The ACORN/Obama thug thizzle; new: Ohio grills ACORN workers
My syndicated column today spotlights all of the latest ACORN voter fraud outbreaks, including yesterday’s ACORN office raid in Nevada. I filed the column before authorities had released those outrageous details of how “lazy crackheads” at a local prison climbed up the ACORN ladder. In other new developments, the Cuyahoga County Election Board has just grilled ACORN members suspected of more fraud:
In one case, a Cleveland resident was registered to vote three times in a single day, listing two different addresses…The man’s registration was submitted to the Board of Elections by ACORN. The board discussed several other cases of multiple registrations at their meeting. ACORN was involved in each case, although not for all entries by the same individuals…Board Member Robert Frost said the group failed to follow guidelines in its own manual to turn over suspected voter fraud to law enforcement to investigate. Election officials subpoenaed three voters to appear before the Board next week to explain their multiple registrations.
Just another endless, “isolated” case using ACORN’s standard operating procedure. Ho hum.
Palestra.net has been doing excellent work. Shelby Holliday, who interviewed our favorite “Thug Thizzle” Homeless Man for Obama, has more here.
Meanwhile, Obama continues to lie and lie about his ACORN ties. More from the invaluable Stanley Kurtz here.
And McCain is doing…nothing.
***
The ACORN/Obama thug thizzle
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2008
Systemic corruption of our election process continues. Barack Obama and his old friends at ACORN and Project Vote are leading the way. This radical revolution is taking place in your backyard. And as I’ve reported before, this voter-fraud racket is on your dime.
On Monday, the two liberal groups announced the wrap-up of a 21-state voter registration drive targeting low-income people and minorities in battleground states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
What’s wrong with that? For starters, these two groups are militant partisan outfits purporting to engage in nonpartisan civic activity. And their campaign comes amid an avalanche of fresh voter-fraud allegations involving ACORN in many of those same key states.
On Tuesday, Nevada state officials raided ACORN’s Las Vegas office after election authorities accused the group of submitting multiple voter registrations with fake and duplicate names.
ACORN, which receives 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers to pursue an aggressive welfare-state agenda, has already helped register over 1.27 million people nationwide. The rest of their funding comes from left-wing heavyweights like billionaire George Soros and the Democracy Alliance.
Project Vote, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded by left-wing lawyer Sandy Newman to register voters in welfare offices and unemployment lines with the explicit goal of turning back the Reagan revolution.
The two groups are inextricably linked — and at their nexus is Barack Obama.
In 1992, Newman hired Obama to lead Project Vote efforts in Illinois. The Illinois drive’s motto: “It’s a Power Thing.”
As previously noted in this column (”The ACORN Obama Knows,” June 25, 2008), Obama also trained ACORN members in Chicago. In turn, ACORN volunteers worked on his Illinois campaigns and ACORN’s PAC endorsed his primary bid with full backing and muscle.
Despite his adamant denials of any association with the group (his Fight the Smears website now claims “Barack Obama never organized with ACORN”), Obama’s political DNA is encoded with the ACORN agenda.
The Obama campaign’s “Vote for Change” registration drive, running parallel to ACORN/Project Vote, is an all-out scramble to scrape up every last unregistered voter sympathetic to Obama’s big-government vision. “Our volume,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe bragged of the voter-registration program, “will be enormous.”
Quantity over quality. It’s the ACORN way.
In addition to the Las Vegas raid, fraud allegations keep piling up:
— Lake County, Ind., election officials this month rejected a large portion of the 5,000 registration forms ACORN turned in after conducting registration drives in the area all summer. Some vote canvassers had pulled names and addresses from telephone books and forged signatures. According to local reports, “large numbers of voter registration forms bore signatures all in the same apparent handwriting style” and “apparently the organization’s canvassers broke rules to meet ACORN-set voter registration quotas to get paid.” The fake registrants included dead people and underage kids.
On a conference call yesterday, GOP officials noted that up to 11,000 voter applications were no good — tying up election officials and jeopardizing the voting rights of untold victims whose identities may have been stolen.
– Last month, Milwaukee, Wis., officials discovered at least seven felons employed as voter registration workers for ACORN and another affiliated group. They also uncovered a raft of problematic voter registration cards. The state GOP accused ACORN of attempting to enroll dead, imprisoned or imaginary people to voter rolls. Fraud has plagued ACORN’s Milwaukee chapter since the last election cycle.
– In Florida, in Orange County alone, ACORN workers turned in multiple copycat forms for six separate voters over the summer. According to the Miami Herald, “One individual had 21 duplicate applications.”
Election officials had flagged ACORN’s negligent practices several months ago, but it may be too late: In Orange, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, ACORN has signed up 135,000 new voters, nearly 60 percent of them registered as Democrats that constitute a fifth of all new voters in that region.
– In Ohio, large numbers of homeless people received free van and bus rides to register. Shelby Holliday, a reporter for Palestra.net, filmed ACORN shuttling prospects to the polls. She told me she spoke with one homeless woman who told her ACORN “told her who to vote for if she wanted a ‘better life,’ and told her not to worry about jury duty (one of the reasons this homeless woman didn’t want to register) because the government probably wouldn’t be able to track her down. She was registering with a temporary address.”
Holliday interviewed another homeless man targeted by the registration drive who exulted that he was voting for Obama because “I want him to do his thang. You know, do his thug thizzle.”
“Thug thizzle” is street slang for performing your trademark move. Obama and ACORN have practiced their thug thizzle together for years: organizing an ever-expanding community of ineligible and marginal voters to expand the Democratic power base. Rules be damned.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Obama Claims He Never Worked For ACORN « Trust, But Verify
- WinkyDog
- The Irascible Chef » Is It True?
- GraniteGrok
- The ACORN/Obama thug thizzle; new: Ohio grills ACORN workers « Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian
- More ACORN Shenigans... Surprised? Naw.... - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!
- More revelations on ACORN « Get Clued
- It’s over, Debbie. : Pursuing Holiness
- Barack Obama, Socialist: Obama a Member of Socialist New Party | DBKP - The Worldwide Leader in Weird
- Obama’s Three A’s « Kerfuffles and Flourishes
- Hyscience
- This is rich. « Scatterin’ O’ the Thoughts
- Wanna Bet Obama Runs From This ACORN Comment Next Week? | Right Voices
- Obama’s Membership In The Socialist New Party | Right Voices
- Right Angles » Blog Archive » ACORN really knows how to get out the vote
- JABbering Stooge :: ACORN Derangement Syndrome :: October :: 2008
- Michelle Malkin » You can’t say “thug thizzle” — that’s RAAACIST!
- Obama: Senators Evan & Father, Birch Bayh Are Community Organizers | BigMouthFrog
- Just My Opinion….John McCain & Sarah Palin « Western Thoughts
- Obama Trained Organization Raided For Voter Fraud
- Webloggin » Radical ACORN Trying to Steal Your Vote for Obama
- UrbanGrounds » Blog Archive » More Voter Fraud — 105% of Indiana Voters Registered to Vote
- OpenMarket.org » Archive » Voter Fraud in Virginia Abetted by ACLU
- Scroll For Updates:I wish these people knew what racism is, but alas, I am forced to report on their ignorance | Right Voices
- Nightly Ramble:Barry’s plane; Oil down; BO’s supporters; more | BitsBlog
- We’re Mad as Hell Part III « Mark Epstein
- Michelle Malkin Judge rules Ohio Secretary of State violated federal election law; plus ACORN victim on tape | OBAMA ACORN
- ACORN and Voter Registration Fraud
- ACORN's Aim: Chaos at the Polls | OBAMA ACORN
- LankyFrame » Blog Archive » obama thug
- Michelle Malkin » Who says conservative bloggers don’t do reporting?
- McCain doesn’t take the gloves off. « Purple and Gold Musings
- Michelle Malkin » Video: ACORN affilates go nuts on Tea Party activists
- Michelle Malkin » Video: Laura Ingraham calls out Charlie Gibson’s ACORN ignorance
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Categories: ACORN Watch, Voter fraud
Power Line
» More From the East Anglia Archives
Doug Ross @ Journal
» ACORN pwnage part II: Breitbart's BigGovt Lowers the BoomBig Government
» BREAKING: San Diego ACORN Document Dump ScandalVillainous Company
» Amateur Hour in the Oval Office Continues....Green Room
» Times Slimes Obamic ClimesLegal Insurrection
» Nation Mag Outs Secret U.S. Anti-Terror Program
What percentage of the fake registrations will be used to vote vs. the fake registrations submitted by crackhead registrars trying to make a buck the lazy way?
ACORN A Committee Of Racketeers Nationwide.
what percentage of the law-breakers will be prosecuted compared to the amount of illegal votes being tabulated and counted for reals?
Would it be possible to have every state toss out every registration submitted by ACORN on the grounds that given the obvious widespread fraud involved, none can be trusted?
Sounds like ACORN could be busted with RICO if there was a “white hat” amongst us.
It is interesting to note that once the Nevada authorities found out that ACORN was recruiting inmates on the prison’s work furlough program, and using them in their “registration” efforts, all the prisoner recruiting stopped. Not because ACORN was given a Cease and Desist Order, but because they had been found out, and knew what they were doing was very questionable. There can be no other reason for stopping that practice…
Maybe it’s going to cost us, but I think we’ll ultimately have to go to an encrypted voter identification card and register and vote in person. The moter voter act, these get-out-the-vote drives and ACORN have totally destroyed our election system’s integrity. I’d also like it if those not paying taxes (or at least those on the dole) be prohibited from voting.
All corruption in our elections must be:
Exposed
Prosecuted
Convicted
Prevented
Thank you, Jesus, that the ACORN corruption is being exposed.
Now it’s time for Prosecution, Conviction, and Prevention.
How much does it take for these thugs to be seen for what they are: Domestic Enemies of our Constitutional Republic.
Of course saying “white hat” is racist nowadays.
May the light of truth shine down on the fraud of ACORN and Obama before it is truly too late…
I try to be optimistic, but I can easily see Obama and Pelosi shutting down most of talk radio, and in a country that is now almost half Demonrat, nationwide same day registration/voting and, if Obama gets a SCOTUS majority, a declaration that requiring picture ID violates the 24th amendment (my American hating pos brother argued that to me, and his fellow travellers agree) opens the way for all the Zimbabwe/South American style voter fraud we’ll ever need to keep a Demoncrat in the White House for ever. Acorn will be Obama’s personal SA.
Carter was a lefty, but he didn’t hate America in 1977. His America hatred came from his bitterness that a majority of the American people preferred a Hollywood B-movie actor to him. JC was, after all, a gentleman farmer, and a Naval Academy graduate. That bitterness is what turned him into the American hating POS he is today. And, although McGovern’s Henry Wallace pro-Soviet crowd had seized the machinery of the Demoncrat party in 1972, Democrat Senators like Phil Gramm, and anti-communists like Scoop Jackson were still major forces in Congress.
BTW, interesting compare and contrast. Jumping Jim Jeffords won election as a Republican, accepting Republican aid and financing, then switched parties. Technically an independent, but he caucuses and votes with the Dems. Gramm, seeing that the Dems had shifted so far left that he could no longer in good faith continue in the party, ran for the Republican nomination while still in the Senate Democrat caucus, making no effort to mislead as to what his intentions were.
Going after ACORN and you are accused of wearing a “White Hood”
And IT was shocked to read that ACORN actually has guidelines.
I don’t understand why McCain didn’t look for an opportunity to dump this organization at Obama’s doorstep. I realize that McCain has no chance of winning, but at least he could go down swinging and call a spade a spade.
As it stands, Election 2008 will stand as precedent for an enormous number of evils that Americans just rolled and played dead for.
You don’t mention New Orleans, Michelle, but I’d lay odds that the population of Lafayette Cemetery is registered, too. There’s no other way to explain how dopes like Schoolbus Nagin and Cold Cash Jefferson pull in any votes.
I am happy to see Fox news is on top of this acorn voter fraud. They bring it up every day.
L
My Communist brother, Charlie, who works at an Army ammunition plant near Kansas City, refers to Fox News as “Faux News”, and is convinced it is all GOP propaganda.
His view, the NYT and CBS/CNN/MSNBC are the fair and balanced news.
Never heard of an October surprise in December.
This sounds like it would lend itself to RICO prosecution at the federal level. ACORN sounds more and more like an organized criminal enterprise every day.
McCain is becoming an embarrassment.
McCain is
becomingan embarrassment.Assorted Convicts for Obama Reinstituting Nazism.
I don’t think Nazism is too strong a term for the Obama campaign. His ranks are filled with radical socialists, and puppets who intend to;
Indoctrinate our children via the NEA apparachik.
Socialize medicine.
Suppress all dissenting speech.
Redistribute wealth. Paying themselves first, then doling out crumbs to the non-elite.
Nationalize the financial and insurance markets.
Take away gun ownership for Their own protection.
Will use law enforcement to pursecute political opposition.
We have seen this at work before. If these people obtain even more power, I predict a strong storm will envelope America, and it won’t be good for any of us. Our foreign enemies will attack us when our domestic enemies have us at our weakest, then what will you do?
Rasmussen has a poll that says 76% of Americans believe ID should be required to vote. McCain and/or Gov. Palin should come out today and propose a national ID card as part of their administration. Then connect ACORN to Barry and watch the talking heads and the dems flail.
I believe any business that hires felons pays only a percentage of their employees’ wages, and the government pays the rest – that would be why Acorn was hiring them.. at least I know that was true in New Jersey when I worked for a company there a few years ago.
The fact they’re convicted crims means that most likely they will have no qualms about committing fraud, and are even likely to do it without Acorn asking them to, because they are paid on how many people they enroll (and lose their jobs if they don’t enroll enough).
Good Idea Paul. Hate to say it but it goes directly against McCain’s pandering to his little friends that invade us.
Problem is, all the moonbat lefties will start screaming about bar codes on their foreheads and 1984 etc etc, and the rest of the demoidiots will follow blindly along accusing Republicans of exactly what their own party is leading this country into. Ironic is’nt it.
NYC123me, BINGO!
I’ll go you one better, Rogue. All 50 states should purge their voter rolls completely and reregister every voter. But to register you must provide a photo ID, proof of citizenship, proof of residence, and either a driver’s license or SSI number. The first three should be for obvious reasons. The last two are for computer tracking to prevent people from registering in multiple locations, like folks that have summer homes in FL or the like.
Voting is more than a privilege, it’s a responsibility and should be treated as such.
They should, but they won’t. They are SO sensitive to any suggestion of racism, that this will not even be floated as an option. 95% of America could be for National ID’s, and it wouldn’t sway them. Did they listen to any of the anti-bailout polls? Uh-uh!
You forgot
Open showers with boyfriends watching.
Right-on, is right on and it’s depressing as hell.
Well, call me a conspiracy theorist if you must, but I’m convinced a national ID card is all a part of the plan. It will make sense to everyone as the perfect solution. Then they will EASILY be duplicated and defrauded by computer hackers, which will then lead to RFID chip implantation.
I know, I know… I’ll go put on my tin foil hat now. Just call me Abby.
New today from The JAWA Report: (Emphasis mine.)
Need more proof?
Since we see multiple violations committed by ACORN nationwide could someone please tell me WTF is the U.S. Justice Department?
Pardon my French, but this is as subtle an effort as a 2×4 applied to the forehead.
Haven’t the Democrats already proposed using a chip to help “modernize and streamline” healthcare records? Why wouldn’t they make the chips GPS compatible?
Dear Leader feels all should be able to vote. It’s not someones fault if they are dead.
If Dear Leader does not represent the dead who will?
sarc/ off
right_on – The chips are manufactured by Verichip – Other names, products and trademarks in the implantable chip industry include X-Mark, Digital Angel Corporation, and the Halo system (RFID bracelets to protect infants in hospitals from abductions). They, for some reason like to associate themselves with religious and prophetic names and images… but that’s a whole different tangent. I do think it’s a little creepy given that this guy came from nowhere, is LOVED by his supporters, mocks the Bible, supports abortion (but claims to be a Christian) and we are on the verge of a global financial collapse. What a great time for SOME ONE to step in and SAVE US from all these horrible problems. Hmmmmm??? Wow… People would really bow down to a guy that could miraculously save the world huh? I’ll shut up now.. I just found my tin foil.
More on Obama and The New Party.
http://archive.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/barack_obama_sought_the_new_partys_endorsement_knowing_it_was_a_radical_left_organization
Thanks for the input mikepatr!
The Dem Drumbeat: Bring out the Dead – so the One’s National Socialists can vote in their names.
I’m going to try an offset this by having my dog and cat vote twice. First I gotta teach them how to write in a Paul/Palin ticket.
fingerprint id on checks, credit apps, votes, job apps, driving tickets, getting on a plane train or bus, everytime you want someone else to trust you.
Break out the buckets of purple ink!
Funny, I don’t see any Republicans or their groups signing up dogs and dead people, do you?
Are our public schools teaching about Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed?
I like it. The moonbats would have a fit. For now, EVERY ACORN reg. card should be tossed. I don’t think we know the beginning if the problem ACRON is causing. And where is the DOJ?
Michelle, Rush just read a big chunk of your column on air. Way to go!
In ACORNS back pocket
Doesn’t it make you a little nervous that he’s working in an ammunition plant?
ACORN can break as many laws as they want but many of the spineless, weak-minded American people will never notice. Everybody’s vote is up for sale these days. It’s what politicians can give to the voter, not what’s actually feasible or reasonable.
ACORN hiring felons to do their registration work when it’s patently against the law is heinous. I’m sick and tired of these criminals thinking they have a right to shape this election when they lost that right when they committed felonies. It’s disgusting that you can get a second chance when you commit a felony.
It’s lovely to see how the leftists embrace criminals like they embrace fraud to win elections. Whatever works I guess.
Where are out resident left wingers on this?
Is their silence tacit approval of ACORN’s actions?
Off topic;
I have been watching all of our Michelle’s threads very carefully for three months. There are many commentors that are true conservatives that are discouraged with McCain and want you vote for a third party. That’s fine but I’ve also notice five people who are pretending to conservatives but in fact are far left ops. Don’t give up your votes and please vote for McCain and Palin.
On October 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pm, Dimsdale said:
Since the MSM hasn’t reported on it yet, they haven’t gotten any talking points to refute it.
As soon Ohhhhhhlberman gives his spin the collectivists will be all over it like bums on baloney sandwiches.
P.S. The spin will most likely take the guise of “those evil Republicans are trying to keep the pofolk from votin’…”
(and voting, and voting, and voting….)
That’s why the MSM keeps showing polls with Obama having an insurmountable lead. They want to discourage voters from voting for McCain by tricking them into believing it’s a lost cause.
#54, agree with you. These polls seem strange – how can there be a 15 point shift in 3 weeks?
It’s not too late. DONATE – just got this link that seems to promise real action
https://secure.yourpatriot.com/ou/tnrt/national_republican_trust_g-us/donate.aspx
Seedy Marxist Anti-America Ties in the past of Obama…??
I think it’s about time someone puts together a Video/ad Asking: “Who will be in and around a President Obama guiding his decision making should he win”???
If “Living Color” would allow their song “Cult of Personality” to be used… showing a potential Sec. of Education Bill Ayers.. and the others who would probably be in his cabinet or Staff of advisors.. that is pretty much inline with his ideas to radicalize and push this great country over the edge into the pit of Marxism.
Remeber come Nov. 4th the name of a Hugh Hewitt’s book,
“If it isn’t close they can’t cheat.”
Papers Please. Honest people have nothing to hide. Dear Leader has enemies everywhere-inform or you are an enemy of Dear Leader.
Private Property is a crime.
Private lives are not conducive to the Collective.
The Whore of Babylon lives and does not look like those other Presidents on dollar bills and he DOES scare me. Give the man 2.
—
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
Should be a convenience store
NOT a Government Agency
Have the T-shirt
Know it is true
More Acorn voter registration fraud?
I don’t know!
PHOENIX (Reuters) – The criminal underworld in the sun-baked Arizona capital of Phoenix has long enjoyed the hot money profits from illicit smuggling of drugs and people over the border from Mexico.
But we are NOT sun-baked. Sunny, bright, cheery, balmy winters but NOT sun-baked. But our Photo ID law is being challenged by every left wing group around. Lots of ballots in Spanish, Lower Mongolian and UpperUS.
—
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
Should be a convenience store
NOT a Government Agency
Have the T-shirt
Know it is true
Can someone please explain to me exactly how having to show ID when you vote disenfranchises the poor? How does anyone in this day and age not have photo ID? Even welfare recipients have some type of card- the Benefit card (in NY anyway). I just don’t get it. I understand Democrats don’t want this because then they won’t be able to commit voter fraud. This makes me furious and to be given such an asinine excuse is insulting.
We must find a way to impose term limits on these politicians and when their term is over- toss them into the volcano so they can’t become lobbyists.
Great column Michelle. I linked over to this post from Rush’s daily email. Well done.
On October 8th, 2008 at 2:47 pm, FamilyMan said:
Not so off topic, not in these last weeks leading up to the election that could decide whether Ben Franklin’s words, that we have a Republic, if we can keep it, were prophetic.
So please allow me to echo that last bit; Don’t give up your votes and please vote for McCain and Palin.
Missouri officials suspect fake voter registration
http://www.ofheo.gov/contact.aspx
“ENSIGN URGES FEDS TO STOP PAYMENTS TO ACORN” [Rich Lowry]
Washington, D.C. – In a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Senator John Ensign today called for the suspension of taxpayer dollars that ultimately end up in the hands of such controversial groups as ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. ACORN, which is under investigation, is eligible for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac affordable housing funds, which add up to hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
“With the government takeover of Fannie and Freddie, the government will be taxing itself to create a backdoor slush fund, and we must prevent these taxpayer dollars from going toward ACORN,” said Ensign. “With the recent news tying ACORN with voter fraud, suspending these funds is even more urgent.”
As part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Fannie and Freddie are required to provide funding for newly created affordable housing funds. This was signed into law prior to the government takeover of the two agencies. Now that the government owns Fannie and Freddie and may provide them with up to $200 billion, taxing these companies does not help create stability, which is the goal of FHFA.
A search warrant was served today on the ACORN Headquarters in Nevada as part of an ongoing investigation into whether employees used false addresses or false names as part of their voter registration operation.
The letter was sent to James Lockhart, the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency today. As the regulatory agency overseeing Fannie and Freddie, FHFA has the authority to stop these contributions to the affordable housing funds. Senators Michael Enzi, Jon Kyl, David Vitter, Pat Roberts, Tom Coburn, John Thune and Jim DeMint signed the letter with Ensign.
Continue reading this post for the text of the letter.
October 7, 2008
The Honorable James B. Lockhart III
Director
Federal Housing Finance Agency
1700 G Street, NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20552
Dear Director Lockhart:
We write today to urge you to exercise your statutory authority to suspend any contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the newly created affordable housing funds, which could direct federal dollars to controversial groups like ACORN.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 requires that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set aside an amount equal to 4.2 basis points for each dollar of new business activity and transfer those funds to two newly created affordable housing funds. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that such assessments may equal hundreds of millions of dollars a year for each company. Sec. 1337(b) of 12 U.S.C. 1301, however, gives you the authority to suspend those contributions if the assessments would contribute to the financial instability or the undercapitalization of the enterprises.
Less than one month ago, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) placed the enterprises into conservatorship due to concerns over the soundness of the firms and their difficulty in raising sufficient capital to carry out their missions. You said in a Sept. 7, 2008, statement that the companies could not “continue to operate safely and soundly and fulfill their critical public mission” and that “FHFA will act as the conservator to operate the Enterprises until they are stabilized.”
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are clearly financially unstable and face significant capitalization problems. One does not need to wait for financial reports to understand that. We strongly believe that taxing the companies hundreds of millions of dollars a year weakens their financial health and is completely at odds with FHFA’s goal of stabilizing the companies and returning them to normal business operations. We urge you to suspend any contributions to the affordable housing funds until at a minimum the enterprises are no longer in conservatorship and to make such a decision without further delay. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
“ENSIGN URGES FEDS TO STOP PAYMENTS TO ACORN” [Rich Lowry]
Washington, D.C. – In a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Senator John Ensign today called for the suspension of taxpayer dollars that ultimately end up in the hands of such controversial groups as ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. ACORN, which is under investigation, is eligible for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac affordable housing funds, which add up to hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
“With the government takeover of Fannie and Freddie, the government will be taxing itself to create a backdoor slush fund, and we must prevent these taxpayer dollars from going toward ACORN,” said Ensign. “With the recent news tying ACORN with voter fraud, suspending these funds is even more urgent.”
As part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Fannie and Freddie are required to provide funding for newly created affordable housing funds. This was signed into law prior to the government takeover of the two agencies. Now that the government owns Fannie and Freddie and may provide them with up to $200 billion, taxing these companies does not help create stability, which is the goal of FHFA.
A search warrant was served today on the ACORN Headquarters in Nevada as part of an ongoing investigation into whether employees used false addresses or false names as part of their voter registration operation.
The letter was sent to James Lockhart, the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency today. As the regulatory agency overseeing Fannie and Freddie, FHFA has the authority to stop these contributions to the affordable housing funds. Senators Michael Enzi, Jon Kyl, David Vitter, Pat Roberts, Tom Coburn, John Thune and Jim DeMint signed the letter with Ensign.
Continue reading this post for the text of the letter.
October 7, 2008
The Honorable James B. Lockhart III
Director
Federal Housing Finance Agency
1700 G Street, NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20552
Dear Director Lockhart:
We write today to urge you to exercise your statutory authority to suspend any contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the newly created affordable housing funds, which could direct federal dollars to controversial groups like ACORN.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 requires that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac set aside an amount equal to 4.2 basis points for each dollar of new business activity and transfer those funds to two newly created affordable housing funds. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that such assessments may equal hundreds of millions of dollars a year for each company. Sec. 1337(b) of 12 U.S.C. 1301, however, gives you the authority to suspend those contributions if the assessments would contribute to the financial instability or the undercapitalization of the enterprises.
Less than one month ago, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) placed the enterprises into conservatorship due to concerns over the soundness of the firms and their difficulty in raising sufficient capital to carry out their missions. You said in a Sept. 7, 2008, statement that the companies could not “continue to operate safely and soundly and fulfill their critical public mission” and that “FHFA will act as the conservator to operate the Enterprises until they are stabilized.”
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are clearly financially unstable and face significant capitalization problems. One does not need to wait for financial reports to understand that. We strongly believe that taxing the companies hundreds of millions of dollars a year weakens their financial health and is completely at odds with FHFA’s goal of stabilizing the companies and returning them to normal business operations. We urge you to suspend any contributions to the affordable housing funds until at a minimum the enterprises are no longer in conservatorship and to make such a decision without further delay. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
This story about ACORN fraud in Cleveland will leave you seething: