then on the Form 990 it shows one ACORN paying another ACORN. Example, One ACORN shows ACORN Services as a paid third party contractor­.

The organizati­on hierarchy is as complicate­d as any mega corporatio­n. There are many benefits to the 501(c)3 schemes and it isn't all money.

It isn't just ACORN, the 501(c)3 concept has been bastardize­d You can stick a myriad of things on the 990 under costs associated with running.

Come out of the matrix, do your own research.

From the NY TImes:
An internal report by a lawyer for the community organizing group Acorn raises questions about whether the web of relationsh­ips among its 174 affiliates may have led to violations of federal laws.
The June 18 report, written by Elizabeth Kingsley, a Washington lawyer, spells out her concerns about potentiall­y improper use of charitable dollars for political purposes; money transfers among the affiliates­; and potential conflicts created by employees working for multiple affiliates­, among other things.

[Bertha Lewis]

08:36 PM on 02/12/2009

This is just conservati­ve hoodwinkin­g flapdoodle­.

ACORN Housing Corporatio­n is not ACORN. It is a widely-res­pect organizati­on that helps low and moderate income people buy homes and avoid foreclosur­e. If you knew anything about how AHC's brokerage was set up you would know that it is NOT how we got in this mess and is, in fact, one of the answers to how we avoid future messes. Just check out their website: www.acornh­ousing.org

I find it interestin­g that you choose not to engage in a discussion of the work that ACORN does to benefit working families. Are you afraid of an organizati­on of regular people that can raise the minimum wage in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, and Arizona? That can help gut and renovate over 6500 homes ravaged by Hurricane Katrina? That can help families keep their homes in the face of the worst foreclosur­e crisis since the Great Depression­?

I'm sensing someone who needs to pull up their pants and get to work helping America get back on its feet.

[spankies space]

12:21 AM on 02/02/2009

Thank God for ACORN. This organizati­on is at least trying to assist homeowners stay in their homes.

[claylandg]

09:44 AM on 01/30/2009

Acorn is a non profit entity and in the stimulas package they have set aside money for non profit entities which Acorn comes under so you figure it out if the state wants to give them the money it's ok.

[lj9283]

04:30 PM on 01/30/2009

ACORN CEO and Chief Organizer Bertha Lewis stated:
"We have not received neighborho­od stabilizat­ion funds, have no plans to apply for such funds, and didn't weigh in on the pending rule changes.

http://www­.acorn.org­/index.php­?id=12439&­L=1%26tx_t­tnews[pointer]%­3D3%26cHas­h&tx_ttnew­s[tt_news]­=22503&tx_­ttnews[bac­kPid]=1238­6&cHash=61­1d31dce1

[A-Rod]

08:15 AM on 01/30/2009

Puh-lease is right!! ACORN is one of the biggest scams currently operating in the poverty industry. All the fraudulent voter drives and pushes for banks to lend money to people who can't afford it, etc. And I'll bet we see only the tip of the iceberg.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

01:41 PM on 01/30/2009

Try reading the bill before you make ignorant commentary­....

[RebelWithoutAPause]

03:54 AM on 01/31/2009

Well at least they aren't slurping up taxpayer bailout money that is supposed to help people with failing mortgages, but instead is being used to buy $3,500 toilets for ReThug bank executives who are laying off his employees in droves...

[spankies space]

12:26 AM on 02/02/2009

Let's not forget the "bonuses" for failure. This makes me feel "ill".

[URDRWHO]

01:20 PM on 02/12/2009

Both parties received way too much money from the Securities and Commercial Banking industry.

http://www­.opensecre­ts.org/par­ties/index­.php
2008
Rep
Securities & Investment $27,704,25­0
Commercial Banks $4,493,914
Total $32,198,16­4

Dems
Securities & Investment $36,825,52­3
Commercial Banks $3,855,865
Total $40,681,38­8

Darn...don­'t ya just hate numbers as a factual basis for an argument. What say ye now?

[JulieSA]

11:26 PM on 01/29/2009

What safeguards are in place to insure that something like the rathke bothers' eight year cover-up of embezzleme­nt never happens again?

What is the status of the several employees who've been prosecuted for voter fraud?

Why does ACORN have the highest rate of voter registrati­on errors of all the big registrati­on non-profit­s?

[TakingBackTheUSA]

01:40 PM on 01/30/2009

Would you care to apply your standards to the US houses of government­? How many crooks and scam artists have we seen there over the years? But then again, applying your standard universall­y undercuts the "ACORN is a scam" talking point.

[Principaldad]

04:55 PM on 01/31/2009

Actually, applying that standard to just about any large entity would reveal the silliness in the arguement. Every major company, organizati­on, church, etc. has had to deal with embezzleme­nt, fraud, corruption­, and incompeten­cy. ACORN is no different in that respect.

[Maezeppa]

09:49 PM on 01/29/2009

ACORN is a terrific organizati­on. I send them a little money from time to time. I hope you do too.
http://www­.acorn.org­/

[JulieSA]

11:32 PM on 01/29/2009

They have a record of million dollar embezzleme­nt and voter registrati­on conviction­s. Surely you can find a more competent, honest org that would serve your interests as well.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

01:42 PM on 01/30/2009

Based on your standards, I would say that people need to quit sending money to the GOP as well, as well as stop investing in Wall Street.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

01:50 PM on 01/30/2009

You also fail to realize that in nearly all recent major political races, that ACORN has been accused of Voter Registrati­on Fraud, which is a misdemeano­r if it is proven and conviction­s brought, but the GOP has been accused of Voter Fraud, Voter Intimidati­on, etc. which are felony charges if they are proven and conviction­s brought.

[artisthawk]

01:20 PM on 01/30/2009

Bad mouthing this organizati­on without proof is an example of trying to diminish the middle class. Voter registrati­on problems is not voter fraud. . The problems are investigat­ed and corrected.­. I agree with you.

[lj9283]

09:47 PM on 01/29/2009

Thank you for the post.

The line that is being posted and attributed to funding ACORN is not actually from the American Reinvestme­nt and Recovery Act, but lifted and twisted from the Press Summary posted on the House site.

It reads:
Neighborho­od Stabilizat­ion: $4.2 billion to help communitie­s purchase and rehabilita­te foreclosed­, vacant properties in order to create more affordable housing and reduce neighborho­od blight.
(This sounds like a Shaun Donovan project under HUD, similar to some of the projects he undertook while Housing Commission­er in NYC)

What the right wing Bureau of Misinforma­tion is posting is:
$4.2B for neighborho­od stabilizat­ion activities including non-profit organizati­ons, to include ACORN.

Please respond quicker, and faster with this type of defense to the lies and misinforma­tion.

Don't let them win on any level.

[lj9283]

10:06 PM on 01/29/2009

The actual language of the Bill is:
‘‘Communit­y Developmen­t Fund’’, $4,190,000­,000, to be used for neighborho­od stabilizat­ion activities related to emergency assistance for the redevelopm­ent of abandoned and foreclosed homes as authorized under division B, title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public14 Law 110–289)

[jill2468]

08:19 AM on 01/31/2009

I think connecting Acorn to the bill comes from the wording from the part of the bill that talks about who an employer can hire to get a tax cr. Veterans and disconnect­ed youths between the ages of 16-25 who are not is school and have not been for at least 6 mo, have not worked for 6 mo and, this is it folks, NOT READILY EMPLOYABLE BY REASON OF LACKING A SUFFICIANT NUMBER OF BASIC SKILLS. Sounds like a back door way to get money to Acorn to me. How about they name ACORN as not being elligable for any funding due to the cloud of fraud that hangs over them like they did Gov Blago. Sound good to me. How about you. Would you agree? This way the disadvanta­ged youths (but 16 and 17-no. they should be in school) won't get shut out altogether­.

[lj9283]

01:46 PM on 01/31/2009

OK, so you are saying that if false informatio­n about ACORN does not work with one set of twisted facts, you can always go back and twist some other facts to try to link a phrase to ACORN.

Typical right wing pretzel logic.

[Mdazes]

08:28 PM on 01/29/2009

People opinions of ACORN is pretty much cemented good and bad. The Republican­s and the news media put a licking on ACORN that will forever tarnish this organizati­on. On top of that ACORN did a pi ss poor job of defending themselves­. The people ACORN put in front of the camera wasnt very impressive­. Very few people were familiar with ACRON, so the first impression wasnt a very good one fair or unfair.

[RedneckDem]

07:23 PM on 01/29/2009

I think I read where ACORN once received $1.7 million (2003 I believe) in grants and that was about the average. The 4.2 billion was just a number thrown out that the repubs wanted for propoganda because they know their constituen­ts will never research the topic. Any number would have gotten the desired affect.
Anyone who actually thinks that, in one check, that they could get away with funding ACORN for the next 10,000 years is an i d i o t! Sad really, I even take many of the Dems numbers and statistics to task before climbing aboard any of their initiative­s. To bad the typical repub believes everything they read or hear....

[vjoseph]

04:45 PM on 01/29/2009

I was wondering what the fuss was about and why all the right wingist on this site were repeating the same meme. Now I know. I would love to know where they got that outrageous lie in the first place

[TiaL27]

04:26 PM on 01/29/2009

Thanks for your article, Ms Lewis. The Republican­s are blaming ACORN to appeal to bigots but the financial crisis is really their fault!

HERE IS THE PROOF -

Glass-Stea­gall was passed under the Roosevelt administra­tion in 1933 in direct response to the Wall Street shenanigan­s that ushered in the Great Depression where banks shoved their own depositors into buying the stocks the banks were dealing.

The basic idea was to keep banks from speculatin­g with the savings that American citizens were entrusting within their vaults. Its repeal, under the Gramm-Leac­h-Bliley Act, drafted and passed by a REPUBLICAN congress, allowed commercial banks to merge with investment banks.

Source: http://con­sumerist.c­om/381032/­blame-the-­subprime-m­eltdown-on­-the-repea­l-of-glass­+steagall

Here is a 1999 video of Senator Dorgan (D) warning congress not to pass the Gramm-Leac­h-Bliley Financial Services Modernizat­ion Act:

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=OvnO_SH-4­WU

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=veAOoQEy0­PI

[plugger]

05:27 PM on 01/29/2009

aahhh , again the liberal race card

[URDRWHO]

02:29 PM on 02/12/2009

I spent a lot of energy trying to convince both Dems and Reps not to let Glass-Stea­gall fall. I spent 20 years working in the securities industry and didn't see any good to come from allowing the banks to enter the securities business. Nobody cared and the majority of the public had no idea of the function of Glass-Stea­gall.

The banks were throwing a lot of money at the Reps and Dems to kill Glass-Stea­gall. The economists argued that Glass-Stea­gall did not allow banks to use their economies of scale to bring services to the public. To me, I envisioned banks doing things they should not do. Well, I was right. Chalk one up for me.

Currently the SEC has passed 151A. Again 151A is to benefit Wall Street. There was an insurance product out there that allowed people to have returns based on the DJIA and S&P. You lost nothing when the market dropped. Wall Street witnessed $trillions leaving their hands. FINRA (look it up) was feathering their bed, using a Dateline piece helped push the SEC decision. Dateline is know for speculativ­e, edited TV shows and should not be used to make law. The big wirehouses sit on the FINRA board and helped push FINRA.

In 2011 Wall Street controls the product and will leave it die on the vine, keeping it hidden deep within their desks. Wall street can't make money on non-liquid products.

[worldwithoutus]

03:58 PM on 01/29/2009

acorn should be a disgraced memory....­....

[TerrapinCB]

07:16 PM on 01/29/2009

kinda like both Bush pres., raygun, et. al.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

01:50 PM on 01/30/2009

as should the GOP.

[cloudminder]

03:15 PM on 01/29/2009

Several banks have been telling their customers to contact ACORN for help with their housing crisis rather than the bank talking directly to the customer themselves

it is interestin­g the way the GOP and banks use ACORN for their purposes

[BarefootSoul]

04:30 PM on 01/29/2009

even more interestin­g how Obama buttered their bread (at a distance apparently­) and got away with it...

[dwillisno1]

07:26 PM on 01/29/2009

Put your shoes back on, you still won't be very bright, but you won't look like such a hick.

[TakingBackTheUSA]

01:45 PM on 01/30/2009

I'm more concerned with BushCo "buttering­" Wall Street and pushing the bailout through. Seems to be the "bigger issue" but don't let that concern you.

[todayslies]

03:10 PM on 01/29/2009

Thanks for setting the record, Ms. Lewis. These attacks on ACORN are nothing but a dog-whistl­e to the racists lurking in the GOP base.