Posted on 04/30/2009 11:46:33 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Frank and Bachmann do battle over key ACORN amendment @ 2:29 pm by Michael O'Brien
Two partisan heavyweights did battle Thursday over an amendment prized by conservatives, as House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) withdrew backing for a bill that would have toughened regulations for community organizing groups.
Frank withdrew his support from an amendment offered by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) that would forbid groups like the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) from receiving federal grants if any of their employees have been indicted for voter fraud.
After approving the amendment by a unanimous voice vote, Frank announced Thursday he was mistaken to back the bill, and said he'd offer a substitute that would apply the amendment only to groups with employees who are actually convicted — not just indicted. Frank's version would also take into account the employee's position in the organization, and how long ago the conviction had been handed down.
"Focusing on an indictment and letting an indictment be the trigger of penalties would be a violation the basic rules and fairness of American law," Frank told The Hill. "So if one person is indicted, the whole "innocent until proven guilty, etc"� just goes totally out the window."
"The temptation to indict someone you don't like — after the Ted Stevens thing, I don't even know how anyone could think about that," he said.
Bachmann blasted Frank for "siding with ACORN," a group that had stoked the ire of many conservatives for their efforts to turn out the vote for President Obama during the 2008 elections.
"Are we expected to keep forking over tax dollars to these organization when they're under the cloud of suspicion of a public criminal indictment?" Bachmann asked in a statement.
"If nothing else, this shows us just how much influence ACORN and others have over Chairman Frank and the Democrat party," she said. "Your tax dollars are being abused."
Rep. Bachman’s a good troop.
Barney? Never, ever forget this: If Barney likes any idea, it’s probably bad for America. He is such a putz.
Bachmann is one of the few Republicans to openly oppose Democrats who threaten America.
ITs no wonder libs and trolls have made her a favorite target.
May the best woman win.
Good work Michele! Don’t let up!
Go Bachmann!
Don’t back down!
I agree on the indictment/conviction thing, and would be willing to accept the conviction requirement. ACORN has a few employee convictions under its belt.
I’m not sure I disagree with Fwank on this one. While we may have a specific group in mind right now, this would probably only be used against a conservative group anyway. The real question is why are these hacks getting taxpayer money in the first place? If people are too dumb/lazy to register, let them be governed by people who aren’t.
Bachmann is truly a blessing to the party! I think she and Sarah Palin both have more balls & testosterone than all of the men in the GOP combined!
We need them in the executive branch.......badly!
PALIN-BACHMANN, 2012!!!!!
Sounds reasonable. Frank doesn’t want those dastardly honest people around.
“May the best woman win.”
LOL, but no true woman would want Frank around...good grief, he sooooo represents the dim-bulb crats.
It’s a catfight and I’m putting my money on Bachman...
ITs no wonder libs and trolls have made her a favorite target.
You got that right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdjRFJQuoiI&feature=player_embedded
Heh, you GO, girl!
We must come together, as conservatives, and stand up and support and fight for those who have the courage to speak out against the villains who oppress us.
Never should we allow what happened to Gingrich and others to occur again. The Dems and libs think that by attacking these spokespersons we will crumble and run away as we have so often done in the past. We need not only support people like Bachmann, Toomey and Simcox, but come back and attack those so-called “Republicans” like Orrin Hatch who would much rather just sit back, rack up their paycheck and benefits and not rock the boat. Its time for THEM to go!!! And we need to tell THEM!!!!
ACORn is prime for a RICO lawsuit... heck so is Planned Parenthood
The Republicans have got to quit behaving like they’re at a Rotary meeting.
RULES People!
Palin/Bachmann 2012!
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