We've all been witness to the deft handling of the MSM by Andrew Breitbart and the investigative reporters James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles. Their work has uncovered a level of corruption being perpetrated by members of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), heretofore unknown; at least by those who derive their information solely from the likes of Big Media.
However, as diligent members of the conservative community, it is crucial that one keeps an eye out for lower levels of corruption stained by the fingerprints of ACORN. Will your local newspapers be able and willing to connect the dots?
One such scenario involves a massive voter fraud case in upstate New York. The allegations, which were brought to light by the Albany Times Union, involve absentee ballots forged by people associated with the city's Democratic Party for those registered to vote on the Working Families Party (WFP) line in Troy, NY. The ballots not only involve clearly forged signatures, but also, falsifying excuses for not being present on Election Day, and registering individuals who no longer live in the area.
Some interesting items not being covered in the investigative report are the links between the WFP and ACORN, and even certain names mentioned in the article which clearly show ties with the organization.
The WFP has been shown to be nothing more than a front for ACORN and its radical policies. Why?
- RedState has demonstrated that the WFP was founded by key members of ACORN, and shares many of its political strategies.
- The WFP lists ACORN as an affiliate program directly on their Web site.
- Roger Stone calls the New York Working Families Party "one of ACORN's most successful projects".
- The New York Post analyzes the many shady dealings of the WFP, and its affiliation with ACORN.
None of these ties were explored in the Times Union article. In fact, when asked about how much investigation was put into this potential link, the only response received thus far has been: "Nothing on Acorn in this as of yet that I'm aware".
Yet a simple review of the above material demonstrates that these fraudulent ballot allegations may have been orchestrated by a higher entity - namely, ACORN. Seemingly just as strange, is that a quick look into the history of one of the key components in the story, Karen Scharff, shows a direct link to the organization itself.
Scharff, according to the article, is co-chair of the Capital District WFP. A little further digging reveals so much more...
- Scharff has been involved in health care meetings coordinated by her group, Citizen Action, and ACORN. A picture of one such event appears on the Times Union blog.
- Her name appears on a letter of support for ACORN, in which criticism of their work is labeled as ‘mainly partisan' attacks.
- An article regarding the power of fusion politics, a tactic used by the WFP, shows Scharff's activism in the election of Albany District Attorney, David Soares. The article covers the tandem work of the WFP and Citizen Action, along with the strong ties that the WFP has with ACORN. One key element here is the mention of Bertha Lewis who is described as ‘the executive director of ACORN's New York City chapter'. Lewis also serves as co-chair for the WFP.
- Another article celebrating the Soares victory appears in the Nation, in which Scharff's WFP work is mentioned alongside the work of Dan Cantor. Cantor also serves as Executive Director for the WFP, and was national organizer for the ‘New Party' in the ‘90s, a socialist group with strong ties to ACORN. In fact, the New Ground described the New Party's ‘biggest asset and biggest liability' as ACORN.
- Scharff serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Working Families, alongside Jon Kest, Director of the New York Association of Community Organization for Reform Now.
Further research shows that the aforementioned names are constantly intertwined amongst various resources.
It is important to recognize that ACORN's corrupt little arms have branched out everywhere. Examples of such aren't always as blatant as what we have seen recently in the media. They control many other aspects, all the way down to the local level. And it is just as important to hold the local media accountable for connecting the dots of corruption, rather than simply, as can be paraphrased from the Times Union response, ‘nothing that we're aware of yet'.
Make yourself aware - the media, as you know, simply won't do the work for you.
Photo Credit: AP/Jae C. Hong
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I'm pretty sure the local
September 28, 2009 - 01:18 ET by lnthompI'm pretty sure the local paper here in Portland, OR won't be covering anything about Acorn unless it's stories about what wonderful things Acorn does for the community. The Oregonian might as well be owned by Acorn - if possible, it's even more biased than the New York Times.
Lee T / USN(ret) / Oregon City, OR
Be careful -- the U.S. Department of Homeland Security thinks I'm [i][b]dangerous[/b][/i] because
1. I'm a U.S. military veteran.
2. I'm not in favor of the government spending money it doesn't have.
3. I believe free speech is for everyone.
Do you guys know the book
September 28, 2009 - 01:54 ET by criticalthinkingDo you guys know the book Don Quijote? I just finished reading it. the book has the very famous scene where Don Quijote attacks windmills, believing they are giant monsters. Never in my life have i ever seen something so similar as the convervative reaction to ACORN. Lets jsut say that they are bad news (which i dont think they are entirly bad, they do some important community work), lets jsut say they were bad bad bad. Its such an insignificant little triffling organzation that has no bearing on anything, just a way to smear liberaly, or more to the point, smear politicans who support inner city initiatives. You act like ACORN should for some reason be on the front page of every newspaper, or kicking off every news cast as the number one story...what an invented boogie man you've created. I wonder if you guys have frightening dreams about ACORN at night. talk about a distraction issue.
I also have bad dreams of................
September 28, 2009 - 02:09 ET by old croLa Raza., eh mestizos.
"..distraction issue." ?!!
September 28, 2009 - 03:06 ET by ww thumperWhen you elect a communist for President... don't be serprised when Communisem brakes out!...
ACORN is not" a little triffling org. that has no bearing on anything"... It is a Large , well funded org. (funded by our TAX $$$$$) who do fraudulent voter regesteration for the DIMOCRATS in many cities in the USA. They have tried to regester names of Dead people, Cartoon chariters, ILLEAGLES, and such. The whole org. is a FRUAD and should not receive any more Govt. $$$$$$ !!! They should be investigated by the FBI and their leaders should be tried in court and put in JAIL where they belong!! excuse my spelling , but Im' a little Peed off at your post!
"distraction issue"..my dam foot...they are chriminals!! ww
It Should Be!
September 28, 2009 - 06:46 ET by GeneralAlACORN should be dominating every newscast, every front page of every paper, every cable talk show! Do you remember a little Congressman named Mark Foley? He was just one of 435. Very insignificant but sufficient for your Communist pals across the media spectrum to devote a whole month of coverage to! He sent some suggestive letters to a Congressional page but had an impressive record as a Congressman. Yor ACCORN subverts the law across the land, steals votes and even elections, intimidates voters, and elects is protege as President. You're darn right we're ticked! I'd be willing to bet a year's worth of your wages [Since you're a liberal, I just thought it was only fair to use your money instead of mine!] that thirty percent of the close elections in the last two cycles were finished off with ACORN's crooked tactics! Furthermore, your pals on the Communist left picked this fight a long time ago and we are going to finish it, once and for all! If you can't take it, go home and change your Depend!
Nahh, more votes counted
September 28, 2009 - 07:17 ET by nadadhimmiNahh, more votes counted than voters registered in many counties in swing states, now why would that concern me? OOps, guess I must be racist, especially as I'm against distributing ballots in Mexico too.
Front Page
September 28, 2009 - 07:50 ET by Rusty WeissYou're correct. I do believe that voter fraud should be a front page issue in every newspaper. When one of the more fundamental rights in our great country is tainted by criminal acts such as forgery, then it indeed goes from being a mere windmill to a giant monster as you say.
I think that passing off voter fraud as no big deal, when it directly impacts the outcome of who we have representing us as elected officials, is an obvious crime, and reeks of moral negligence, speaks to your character on a very basic level. Do you not value your own vote on election day?
Perhaps you've stumbled onto the new Democratic campaign slogan: ACORN and voter fraud - It's really no big deal.
Rusty
Re Voter Fraud
September 28, 2009 - 10:08 ET by slickwillie2001A big part of the problem is that we don't see a single illegal vote as a problem. If one American citizen is turned away from the polls it becomes a huge story, and God help us if it's a black person. But one dead person voting, or an illegal alien voting, or someone voting twice is not seen as a big deal. But that one illegal vote cancels out the legal vote of an American citizen, so it should be looked at the same.
I think that vote fraud will only be taken seriously by Congress when both parties are afraid that the other might be benefitting disproportionately. At present, everyone knows that the democratics benefit more from cheating than Republicans. Republicans need to cheat more, since apparently that's all that will move the democratics.
Funny CT. Things
September 28, 2009 - 08:48 ET by JerryFunny CT.
Things democrats claim to be very concerned about become trivial minutia when they are involved in it. Vote fraud? Tax fraud?
Just like the 9/11 Commission was the most important investigation in the history of the world UNTIL they couldn't pin anything on Bush and Sandy "Pants" Berger was stealing classified documents from the national archives.
When conservatives are winning elections, democrats look under every rock to try and find vote fraud, throwing out malicious rumors with nothing to back it up. Now, vote fraud is smacking them right in the face and they are sweeping it under the rug.
When conservatives are winning elections, war is bad, body counts are celebrated, protests are organized, and enemy strikes are highlighted on every news broadcast. Now, with democrats in power, war is bad but necessary, body counts are unmentionable, protests are non-existent, and enemy strikes are hush hush.
The list is endless. The hypocrisy knows no bounds.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Jerry
September 28, 2009 - 12:37 ET by MrShyGreat stuff! I like Jerry more than Jer(ry).
(Joke, Jer! Well, mostly.... :))
Now that you've spent some
September 28, 2009 - 12:03 ET by HockeyKidNow that you've spent some time reading literature, spend some time reading up on ACORN's history, and its labyrinthian collection of "affiliate organizations". If you can then convince yourself that it is "such a little thing", come back and say so.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
ACORN should change their name.
September 28, 2009 - 02:23 ET by MadRatAssociation of Community Organizations for Reform Now? They should be honest and leave out the "R" and call themselves ACON.
"ACON"
September 28, 2009 - 03:11 ET by ww thumperI aggree MadRat! ACORN is a CON and a FRUAD !! WW When you elect a communist for President... don't be serprised when Communisem brakes out!...
ww thumper is in the house?
September 28, 2009 - 12:41 ET by R D HelmLong time no see.
LOL-Wondered where you'd gotten off to.
-Dave
The election of 2010 will be our last chance to save our republic. -Neal Boortz
Long time ..no tipe on computer ;)
September 28, 2009 - 20:48 ET by ww thumperWell HI RD I haven't been on for a long time cuzz I used to work for a living..untill my fine car got rearended in an accident this summer. I got a bad hurt back. So i'm just settin around getting fat and ugly, and mad. ;>) WW
When you elect a communist for your President... don't be surprised when Communisem breakes out!...
I Think Its Time
September 28, 2009 - 06:30 ET by GeneralAlI think its time to make ACORN and its affiliates register as subversive organizations who advocate the overthrow of the government of the United States. They have judges, states attorneys, a federal Attorney General and even a President in their pocket! Senator Joe McCarthy was tarred and feather by the press for his "Witch Hunt" for Communist back in the fifties. Its too bad the Communist press in America succeeded in destroying this mans work! I bet we would be living in a different time in America! Instead, his name has become synonimonous with underhanded tactics to dig up dirt on a public official or celebrety! Ironically, the very people who destroyed the distinguished Senator have mastered the use of the tactics that bares his name! Perhaps hte Liberal Communist Democrats at that time were just jealous that McCarthy was using their own smear tactics against them! Rest in peace Joe, before Obama is finished Communizing America you will be vindicated!
A CON
September 28, 2009 - 09:47 ET by ww thumperGen Al thankx for your great posts....I thought that I was the "lone ranger" on this topic. You have spoken the truth about that FRUAD org. ACORN . WW When you elect a communist for President... don't be serprised when Communisem brakes out!...
The only thing I hear about
September 28, 2009 - 07:44 ET by JerryThe only thing I hear about ACORN is how this orginization that helps the poor is being targed by right wing conservatives.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
You need to get out
September 28, 2009 - 12:04 ET by HockeyKidYou need to get out more.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
ACORN helps the poor
September 28, 2009 - 12:34 ET by MrShyYes, ACORN helps the poor. ACORN helps the poor -- no matter what nationality, too, and regardless of whether the person even exists -- register to vote, and then helps that person (or name on the registration) vote for a Democrat. In the most recent instance, Obama.
And now, with the revelation from almost a half dozen new video stings, they are also very eager to help poor pimps and prostitutes settle down and run their business, which includes helping to bring poor illegal immigrant sex slaves into the country.
ACORN helps the poor. You got that right.
Copycats
September 28, 2009 - 07:46 ET by KC MulvilleI'm a little worried for all those poli-sci seniors wanting to copycat the success of O'Keefe and Giles. Who knows what kind of pimp outfits, uniforms, homeless coats, etc., these people are wearing into various agencies? I'm certain that all the community organizing offices have been put on alert for wannabe-journalists, but you never know.
and they pulled out of our state...
September 28, 2009 - 08:59 ET by Saint ZeroI forget when, but we're one of the few where ACORN has shut down entirely. Nice. :)
I did a search on my local
September 28, 2009 - 09:27 ET by mattmI did a search on my local paper's website. There were 36 hits.
Perusing the headlines I'd say about 1/4 is straight information. 1/4 is questioning of ACORN's ethics, but not their intentions, and the rest are skeptical of conservative criticism of it. At least they're not completely spiking it. I'd grade my local paper a B on the topic.
BTW- To the guy who thinks this is tilting at windmills, when was the last time a windmill reached into your pocket and took cash for dubious purposes...Oh wait, it's happening all over...
Acorn and the poor
September 28, 2009 - 10:05 ET by cajun2There will be blind supporters of Acorn regardless of any media factual stories. I will try to encourage those like CT to do your own research into Acorn.
1. Who created Acorn and its affliates?Who sits on the Board of Directors? A hint, corrupt white people.
2. What percentage of taxpayer money to Acorn actually reaches the "poor"? 56million to Acorn in the last 10 years. Acorn in NY owns 50million dollars worth of prime real estate. How does this help the poor? Why have Acorn employees in several large cities been locked out of their offices when they asked for an audit because their accounts were empty? Hints Cindy Montcrief in Chicago tried to tell the NY Times. Marcel Reid of DC office had to go to Glen Beck to get her story out. Isn't that the definition of irony?
3. Statistics have shown (look it up) that the average age of the mother(africanamericans) for first birth is age 14. The number of young girls sexually molested before age 18 is 1 in 4. For young boys it is 1 in 6. Yet in 5 cities in the Acorn offices filmed by Giles and O'Keef, every one readily offered to assist in smuggling in underage girls to be used as sex slaves. Such a fine organization helping "poor" people.
This organization started out with an idea like thousands of others. But when people and lots of money are involved, often corruption takes control. This organization is not immune to corruption and that corruption cannot be ignored simply because we once agreed with its premise. The fact that they have received millions in tax payers money gives all citizens the right to call them out and to SHUT THEM DOWN. Calling out Acorn on its corruption and exploitation of the poor is the best way I can contribute to "helping the poor"
Good question
September 28, 2009 - 10:23 ET by StarAZMy paper is the AZ Republic (Gannett). There has been mention--but not Glenn Beck thorough. Not all the little interlocking boards, skeevy directors in common, connections, etc.
Nope. Local rag is called
September 28, 2009 - 11:03 ET by black47211Nope. Local rag is called "Danbury News Times" and they are liberal.
They were out of Danbury, CT, but have recently had to move their operation to Bridgeport, CT due to declining sales and subscriptions. Ha!
http://www.pelicanmarsh68.blogspot.com
Citizen Commentators Unite!
Beck
September 28, 2009 - 13:19 ET by Jerry MackMy local papers' editor did a good job of covering the article. But in the same article he took shots at G. Beck for asking his listeners and watchers to send him e-mails and call him. In fairness he had done 2 articles before. Just not as indepth. So the readers and G. Beck won.
The Sacbee ran a puff piece on the local ACORN
September 28, 2009 - 14:42 ET by jeffinsacACORN backlash expected to have few effects on Sacramento branch
They didn't focus on the corruption, but how much federal funding they got.
Re Sacbee
September 28, 2009 - 15:26 ET by slickwillie2001Saw a similar one from a Minneapolis paper, the gist was something like –"our ACORN here in Minnesota has none of these problems."
They did however help Alf Rankin get elected to the Senate, likely with illegal and dead voters.
Acorn New Orleans getting $700,000.00
September 29, 2009 - 17:44 ET by DanolaThe City of New Orleans is not stopping the funding of ACORN. The state has, but the city will not cut its ties. $700,000. Reported by Fox Ch. 8 in N.O. on 9/18. Interviewed an Acorn chairperson who blames the national attention on Republicans.
The city of New Orleans currently has 3 signed contracts with ACORN for Home Buyer Training and Foreclosure Counseling ($75,000), First Time Home Buyer Program ($375,000) and Owner Occupied Minor Rehabilitation ($250,000) totaling $700,000.