September 11, 2009 2:28 PM

Big Government Site Tries to Take Down ACORN in Pimp-Prostitute Video Sting

By
Ryan Smith
Topics
Caught on Tape
(biggovernment.com)
Image: Video frame from a sting video posted on biggovernment.com.

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) They went undercover and posed as a pimp and a prostitute, and now 25-year-old conservative activist James O'Keefe, and his partner, a scantily clad 20-year-old college student dubbed "Kenya," have raised serious questions about ACORN, who they claim, offered the two unfettered, and perhaps illegal, advice.

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which advocates for poor people, has since fired the two employees captured in O'Keefe's video.

On the video, a man and woman visiting a Baltimore ACORN office asked about buying a house and how to account on tax forms for the woman's ill-gotten income. An ACORN employee advised the woman to list her occupation as "performance artist."

The pair also claimed they planned to employ teenage girls from Central America as prostitutes, and an ACORN employee suggested that up to three of the girls could be claimed as dependents, according to transcripts of the video posted online by O'Keefe.

O'Keefe told Fox News he was shocked by the ACORN employees' helpfulness.

(biggovernment.com)
Image: Video frame from an sting video posted on biggovernment.com.

In a statement, ACORN Maryland board member Margaret Williams said the video was an attempt to smear ACORN, and that undercover teams attempted similar setups in at least three other ACORN offices. Police were called when undercover activists turned up at a Philadelphia ACORN office.

O'Keefe seems to refute that claim on this website. Regarding a similar CNN report he wrote, "First CNN pushed the false ACORN line that '[t]his film crew tried to pull this sham at other offices and failed.'"

Regarding the Baltimore sting, Williams said no tax returns were filed and no assistance was provided.

The political blog BigGovernment.com made the internet videos public Thursday and they instantly became an Internet sensation.

(CBS)
Image: ACORN says it filed this complaint with police after James O'Keefe unsuccessfully attempted his video sting in their Philadelphia office.

When asked to comment on the videotape, Scott Levenson, a spokesman for ACORN said: "The portrayal is false and defamatory and an attempt at gotcha journalism. This film crew tried to pull this sham at other offices and failed. ACORN wants to see the full video before commenting further," according to Fox News.

ACORN — which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now — advocates for poor people. It conducted a massive voter registration effort last year and became a target of conservatives when some employees were accused of submitting false registration forms with names such as "Mickey Mouse." ACORN has said only a handful of employees submitted false registration forms and did so in a bid to boost their pay.

What do you think?

You can watch the video at BigGovernment.com.


Add a Comment See all 28 Comments
by circlesandarrows September 18, 2009 4:04 PM EDT
If an ACORN falls in the woods and CBS news ignores the story, does it still get Federal Funding?

What difference does it make if the undercover filmmaker was "conservative" -- do you describe Michael Moore as a "liberal documentarian?"

You should refer to the couple as journalists because they did your job and saved both Republican & Democrat taxpayers money wasted on this biased corrupt organization.
Reply to this comment
by hpd22 September 17, 2009 5:25 AM EDT
I see the question of how the media is doing is coming up again and again. I am glad to see it being raised. It is a vital question. We base our opinions and our actions on the information we are fed.

I recommend everyone do their research. No matter which news outlet you watch and enjoy...or don't enjoy...do you research. Go outside the sources we usually go.

I found an interesting article at the Spectator org webiste. Whether you agree with their other stories or not, you will be educated on the media when you read this article. Read their findings on Media Malpractice (it refers to an interview about the topic with Tom Brokaw.)
Reply to this comment
by Bigwave47 September 15, 2009 11:03 AM EDT
Sue4ACORN
ACORN ACCOUNTING MANAGER

With so much hate and anger in your little hart a stroke is soon coming.
By By
Reply to this comment
by theskeptical1 September 14, 2009 11:29 PM EDT
"ACORN spokesman Scott Levenson blasted the video shot at the organization's Brooklyn office, saying the group believes the voices of the couple were dubbed over to alter the conversation and make the interaction appear more objectionable than it may have been."

Of course, Scott, it's all just one big misunderstanding. Your ACORN reps weren't advising the undercover journalists about how to get away with "prostitution", they were actually counseling them to consider "restitution", right? And when the couple discussed importing thirteen-year-old girls to turn tricks, why your poor, innocent representatives thought they meant setting up a national tour for a children's gymnastic team, didn't they?. It all just goes to show how low some people will stoop to defame a noble, selfless, righteous organization such as yours.

But don't worry, Scott, the people of America believe every word that you say, so just keep right on spouting laughable drivel like this and you will lie your way out of it for sure. After all, I know for a fact that a person can lie their way out of (almost) anything, or my name isn't William Jefferson Clinton.
Reply to this comment
by 707maria September 14, 2009 6:55 PM EDT
Great job cbs I really enjoyed all the coverage on the main stream news
by all you criminal fighting reporters. Wow was it one report only? HEY ALL INTERESTED PEOPLE THE SAME STING HAPPENED AT THREE MORE ACORN OFFICES.

ACORN MUST BE TRAINING EMPLOYEES ON HOW TO STEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Could you say thats where the polical tax cheats learned it from.
Reply to this comment
by Skipper50 September 14, 2009 6:00 PM EDT
Is this the best tough ol' CBS can do? What happened to the Tiffany News Network? It's become the kiss-A__ network.
Reply to this comment
by llamanews September 14, 2009 9:40 AM EDT
I think its a shame that MY TAX money is going to and organization like this. And another thing I think is a shame is that CBS, NBC and ABC have not been paid back for all the free advertising and campaign work they do for the democrats.
Reply to this comment
by cdburr September 13, 2009 6:24 PM EDT
Did the government save your business with taxpayer's dollars? I didn't say ACORN was right in what they did, but the feds gave these banks billions to help save the economy not to go on a vacation with bail out money.
Reply to this comment
by pernat1 September 12, 2009 5:45 PM EDT
I am horrified that the mainstream media is not reporting on this story. And as one can see here, when a news corporation like CBS finally does report on it, the story is slanted...'conservative activist an scantily dressed...'. Please, JUST REPORT THE NEWS!!! I don't need you to tell me that he's a conservative activist in the first sentence! Like that even matters!!! Let me be the judge. It's pathetic that our country has become so damn politically correct that even the news media is unable to see this as a very big sting operation that had to be done - how else would this sort of behavior be exposed??? do you think the ladies would answer any law enforcement officer's questions honestly? come on!!! what's happening to our country?
Reply to this comment
by fedupwith September 13, 2009 5:24 PM EDT
I so much agree with you! I am so fed up with news that says that they report factually when they slant what they report to what they believe!! I can decide what to think of a story myself! Just report the facts and let me make up my own mind! It amazes me that two offices in two different cities had the same response to these people and yet Acorn says there is nothing wrong in thier organization!
by eagleconsulant September 14, 2009 2:40 PM EDT
His background is not the question. Nor is his race. But I wonder what would have happened or what would happen if a black man and woman went in with same approach? If a white man is a set up, I mean gee dont they think they may have gotten a bit suspecious? how many White Pimps that dress like that live in the neighborhood? last time I dressed like that I got beat up for looking stupid. C.B.S. Carry Barack's Story.
by cdburr September 12, 2009 12:43 PM EDT
I understand that the people at ACORN did something that is very unjust, however, I just read an article where an executive from Wells Fargo (who got millions from the government and taxpayers) spent summer weekend in a 12 million dollar beach front home and entertained friends. Should we take all of this money back from them. Remember, the President did all he could to save these banks and we got kicked in the face. I don't see too much difference in what ACORN did. At leasst they are trying to help those who need help. These bank execs are not trying to help no one but themeselves. I think its a shame when the government is trying to doo all they can to save these businesses and they turn right around and use the money we (taxpayers) gave them to survive. Who is really in the wrong here?
Reply to this comment
by pernat1 September 12, 2009 5:40 PM EDT
you're right about some in the banking industry. and we should stop helping these corrupt failing institutions immediately. i don't want my tax dollars going to finance these greedy and immoral people. but how in the world could you possibly compare that to what's going on here? these women had NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER helping these apparent low-lifes to run an illegal ********** with underage girls from south america!!!!! this is unspeakable!!!! just think about what you are saying! helpless, underage girls in the sex trade...i think that we are all so brainwashed to be politically correct, that we cannot see the difference between depravity and corruption vs. empathy towards people. something has to be done soon or else our country is in big, big trouble. how could you not want an immediate moratorium on tax money going to ACORN and a complete investigation? why make excuses for them? please consider what i am saying. one person's depravity shouldn't be the new standard of acceptability or excuse for another's.
by Independent_Bill September 12, 2009 11:29 PM EDT
A WF exec spent a weekend in a $12M house? So what? He rented it for under $2,000. I spent the weekend in a $50M Holiday Inn... is that bad, too?

I fail to see the immoral equivalency between a perfectly legal weekend vacation and ACORN's consulting (conspiracy to commit) child prostitution, tax evasion, bank fraud, etc.
See all 28 Comments
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