Changes

The '''Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now''' ('''ACORN''') was a [[left-wing]] activist group that described itself as ''"a non-profit, non-partisan social justice organization"'' <ref>[http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12342 ACORN website]</ref> geared to helping the poor achieve jobs and control over their communities. Founded in Arkansas in 1970, ACORN advocated higher minimum wages, access to affordable housing and increased voter registration in low-income communities, though many charge that they often focused on voter registration in swing political states like Ohio.  On March 22, 2010, it announced that "it would close all its remaining state affiliates and field offices by April 1" and try to resolve its outstanding debts.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/us/23acorn.html Acorn to Shut All Its Offices by April 1], [[The New York Times]]</ref>

The '''Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now''' ('''ACORN''') was a [[left-wing]] activist group that described itself as ''"a non-profit, non-partisan social justice organization"'' <ref>[http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12342 ACORN website]</ref> geared to helping the poor achieve jobs and control over their communities. Founded in Arkansas in 1970, ACORN advocated higher minimum wages, access to affordable housing and increased voter registration in low-income communities, though many charge that they often focused on voter registration in swing political states like Ohio.  On March 22, 2010, it announced that "it would close all its remaining state affiliates and field offices by April 1" and try to resolve its outstanding debts.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/us/23acorn.html Acorn to Shut All Its Offices by April 1], [[The New York Times]]</ref>

ACORN has been a top target for conservatives because of its liberal agenda. Stanley Kurtz calls it "the largest radical group in America,"<ref name=kurtz-inside>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI= Inside Obama’s Acorn: By their fruits ye shall know them] - Stanley Kurtz, [[National Review]]</ref>

Some conservatives targetted ACORN because of its liberal agenda. Stanley Kurtz calls it "the largest radical group in America,"<ref name=kurtz-inside>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI= Inside Obama’s Acorn: By their fruits ye shall know them] - Stanley Kurtz, [[National Review]]</ref>

working "to take over the system from within, rather than futilely try to overthrow it from without."<ref name=kurtz-inside-2>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI=&w=MQ== Kurtz, page 2]</ref>  

working "to take over the system from within, rather than futilely try to overthrow it from without."<ref name=kurtz-inside-2>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDZiMjkwMDczZWI5ODdjOWYxZTIzZGIyNzEyMjE0ODI=&w=MQ== Kurtz, page 2]</ref>  

ACORN was founded in 1970 by [[Wade Rathke]], a veteran of the [[Maoist]] oriented [[Students for a Democratic Society]] (SDS).

ACORN was founded in 1970 by [[Wade Rathke]], a veteran of the [[Maoist]] oriented [[Students for a Democratic Society]] (SDS).

From 1992 to 2004, [[Barack Obama]] ran leadership training sessions<ref>[http://www.socialpolicy.org/index.php?id=838 Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaign], By Toni Foulkes, ''Social Policy'', Winter 2003, Vol. 34, No. 2 Spring 2004, Vol. 34, No. 3.</ref> and served as an attorney for the group in Chicago. The group has been accused of dispensing advice on how to set up a prostitution ring involving more than a dozen underage illegal immigrant girls,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/10/acorn.prostitution/ ACORN workers caught on tape allegedly advising on prostitution], ''[[CNN]]'', September 11, 2009.</ref> among other illegal activities.

In 2009, the Baltimore group has been accused of dispensing advice on how to set up a prostitution ring involving more than a dozen underage illegal immigrant girls,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/10/acorn.prostitution/ ACORN workers caught on tape allegedly advising on prostitution], ''[[CNN]]'', September 11, 2009.</ref> among other illegal activities.  From 1992 to 2004, [[Barack Obama]] ran leadership training sessions<ref>[http://www.socialpolicy.org/index.php?id=838 Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaign], By Toni Foulkes, ''Social Policy'', Winter 2003, Vol. 34, No. 2 Spring 2004, Vol. 34, No. 3.</ref> and served as an attorney for the group in Chicago.

ACORN was also been mired in the controversy connected with the collapse of mortgage giants [[Fannie Mae]] and [[Freddie Mac]] in the fall of 2008.  

ACORN was also been mired in the controversy connected with the collapse of mortgage giants [[Fannie Mae]] and [[Freddie Mac]] in the fall of 2008.  

===2010 United States census===

===2010 United States census===

In March 2009, it was disclosed that ACORN would play a role in the 2010 [[census]]. This raised several concerns regarding ACORN's past history of voter fraud and, along with oversight of the census being moved to White House Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]], raised questions about the fate of the census' historic non-partisan nature.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/18/acorn-play-role-census.html ACORN to Play Role in 2010 Census], [[FOX News]]</ref>  

In March 2009, it was disclosed that ACORN would play a role in recruiting workers for the 2010 [[census]]. This raised several concerns regarding ACORN's past history of voter fraud and, along with oversight of the census being moved to White House Chief of Staff [[Rahm Emanuel]], raised questions about the fate of the census' historic non-partisan nature.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/18/acorn-play-role-census.html ACORN to Play Role in 2010 Census], [[FOX News]]</ref>  

After a video surfaced showing ACORN members trying to cheat the IRS, the Census Bureau decided to cancel their involvement with the 2010 Census count. It is reported that the group will still receive funds from the government branch Housing & Urban Development.  

After a video surfaced showing ACORN members trying to cheat the IRS, the Census Bureau decided to cancel their involvement with the 2010 Census count. It is reported that the group will still receive funds from the government branch Housing & Urban Development.  

===Consumer advocacy===

===Consumer advocacy===

Acorn now operates in more than 100 cities with a national budget of $37 million.<ref name=squash /> Also, chapters in 700 poor neighborhoods with dues-paying members exceeding 120,000.<ref name="ACORN’s Nutty Regime for Cities"/> Despite what is stated on its official website (''"To maintain independence, ACORN does not accept government funding and is not tax exempt"'' <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081002063115/http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12342 Who is ACORN?]</ref>), this left-wing [[liberal]] group takes in 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers under the guise of consumer advocacy and has leveraged nearly four decades of government subsidies to fund affiliates that promote the welfare state and undermine capitalism and self-reliance.  The rest of its' money coming from left-wing heavyweights like billionaire [[George Soros]] and the [[Democracy Alliance]].<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/10082008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_pro_barack_vote_fraud_drive_132618.htm?page=0 THE PRO-BARACK VOTE-FRAUD DRIVE] [[New York Post]], October 8, 2008</ref>

As of 2006, Acorn operated in more than 100 cities with a national budget of $37 million.<ref name=squash /> Also, chapters in 700 poor neighborhoods with dues-paying members exceeding 120,000.<ref name="ACORN’s Nutty Regime for Cities"/> Despite what is stated on its official website (''"To maintain independence, ACORN does not accept government funding and is not tax exempt"'' <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081002063115/http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12342 Who is ACORN?]</ref>), ACORN takes in 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers under the guise of consumer advocacy and has leveraged nearly four decades of government subsidies to fund affiliates that promote the welfare state and undermine capitalism and self-reliance.  The rest of its' money coming from left-wing heavyweights like billionaire [[George Soros]] and the [[Democracy Alliance]].<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/10082008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_pro_barack_vote_fraud_drive_132618.htm?page=0 THE PRO-BARACK VOTE-FRAUD DRIVE] [[New York Post]], October 8, 2008</ref>

===Support for gun control and illegal immigration===

===Support for gun control and illegal immigration===

ACORN legally intervened in an unsuccessful attempt to defend Jersey City, [[New Jersey]]'s local [[gun control]] ordinance, which was struck down December 13, 2006 in New Jersey state court as a violation of state law pre-empting stronger local gun ordinances.<ref>[http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1166448999875 "N.J. Judge Voids City's Gun Control Law"], Charles Toutant, ''New Jersey Law Journal'', December 20, 2006</ref>

ACORN legally intervened in an unsuccessful attempt to defend Jersey City, [[New Jersey]]'s local [[gun control]] ordinance, which was struck down December 13, 2006 in New Jersey state court as a violation of state law designed to preempt stronger local gun ordinances.<ref>[http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1166448999875 "N.J. Judge Voids City's Gun Control Law"], Charles Toutant, ''New Jersey Law Journal'', December 20, 2006</ref>

ACORN has held frequent rallies in support of amnesty for [[illegal immigrants]] and against enforcement-only bills for dealing with the illegal immigration problem.  According to their official website they list four demands on immigration, the first of which is "A path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States" (in other words, amnesty).<ref>[http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=16966 ACORN official website position on illegal immigration]</ref>  

ACORN has held frequent rallies in support of amnesty for [[illegal immigrants]] and against enforcement-only bills for dealing with the illegal immigration problem.  According to their official website they list four demands on immigration, the first of which is "A path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States" (in other words, amnesty).<ref>[http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=16966 ACORN official website position on illegal immigration]</ref>  

==Connections to the subprime mortgage crisis==

==Connections to the subprime mortgage crisis==

:''Main article : [[Financial crisis of 2008]]''

:''Main article : [[Financial crisis of 2008]]''

In 1991 ACORN took over the House Banking Committee room for two days to protest efforts to scale back the [[Community Reinvestment Act]] (CRA). ACORN was the driving force behind a 1995 regulatory revision pushed through by the [[Clinton Administration]] that greatly expanded the CRA and laid the groundwork for the [[Fannie Mae]], [[Freddie Mac]] borne [[financial crisis of 2008]].  [[Barack Obama]] was the attorney representing ACORN in this effort. With this new authority, ACORN used its subsidiary, ACORN Housing, to promote [[subprime loans]] more aggressively.  As a ''[[New York Post]]'' article describes it:

In 1991, ACORN members took over the House Banking Committee room for two days to protest efforts to scale back the [[Community Reinvestment Act]] (CRA). ACORN was the driving force behind a 1995 regulatory revision pushed through by the [[Clinton Administration]] that greatly expanded the CRA and laid the groundwork for the [[Fannie Mae]], [[Freddie Mac]] borne [[financial crisis of 2008]].  [[Barack Obama]] was the attorney representing ACORN in this effort. With this new authority, ACORN used its subsidiary, ACORN Housing, to promote [[subprime loans]] more aggressively.  As a ''[[New York Post]]'' article describes it:

:"A 1995 strengthening of the Community Reinvestment Act required banks to find ways to provide mortgages to their poorer communities. It also let community activists intervene at yearly bank reviews, shaking the banks down for large pots of money.

:"A 1995 strengthening of the Community Reinvestment Act required banks to find ways to provide mortgages to their poorer communities. It also let community activists intervene at yearly bank reviews, shaking the banks down for large pots of money.

:Banks that got poor reviews were punished; some saw their merger plans frustrated; others faced direct legal challenges by the Justice Department.<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/02052008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_real_scandal_243911.htm?page=0 THE REAL SCANDAL: HOW FEDS INVITED THE MORTGAGE MESS,] By STAN LIEBOWITZ, ''[[New York Post]]'', February 5, 2008; see also judiciary.house.gov [http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Liebowitz080612.pdf].</ref>

:Banks that got poor reviews were punished; some saw their merger plans frustrated; others faced direct legal challenges by the Justice Department.<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/02052008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_real_scandal_243911.htm?page=0 The Real Scandal: How Feds Invited the Mortgage Mess,] By Stan Liebowitz, ''[[New York Post]]'', February 5, 2008; see also judiciary.house.gov [http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Liebowitz080612.pdf].</ref>

Flexible lending programs expanded even though they had higher default rates than loans with traditional standards. On the Web, you can still find CRA loans available via ACORN with "100 percent financing . . . no credit scores . . . undocumented income . . . even if you don't report it on your tax returns." Credit counselling is required, of course.

Flexible lending programs expanded even though they had higher default rates than loans with traditional standards. On the Web, you can still find CRA loans available via ACORN with "100 percent financing . . . no credit scores . . . undocumented income . . . even if you don't report it on your tax returns." Credit counselling is required, of course.

ACORN tactics are starting to reveal a pattern of unethical behavior across the country and they have been implicated in voter fraud schemes in [[Missouri]], [[Ohio]] and at least 12 other states. The group’s [[vandalism]] on electoral integrity is systemic.

ACORN tactics are starting to reveal a pattern of unethical behavior across the country and they have been implicated in voter fraud schemes in [[Missouri]], [[Ohio]] and at least 12 other states. The group’s [[vandalism]] on electoral integrity is systemic.

====Past Issues====

====2004 elections====

* The Wall Street Journal noted: “In Ohio in 2004, a worker for one affiliate was given crack cocaine in exchange for fraudulent registrations that included underage voters, dead [[voters]] and pillars of the community named Mary Poppins, Dick Tracy and Jive Turkey. During a [[congressional]] hearing in Ohio in the aftermath of the 2004 election, officials from several counties in the state explained ACORN’s practice of dumping thousands of registration forms in their lap on the submission deadline, even though the forms had been collected months earlier.” Acorn workers have been convicted of fraud in Wisconsin and Colorado.<ref>[http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116251922202112150 The Acorn Indictments], [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref>

* The Wall Street Journal noted: “In Ohio in 2004, a worker for one affiliate was given crack cocaine in exchange for fraudulent registrations that included underage voters, dead [[voters]] and pillars of the community named Mary Poppins, Dick Tracy and Jive Turkey. During a [[congressional]] hearing in Ohio in the aftermath of the 2004 election, officials from several counties in the state explained ACORN’s practice of dumping thousands of registration forms in their lap on the submission deadline, even though the forms had been collected months earlier.” Acorn workers have been convicted of fraud in Wisconsin and Colorado.<ref>[http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116251922202112150 The Acorn Indictments], [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref>

* In 2004, ACORN registered illegal immigrant Nuradin Abdi. He was the suspected Ohio shopping mall bomb plotter from Somalia, according to the Columbus Dispatch.<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/minutemen_illegal_voting/2008/10/30/145903.html Minutemen Muster Nationally to Foil Illegal Voting] [[NewsMax]], October 30, 2008</ref>

* In 2004, ACORN registered illegal immigrant Nuradin Abdi. He was the suspected Ohio shopping mall bomb plotter from Somalia, according to the Columbus Dispatch.<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/minutemen_illegal_voting/2008/10/30/145903.html Minutemen Muster Nationally to Foil Illegal Voting] [[NewsMax]], October 30, 2008</ref>

====2008 Presidential Elections====

====2008 presidential elections====

When ACORN is questioned regarding their tactics, they reply with an attack of their own, voter suppression. Teresa James, an attorney for ACORN affiliate Project Vote says, "they don't have the resources," to catch all fraud. However, ACORN has the money to air commercials nationwide. In it, blaming racism and vote suppression, not ACORN.<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/122345478771640.xml&coll=2 Voter-registration can't be totally fraud-free, group says], [[The Plain Dealer]], October 08, 2008</ref>

When ACORN is questioned regarding their tactics, they reply with an attack of their own, voter suppression. Teresa James, an attorney for ACORN affiliate Project Vote says, "they don't have the resources," to catch all fraud. However, ACORN has the money to air commercials nationwide. In it, blaming racism and vote suppression, not ACORN.<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/122345478771640.xml&coll=2 Voter-registration can't be totally fraud-free, group says], [[The Plain Dealer]], October 08, 2008</ref>

The Justice Department closed down the investigation in March 2009, stating that ACORN broke no laws, though it noted that ACORN had engaged in “questionable hiring and training practices.”<ref>http://www.judicialwatch.org, Judicial Watch News, March 11, 2010</ref>

The Justice Department closed down the investigation in March 2009, stating that ACORN broke no laws, though it noted that ACORN had engaged in “questionable hiring and training practices.”<ref>http://www.judicialwatch.org, Judicial Watch News, March 11, 2010</ref>

===Inspector General report ===

===Government Accountability Office report ===

A “preliminary” [[GAO]] report<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10648r.pdf Preliminary Observations on Funding, Oversight, and Investigations and  Prosecutions of ACORN or Potentially Related Organizations ]</ref>  proves that the now-defunct left-wing group [[ACORN]]'s decision to shut down was the result of “a [[Joe McCarthy|McCarthy]]-era style war against the poor and minorities,” says the group's former leader, Bertha Lewis.<ref>[http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0618/exclusive/ Exclusive: ACORN leader says critics mounted ‘McCarthy-era war against the poor’ after report clears organization of wrongdoing]</ref>  The report found ACORN affiliates received a stunning $40.4 million in taxpayer subsidies in 2005-2009 alone. Even the Justice Department (which is supposed to be investigating the group) funded the creation of the “ACORN Youth Union” to “provide youth leadership training” (indoctrinate public-school students) to win “specific improvements and policy changes”(lobby for the group's pet issues) “such as school funding” (higher taxes), etc.<ref>[http://dev.cnsnews.com/news/article/acorn-youth-union-chapters-were-funded-justice-department-says-gao ‘ACORN Youth Union’ Chapters Were Funded by Justice Department, Says GAO]</ref>  The IG report indicates that of the six major federal agencies GAO queried, only one has provided responses. “We did not independently assess the sufficiency of agencies' oversight activities,” states the report. The GAO added that 12 ACORN workers have pleaded guilty to voter registration fraud; unmentioned was that at least six more former ACORN workers are under indictment on similar charges.<ref>[http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_686567.html ACORN granted $40.4 million in federal funding]</ref>  Yet to investigated are charges ACORN engaged in violations of RICO through money-laundering of taxpayer funds designated for nonpartisan activities, engaged in partisan activities, or violated [[ERISA]] by shifting pension funds to conceal a million-dollar embezzlement perpetrated by ACORN founder Wade Rathke's brother. The report incorporates changes ACORN demanded.<ref>[http://www.capitalresearch.org/blog/2010/06/16/new-gao-report-on-acorn-is-compromised-acorns-lawyer-demanded-changes-and-he-got-them/ New GAO Report on ACORN is Compromised: ACORN’s Lawyer Demanded Changes - and He Got Them!]</ref>

A “preliminary” [[GAO]] report<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10648r.pdf Preliminary Observations on Funding, Oversight, and Investigations and  Prosecutions of ACORN or Potentially Related Organizations ]</ref>  proves that the now-defunct left-wing group [[ACORN]]'s decision to shut down was the result of “a [[Joe McCarthy|McCarthy]]-era style war against the poor and minorities,” says the group's former leader, Bertha Lewis.<ref>[http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0618/exclusive/ Exclusive: ACORN leader says critics mounted ‘McCarthy-era war against the poor’ after report clears organization of wrongdoing]</ref>  The report found ACORN affiliates received a stunning $40.4 million in taxpayer subsidies in 2005-2009 alone. Even the Justice Department (which is supposed to be investigating the group) funded the creation of the “ACORN Youth Union” to “provide youth leadership training” (indoctrinate public-school students) to win “specific improvements and policy changes”(lobby for the group's pet issues) “such as school funding” (higher taxes), etc.<ref>[http://dev.cnsnews.com/news/article/acorn-youth-union-chapters-were-funded-justice-department-says-gao ‘ACORN Youth Union’ Chapters Were Funded by Justice Department, Says GAO]</ref>  The IG report indicates that of the six major federal agencies GAO queried, only one has provided responses. “We did not independently assess the sufficiency of agencies' oversight activities,” states the report. The GAO added that 12 ACORN workers have pleaded guilty to voter registration fraud; unmentioned was that at least six more former ACORN workers are under indictment on similar charges.<ref>[http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_686567.html ACORN granted $40.4 million in federal funding]</ref>  Yet to investigated are charges ACORN engaged in violations of RICO through money-laundering of taxpayer funds designated for nonpartisan activities, engaged in partisan activities, or violated [[ERISA]] by shifting pension funds to conceal a million-dollar embezzlement perpetrated by ACORN founder Wade Rathke's brother. The report incorporates changes ACORN demanded.<ref>[http://www.capitalresearch.org/blog/2010/06/16/new-gao-report-on-acorn-is-compromised-acorns-lawyer-demanded-changes-and-he-got-them/ New GAO Report on ACORN is Compromised: ACORN’s Lawyer Demanded Changes - and He Got Them!]</ref>

===Civil Suit===

===Civil suit===

An Ohio civil suit filed by Buckeye Institute against ACORN and its Project Vote operation alleges that Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is regularly advised by ACORN on election strategy, and deprives voters “of the right to participate in an honest and effective elections process.” <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/brunner_acorn/2009/02/19/183402.html Senate Candidate Brunner is ACORN Loyalist], [[NewsMax]], February 19, 2009</ref>

An Ohio civil suit filed by Buckeye Institute against ACORN and its Project Vote operation alleges that Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is regularly advised by ACORN on election strategy, and deprives voters “of the right to participate in an honest and effective elections process.” <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/brunner_acorn/2009/02/19/183402.html Senate Candidate Brunner is ACORN Loyalist], [[NewsMax]], February 19, 2009</ref>

==ACORN successor groups==

==ACORN successor groups==

ACORN the national organizational is now defunct. The group has split into regional organizations under different names shown below.<ref>[http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-releases-special-report-%E2%80%9Cthe-rebranding-of-acorn%E2%80%9D/ Re-branding of ACORN], [[Judicial Watch]]</ref>

ACORN's national organizational is now defunct. The group has split into regional organizations under different names shown below.<ref>[http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-releases-special-report-%E2%80%9Cthe-rebranding-of-acorn%E2%80%9D/ Re-branding of ACORN], [[Judicial Watch]]</ref>

*Community Organizations International

*Community Organizations International