There seems to be a concerted effort to attack community organizers and one group, ACORN-the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now in particular. I think it is sad that so few of our citizens vote and any work done to increase voting is beneficial in my book. As Josh Marshall points out in this post on his blog,...
...ACORN registers lots of lower income and/or minority voters. They operate all across the country and do a lot of things beside voter registration. What's key to understand is their method. By and large they do not rely on volunteers to register voters. They hire people -- often people with low incomes or even the unemployed. This has the dual effect of not only registering people but also providing some work and income for people who are out of work. But because a lot of these people are doing it for the money, inevitably, a few of them cut corners or even cheat. So someone will end up filling out cards for non-existent names and some of those slip through ACORN's own efforts to catch errors.
I think that it is worth noting that it is against the law not to turn in a voter registration after collecting it, even if you believe that the registration is no good. If that was not the case, political parties would collect a bunch, throw away the registrations from the other party, and those people, who thought they had registered, would be turned away at the polls. Read Josh's post or this one at Tapped as to why registration fraud does not usually have anything to do with vote fraud. This whole vote fraud frenzy is a solution in search of a problem. There is just not any evidence that widespread vote fraud is occurring.
Anyway, I don't get the demonization of this benign, progressive group. These people are just citizens who are working to help their communities. They are your friends and neighbors.
It seems that ACORN are going to join Move On as the whipping boys for Rush Limbaugh and the hysterical right wingers. As I said, I don't get the vitriol about ACORN or Move On. They represent a large portion of the public. What's the problem?
Friday, October 10, 2008
ACORN and voter fraud
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
23 comments:
Here's a problem Bill. It seems wherever an investigation of Acorn gets started registration fraud gets uncovered. Turns out many of the 'registration drives' are in so called battleground states where every vote will matter so the more vites the better. I would not say fraud is a small matter - the investigations have just begun. One guy discussed to day turned in 75 fraudulent registrations in one day alone. Large scale, often fraudulent registration forms also have the very real problem of overwhelming small, understaffed voting commissioners offices making the possibility of actual voter fraud very real.What's the problem with punishing those responsible for these crimes? Should we all look the other way?
Lets also talk about Acorn and their relationship to the current mortgage mess. Strongarming banking institutions to give mortgages to those that could not afford them is at the root of all this so the banks as well as Acorn bear a lot of respinsibility as do the people that bought homes they knew they could no way afford.
Is the desire to elect Obama so strong that this sort of stuff should be overlooked?
Couple more reasons there's a problem with ACORN:
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, October 08, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Election Fraud: A radical group Barack Obama used to work for is committing voter-registration fraud in several states, ahead of the election. What does Obama know about this scam?
Read More: Election 2008
It's a legitimate question to raise now that the FBI has raided the offices of the nonprofit Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now in Nevada and North Carolina, two states where Obama and John McCain are running neck-and-neck. ACORN has registered bogus voters in both states.
The group's voter-registration fraud is rampant, and authorities plan a nationwide sweep of ACORN offices to collect records.
In Nevada, state officials say the fraudulent registrations included forms for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys football team, including quarterback Tony Romo.
"Romo is not registered to vote in the state of Nevada," Secretary of State Ross Miller said, "and anybody trying to pose as Terrell Owens won't be able to cast a ballot on Nov. 4."
While those names will be flagged on Election Day, felonious voters may have better luck using other cutouts. Nevada, along with several other key battleground states, requires no ID to vote.
In North Carolina, where Obama has been running nonstop ads, ACORN has registered a record number of new voters, many of them suspicious. Statewide, Democrats are doing better than the GOP in new converts — even in traditionally Republican counties.
There have been 218,749 newly registered Democrats in North Carolina since January — more than five times the 38,337 new Republicans, state records show.
The numbers show a startlingly close political battle even in Republican-dominated Union County, with 4,233 new voters registering as Democrats and 4,362 as Republicans. In previous election years, new Republicans have outnumbered Democrats 2-to-1 in the fast-growing Charlotte-area county.
In Missouri, one ACORN registrant named Monica Rays showed up on no less than eight forms, all bearing the same signature.
Suspicious election officials sent letters to some 5,000 ACORN registrants in St. Louis, asking the letter recipients to contact them.
Fewer than 40 reponded.
In Kansas City, 15,000 registrations have been questioned, and last year four ACORN employees were indicted for fraud.
In addition, ACORN officials have also been indicted in Wisconsin and Colorado. Investigations against others are active in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
ACORN has also been registering convicted felons — including inmates — in Florida and other battleground states. ACORN boasts registering a record 1.5 million new voters so far this election.
What does all this have to do with Obama, besides the fact that he'd be the beneficiary of most, if not all, of these new votes?
For starters, Obama paid ACORN, which has endorsed him for president, $800,000 to register new voters, payments his campaign failed to accurately report. (They were disguised in his FEC disclosure as payments to a front group called Citizen Services Inc. for "advance work.")
What's more, Obama worked as executive director of ACORN's voter-registration arm, Project Vote, in 1992. Joined by two other community organizers on Chicago's South Side, Obama conducted the voter-registration drive that helped elect Carol Moseley-Braun to the Senate that year.
The next year, 1993, Obama joined the civil-rights law firm Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland, where he sued the state of Illinois on behalf of ACORN to implement the federal "Motor Voter" law, which the GOP governor at the time refused to do. Then-Gov. Jim Edgar argued, presciently, that the Clinton law would invite voter fraud.
Obama downplays his ties to ACORN, and his campaign denies coordinating with ACORN to register voters.
Meantime, New Orleans-based ACORN maintains that it has no control over volunteers who are falsifying application forms, that they're like employees who steal from the store.
But the fraud is widespread and not isolated. It also turns out that some ACORN execs allegedly are involved in a $1 million embezzlement cover-up at their headquarters. Representing them in the case is none other than Michelle Obama's old law firm in Chicago.
Economists Brad DeLong and Matt Yglesias have written about ACORN and minorities causing the current crisis here. It's just not true. Read this or this. As Matt Yglesias says, "And, again, recall that not only is it false to say that CRA caused the bad lending, but completely irrespective of who or what caused the bad lending absolutely nobody forced financial firms to make large, highly leveraged bets on the loans. It was conservatives who blocked regulation of credit default swaps. It was conservatives who watched as the housing bubble developed and it was conservatives who blocked any action to try to ensure a soft landing once the bubble popped.
Are you surprised that the indictments are "in Wisconsin and Colorado. Investigations against others are active in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Tennessee." Why are there no indictments in Massachusetts or Mississippi? Are the abuses only in battleground states? Why is the Bush Administration being investigated for improperly firing local US attorneys. Was it because the local US Attorneys would not pursue politically motivated voter fraud allegations?
I thought this was about ACORN Bill. Bush's former AG is being investigated as he should be. If he's found guilty he should pay the price, just like ACORN. As far as Republicans being asleep at the wheel while all this was going on the Dems including our own Barney Frank were doing a pretty good Rip Van Winkle too so anyone with an once of fairness will acknowledge this is not an either/or proposition both Liberal and Conservatives sat by while this mess fomented. banks were happy to give out loans to anyone with a pulse, ACORN was happy to strong arm banks to fully realize the 'potential' of the CRA as well as get voters registered by any means necessary, and the politicos of all stripes watched it all happen for years.
Nope nobody forced the banks to make these stupid loans but to say ACORN had no role either is crazy talk too and they, just like Frank Raines, and anyone else who had the means to put a stop to this early on and looked the other way all should be investigated and prosecuted if wrong doing is found. There's enough smoke surrounding ACORN to continue investigating as far as I'm concerned.
Why would there be investigations in Massachusetts a died in the wool Dem state-it's never been a battleground state in this election. I don't know much about Mississippi to comment on. To focus on states that are pivitol makes more sense than a non-prioritized, shotgun approach.
oops are you republicans getting nervous?
Nervous? Too late for that, I think McCain is done, but the ACORN stuff needs to be aired out regardless of the election.
This is what I really don't get. The majority on this blog supports Obama and his rhetoric about higher taxes and yet in our own town where higher taxes is needed to sustain our qualty of life, they reject it. Sounds like hyprocrisy to me.
ACORN is the most fraudulent irresponsible group in the country.
Obama's tax plan is to cut taxes for everyone making less than $250,000. Even those above that would pay no more than they did 2 decades ago under Reagan. We don't want higher taxes, we just know that trickle down is complete BS. You have scorn for a bunch of community organizers but apparently none for your corporate overlords who steal and leave you holding the bill. I'm talking about Enron and the energy traders, the airlines, the financial services industry, and soon the automakers. That's just the recent history, remember the savings and loan ripoffs, Millken and the junk bond scam? Do you like being played for a patsy? You are giving up your retirement and your child's future to bail out corporate interests who were focused on getting a big next quarter, a big bonus, and a golden parachute. You did the responsible thing and planned for the future, the corporate fat cats have stolen it from you and will walk away with millions laughing while your tax dollars bail out the hollow companies they left behind. Or are you like some here that think a group of community organizers "forced" huge banks to give out loans to people that couldn't pay. Yea, I'm sure that's what happened. Poor people stole the money.
Obama voted for the bailout too.
The tax increase for those making over $250k/year will have my small business paying upwards of 45% of my income Nice huh? Guess who will now consider downsizing to earn
$249k next year? Guess who wont have that extra bit of scratch to donate to all the worthy causes that need a few extra bucks for their event or cause there ain'tno free.
And McSame voted for it too. I'm really sorry you will have to REDUCE your income to a mere QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. Must be tough. Maybe you can pick up some of that government cheese although I don't think they give away Brie. Tough luck that.
Oh and by the way, you might want to look into getting a new accountant. Charitable contributions are tax deductable.
You just don't get it. Who do you think provide the jobs in this country? Yeah I'm sure all the folks will appreciate a little more in their pockets for a short while. But when they lose their job because the companies can't afford to hire them, all of the tax cuts in the world are not going to bring any more money into that same houshold. Then everyone will be screaming for businesses to invest here and create new jobs. Well if you create an anti-business climate, don't expect new jobs. Keep drinking the Obama Koolaid.
Count me as another small business owner who grosses just over $250k now and who will get whacked by the big O's tax plan. Let's see I have the choice to downsize my business a little and save thousands in taxes or suck it up and pay uncle sam more of my hard earned money. Easy choice. How many jobs does small business create in America? Come January I'm guessing a few less.
Gee, you business folks don't think it is fair for Obama to take from you so he can send "tax refund" checks to some people who don't even pay taxes in the first place?
Neither do I!
Perhaps some of the people you might have to lay off would then be eligible for some of that Obama "free" money. I would rather have them working and contributing.
Wow! I agree with FrankG for once!
I'm confused Frank, did you say Obama was sending the money? Because I just read this on John McCain's campaign site "
John McCain Will Reform The Tax Code To Offer More Choices Beyond Employer-Based Health Insurance Coverage. While still having the option of employer-based coverage, every family will receive a direct refundable tax credit - effectively cash - of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to offset the cost of insurance. Families will be able to choose the insurance provider that suits them best and the money would be sent directly to the insurance provider. Those obtaining innovative insurance that costs less than the credit can deposit the remainder in expanded Health Savings Accounts.
That is a different subject, that is part of the health care changes. What I was referring to is the actual income tax plan.
Obama wants to tax the successful folks' income more so he can shift more money to the folks at the bottom. That's income redistribution and reeks of socialism.
The rest of the problem in my eyes is that if someone makes less that $18K something, they will get an extra "refund" of between $500 and $1000, EVEN if they paid no taxes in the first place. That is welfare and should not be disguised as a "tax refund". Tax refunds should only go to people that actually pay taxes and contribute to the process. Welfare is a separate issue and should be treated accordingly.
And by the way, I am not now, and never been anyway near the top bracket he is referring to, I am solidly in the middle as most folks. I am a fan of a flat tax. People that make more should pay more simply because of the higher income, not because of a higher tax bracket.
To me this election will be a choice of the lesser of two evils, but too many of Obama's ideas are socialistic, and discourage success. That will not help the economy in the long run. Raising taxes on anyone during a recession drives us to a depression and more jobs will be lost. Give-aways are not free in the small picture or the big picture.
When you have the Senate, the House, and the President all of the same party there is no "check and balance" of the system and we end up in extremes... no matter which party. I wish there were a viable 3rd choice, but there isn't.
The plumber that Obama spoke to on the hand shake line at a recent event summed it up best. He said to Obama that he will be buying the plumbing business he now works at shortly. He want to expand the business and in the process he will likely exceed the $250k threshold. He said to Obama that his tax plan will penalize him for his hard work and effort - why would Obama want to penalize him? Obama responded that he did not want to penalize him rather he wanted those 'behind him' to be able to be successful and his tax plan will spread more money to those people. The plumber says, and he is correct, that this is socialism, re-distributing the money he earns thru his effort to others who are not showing the same initiative. If this comes to pass the incentive for the plumber to grow his business goes away and he willnot hire more people. That lost opportunity is what people should take advantage of to move up, not a hand out from the government.
Obama wins and we are one step closer to a full fledged entitlement society.Problem with that is it will soon topple under its own weight as people like that plumber, and me by the way, see little benefit in working harder to have our money given away by the government.
It's easy, work hard, provide for yourself and your family and the rest takes care of itself.
Are all of you here that are against socialism staunchly against giving $700 billion of your money to those who have failed in the marketplace. Isn't giving your money to financial service companies a redistribution of wealth?
Ordinarily I would be dead set against a bailout, but in this case the downside of not doing it is worse than the medicine. Credit is what makes the world go round, especially short-term such as lines of credit.
Businesses of all sizes need credit to help the cash flow, including paying workers and buying supplies. The rest of us need credit for all kinds of things, like student loans, cars, home repairs, etc.
Credit was already drying up and when that happens things grind to a halt, including businesses having to lay off people because that can't pay them regularly or buy materials to make the product. Because of the bailout credit is now starting to loosen up.
This is what happened during the last great depression. The banks closed followed by businesses, people were unemployed and ended up in long bread lines to get food.
At that time the govt. didn't have the resources to help. Thankfully they do today. In addition, it is not strictly a handout, at least not in the second iteration. There is accountability, oversight, no golden parachutes, limits to executive compensation, and we are getting a piece of the companies. When things turn around the taxpayers could even make money on the deal.
While it is not an exact example, the closest thing to this was the Chrysler bailout in the 80's. We got all our money back and the company was able to pull things together and save jobs.
I would rather it wasn't needed but given the way things went it is an acceptable way to help the big picture for the economy. It is not really a transference of wealth but rather a loan for which we get collateral.
The $700B giveaway was wrong too and will not solve our financial problems either. Having said that the 'backs against the wall' decision on the $700B giveaway is in fact different than knowingly and willfully deciding that the answer is to re-distribute one's earnings for good and forever as a matter of 'normal' policy.
I should add that if you cant see the distinction noted above then there's not much more I can add.
Post a Comment