No tears for these foreclosure “victims”
My column this week expands on my debunking of ACORN’s sob story foreclosure “victims.” In the latest developments on the Baltimore ACORN break-in, ACORN activist Donna Hanks was arrested and criminally charged. Just one more on top of her other brushes with the law (which the Washington Post and others have yet to report). The column also reports on the shady background of ACORN Baltimore leader Louis Beverly, who was arrested earlier this week for burglary after the break-in (and has also racked up quite a criminal history). Much more to come.
I joke that the jobless, welfare-dependent Octomom may soon be enlisted to serve as a new ACORN sob story victim. Here’s a screenshot of the photo accompanying the story about her impending foreclosure:
The caption reads: “Nadya Suleman, the mother of newborn octuplets, takes one of her fourteen children shopping for video games in Whittier, California. Andy Johnstone/infphoto.com.”
***
These foreclosure “victims” deserve no sympathy
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2008
It shouldn’t be long before ACORN recruits “Octomom” Nadya Suleman to serve as the radical, left-wing group’s new foreclosure poster child. The jobless, unmarried mother of 14 faces eviction from her family home in two weeks. Suleman’s mother, who owns the residence, hasn’t sent mortgage checks in 10 months and owes $23,000 in back payments. Nonetheless, the plastic surgery-enhanced, welfare-dependent Octomom was photographed this week at a video store splurging on games for her brood.
With her warped financial priorities, Suleman fits right in with the militant moochers at the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. As I reported last week, ACORN launched a lawless “civil disobedience” campaign across the country to demand their housing entitlement rights. With this well-oiled propaganda campaign buoying his efforts, President Obama used his State of the Union address last night to advance his push for a massive government home foreclosure plan that will help “responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure.”
But a closer look at ACORN’s sob stories shows that the prototypical foreclosure “victims” by the Left don’t deserve an ounce of sympathy – or a cent of our money.
Earlier this week, ACORN activists broke into a foreclosed home in Baltimore. With a mob cheering and camera crew taping, ACORN leader Louis Beverly busted a padlock and jimmied the door open at 315 South Ellwood Ave. The home once belonged to restaurant worker Donna Hanks, who assailed her evil bank for raising her mortgage by $300 and leaving her on the street. “This is our house now,” Beverly declared with Hanks by his side at the break-in.
What ACORN didn’t tell you: Hanks’ house was sold in June 2008 for $192,000. She bought the two-story home in the summer of 2001 for $87,000. At some point during the next five years, she re-financed the original home loan for $270,000. Where did all that money go? (Hint: Think house-sized ATM.)
The property initially went into foreclosure proceedings in the spring of 2006. Hanks soon filed for bankruptcy and agreed to a Chapter 13 plan to pay back her bank and other creditors. In September 2006, the bankruptcy court ordered Hanks’ employer to deduct $340/month from her salary to pay down the debt. Hanks did not comply with the legally binding plan. In December 2007, the loan servicer issued a notice of default on nearly $7,000 past due.
While she was reneging on her mortgage IOUS, she somehow managed to collect rent on her basement (for which she was taken to court) and rack up a criminal record on charges of theft and second-degree assault. The house was sold seven months ago after two years of court-negotiated attempts to allow Hanks to dig herself out of her debt hole.
Baltimore ACORN leader Louis Beverly, who also claims to be a foreclosure victim himself, was charged with burglary for the break-in and released. He is literally a housing thug – having been charged with separate second-degree assault and property destruction charges earlier this year and battery, assault, handgun possession and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure in 1992; and slapped with a peace order issued against him in 2006.
The Washington Post spotlighted Beverly and Hanks’ activism without ever following up on their criminal records and financial negligence. The paper also shilled for ubiquitous ACORN foreclosure “victim” Veronica Peterson of Columbia, Md., recycling uncritically her accusation that she had been tricked into buying a $545,000 home by a broker who inflated her income and misrepresented her assets. “These loans were weapons of mass destruction,” the single mom of three and home daycare provider who couldn’t keep up with her mortgage bills told the Post reporter. “They destroyed our credit, our lives, and they blew up in our face.’”
But a look at court and real estate records exposed the truth. Edward Ericcson, Jr., a reporter for the independent Baltimore City Paper discovered that the “victim” — who took out a full mortgage with no down payment on a house she couldn’t afford — looks more like a predatory borrower. And amazingly, Peterson lived in the home more than year without paying rent or mortgage.
“The online court and land records show that Peterson closed on the house on Nov. 3, 2006, with two loans from Washington Mutual. The main mortgage, for $436,000, had a starting interest rate of 8.5 percent, adjusting in December…The second loan, often called a “piggyback,” totaled $109,000 with an interest rate of 11.25 percent…Those two payments together would have totaled $3,386.17 per month.
That’s before property taxes, upkeep, utilities, etc. Peterson would have to earn at least $50,000 per year just to make her house payments.”
The foreclosure was filed in July 2007. “The balance on the main note then was $435,735.86,” Ericcson reporters, plus unpaid interest and late fees – suggesting she made at most one payment on the house. “Had she made all of her payments, Peterson would have spent about $64,335 so far. Had she rented a similar place, she would have been charged around $2,500 per month–a total of $47,500 — since January 2007. Instead, she apparently paid nothing.”
Who are the real suckers? Who are the true victims? If only the reporters swallowing their stories were half as diligent about background checks of ACORN racketeers as they were with Joe the Plumber.
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It’s one thing to rebuke…but Christians do not rebuke the weak!!! It’s one thing to be against bailing out those foreclosed, it’s another to spew HATRED against the foreclosed!!
Good lord you’re so fake. If you were any more transparent, you’d be a window.
Ohhh, Tony, you have a Datsun? In the early 80′s my Mom drove this rust colored, dark Bronze Datsun sedan that she doted on…. until it collided with a deer. It happens in rural Upstate New York.
The poor thing never had a chance (and I’m not talking about the deer). As far as I remember, it became scrap metal in a local junkyard.
Mmmmm…. those were good times…. good times….
I doubt that anyone on this thread refuses to help those in need. We all have our charities, some are for the needy, some are for cancer victims, some are for birth defects, etc. etc. I give what I can. I can’t afford to give any more than I already do. But you apparently think that whatever I have left should be divided up amongst the irresponsible and deadbeats. And what makes you say we desire to keep these people from getting help from other sources? What “other sources” are you referring to? The help they are getting is from ME. I am the “other sources. I am a taxpayer. You can’t really be that dumb!!
emjem24:
/me blushes.
That’s nice of you to say. *smile*
I go in and out of posting, lurking, or even reading at all on this site. The reasons are varied but mainly have to do with workload (or lack thereof), family commitments, and sometimes sheer frustration with some of the viewpoints expressed here, either fellow commenter’s or our host’s.
I doubt I will ever disappear as this website is about as right-wing one can go and still be relevant. As such, it’s a good counter-balance for some other readings or personal viewpoints I might have. Of course, I do often find myself agreeing!
Cheers!
Solomon tells us to ‘do not answer a fool according to his folly’–and now’s the time to take that advice. Ammonrae (Ammonite or Amon-Ra?) is like Lucifer asking Jesus ‘if you are the son of G-d, change these stones into bread…’
Get behind me.
Oooohhhh…. ouch, did you hear that Zero? You’re not “compassionate” enough. We’re not “compassionate” enough. I’m really getting sick of that word.
Hey, Bruce…. my mom grew up in a dirt poor family during the big LBJ War on Poverty. Her family lived on hand-me-downs and grew their own food. I know I know… we don’t live in those kind of times.
My point…. oh, the local community tried to help until they figured it out it was best not to give Gramps the money that he would just waste on cheap booze and women. It became more directed after that. Yep… there are people out there who won’t just give away their hard-earned money to folks who have a history of being irresponsible with money.
If that’s not being “compassionate”…. count me in. I’d rather give to someone who can show me they’re good for the money rather than someone like my Gramps who won’t use it responsibly and fritter it away.
The other day, I drove over to our local food shelf offices and personally handed them a check. That way, I know exactly where it went. We also donate actual food that gets put on the shelf immediately. We give to our church. We also support The Heritage Foundation. Oh, and we are retired and trying to live off our rapidly dwindling savings and investments. For the government to tell me I am not being “fair” and must take my money and give it to the ones who don’t have as much as I do…well, let’s put it this way, I loath and despise Robin Hood. So Bruce and the rest of you liberal trolls, STFU. Thank you.
emjem24:
Indeed. Compassion needs to be purposeful, intelligent, and directed. Otherwise its just, well, stupid.
Furthermore, as I hinted at earlier, why do sensible people have to show compassion to folks like Mr. $800,000 house?
Bruce:
I got a son on the way. My wife and I just bought a new home (now is the time to do it). We’ve had to do a great deal of remodeling (on credit) because after all, you can’t expect us to live in a run-down old home, can you? We saved some money by buying a box full of clothes second-hand. Poor junior will only have one or two brand new outfits to wear! *sniff* *sniff*
I could use some extra cash. I will give you my paypal account address. What do you say?
How about you ammonrae?
We also help out our children when we can because they are struggling too. AND, we have to make our fixed incomes last until we die!
Oops….
Left out:
Priceless!
Haven’t heard from Brucey or the other trolls for quite a while. Did we scare them off? That would be a shame. They give me a great excuse to rant and tell off the libs. I feel so much better after speaking truth to idiots.
Yeah, but I need to shower afterwards!
Where is the compassion for those of us that have worked hard and lived well within their means even though we could have spent wildly like so many others? My wife and I have avoided expensive cars, vacations, shopping sprees, restaurants and only bought what we can pay cash for. As a result we are in pretty good shape now, but that may not be the case in another year the way things are going. The people that caused this mess are taking down those that didn’t even participate in the party. Now we are supposed to pay for it? I want to start seeing the stories of responsible people that don’t want a bailout but will forced to pay for this mess. They are the ones that deserve compassion.
No, I refuse to help those who buy 1,000,000 dollar houses with a 45,000 dollar salary.
I am with the others, if you are so keen to pay somebody elses bills, let me send you my car bill.
Right on!
If we could get rind of this “thug” culture it would make a huge difference.
What I don’t understand is the attitude of entitlement in this country. Such a narrow view of things. Life’s a beaotch and then you die, if you don’t believe me, ask someone in Darfur. We really need to get our priorities straightened out and if nothing else, we may just find out how resourceful we are and how little we really need to live. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Thank you, granite!
The party that started a trillion dollar war they couldn’t finish and racked up huge debts for their grandchildren and ignored warnings of global warming and . . . (it’s a long list). . . is in no position to lecture anyone about personal responsibility.
I have to say that I agree. I love a reasoned argument and you’re pretty good at it. It helps all parties refine their opinions. Nobody wants this place to become an echo chamber.
OT – How far along is Mrs. Angel now? Everything still good?
I really get upset when someone tells me I am not compassionate. Lord knows, I give a lot of money and time to help those, worthy of need. I went out, on my own, yesterday, and charged money to help a mom and her kid with some medical supplies I knew they couldn’t afford. She wanted to pay me back; I refused. I’ve done that many times. I’ve donated my time to help the homeless. I helped, on my own, to set up a health clinic for them and get it staffed. It still runs today, free to those in need. I’ve spent a lot of time helping kids. The “hugs of gratitude” is more than enough for me. I don’t need some liberal politician or some high and mighty radical idiot tell me I am not compassionate enough. I’m sick of them taking my money forcefully (through taxes) and telling me it’s patriotic…especially when they don’t lift a finger to help or hire lawyers to beat the tax system. Don’t tell me I refuse to help those in need. Walk a mile in my shoes and see if they fit first. And, I’m a conservative too…all the way.
No way anyone is this dumb. Sorry, I call BS on this one.
The war was started by the islamist fascist terrorists. And as for global warming…hahahahahahahahaha! Apparently, you haven’t heard. We are now in a cooling pattern, a part of the earth’s cyclical warming and cooling since the beginning of time. Wake up moron.
LGM – You complain about a 6 year trillion dollar war which we are winning, but then don’t blink an eye when the one spends 1.2 trillion in 60 days???
That means we are spending a years worth of war time funding about every 5 days. I will lecture you all day long with that sort of record.
So lgm, even you understand that Obama and Biden, as puppets of Pelosi and Reid, will destroy this country.
John Deaux:
Ah, more kind words, very gracious of you. I am glad to hear this as I must admit some of the posters here that are eager to see me spend eternity in torment were starting to make me loose “faith” in this blog *sigh*.
Mrs. ZeroAngel is well; that is as well as a pregnant woman can be. She is about 6 months now and in all kinds of agony. Everything is going as it should though.
LGM:
I often purposely seek out your posts, along with Chap’s, Rusty’s (where is he?) and a few others. I do this for a few reasons, but chiefly two. Firstly, as John Deaux says, no one wants an echo chamber. Secondly, I often agree with you; being as how I am rather liberal on social issues.
#119 is beneath you though. It is partisan, the issues you highlight have nothing to do with this issue, and of course, not everyone always follows the party line on every issue. Regardless, even if the most irresponsible person on earth was highlighting the painfully obvious fact that Mr. $800,000 doesn’t deserve sympathy, it would still be a painfully obvious fact.
You underestimate the power of the ignorant side of the force. lgm really is that dumb.
I hope lgm is not indicative of his generation, because if he is, they are painfully stupid.
First, the war; I learned 35 years ago what the definition of winning an insurgency was. We have met that threshold in all but one province in Iraq and we are well on our way to cleaning that up. We win. It’s over.
Second, “global warming” is held in such disrepute that the activists now use the term “climate change.” That’s marketing. If you can’t sell something repackage it and try again. That theory has been shot to hell.
Deficit spending? Eveyone in D.C. for the most part can take the hit for that.
I wonder what else the Drive By Progressive had on his long list?
She is truly as crazy as a crackhouse rat.
happyscrapper (#106),
I am neither a liberal nor a troll. You claim to be charitable, but then you begrudge a families’ fight against homelessness. PUH!
I’m pretty much an all around right winger, but I’m getting really sick of all the venom being directed toward the needy by conservatives and “Christians.”
One more thing…. who the fat gives you the right to decide who is worthy of assistance and who is unworthy? Shelter is a fundamental human need and -regardless of cause – every time that need goes unmet at least one life is in danger of being wasted. The cost to society to help a few people stay in their homes is much smaller than the price we would have to pay to allow so many people to be destroyed.
And you, Misseheryl (#117), there’s a difference between entitlement and compassion. Those who are able should be expected to help those who are less fortunate. When this doesn’t happen, the government steps in… and that usually costs a whole lot more.
This all is related to MMs braggadocios proclamation that she has no tears for those who are in difficulty. I think the lack of sympathy on the part of most of you all is startling.
Big difference between those in need and those who are stuck on greed. A person in need doesn’t sit back and expect the government to bail them out of the mess they made for themselves. A person in need takes every step possible to stop the hemorrhaging of their monetary losses and sells unecessary crap like 52″ flat panel LCD HDTV’s and all their other extravagent possessions and lives on the bare minimum needed to survive. Which, as I know from personal experience pre-finishing my degree, is not a whole lot. You need a roof over your head, whether that be a homeless shelter, a $300 a month cheap motel room at the monthly rate, or a bottom of the barrel studio apartment at $400 to $450 a month. You then spend every waking minute not spent on hygiene and eating sparse meals looking for a job so you can get back on your feet and off the government teat. You then rebuild from square one and pay off the debts you owe.
Those types of people are people in “need”. The ones MM refer to as not having tears for are the ones who aren’t willing to sink that low and humble themselves and would rather squat on their foreclosed homes and their big screen TV’s and expect and demand (ie feel entitled to) to be rescued by big brother government on the taxpayers dime.
So don’t come screaming lack of sympathy here junior. Me, my friends, my church, and countless other Americans have gone above and beyond to help those in “need”. And we can judge just fine who is trying hard to get out from the spot they are in and those who just sit on their fat arse and wait for big brother to give them a handout.
Hasn’t sent a mortgage check in ten months? I got laid off a couple of weeks back and we’ll be able to wait a couple of months till I have to tap deep savings. FYI, I had a good interview today, have one on the schedule tomorrow , and in the running for another position.
They say history belongs to the brave, BS it belongs to the shameless.
Bruce, you say shelter is a human need and so it is, but it is a need like just like any other that has to be earned. As you say, by what right do we decide who gets bailed and who doesn’t. If we decide we must bail than most likely decision have to be made, some will have to be told no and some yes. Right now, a lot of people who worked hard and held back are being laughed at and told to ante up. That is what will likely happen with the money printing binge the government is going on.
#106 Happyscrapper, You loath the popularized image of Robin Hood, Robin Hood actually robbed from the Govt and returned the taxes to those from which it was taken.
Just sayin’
It might be the loan boiler-room operators who would try to pressure people into taking out loans on property they could not afford because “housing prices are only going up and you’ll be able to get out of it rich.”
Loan boiler-rooms out here in the LA area operated on that tactic and nailed more than a few people who were not experienced with the typical “Nigerian Spam” message or scams in general. Too many people are not well armed when faced with a proposition that looks too good to be true and fulfills their fantasies.
I don’t see that as a reason to bail out these people, except on the backs of the men and women who sold them those loans in the first place.
{^_^}
Michelle I love you so much for your TRUTH.
You go girl!
ohnoes, the lifelong conservative and humanitarian schtick again. Well played! I especially like the “a true Christian would…” part. It’s a nice touch. Where can I get a moral trump card for my personal irresponsibility?
I’ll pray for you that God keep you in this difficult time. Everything passes don’t forget and this hardship too shall pass! I’ve been there and done that and am here to talk about it! LOL
By the way Bruce, if you read your Bible you will learn that Christ said “there will always be poor among you.” Our greatest charge is to love one another, loving one another doesn’t mean making sure everyone has a home free of a mortgage, an Navigator SUV nor a big screen TV. Loving doesn’t even mean, not being poor. If your thinking is an example of charity – we are in trouble. Sometimes charity is simply, silently (that means quietly with our mouths closed) praying for our own forgiveness and God’s help and mercy for others. May I suggest you get your priorities straight Bruce. We are charged to suffer for Christ (sometimes that involves being poor of material goods) and he will be our judge thank you very much. None of us are perfect and especially me, but I am thankful (especially during this Lenten season) that I have a loving God.
Prepare yourself for the fright of a lifetime.
The funniest story to come out of this is that Vivid, a successful porn company in California (I think) has offered her $1 million to star in a movie!
Is the economy SO BAD that they think guys are willing to pay to watch THAT creature have sex? Seriously, they couldn’t offer $1 million in drugs or alcohol to Lindsey Lohan?
Mind you I’m not defending porn here, just sayin’ a company makes decisions based on what they see people buying. Adn they think a vid with Octo-Mom will sell? WTF?
The story also notes hopefully, that she might (and reportedly wants to) get off the public dole using that money. Of course, it also says she’s searching for million-dollar homes in Los Angeles now too.
So what are taxpayers left to do? Make a law which states it’s illegal for poor people to reproduce willy-nilly?
We may still have a Republic, but we don’t have a country any more.
In regards to our “sympathies”, I think I can offer an explanation:
We never mind someone choosing to donate money to a cause, or even to an individual.
We MIND GREATLY being taxed irresponsibly while being told that we should “tighten our belts”, while others receive governmental hand-outs while doing nothing to deserve them other than simply whining that they’re “poor”.
Hell, I’m “poor” too… I don’t have a Ferrari or a Porsche yet!
The person who complains we’re not being “charitable” or “sympathetic” is always the one who supports taxing away our income to provide “universal” benefits to others. There’s NO SUCH THING as a UNIVERSAL BENEFIT!
If you substitute “Common good of the people” with “Universal Benefit” in liberal speeches, you’ll sound exactly like a socialist. Any socialist. And, as we all know, SOCIALISM IS THE ULTIMATE PONZI SCHEME!
So get off my back about my “sympathy”…
BTW people, Obama’s quietly moving to reinstate the “assault weapons ban”. I’d heard that they now want to include any pistol which can hold more than 10 rounds! This means that, even if the MFG makes a semi-auto pistol with a magazine which holds only 10 rounds (as everyone does to comply with California’s stupid unConstitutional laws) IF someone makes a magazine for it which COULD hold 15 rounds (as most everyone does because Police, the FBI, and the US Military consider it essential), it will be ILLEGAL to buy that pistol under this “revision”.
The service pistol of the US Armed Forces, the Beretta 92FS, made in a factory on US soil, will now become an “illegal assault weapon”. Damn, I need to buy one of these soon!
Bruce – and just where did you find the research that says 95% of Christians are greedy, selfish, etc.? Or did you survey them all yourself?
Sophist is too nice a word for you.
Betcha have to look it up!
wighttrasch said:
‘righteousness’?! In the mouth of the unrighteous?
‘no laws’? There is always G-d’s law. Always has been, always will be.
The law is living, not dead!! Christ is the Law! Because Christ did righteousness that God wanted and we are called to do so!!! If there are no laws for stealing, does that give you the right to steal? If there is no laws against lying, does that give you the right to lie?? If there are no laws for hate, should you hate? It was written the LORD does all things!! Who makes the mute, poor, rich, sick, wealthy, guns, tanks, swords, shields, nuclear weapons, nations, disaster to nations, and so on?? God create constitutions and DESTROY constitutions!! God gives liberty and TAKE it away!!
Sorry, Brucey, I guess you are right. Only the government has the right to do that! You really are stupid.
Thanks for setting me straight!
What happens when we bail them all out and they still can’t make it? When we are tapped out and can’t provide any more? I’ll tell you, they will just take it from you. Hide your guns. You will need them when the “rich” run out of money for the government to draw on.