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ACORN Scandal Has Deep Roots
Townhall.com ^ | September 18, 2009 | Kathryn Lopez

Posted on 09/19/2009 4:30:06 AM PDT by Kaslin

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is a scandal. This story has become breaking news lately thanks to some recent guerilla journalism. But the problems of ACORN represent a broader, and even more scandalous idea: the conventional acceptance of the left's self-righteous claims to having a monopoly on all politics, policy and lifestyles that are good.

ACORN, if you haven't heard, is a radical organization that devotes itself with laser-like intensity to the maxim that all politics is local. The group supposedly exists to find affordable housing and provide social services for low-income families. But when two undercover, enterprising young people equipped with a hidden camera walked into an ACORN office, posing as an over-the-top pimp and prostitute wanting to establish a brothel dealing in enslaved children from other countries, ACORN employees offered the two advice: how to get on welfare; how to cheat the tax system; how to get housing from the government; and how to hide the criminal profit (a tin in your back yard, natch).

In the wake of the video, the Senate -- with seven notable exceptions -- voted to bar new federal funding for ACORN. But beyond the outrageous seven and the video, this is an opportunity for deeper revelations still.

Federally aided counsel to a pimp and prostitute and pervasive allegations of voter fraud aren't the worst of it. The reaction that has greeted the furor has been the most disturbing facet of the whole sorry affair. There is a place, a time and a need for getting to the bottom of the whys and hows of social pathologies. But that time is not while watching an organization that gets federal funding offer help with the sex trafficking of children on YouTube. And yet that was the default position of some on the left to this scandal.

ACORN's chief executive Bertha Lewis would eventually surrender to the demand for atonement, and issue a statement saying, "We have all been deeply disturbed by what we've seen in some of these videos. I must say, on behalf of ACORN's Board and our Advisory Council, that we will go to whatever lengths necessary to re-establish the public trust." But that was only after being on adamant defense.

And Lewis wasn't alone in self-protection mode. When the first video dropped, a blog on National Public Radio's Web site excused crimes as part and parcel of the plight of the community organizer: "It's also important to keep in mind that ACORN's workers are coming from the same low-income neighborhoods the organization serves, with all that entails -- poor schools, high crime and the sorts of social problems that have been documented for decades." The post continued: "So the flaws conservatives are pointing out about ACORN are not so much problems associated with that organization per se but more about the problems of being poor and minority in urban America." Don't blame them, in other words. They can't help themselves, they're poor people.

And herein lies the deeper scandal -- it's not just the denial of what is right in front of your face, it's denial of a bad mode of operating, of a sickness in policy and philosophy. For as much as the right is attacked for being dismissive of the poor and most vulnerable, the left clutches that which continues the plight of government dependence among so many.

ACORN is wedded to stale thinking that all too often makes people dependent, crushes responsibility, creativity and our very natures. And the Obama administration only plans to continue to increase welfare spending, ensuring that the system that gave birth to ACORN and its inexcusable conduct will continue to thrive.

That NPR item began with the announcement that the "'ACORN versus conservatives' contest of wills is beginning to look like some new version of the Cold War with either side claiming the other is evil and vowing to never give in until it prevails." There's something to that observation, actually. These tea parties, best sellers about liberty and tyranny and liberal fascism, they're about something: they're about ideas. Most of all, they're about preserving that which makes America exceptional.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: acorn; bho44; corruption; cultureofcorruption; hannahgiles; roots; scandals
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To: kjo
We are in the middle of a media war.

The media war is a single front of the war. And one action that can be taken on that front is the next Tea Party movement against MSM outlets across America, as Rush has proposed. Let them see the power of middle America up front and personal.

21 posted on 09/19/2009 5:21:16 AM PDT by bcsco (Hopey changey down the drainey...)
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To: Kaslin

If you give money to United Way, YOU are supporting ACORN.


22 posted on 09/19/2009 5:27:15 AM PDT by GOPJ ( UNITED WAY SUPPORTS ACORN - - STOP DONATING - STOP SUPPORTING CRIMINALS)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Four people passed through a St. Louis polling place, staffed by ACORN volunteers. 34 votes were tabulated. Claire McCaskill was elected to the US Senate.


23 posted on 09/19/2009 5:33:26 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Kaslin

I love the NPR rationalization for the scandalous behavior of the ACORN officials: “well, they’re just drawn from the inner-city neighborhoods they serve, and because of their environment (translation: our fault), how could we expect anything other than what we saw on the videos?”

The logical conclusion of their analysis: “here’s a brilliant idea - why don’t we funnel bucketfuls for money to fund an organization that apparently serves the function of reinforcing the worst pathologies of an inner city underclass?”


24 posted on 09/19/2009 5:37:15 AM PDT by Stosh
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

“Four people passed through a St. Louis polling place, staffed by ACORN volunteers. 34 votes were tabulated. Claire McCaskill was elected to the US Senate.”

Give em 8 billion, and see what happens.


25 posted on 09/19/2009 5:39:19 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Kaslin

BTTT


26 posted on 09/19/2009 6:16:34 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
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To: Kaslin

It all started with the Immigration Reform in 1965,import the Poor and Illiterate from South America,Africa ,Mexico and look what you get,They vote Democrat in Huge Numbers for 50 years and they are still complaining about the same things,it is self perpetuating,or Insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
No one is going to Change it ,you cant run as a Representative saying you are going to Cut these give away programs that are Bankrupting the Country,not only are the poor who depend on them going to vote against you but all the Poverty pimps in the Government who make nice fat Livings off them are too,millions of Govt Employees who cater to the down trodden in every aspect of their lives,the most basic how to diaper a Baby how to dress them ,they have to track the Fathers the Mothers ,some on drugs some ,felons ,all these Agencies cost trillions.
The Country has been playing out the String for some time,with this guy in the White House the end will just be excellerated


27 posted on 09/19/2009 6:27:56 AM PDT by ballplayer
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To: kjo

“they were merely “playing along.”

That’s right, your honor. I was just playing along as “driver” in the bank robbery. I was going to turn in the robbers after the bank heist and drive them straight to the police station. Can I go now? Choir practice starts in 30 minutes and I have to fill the holy water fountains at the church. Plus I have to stop at the humane society and pet the puppies and kittens.


28 posted on 09/19/2009 6:43:53 AM PDT by sergeantdave (obuma is the anti-Lincoln, trying to re-establish slavery)
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To: Kaslin
ACORN is wedded to stale thinking that all too often makes people dependent, crushes responsibility...

Amen. If you're a victim of society, you have no responsibility for your condition or your actions. Absolutely wrong, absolutely destructive to the individual and society. We must stop this line of reasoning before it destroys our country.

29 posted on 09/19/2009 7:51:52 AM PDT by Rocky (OBAMA: Succeeding where bin Laden failed.)
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To: Kaslin
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." -- Matthew 12:43-45a

If the conservatives really expect to get any long-term mileage out of the fall of ACORN, they must immediately REPLACE ACORN with an organization that will help the "poor and downtrodden" with housing, health care and other types of advocacy. HOWEVER, it must be done from the foundation of conservative values.

Rather than treat the poor like victims in need of entitlements and handouts, the organization should treat them like humans with dignity who need advice on how to access the entrepreneurial opportunities that exist in our great country. Rather than showing them how to scam the system to get mortgage loans they can't maintain, they should show them how to establish income and credit necessary to buy a home of their own on their own merits.

If conservatives do not do this, then another "ACORN" will spring up. And it will be 7 times more powerful than the first

30 posted on 09/19/2009 8:57:21 AM PDT by Guyin4Os (My name says Guyin40s but now I have an exotic, daring, new nickname..... Guyin50s)
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To: Guyin4Os; Rocky; Kaslin; jla; FlingWingFlyer; altair; youturn; little jeremiah; kjo; ...
Unscrupulous Tax Return Preparers
31 posted on 09/19/2009 12:10:39 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Guyin4Os; Rocky; Kaslin; jla; FlingWingFlyer; altair; youturn; little jeremiah; kjo; ...
ACORN employees offered the pimp and prostie advice: >>how to get on welfare; >>how to cheat the tax system; >>how to get housing from the government; and how to hide the criminal profit (a tin in your back yard)...

One ACORN service--tax preparation---meeds to be put under the IRS microscope.

DO THIS NOW : Contact the IRS Criminal Investigations Division (IRS-CI) (CALLERS CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS)
> To report suspected tax fraud activity, Tele toll-free 1-800-829-0433
> To report suspected tax law violations, Tele toll-free 1-800-829-0433

MISSION STATEMENT The IRS-CI mission is to follow the money. No matter the source, all income earned, both legal and illegal, has the potential of becoming involved in crimes. The IRS-CI utilizes the broad authority of Title 26 and 31, tax, currency reporting and forfeiture and Title 18 money laundering, conspiracy and forfeiture to identify, investigate and prosecute the most significant tax, currency and money laundering offenders; and to pursue the assets of those offenders both domestically and internationally for criminal tax and asset forfeiture purposes.

Contact the IRS when you suspect :
> Unscrupulous Tax Return Preparers
> Frivolous filers/non-filers who challenge the constitutionality of the American tax system
> Income Tax Evasion
> Failure to File
> Filing False Returns
> Frivolous filers/non-filers who challenge the constitutionality of the American tax system
> Employment Tax Cases
> Claims for Fraudulent Refunds
> Abusive Tax-exempt Nonprofit Schemes
> Illegal Source Financial Crimes (Money obtained illegally or through fraud)
> Narcotics Related Financial Crimes
> Money Laundering

The IRS is also interested in leadership and members of groups involved in tax, money laundering, or currency violations and persons engaged in fundraising activities using tax exempt organizations, and complex, extensive or convoluted financial transactions.

32 posted on 09/19/2009 12:18:00 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Kaslin

"Get your pencils and paper ready. Today. we're going to learn how to use HUD federal funds to open a brothel
utilizing underage children imported from the Third World. And when I become president, this will all be legal."

33 posted on 09/19/2009 12:20:42 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Kaslin

bookmark


34 posted on 09/19/2009 12:21:08 PM PDT by what's up
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To: Jet Jaguar; Fred Nerks; null and void; stockpirate; george76; PhilDragoo; Candor7; BP2; ...
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
35 posted on 09/19/2009 3:12:02 PM PDT by LucyT
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To: ETL

Obama’s deep involvement with all things Acorn.....You would think after the undercover videos were released, the connections Obama had to Acorn would be getting a lot of air time. I don’t even hear it much in talk radio.


36 posted on 09/19/2009 3:20:53 PM PDT by Electric Graffiti (Yonder stands your orphan with his gun)
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To: Kaslin

bttt


37 posted on 09/21/2009 4:18:31 PM PDT by sweetiepiezer (I have a Pal in Sarah)
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