September 16, 2009 2:22 PM

ACORN Sting Lands Housing Group in Conservative Crosshairs

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
In The News
(biggovernment.com)
It began, ridiculously enough, with two young conservatives dressed in "pimp" and "prostitute" costumes that looked like they had been picked up on the cheap for a Halloween party. And it could end with anti-poverty group ACORN, the scandal-prone longtime Republican target, seeing its government support evaporate.

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is finding itself under fire thanks to conservative activists James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles, who dressed in less-than-convincing outfits and headed to ACORN offices around the country with a hidden camera. What they found, in some locations, was ACORN workers who offered tips on how to hide money and falsify taxes for a prostitution operation.

ACORN hit back after the videos emerged, arguing that the clips were doctored and pointing out that the filmmakers were rebuffed in many of their attempts. (In Philadelphia, the group noted, ACORN workers called the police.) In the most recently-released video, ACORN said, the worker did not take the filmmakers seriously and "matched their false scenario with her own false scenarios." (Liberal group Media Matters suggested "journalistic malpractice" had been committed by Fox News in its coverage of the story.)

ACORN did acknowledge some wrongdoing, however, and fired employees who earnestly gave advice to the filmmakers. It also announced an independent investigation Wednesday. But the group vowed to sue the filmmakers, the Web sites where the video was posted, and Fox News, which repeatedly showed the clips, arguing that the undercover filming was illegal in some locations.

5313952The ACORN story might have stayed relatively below the radar had it not been for the efforts of conservative media, which pushed the story hard. Conservative talk radio, Fox News personalities like Glenn Beck, and right-leaning Web sites like the Drudge Report and the new Big Government aggressively promoted each video, the leaked of which over a series of days kept ACORN in the headlines.

Conservatives, such as Beck, have repeatedly complained that the mainstream media, by contrast, has ignored the story, including in comments on this site. Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, Politico notes, pointed her audience to a radio clip of ABC "World News" anchor Charles Gibson acknowledging that he hadn't heard about the tapes.

ACORN has long been a target of conservatives -- prior to this scandal, the group was harshly criticized because some workers falsified voter applications in the 2008 election, a situation that prompted arrests last week in Florida. But the groundswell around the video seems to have spurred lawmakers into action, and on Monday, the Senate voted 83-7 to deny the group new housing and community grant funding.

That was just the beginning: The following day, Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, citing the voter registration fraud allegations, called for an FBI and Department of Justice investigation of the group. Top Republicans, meanwhile, moved to make sure ACORN gets cut off from taxpayer money altogether: House Republican Leader John Boehner introduced the Defund ACORN Act; 130 House Republicans signed a letter asking President Obama " to use his authority to end all funding to and break all government ties with ACORN;" and Boehner, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor and Rep. Dave Camp urged the IRS to cut off contact with the group. (Boehner also released this video.) The census bureau severed ties with ACORN on Friday.

(biggovernment.com)
It's unclear how much ACORN actually gets from the federal government. One insider told Politico that the figure is $1 million to $2 million per year, while Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, an ACORN critic, found the group received $53 million since 1994, plus block grants. ACORN told Politico most federal money has gone to first-time homebuyer counseling and foreclosure prevention efforts.

ACORN suggested it would not be hobbled by the Senate's action Monday, since it "derives most of its income from its members and other supporters, so the decision will have little impact on overall operations," in the words of CEO Bertha Lewis.

But the group now finds itself out of favor in Washington. It has long been a target of Republicans who loathe it because they feel it pushes a liberal agenda, but now it can no longer count on Democrats to come to its defense. On Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said "the conduct that you see on those tapes is completely unacceptable." And just seven senators voted for the group not to have its housing and community grant funding cut, a decision they've taken some heat for.

Add a Comment See all 267 Comments
by FamilyInCT September 17, 2009 2:38 PM EDT
If CBS did its jobs, the majority of the public would not have to watch FOX to get the real news. There is so much political corruption going on that is "IN YOUR FACE" that I don't know where this will end. CBS, NBC and ABC ignore most of this until it is uncovered by other sources. Why is that ? The public sees this biasness and now feels that the media is Not doing its jobs. CBS, NBC and ABC have NO reporters, they have people who "read" news which they can get from the office desk. All I see is government pushing things down our throats and the taxpayers will end up paying for this in the end. The corrupt politicians and businessmen love that CBS, NBC and ABC are ignoring everything. I cannot beleive how obvious it is. It's scarry ! What is this country turning into ?
Reply to this comment
by tennstrike September 17, 2009 11:49 AM EDT
Please read the Cynthia Bowers piece as a tutorial on how to appear unbiased.
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown September 17, 2009 11:11 AM EDT
I apologize for getting sucked into a debate over the "right or wrong" media approach. I am human and made a mistake by saying it more than once.
Back to my original point, look at all news sources then decide WITH YOUR OWN MIND which makes better sense. CBS, CNN, Fox, and countless others have covered all the ACORN "scandal" - judge for yourself - it's all that I meant to say and I'm sorry for the rest of my "meanless" remarks.
Reply to this comment
by IntheTank September 17, 2009 1:11 PM EDT
What makes you think that we haven't already judged for ourselves WITH OUR OWN MIND. Yes, I watch Fox, I also watch Lou Dobbs on CNN and when my stomach can handle I switch to Keith Olbermann just to hear what kind of hatred he is spewing at the moment so don't be so patronizing. I assume everyone on this blog is keeping up with events of this country, you on the other hand are assuming we are all idiots and need your guidance to make educated decisions.
by pasmalltown September 17, 2009 10:05 PM EDT
by IntheTank September 17, 2009 1:11 PM EDT -
"...you on the other hand are assuming we are all idiots and need your guidance to make educated decisions."
______________________________

Again I assumed nothing and I don't believe I used the word "idiots" in any of my posts, I perhaps inferred it once or twice but directed it to some inane comments about David Letterman and a suggestion that being from Brooklyn, NY was somehow related to the author of this article's polictical pinnings.. I did say "believe what you will" more than once and listen to what you can "stomach" or are comfortable with. If you believe this is "patronizing" you, or questioning your intelligence I apologize. I do however believe that your assumption that everyone on this blog "is keeping up with events of this country" is not true and you can't blame it on CBS, NBC, CNN or FOX. AND endrorob's quick assumption that I was on the CBS payroll is evidence that emotions, not facts cloud people's judgement, thus my "spew" remark. Please do not try to read into my remarks and assume I was talking about ALL, or in your words "we are ALL idiots" and need guidance, unless you're feeling guilty about something you fail to mention. Don't try to drag "we", or "all" into the comments I've made where I was critical of just a few - it clouds the issue. Never once did I make a claim that "ALL" on this blog specifically needed my "..guidance to make educated decisions.", but if that's the way you read it I wouldn't dare to change your "educated" mind, it's already made up.
by hungry1968-16 September 17, 2009 10:16 AM EDT
by endurorob_4 September 17, 2009 10:06 AM EDT

That must have been a very large jug of koolaid tghis morining.







Really?

Tell me:

Where do they stand on health care reform?

Our recession, the stimulus, and the unemployment rate?

Abortion?

The death penalty?

Re-instituting the banking and insurance company regulations, that the conservatives removed?

Tell me all about ACORN's "liberal" policies.





OR you can go here, and find the information yourself:

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12378
Reply to this comment
by bubbadubba September 17, 2009 10:13 AM EDT
"This is bad for Obama since Obama founded ACORN, he was the head of ACORN, he controlled everything ACORN did, and he is still running ACORN and makes all the decisions for everything they do. Obama should be impeached for stealing government money and being a criminal"

This is what Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck will spew for the next month as their pathetic listeners eat it up like starving hyenas.
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown September 17, 2009 9:58 AM EDT
For all those critical of what CBS news does or does not cover:
How about just listening to both FOX and CBS(left or right viewpoints) and some middle-of-road news organization, then deciding with your own mind which is presenting a fair picture? You know get a well rounded picture of things BEFORE spewing forth. Everyone's got an opinion, should be able express that opinion, but arguing, cheerleading(saying things like "Yeah right, Letterman is a news show") over which outlet has the "best" coverage serves no meaningful purpose. Discuss the issues, but leave the "witty remarks" about news coverage out of the "diss"cussion". Here is a CBS article about ACORN, if you don't like it or don't agree with the author's presentation, fine, say it and get on with your opinions about ACORN -And don't say CBS doesn't have enough coverage or this or that. CBS has covered the ACORN issue, if you don't like how they covered it that's fine, say it and go back to FOX or whatever makes you feel the "most comfortable".

Oh and by America_Lover September 17, 2009 9:16 AM EDT - What does living in Brooklyn, NY have anything to do with your assessment of "Bri-Bri"'s political leanings? Is this an example of your ideas about "OBJECTIVE" journalism? Really, sounds like you are in "cult" of your own making. END.
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968-16 September 17, 2009 9:54 AM EDT
by endurorob_4 September 17, 2009 9:50 AM EDT

So since this has to do with a very negative aspect of a very liberal, and very large orginization supported in part by tax payer money and a pet orginization of Obama we should just ignore this. You, and anyone else that trolls these pages knows if this was a conservative orginization it would be headline news and the liberals would be filling the pages with comments.







ROFL!!!

Now ACORN is Obama's "pet organization"?!?!

LOL!!!

Does Obama know about this?!?!





I have EXTREMELY bad news for you - ACORN doesn't have ANYTHING to do with "liberalism", "progressives", "democrats" or anything else that Fox News told you to oppose.

Their primary focus is "the inner city". They don't care about liberalism, any more than they care about conservatism.
Reply to this comment
by rightbehind September 17, 2009 9:51 AM EDT
Acorn should be collecting all videos of this if they plan to sue so that all can be looked at in the full context.
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968-16 September 17, 2009 9:50 AM EDT
by endurorob_4 September 17, 2009 9:44 AM EDT

The birht certificate thing that the birthers talk of is basically on par with the 9/11 truthers and FOX would not ask him about that. His associations however should be discussed but I doubt FOX would aske about Ayers, Rezko, Wright at this time. They would likely question him on his support of health care reform and you o=know he does not want to answer hard questions about that. And considering ACORN is a big news item they would likely ask him questions about that. Of course you wold likely prefer questions from MSNBC about who gets stuck cleaning up after Bo.







They are THE STATION OF CHOICE for "birthers", "deathers", and any other weirdo "____ers" that you fringe extremists keep on hand, so I'm sure they would ask him about that, just to appease their audience.

On health care reform, they would ask him why he hates capitalism, why he wants to pull the plug on grandma, why he wants to eliminate medicare, and any other question that will stoke the fire against reform, even though NONE of those things are true.

And Obama has NOTHING to do with ACORN, so yes - I'm sure they would ask him about that to try and create an association, where one does not currently exist.
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968-16 September 17, 2009 9:44 AM EDT
by endurorob_4 September 17, 2009 9:39 AM EDT

So what do you have against exposing the criminal activities of orginizations subsidized by tax payer money?






I don't have anything against it. I'm asking "WHY is it so important, that it is taking over EVERY other issue facing our nation?"

This is nothing but a distraction, created by two conservatives with an agenda to try and bring ACORN down.

Good for them. Mission Accomplished.

Now what does this have to do with ANY of the important issues facing our nation today?
Reply to this comment
See all 267 Comments
.

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...