This landed in my inbox this morning. It's dated yesterday, so watch out:
http://republicans.oversight.house.g...
I only made it through about the first 10 pages before I threw up my hands.
Here are some classics from the footnotes (from pages 7, 8 and 9):
See e.g. Glenn Beck, Investigating ACORN, FOX NEWS, May 8, 2009, available at
http://www.foxnews.com/... (last visited May 8, 2009).
Peter Overby, ACORN Has Long Been In Republicans' Cross Hairs, NAT’L PUB. RADIO, Oct. 15, 2008,
available at http://www.npr.org/... (last visited May 8, 2009).
John Fund, Whose Ox Is Gored, WALL STREET J., July 30, 2007, available at
http://www.opinionjournal.com/... (last visited July 8, 2009).
Any research guide will tell you that statements from entertainers, opinion sites, and obvious conflicts of interest shouldn't be used as serious sources. This document is riddled with all 3. The reference tracking is opaque, and conclusions are drawn based on assertions that are not backed up by public records or other useful findings of fact.
There are other issues as well:
- the document, on page 8:
According to the Wall Street Journal, prosecutors
fined ACORN and entered into a deal requiring ACORN to either increase its oversight
or risk criminal prosecution after several Washington state-based ACORN employees
were convicted of voter registration fraud in 2007.13
Last time I checked, a prosecutor couldn't fine anyone. Only courts may impose fines.
Let's also not forget the whole voter registration fraud:
ACORN has been investigated for voter registration fraud in Nevada,
Connecticut, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina.4 ACORN has faced a series of alleged
inadequacies and indictable offenses: In 1998, an Arkansas ACORN employee was
arrested for falsifying voter registration forms.5 In 1999, Philadelphia authorities found hundreds of fraudulent registration forms by ACORN.6
Didn't we hash this out already? ACORN was required by law to turn in all registration forms, valid or invalid. They did the right thing by flagging the fraudulent ones and firing problem workers. I don't see the issue here.
I can't stomach reading any more of this crap.
Sound off in the comments section as you desire.
Email that showed up in my inbox below:
You will not here much about this on the news.
Press Release
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM http://republicans.oversight.house.gov <blockedhttp://republicans.oversight.house.gov>
U.S. House of Representatives<http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/images/bwseal.gif>
News Release
Report: Is ACORN Intentionally Structured As a Criminal Enterprise?
July 23, 2009
WASHINGTON. D.C. – A report released today by Rep. Darrell Issa (CA), the Ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, presents evidence that ACORN has evaded taxes, obstructed justice, engaged in racketeering, and created a conspiracy to defraud the United States.
"This report is a comprehensive and substantive examination of an organization that has operated in secrecy and outside the law," Issa, also a member of the House Judiciary Committee said. "There are number of legitimate questions raised about the political activities and organizational structure of ACORN. This report is about getting to the truth and when there are significant accusations and questions outstanding regarding an organization that has benefited from millions of taxpayer dollars, those questions should be answered and the truth should be brought to light."
"The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has repeatedly and deliberately engaged in systemic fraud," according to the report’s executive summary. "Both structurally and operationally, ACORN hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate. Emerging accounts of widespread deceit and corruption raise the need for a criminal investigation of ACORN."
The report includes significant new information about wrongdoing brought to the attention of committee investigators by ACORN whistleblowers.
Highlighted in the report:
* ACORN has evaded taxes, obstructed justice, engaged in self dealing, and aided and abetted a cover-up of the $948.607.50 embezzlement by Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke.
* ACORN has committed investment fraud, deprived the public of its right to honest services, and engaged in a racketeering enterprise affecting interstate commerce.
* ACORN has committed a conspiracy to defraud the United States by using taxpayer funds for partisan political activities.
* ACORN has submitted false filings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor, in addition to violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
* ACORN falsified and concealed facts concerning an illegal transaction between related parties in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
"It is outrageous that ACORN will be rewarded for its criminal acts by taxpayer money in the stimulus and is being asked to help with the U.S. census," said Rep. Issa. "This report shines a light on clear criminal conduct and it is abundantly clear that they cannot and should not be trusted with taxpayer dollars."
Link to the report below
http://republicans.oversight.house.g... <blockedhttp://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/pdfs/20090723ACORNReport.pdf>
Quick update:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Some of the allegations in the report, namely the "illegal compensation and performance standards" are discussed in this excellent diary.