ACORN Founder Calls Conservative Attacks 'Complete Fabrication'

Washington Post ^ | September 23, 2009 | Carol D. Leonnig

[jazusamo]

The founder of ACORN, the community organizing group embarrassed recently in a video sting, says many of the accusations about the group are distortions meant to undermine President Obama and other Democrats.

In an exclusive interview with the Post, founder Wade Rathke said conservative claims that ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is a "criminal enterprise" that misuses federal and donor funds for political ends -- a claim contained in a report by House Republicans -- are a "complete fabrication." He said exaggeration and conjecture about the group are being passed off daily on cable television and web-site blogs as documented fact.

"It's balderdash on top of poppycock," said Rathke, who was forced out last year amid an embezzlement scandal involving his brother. "It is a tactic they are trying to aggressively use to attack Obama... to paint the president and anybody else they can as radicals."

~snip~

"It was gross speculation and probably was the emotion of the moment," he said of the period after the board learned he had not fully disclosed Dale Rathke's $1 million embezzlement back in 1999 and 2000.

Rathke himself has been the target of Republican ire -- and criticism from within his own organization. His board was furious that he and a few top officials arranged a confidential repayment plan to cover his brother's embezzlement. After his forced resignation in June 2008 from ACORN U.S.A, the umbrella group for ACORN, he severed ties and now runs ACORN International, a separate tax-exempt group focused on helping poor residents of mega-slums in other countries, including India, Peru and Argentina. It does no work in the United States, he said.

About the embezzlement, Rathke said he advised senior leaders at the time and the "decision was made by the executive committee and management...

[jazusamo]

Title is a little deceiving. Leonnig lets Rathke have his say but points out Rathke's corruption.

[Marty62]

Lies roll off the Socialist tongue like melted butter.

[jazusamo]

A piece on Rathke.

[Red in Blue PA]

Who is one to believe, Wade, or your own lying eyes?

[Old Sarge]

Squeal loud = near to target.

[BerniesFriend]

"It's balderdash on top of poppycock," said Rathke, who was forced out last year amid an embezzlement scandal involving his brother.

That sentence alone should disqualify anything rathke says about his "innocent" organization..

[xcamel]

$1 million embezzlement on ACORN, $12 Billion embezzlement on America.

[Soothesayer]

So the whole video was staged and those were fake ACORN employees? Wow.

[jazusamo]

Yep, and it does. He was exiled by his own group. lol

[moonpie57]

Poor baby. ACORN got busted. *sniff*

[cripplecreek]

ACORN has been taken by surprise and hit hard. We’ve seen denials, excuses, firings, thanks, more denials, explanations, and still more denials.

[EricT.]

So the head of ACORN has publicly admitted that they are not a non-partisan organization?

Paging the Internal Revenue Service...

[jazusamo]

Exactly...I think the day is quickly approaching that ACORN will have a sit down with the IRS.

[chris37]

Why isn’t this man under investigation by the FBI?

[Jet Jaguar]

ACORN Ping!

FReep mail me if you want on/off the list.

[FrankR]

"We’ve seen denials, excuses, firings, thanks, more denials, explanations, and still more denials. "

Don't forget the threats of lawsuits and prosecution for those two reporters...

[Anima Mundi]

Isn’t there a reward for turning in a nonpayer?

[FrankR]

Remember, all of those red t-shirts and flags were bought with OUR (TAXPAYER) MONEY.

[jazusamo]

I understand there is but don’t know how it would work with an organization like this.

[newnhdad]

Next video, please..