The McCain/Palin campaign of hate and fear against Barack Obama, and its attempts to tie Obama to alleged vote fraud by ACORN, have resulted in a string of attacks on ACORN offices and staff including vandalism, hate calls, and at least one death threat.
As McClatchy reports, ACORN offices in Boston and Seattle were vandalized Oct. 16, and ACORN staff in Cleveland and Providence RI have reported telephone hate calls as well as e-mails including direct threats. A senior ACORN staffer in Cleveland, after appearing on television last week, received an e-mail saying that she "is going to have her life ended." Meanwhile, a female staffer in Providence received a threatening call from someone who directed racial slurs at her and said words to the effect of "We know you get off work at 9."
ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring told McClatchy that, since McCain's remarks accusing his organization of vote fraud, ACORN's 87 offices across the country have received hundreds of hostile e-mails, many of them containing racial slurs. "We believe that these are specifically McCain supporters" sending the messages, Kettenring said.
Right Wing Watch has obtained audio files of hate calls ACORN has received as well as copies of e-mails including threats and racial slurs. One young woman caller openly states that Barack Obama and other blacks should be lynched: "Barack Obama needs to get hung...," the young woman says, "...All the niggers on oak trees. They're gonna get all hung, honeys, they're gonna get assassinated, they're gonna get killed." A male caller, meanwhile suggests with obvious racial undertones that all "liberals" are "welfare bums" who "come to our country, consume every natural resource there is, and make a lot of babies." Accusing these "liberals" of sucking up welfare and health care benefits for their children, the caller continues: "I just say let your kids die.... And I hope you all die." In addition to the e-mail death threat from Cleveland cited above, an e-mail copied at Right Wing Watch says: "You blue gums are not going to steal the election. All of you porch monkeys need to go back to Africa."
As Rachel Maddow and others have reported and as ACORN itself has explained, any cases of voter registration fraud connected to ACORN are most likely attributable to dishonesty on the part of people hired by ACORN to register voters (it's easier to fake registrations than go out and get real ones) rather than any dark conspiracy on the part of ACORN itself; and in any case is unlikely to result in actual voter fraud since fictional people are unlikely to show up on Election Day. As Maddow and others have also reported, Obama's only relationship to ACORN was as an attorney in partnership with the US Justice Department and the League of Women Voters in addition to ACORN to sue the State of Illinois for enforcement of the 1993 federal "motor voter" registration law.
John McCain, meanwhile, has his own links to ACORN as Maddow and others have also noted. McCain was in fact the keynote speaker at an ACORN-sponsored event in Miami on Feb. 20, 2006 in support of comprehensive immigration reform, which McCain once supported. A video of the event including McCain's address clearly demonstrates McCain's support for ACORN's objectives at that time: "What makes America special...," McCain's declares to an audience filled with with red-shirted ACORN members, "...is what's in this room tonight" (see also Politico, MarketWatch).
The Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) is an organization dedicated to empowering low- and moderate-income Americans through voter registration drives, ballot initiatives, service delivery, and other organizing efforts. ACORN is not the sinister cell of subversives John McCain, Sarah Palin, and other Republicans have accused it of being. In fact, ACORN has frequently been on the same side as the federal government in voters' rights cases such as that in which Barack Obama was involved as an attorney-at-law.
Republican attacks on ACORN have nothing to do with voter fraud, and everything to do with smearing Barack Obama and with finding ways to stop likely Democrats from voting. These Republican attacks are nothing more than a grand voter intimidation scheme aimed at young voters, low- and moderate-income voters, urban voters and people of color who would most likely be voting Democratic on Nov. 4.
John McCain and Sarah Palin did not tell their supporters to vandalize ACORN offices or contact ACORN with death threats. In view of their continued insistence on the use of fear and hate to manipulate voters, however, and in view of the similar types of hate-based behavior we have seen at McCain/Palin rallies across the United States, I would argue that McCain, Palin, and the GOP are as responsible for these acts as the perpetrators themselves. McCain and Palin need to be held accountable for the lynch-mob mentality they have knowingly cultivated among their supporters with their own divisive rhetoric.
Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com
Terminal hypocrite John McCain has been working overtime lately to draw a negative association between Barack Obama and the left-leaning community organization ACORN. What McCain has failed to mention is that he has also been associated with ACORN, namely as keynote speaker at a Florida event co-sponsored by ACORN in February 2006. Perhaps McCain needs to have his memory refreshed.
McCain is pictured here seated beside Florida representative Kendrick Meek at an event held in Miami on Feb. 20, 2006 in support of comprehensive immigration reform, which McCain also supported back when he was still a little bit mavericky. The event was sponsored by ACORN, the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, People for the American Way/Mi Familia/Vota en Accion, UNITE/HERE, Catholic Charities, the Service Employees International Union, and the New American Opportunity Campaign among other progressive groups (see Politico, MarketWatch).
A video of the event including McCain's address clearly demonstrates McCain's support for ACORN's objectives: "What makes America special...," McCain's declares to an audience filled with with red-shirted ACORN members, "...is what's in this room tonight."
Once at odds with conservatives in his own party owing to his support of comprehensive immigration reform, McCain has since abandoned his former position and fallen into line with the anti-immigrant far right, as ACORN chief organizer Bertha Lewis observed in a statement issued with the photo here:
"It has deeply saddened us to see Senator McCain abandon his historic support for ACORN and our efforts to support the goals of low-income Americans. Maybe it is out of desperation that Senator McCain has forgotten that he was for ACORN before he was against ACORN; he was for immigration reform before he was against immigration reform; and he was a maverick before he became erratic. We were thrilled to partner with him to help reform the outdated immigration laws in this country, and were pleased to work closely with him on this issue.... We expected Senator McCain to support our efforts to give voice to millions of American's who have never participated in an election before. We are surprised at his efforts to villify an organization that, until recently, he saw as an ally. Maybe this surprise attack and change of heart is indicative of his state of mind, and the way he would govern.... We are sure that the extremists he is trying to get into a froth will be even more excited to learn that John McCain stood shoulder to shoulder with ACORN, at an ACORN co-sponsored event, to promote immigration reform."
The far-right Republican base to which McCain now so energetically panders would not be pleased to be reminded either of McCain's former pro-immigrant stance or of his former support for ACORN. As long as McCain insists on attempting to use ACORN as a wedge issue against Obama, this photo and video should also be used to remind everyone what a hypocrite McCain truly is.
Rachel Maddow provides an excellent analysis of the ACORN controversy at MSNBC video. As Maddow and others have reported, Obama's only relationship to ACORN was as an attorney in partnership with the US Justice Department and the League of Women Voters in addition to ACORN to sue the State of Illinois for enforcement of the 1993 federal "motor voter" registration law. The ACORN voter registration fraud case, Maddow and others also report, is most likely attributable to dishonesty on the part of people hired to register voters (it's easier to fake registrations than go out and get real ones) rather than any dark conspiracy on the part of ACORN itself; and in any case is unlikely to result in actual voter fraud since fictional people are unlikely to show up on Election Day.
Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com
Here's proof, as if you really needed it, that ACORN never encouraged and in fact OPPOSED the trend of subprime lending. Spread the truth and you shall succeed.
http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=110
Read More »YES. Did you know State & Federal Election Law works:
1. Registrations are due 30 days before an election.
2. Federal Law requires that all registrations are verified to have the correct name and I.D. # (SSN or State ID) on them.
3. If a voter registration doesn't verify, then no vote can be made.
4. Deceased and multiple voter registrations are cleaned from systems.
THE SYSTEM WORKS
Contrary to some things in the media as of late, a voter registration for a 13 year old would never make it past the system. They wouldn't be able to vote.
Why are all these new stories spinning?
Because of a fake "consumers advocate" organization, called the Consumers Rights League.
Consumers Rights League is the same "consumers advocate" organization that lobbied for deregulation of banks:
- to give loans to the poor for "community reinvestment"
- work against a Bill that would force credit card companies to have a set merchant interest rate (Visa was also against this)
- AND NOW they are lobbying against ACORN even though ACORN's voter registrations don't increase election fraud (false voting).
WHY? Because they are protecting the interests of predatory lending institutions and want Republicans in office. Democrats will cause more regulation. They in no way work for the best interests of the citizens. They work for banks. Just go to their website & look at their past reports that want greater deregulation in the name of "consumers" (listed down right side of their website). www.ConsumersRightsLeague.org
The Consumers Rights League has gotten the news out about ACORN, which Republican media grabbed onto because it's beneficial to them... to block poor, black votes (Democrat votes). They've made the public be afraid that election fraud is going on. They've made it sound like targeting groups for voter registrations is illegal, but it's not. Both parties do it. Both parties have 3rd party voter registration companies too, that submit many incorrect registrations.
CRL just got into the business of "voter protection" when they collaborated with Senate Republicans to testify at a September 24, 2008 Congressional hearing on the 2008 General Election. During that hearing two Republican Senators asked many questions about ACORN. All four Election officials that testified, said that ACORN and 3rd party voter drive groups were more of a blessing then a curse. They said they saw nothing out of the ordinary with ACORN's "fraudulent registrations". They were normal for voter drive groups. The other panel of organizations were there to protect voter rights... which included the DOJ and consumer advocates for the Military, foreclosed homeowners, new citizens, and minorities. Then there was Jim Terry from CRL. He was the odd one out. He was only there against ACORN. After that hearing (where officials said ACORN was an asset to the community) Congress ordered an FBI investigation on them. It's a terrible story of voter suppression. Just listen to the Hearing for yourself, then try to figure out from it why ACORN is being attacked (ACORN topics are discussed at hour 1:00:00 and 1:30:00). http://cha.house.gov/view_hea...
Terry committed perjury several times. So now what?
The Consumers Rights League just popped up out of nowhere. I called them. There is only one person running this "non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization", Jim Terry.
A week ago, Terry submitted written testimony against ACORN. You can see it on their website here: http://www.consumersrightsleague.org/uploadedfiles/JamesTerryACORN9-24.pdf
Practically the whole document substantiates its findings with news articles, no actual court cases. My research is showing that many of these articles don't exist or refer to cases that were shown to have a low-level employee filling out voter registrations to show paid-time work, but Prosecutors of these cases point out that there was obviously NO INTENT TO CAST A VOTE with these.
One of Terry's citations in his written testimony:
10 Ervin, Keith. �Felony charges filed against 7 in state�s biggest case of voter-registration fraud.� Seattle Times. July 26, 2007.
Statement from the Prosecuting Attorney on the case:
��Indeed, a joint federal and state investigation has determined that this scheme was not intended to permit illegal voting." http://www.metrokc.gov/proatty/news/2007/Voter%20Registration%20Statement.htm
Jim Terry is the one credited for "exposing ACORN" and his "findings" are the primary source of quotes against ACORN. He's been quoted throughout the news & even interviewed on FOX News.
This is a Republican posing as a Consumer Advocate organization, setup to smear ACORN (and subsequently Obama). Read More »
It is a drastic understatement to say that Florida is no stranger to election mishaps. Whether through deliberate actions of political and economic interests (*cough* Katherine Harris *cough*), or good ol' Floridian incompetence, we still continue to set the standard for stupidity in voting. As such, it should come to no surprise that we are on the forefront of new, and innovative ways, to part democracy from voting.
According to community organization ACORN, (or the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), the state of Florida is shirking its responsibilities under the National Voter Registration Act, better known as the �Motor Voter� Act. This act was passed in 1993 to help facilitate voting by providing voter registration forms in government buildings, such as DMVs, of which gave the bill its nickname. Voter registration forms are also to be made available to the public through government programs to help weed out the vast discrepancy between rich and poor voters. Furthermore, the bill provides safeguards to voters who have moved within the confines of their district or precinct, allowing them to retain the right to vote even if they have not re-registered with their new address.
However, ACORN along with non-partisan groups Project Vote Smart and Demos, a voter awareness and a policy research group respectfully, have sent a notice of potentially pending litigation to both the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Families. These groups point to dwindling numbers of voter registrations made available from entities supposedly ensured with providing voter registrations under the National Voter Registration Act. According to a press release issued by Florida ACORN, the voter registration forms at public assistance agencies have dropped by over 90% within one decade, from 158,836 in 1995-1996 to 13,436 in 2005-2006. At the beginning of the same decade, 6% of all voter registrations were obtained from public assistance agencies, this number had dropped six fold by 2006.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Sterling Ivy of the Florida Department of Elections posited that the allegations made by ACORN are �unfortunate�. He went on to claim that both departments involved are fully complying with the Florida department of elections, as outlined in the National Voter Registration Act. Furthermore, Mr. Ivy claims that while the number of in person registrations are down, there has been a corresponding increase in mailed registrations from public service offices.
However, according to information
from the Federal Elections Commission and the US Election Assistance Commission (the latter being a group created by the NVRA to ensure its compliance), mail registrations have also dropped. From 1995-1996, there were 706,163 registrations turned in by mail, being 25.93% of all registrations collected. In 2005-2006, mail registrations dropped to 245,393 or 13.57% of the total collected. The difference is particularly marked in the number of new registrations by mail which, according to information on the Florida Department of Elections site, dropped to 84,045, the lowest turnout in the last 10 years.
It remains to be seen if the lawsuit will go forward, and what the official defense of the Florida state department will be if it does. While the organizations bring the lawsuit forward have brought a compelling argument, it should be noted that the number of voter registrations in general have dropped since a high around 2004.
Also, while the methodology on the number of registrations available in public service offices and the amount turned in from areas covered by the NVRA seems solid, some of the methods used by ACORN could use some more work. They found that out of seven public service offices in the four most populous counties, four of them did not have voter registrations, even after officials there were approached for them. While this is certainly disturbing, it is hardly a compelling sample. The same can be said of the volunteer sample taken of 49 individuals as they exited public service offices.
Regardless of the few statistical maladies of the case, the Florida state department has a lot to answer for. It seems that while the amount of registrations turned in has fallen since the high of 2004, the amount from public service offices has fallen at a disproportionate rate. We here at the Press will keep you informed of ongoing development on this issue!
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