Michelle Malkin » Going on offense against the ACORN conspiracy

Going on offense against the ACORN conspiracy

By Michelle Malkin • July 23, 2009 03:26 PM

Photoshop credit: Leo Alberti

On June 1, I wrote:

“ACORN is a criminal enterprise.”

These are the five simple words that every conservative candidate and officeholder should be repeating often and loudly.

It’s about the fraud. It’s about the coordinated corruption. It’s about the effect on housing, the economy, and the entire electoral landscape.

Does the GOP get it yet? At least one Republican candidate does.

Kris Kobach, the former Bush administration national security/immigration enforcement official and constitutional lawyer, announced that he will run for Kansas Secretary of State last week. His prime motivation: stopping the ACORN racket…

Kobach’s campaign website is here.

The Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a report today that says exactly what I have said they should be saying:

“The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has repeatedly and deliberately engaged in systemic fraud,” according to the report’s executive summary. “Both structurally and operationally, ACORN hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate. Emerging accounts of widespread deceit and corruption raise the need for a criminal investigation of ACORN.”

The report includes significant new information about wrongdoing brought to the attention of committee investigators by ACORN whistleblowers.

Highlighted in the report:

* ACORN has evaded taxes, obstructed justice, engaged in self dealing, and aided and abetted a cover-up of the $948.607.50 embezzlement by Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke.
* ACORN has committed investment fraud, deprived the public of its right to honest services, and engaged in a racketeering enterprise affecting interstate commerce.
* ACORN has committed a conspiracy to defraud the United States by using taxpayer funds for partisan political activities.
* ACORN has submitted false filings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor, in addition to violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
* ACORN falsified and concealed facts concerning an illegal transaction between related parties in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

“It is outrageous that ACORN will be rewarded for its criminal acts by taxpayer money in the stimulus and is being asked to help with the U.S. census,” said Rep. Issa. “This report shines a light on clear criminal conduct and it is abundantly clear that they cannot and should not be trusted with taxpayer dollars.”

The report is 88 pages and does an excellent job of providing background on the Rathke embezzlement scandal, ACORN’s tax evasion, and violation of ERISA laws. Those who have followed whistleblower Anita MonCrief’s work will be familiar with many of the sections on the political coordination between ACORN, Project Vote, and its tax-exempt affiliates — particularly CCI and CSI. Still, there is only passing mention of the intimate relationship between ACORN and Team Obama – and only one line about the Obama campaign’s misreported $800,000+plus expenditure to CSI/ACORN, which I reported on back in August 2008.

We’re still at the tip of the iceberg.

Which is why ACORN apologists are trying their damnedest to muzzle the whistleblowers who get the big picture.

See Chapter 8 of my new book,Culture of Corruption (out on July 27 – preorder here), for an in-depth look at the ACORN conspiracy.

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Posted in: ACORN Watch

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Comments

#1

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:32 pm, happyscrapper said:

Can’t wait for your book, Michelle!! It has been too long in coming. I see a bit of light out there. Perhaps all the “right wing extremists” and “teabaggers” are finally coming through loud and clear. It just takes John Q. Public a very long time to sit up and take notice.
#2

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm, et said:

ACORN is a arm of the democrat party. Of course they are corrupt.
#3

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm, tarpon said:

The Democrat party is a criminal enterprise.
#4

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm, the_moll said:

Please, please, please let this gain momentum. I feel I’ve been yelling in wilderness since August.
#5

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm, ajmontana said:

I available for a bodygaurd.
#6

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm, happyscrapper said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm, ajmontana said:
I available for a bodygaurd.

Me too!
#7

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm, ajmontana said:

happy, soap box has a big nose he can be the explosive sniffer. rofl.
#8

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm, letget said:

Thanks to you Michelle, Beck, and now some R’s who might get this looked into. I have a feeling holder, bho, and some d’s will put a halt on this. We can’t have this slug slime group stopped now can we? Beck said he has planned something on acorn Friday on Fox.
L
#9

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm, TheCorruptedLamb said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm, et said:
ACORN is ~~a arm of~~ the democrat party. Of course they are corrupt.

Fixed that for ya!
#10

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm, ajmontana said:

and that should be Guard.
#11

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

Terrorist: I like you. You have balls. I like balls.
#12

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm, happyscrapper said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm, ajmontana said:
happy, soap box has a big nose he can be the explosive sniffer. rofl.

Sounds like a plan. And I may be an “old” lady, but I can talk anyone to death. Scares a lot of folks away, doncha know. I’m also good with a pitchfork.
#13

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm, happyscrapper said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:
Terrorist: I like you. You have balls. I like balls.

Schwetty balls? ~Alec Baldwin~
#14

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm, swede said:

happyscrapper said:
Can’t wait for your book, Michelle!! It has been too long in coming.

Agreed.
Prediction: “Culture of Corruption” makes NYT top seller list, driving them to distraction, and causing Maureen D’OH Dowd to wet herself thinking up new vitriolic hyperbole do describe Michelle’s “evil diatribe”…And trying to figure out why CoC is a top seller, since in her estimation conservatives don’t read.
#15

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm, Ragspierre said:

ACORN is a criminal enterprise.

And a subset of the Obama Administration.
#16

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm, happyscrapper said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm, swede said:

Interesting, isn’t it, that there are so many conservative books that are runaway best sellers recently. People waking up??? I pray that is true. If not, at least it is an indication of how many people out there lean conservative, or at least to the right of center. Michelle, Beck, Levin, etc. etc. A great trend!! And yes, it is driving the libs even more insane than they already are.
#17

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm, tre said:

Clean and oil your guns, Michelle. Then go to the range to practice.

And we have an extra bedroom here in Oklahoma City, incase you need someplace to hideout from ACORN’s thugs.
#18

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm, Southpaw said:

ACORN > RICO in the land of Obama.

Remember when journalists used to win Pulitzer Prizes for exposing corrupt criminal organizations? May your book be worthy of one MM. Looking forward to it.
#19

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm, swede said:

happyscrapper said:
Interesting, isn’t it, that there are so many conservative books that are runaway best sellers recently.

Interesting indeed. Beck’s “Common Sense” is going on six weeks as #1 NYT best seller. And Levin and Morris are #2 and #3 in hardcover. Has to be frying their circuits at the NYTitanic.
#20

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm, Paul Revere said:

ACORN is a criminal enterprise.

Lather.Rinse.Repeat.
#21

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

ACORN is a criminal enterprise

The media has adopted the radical lefts mantra of “by any means necessary” to press their and the lefts agenda.

So don’t expect help from them, it is up to you to tell your neighbor.
#22

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm, jjmurphy said:

Whoa! Did the Republicans actually grow a pair?
#23

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm, Paul Revere said:

Is Michelle Bachman on that committee? She’s been in the forefront.
#24

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:32 pm, d1carter said:

We have the product of ACORN in the White House…and many supporters in Congress. This is going to be a tough fight. Those that oppose will be called…yep, raaaaacists.
#25

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pm, scituate_tgr said:

“It is outrageous that ACORN will be rewarded for its criminal acts by taxpayer money…”

It’s not an outrage or surprise once you consider who’s doing the rewarding.
#26

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 pm, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

We have the product of ACORN in the White House…and many supporters in Congress. This is going to be a tough fight. Those that oppose will be called…yep, raaaaacists.

Being called a racist by these vermin is almost a badge of honor

Only their plans being implemented into law can hurt us, not their despicable rhetoric
#27

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:12 pm, right_on said:

There’s a simple solution to this. If it’s illegal, then stop it.

If it’s a criminal enterprise, which I believe it is, apply RICO statutes and prosecute all involved.

The cost to do this would be money well-spent, and identify the crooks serving in office, so we could put them where they belong.
#28

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:18 pm, Hangfire said:

ACORN is to the Democrat Party as the IRA is to Sinn Fein.
#29

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:20 pm, Hangfire said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 pm, tre said:

And we have an extra bedroom here in Oklahoma City, incase you need someplace to hideout from ACORN’s thugs.

Carl Albert H.S., class of ’73
#30

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm, Flyoverman said:

Bought time we went on offense.

Palin is free as of 7/26.

I wanna rock!
#31

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm, Flyoverman said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm, jjmurphy said:

Whoa! Did the Republicans actually grow a pair?

Yes, when we they felt our pitchforks in their backs. Don’t let up.
#32

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm, Tennyson said:

ACORN is a criminal enterprise.

It can’t be said often enough. I have little hope that our elected officials will actually do anything but it’s encouraging to see some of them trying.

Unfortunately it seems that any Congressional action will have to go through John Conyers, who’s apparently married to a criminal enterprise of his own.
#33

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:44 pm, Southpaw said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm, Flyoverman said:

Palin is free as of 7/26.

Whoa. SarahCuda on the loose. Lookout liberal minnows.
#34

On July 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm, Ragspierre said:

Unfortunately it seems that any Congressional action will have to go through John Conyers, who’s apparently married to a criminal enterprise of his own.

There is a lot of evidence to show that Conyers went “Chicago” on Obama, too.

Watch for his wife to get a very mild sentence.
#35

On July 23rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm, tpro1 said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:32 pm, happyscrapper said:

… Perhaps all the “right wing extremists” and “teabaggers” are finally coming through loud and clear.

Please don’t chime in and call us anything other than “Tea Party Protesters”. It’s too easy to get us calling each other silly degrading names accidentally!
#36

On July 23rd, 2009 at 7:08 pm, happyscrapper said:

Please don’t chime in and call us anything other than “Tea Party Protesters”. It’s too easy to get us calling each other silly degrading names accidentally!

I certainly didn’t mean to offend. That is why I put the word in quotations to show that it was in the same class as “right wing extremists”. In other words, used by those who are trying to disparage us. You took it wrong. Sorry about that.
#37

On July 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm, cheapseat said:

acorn was started as a tax dodge, exists as a corrupt enterprise, and has been and will continue to be the thug thizzle arm of george soros and the democrat party. did you ever wonder where the money comes for these low life rabble-rousers to travel the globe and show up at any protest under the sun. billions in gubmint grants covers a lot of protest marches. and i feel one coming on in cambridge any day now.
#38

On July 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm, Papa Louie said:

Can any of you lawyers out there explain why we cannot challenge ACORN’s claim to be “a non-profit, non-partisan social justice organization”?

They can only get federal money if they are non-partisan. But it’s very obvious they are aligned with the Democratic Party, and their get-out-the-vote campaign is clearly targeted at democrats.

If Sonia Sotomayor can declare a fire department’s exam biased based solely on the outcome, why can’t ACORN be declared partisan based on how many Democrats they register compared to Republicans?
#39

On July 24th, 2009 at 1:17 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

On July 23rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm, et said:

ACORN is a arm of the democrat party. Of course they are corrupt.

ACORN is a arm of the Democratic Socialist Communist party.
Of course they are corrupt.

ACORN and the Communist Party USA
#40

On July 24th, 2009 at 2:08 am, By Choice said:

Darrell Issa on Glenn Beck today said that the report is “just the facts” with plenty of footnotes. The committee is recommending that ACORN be stripped of their 501(c)3 status, and their 360 sub-organizations, and not be allowed to receive any further Fed funds.

That should screw them up for a day or two until the One figures out how to cover their collective behinds or comes up with an executive order to disregard the report.

Any bets????????
#41

On July 24th, 2009 at 2:59 am, lgm said:

On June 1, I wrote:

“ACORN is a criminal enterprise.”

It wasn’t true then — though some minimum wage temps working for ACORN did things wrong.

They all work for Goldstein.
#42

On July 24th, 2009 at 8:23 am, stillontheroad said:

lgm said:

Your minimalization of ACORN Thug Crimes and conclusion are so lacking in any sort of rational, oopppss why would I accuse you of having a rational thought when it is obvious that is a impossibility in any dimension.
#43

On July 24th, 2009 at 8:27 am, TC said:

The Democrat Party is a criminal enterprise.
#44

On July 24th, 2009 at 9:43 am, Speakup said:

“ACORN is a criminal enterprise.”

It is time to start dismantling Obama’s network.
#45

On July 24th, 2009 at 12:18 pm, DBNinKY said:

Weren’t legitimate voter fraud charges filed against several members of ACORN recently in Ohio?
#46

On July 24th, 2009 at 12:44 pm, Dimsdale said:

RICO anyone?

Oh year, I forgot: Holder is AG.

Nevermind, nothing to see here….
#47

On July 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pm, FirstSkirt said:

AGAIN, LGM, feels the need to exonerate ACORN when the facts are emerging that they are involved in voter fraud. Go away, you putz.
#48

On July 24th, 2009 at 3:55 pm, dan708 said:

Amazing, Michelle! You have become the Woodward/Bernstein that is driving the blossoming OBAMACORNgate scandal. I’ll be curious to see if there is any official investigation. My gut tells me that it won’t happen until Obama is voted out in 2012.
#49

On July 24th, 2009 at 11:19 pm, Virginia Patriot said:

Acorn is a Chicago criminal enterprise, the very best kind of criminal enterprise. The Chicago way will be spread nationally so that we may all enjoy the type of elections they have in Chicago.

Why should the dead lose their right to vote?
#50

On July 25th, 2009 at 10:03 am, oldcollegeguy1980 said:

The dems have always been jealous of the europeans. The europeans have widespread corruption at all levels and it is just a normal part of business.

The fact that for the most part we only have a low-level mild corruption in most states, Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan not withstanding, has always embarrassed the leftist. They have known that our corruption could be as good as the europeans if we tried harder, so now they see the stars aligned for a nationwide push to spread the chicago lifestyle.

With a little hard work every town can be as corrupt as chicago. I should also Gary Indiana here as well, I do not want them feeling left out.

Excelsior