[OT] A message from Tom Cole regarding ACORN

[ethios4]

A message from Tom Cole (Representative from Oklahoma) regarding ACORN :

Much is being made in the news lately of the uncovering of massive, multi-state, multi-election cycle voter fraud, perpetrated by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also known as ACORN. In just the past year and a half ACORN claims to have registered 1.3 million new voters. Normally this would be a good thing - we should encourage greater participation in our political system. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that ACORN was operating a massive scam by registering tens of thousands of phony voters.

In Nevada it has been revealed that ACORN hired inmates in the state penitentiary to register new voters. They registered the Dallas Cowboys to vote in Nevada. Another Nevada canvasser was caught filling out voter registration forms using names and addresses copied out of the telephone book. Needless to say, this scandal is not confined to Nevada. Election officials in Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Mexico have all uncovered similar instances of fraud. A state prosecutor in Washington State put it very well when he described the activities of ACORN as "an act of vandalism against our voter rolls."

Voting in free and fair elections is the very foundation of our system of self governance. Who can ever forget the remarkable election of 2000 when the candidate who actually received fewer popular votes won the election? This was after an extended recount - in the state his bother served as Governor - and a 5-4 Supreme Court decision. Yet at no time did we see tanks rolling through the streets. There was no martial law. Americans tuned into the Tonight Show every night to see Jay Leno cracking jokes about hanging chads. This was possible because Americans had faith that despite the problems we had in that election, the process was fundamentally honest and fair. Organizations like ACORN undermine that trust and as a result they undermine the very political stability of the United States.

And as if this treachery weren't enough, ACORN does this with millions of dollars of taxpayer money. You see, ACORN played another role in the dominant news item of the past several weeks - the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage industry. For years ACORN has used intimidation tactics to force banks to make loans to people who couldn't afford to pay them back. And they extorted millions of dollars from Congress under the auspices of the Community Redevelopment Act by arranging to have Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy up the risky mortgages on the secondary market.

Remarkably, in the recently passed Economic Recovery Act, the liberals in Congress attempted to put even more money into the pockets of their cronies at ACORN. Fortunately, the Republicans put their foot down and all additional funding for ACORN was stripped from the bill. I'd call that a good start, but now we need to get to work making sure the rest of their taxpayer funding is stripped away.

Unfortunately, it does not appear to be just a few bad apples at ACORN. The entire organization has a considerable record of manipulation and fraud. In June the Consumers Rights League published a series of internal documents from the organization that reveal ACORN has comingled political money and taxpayer funds. In order to prevent future taxpayer rip-offs and blatant voter fraud, the Community Reinvestment Act needs to be overhauled, and ACORN should never again receive a penny of taxpayer money. Furthermore, those responsible for the fraudulent registrations must be thoroughly investigated, and if found guilty, punished to the full extent of the law.


Respectfully,

Tom Cole

[ethios4]

Yet at no time did we see tanks rolling through the streets. There was no martial law... Organizations like ACORN undermine that trust and as a result they undermine the very political stability of the United States.

WTF? So we go from talking about ACORN, which is only an issue because of Obama, to threats about tanks in the streets and martial law because the fabric of democracy is at stake?!

[stepwriterun]

Funny how back then McCain was fond of ACORN.

The coverage on this red-herring has been horrible. The press has not been upfront about how ACORN discloses suspect registration forms -- as it is required to do so by law -- to Boards of Election. They must give every form they receive in to the Board of Elections, even if the form says "Mickey Mouse", "Duran Duran", or some other obviously fake name. Also, the press doesn't say that the Board of Elections workers are the ones actually processing the registration forms -- i.e., entering the voters into the databases, not ACORN. Lastly, the press generally fails to say that the fraud that is going on here is on ACORN -- in that they are being robbed by their workers, who are paid to canvass for new voters, not write in fake names.

The only scam occurring here is the lie being spread by this Tom Cole character (and McCain).

[pixelbox]

Typical...so instead of looking at what the real problem is, you decide to accuse the accuser and focus on the opinions of the author instead of the bullshit that is occurring. And now somehow, that is McCain's fault.

Great job!

[forge]

Who can ever forget the remarkable election of 2000 when the candidate who actually received fewer popular votes won the election? This was after an extended recount - in the state his bother served as Governor - and a 5-4 Supreme Court decision. Yet at no time did we see tanks rolling through the streets. There was no martial law. Americans tuned into the Tonight Show every night to see Jay Leno cracking jokes about hanging chads. This was possible because Americans had faith that despite the problems we had in that election, the process was fundamentally honest and fair. Organizations like ACORN undermine that trust and as a result they undermine the very political stability of the United States.

this bit I don't understand - he seems to be saying it was good and fair that bush got his brother to steal the election for him because "Americans had faith that despite the problems we had in that election, the process was fundamentally honest and fair."

Acorn apparently somehow undermines the rights of election stealing fraudsters by pretending to be one, or something?

[elxicano]

Funny how back then McCain was fond of ACORN.

The coverage on this red-herring has been horrible. The press has not been upfront about how ACORN discloses suspect registration forms -- as it is required to do so by law -- to Boards of Election. They must give every form they receive in to the Board of Elections, even if the form says "Mickey Mouse", "Duran Duran", or some other obviously fake name. Also, the press doesn't say that the Board of Elections workers are the ones actually processing the registration forms -- i.e., entering the voters into the databases, not ACORN. Lastly, the press generally fails to say that the fraud that is going on here is on ACORN -- in that they are being robbed by their workers, who are paid to canvass for new voters, not write in fake names.

The only scam occurring here is the lie being spread by this Tom Cole character (and McCain).

I really hope this point about McCain's involvement with ACORN is brought up more, as they're really making a big push to paint it as some mass conspiracy.

Its also funny that ACORN was actually the ones to point out many of the false registers, but as required by law have to turn them all in.

It's always important to remain objectional when reading into campaign rhetoric (from any campaign)... because statements are often made as a point of convenience or strategy, but not always complete truth.

[ethios4]

Yea, it makes no sense. For me, knowing that electronic voting machines are corruptible and there is often no paper trail damages my faith in democracy far more than fraudulent voter registration, especially when it's obvious that the problem lies with the people on the street handling the forms. There would have to be a massive fake ID operation going on also for this to have any effect on voting at all. Where was the indignation when the GOP was deliberately and systematically disenfranchising black voters in 2000 and 2004? It's disturbing to me that he would bring up martial law in reference to this ACORN incident.

Tom Cole is a Representative from Oklahoma, by the way...forgot to mention that. The reason I posted this is that it is an obvious political tactic by one of the most far-right Republicans in Congress to underline the new Republican talking point that Obama is dangerous for democracy.

These are the kinds of political tactics that absolutely disgust me about the Republican party. They know they can't win on the substance of their ideas so they resort to distractions, smear campaigns, and distortions.

[nowtime]

Saw a video somewhere of an interview with the top ACORN guy and some others in the organization and they are saying this attack on them is preemptive. So if the election is close they will have something to rally against.

Funny how today the news is all about "the polls are 50/50. America is split between the two." Out of the blue. The media has been "Obama's got a good lead" ever since the debates started. It's all a mind-fuck. We are being toyed with. And if it is close, it could get ugly.

In reflection, I simply do not believe that 50 percent of our country are clueless enough to be pro-McCain. ESPECIALLY after what we've seen these last few years.

[ChiDJ]

I simply do not believe that 50 percent of our country are clueless enough to be pro-McCain. ESPECIALLY after what we've seen these last few years.

I've had discussions with a lot of these "clueless" people over the last few days. Especially those living in rural areas which is primarily Republican.

I'm truly shocked at their lack of knowledge. They debates were televised all over the world weren't they?

I hope the dems really get out there and vote. I worry that racism and ignorance is still rampant here in the good ol' USA.

[elxicano]

Saw a video somewhere of an interview with the top ACORN guy and some others in the organization and they are saying this attack on them is preemptive. So if the election is close they will have something to rally against.

Funny how today the news is all about "the polls are 50/50. America is split between the two." Out of the blue. The media has been "Obama's got a good lead" ever since the debates started. It's all a mind-fuck. We are being toyed with. And if it is close, it could get ugly.

In reflection, I simply do not believe that 50 percent of our country are clueless enough to be pro-McCain. ESPECIALLY after what we've seen these last few years.

Ha ha... you saw that too???

He had been building his lead from 3 points, 5 points, 8 points, 10 points and now its a virtual tie!

One thing I can agree on with McCain's campaign on is that the polls are a bunch of BS. Some of those people participating in polling might not even actually get out and vote, so that's why my fingers are crossed... I'm pretty sure I'll develop arthritis as a result of keeping them crossed through 11/4.

[laird]

I've had discussions with a lot of these "clueless" people over the last few days. Especially those living in rural areas which is primarily Republican.

As in, not the fiscally conservative republicans but these people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4wQfQtpDAc
(as brought to you by PBS)

edit: this video may be NSFW depending on how well you can restrain your urge to shout obscenities.

[memes_33]

even scarier-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

[nowtime]

even scarier-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

LOL!

[elxicano]

Shit

I know that its nothing new, I know that a lot of people think like that, but damn it still is scary.

The funny part is that Palin has called these place the "real" America in her campaign speeches.

[sparklepuff]

even scarier-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

LOL!

I see that, and I am far from laughing.