I know, I know... we're all pretty much experts on ACORN at this point. We all think we could tell Obama how best to counter the attacks and we're all armed with our talking points.
But still. Some extra knowledge never hurts, right?
The Center for Public Integrity (one of my favorite sites) has put out a piece about the group and it has some fun facts and figures. Would you be kind enough to join me after the jump?
http://www.publicintegrity.org/...
Let's start with the basics. ACORN is a huge organization, with more than 13,000 people going out and gathering registration forms. They're also not a new organization, and they know what they're doing. So they have protocols in place for false registration forms. They have staffers in every office whose sole job it is to comb through and find the problem registrations. And when they do?
Instead of discarding these forms (a policy that seems like it might save them legal troubles), the group flags them as problematic, fires the employee responsible, has a supervisor hand the forms in anyway, and encourages the state to prosecute the wayward ex-employee, according to the group.
So far from encouraging this type of thing, they fire the employee and turn them over to the state. But, one could ask- why would you want to turn the forms in anyway?
Well, let's look at Nevada, the state where this whole brouhaha got started.
In a state like Nevada, the law for third-party registration groups is particularly complicated. These groups must sign up with the secretary of state, who keeps track of the unique identifier of each registration form distributed to them. The voter registration organization is required to return every form it takes, whether completed or blank. That’s why ACORN submits registrations that anyone could tell are probably a big fat joke.
The irony, of course, is that ACORN turned these forms in to try and AVOID legal trouble. In fact, this is standard procedure:
All of the secretary of state’s offices PaperTrail contacted, however, said that third-party registration groups should turn in fraudulent-looking forms, but can flag them to alert election officials to their suspicions
The site then runs down the laws in the swing states of Ohio, Missouri, New Mexico, Michigan and North Carolina. Go to the link and check it out for the details, but the quick version: all the states but Michigan require the fraudulent forms to be turned in.
Now, we all know this whole ACORN thing is another GOP talking point to try and soften the blow of getting whomped. But most people aren't going to realize that. Having this type of knowledge on hand is important to be able to send to your friends and neighbors. Even those who are big Obama supporters. Remember- this isn't so much about stealing the election as it is to be able to make a big fuss and try to make President Obama look like he won it illegitimately.
Spread the good stuff.