If some RW nutjob froths at the mouth about ACORN...here is what you tell them...

At worst they (ACORN) are guilty of hiring people literally off the street and setting up voter registration quotas that dishonest employees game to get paid. And when these employees are caught, ACORN turns them in. In fact, ACORN is the victim of employee fraud, not to mention the baseless lies being spread by the GOP.

Ultimately, it's up to each secretary of state and county election board to verify voter registration forms, which ACORN is required by law to submit even if they are suspect (and which ACORN identifies as such). Election boards aren't going to register the same guy fifteen times, and they aren't going to register Bugs Bunny. And if you don't register in person you have to bring proof of identity when you show up to vote the first time. In short, there are plenty of checks and safeguards in place.

So this is much ado about nothing, and just another misdirection play by increasingly desperate Republican dead-enders who don't want to talk about the economy, foreign policy, or anything else of substance.

Unfortunately, with the help of scandal-driven national media reading sensational GOP press releases on the air, these kinds of smear campaigns work with low-information voters. Very few are going to go to the trouble to find out the truth.

http://www.knoxviews.com/node/9312

As Olbermann said, ACORN's the victim here.

NGU.

since it makes them look like they just sweep in whomever they can to do the job. What kind of organization puts so little effort into screening its potential workers?

Let's Acorn off the hook much too easily.

So they are self-correcting the problem.

Acorn was not letting the fake forms go on.

Also, would Mickey Mouse really show up to vote in Ohio??? Its impossible for the bogus registrations to actually vote.

to supervise these employees. And what these employees did, in the name of "keeping their jobs" apparently, was to commit what I gather are felonies. Acorn shouldn't try to paint itself as victim and neither should we. Rather they should take responsibility for cleaning up their operation and guaranteeing that it won't happen in the future. They need to pledge to better screen, train, and supervise their work force.

NGU.

I hear that the right-wing noise machine is sending ACORN emails out at a fast and furious pace. To counter that, here is some ammo based on facts. Remember, conservatives hate facts, so be gentle when using them.

First, for those not acquainted with ACORN, here is the group’s mission statement:

“ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities.”

One of their main efforts is to register low-income families to vote.

In a last-ditch effort to divert attention from McCain’s faltering campaign, the group has been accused by right-wingers of facilitating fraudulent voter registrations that presumably would help Obama. There are some ongoing investigations of these claims by law enforcement. Even if true, fraudulent voter registration is an inevitable occurrence but is regarded to be a very small problem by most experts. In addition, the task of weeding out those bad registrations is the job of state and local boards of election, not the organizing groups. Republicans are also upset because Obama has had some interaction with the group over the years. Guess what they always forget to mention, though?

From ACORN’s web site:

October 13, 2008, Miami, FL - U.S. Senator John McCain's recent attacks on the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) are puzzling given his historic support for the organization and its efforts on behalf of immigrant Americans. As recently as February 20, 2006, Senator McCain was the keynote speaker at an ACORN-sponsored Immigration Rally in Miami, Florida at Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus.

The rally, co-sponsored by ACORN in partnership with the New American Opportunity campaign (NAOC), Catholic League Services – Archdiocese of Miami, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Miami Dade College, People for the American Way/Mi Familia/Vota en Accion, the Service Employees International Union, and UNITE/HERE, was intended to call attention to the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

Senator McCain spoke at the rally attended by hundreds of ACORN members, most of who were dressed in the red shirts typical of its members. Senator McCain's speech focused on the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, a bipartisan, comprehensive reform bill, which McCain sponsored with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).

Bertha Lewis, Chief Organizer of ACORN, said, "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."

Lewis continued, "We expected Senator McCain to support our efforts to give voice to millions of Americans who have never participated in an election before. We are surprised at his efforts to vilify 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."

Senator McCain and his campaign have recently launched a series of coordinated attacks on ACORN, the nation’s largest community organization of low-and moderate-income families.

Ms. Lewis went on to say that, "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."

Senator McCain was joined at the rally by Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), leaders from both political parties, immigrant communities, and members of labor, business, and religious organizations.

OOPS….

And if that doesn’t work, try this simple piece of logic courtesy of Time Magazine’s Anna Marie Cox:

“With three weeks to go, and absentee voting well underway, both campaigns -- and outside group -- have been asking voters and the media to look at the possibility of election fraud (note that Republicans always accuse Democrats of committing “Voter” fraud- a relatively small problem that would have no impact on results while regularly committing “Election” fraud themselves that can be shown to have impacted many recent elections -ed.). At McCain rallies, supporters intone "ACORN" and "FBI! FBI!" with increasing regularity. And, it's true, ACORN -- a predominately left-leaning group with (limited) ties to Obama -- has a particularly spotty record when it comes to voter registration. The problem is that attempting to register voters improperly or fraudulently under names like "Mickey Mouse" or maybe (the name of) a local restaurant only seems to be beneficial to Democrats. To be actually beneficial, Mickey Mouse (or the restaurant) would have to show up to vote.”

Sitting next to McCain Rep. Meeks of FL.

It happens to everyone at least once.

Welcome to DU :hi:

more recently than Obama. If they are trying to help any particular candidate it would be McCain because of his open-borders immigration policy.

I always try to bring up McCain's open-borders immigration policy. It drives right-wingers crazy.

that the nutjobs give a crap about facts. I tried this approach yesterday, and eventually just got fed up with the following;

1 - how is it not ACORN's fault! (even after I explained how several times)
2 - poor/homeless people shouldn't be allowed to vote! (I seriously had someone tell me that!)
3 - People should vote without being prodded by companies like ACORN

etc.

This does not even include the various names I got called for trying to encourage people to just do their own research. I told them more than once I was not advocating voting for anyone, that it was up to their decision (they were obviously Palin supporters), and I was called a commie and worse. I give up with these hateful bastards. I don't want them in my party anyway.

Then I'd say, as you did:

ACORN is hiring people to register voters.
>> If Bugs Bunny registers, his card will be tossed out at the office of the Secretary of State.
>> If Bob Tempworker adds three fake registrations to get extra money, the fakes will be tossed out.
>> ACORN is not allowed to toss any registrations out. Only the Secretary of State's office has that authority.

The incidence of fake identity voting is almost zero.

If you really want to learn about election integrity, check out the more serious issues reviewed in the calm, comprehensive documentary, Stealing America: Vote by Vote. www.stealingamericathemovie.com

Voter registrations (Republican Dirty Tricks - http://www.alternet.org/election04/20194/?page=entire). ACORN helps law enforcement prosecute their employees that fraudulently fill out voter registrations. Sproul's Voter Outreach of America was accused by its own employees and resisted any investigation into the accusations against the organization.