Will the Bush Justice Department investigate charges of voter fraud by ACORN?

For weeks, conservative political circles have been buzzing with rumors that a grassroots organization called the Assn. of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has been fraudulently registering low-income Americans to vote. There were reports that Mickey Mouse was registered in Florida, that a man named Freddie Johnson registered 73 times, that somehow ACORN was a front organization to elect Democrat Barack Obama.

Today, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee asked the Bush administration's Justice Department to investigate. In a statement, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said:

Reports that ACORN registered Mickey Mouse to vote are deeply disturbing. American voters depend on their government to ensure that their votes are fairly counted in an election. Unfortunately, organizations like ACORN that perpetuate voter fraud continue to plague the American electoral system. Congress must make it clear that ACORN, and organizations like it, will not be allowed to steal votes and potentially influence elections.

Both sides in the presidential race have accused the other of ties to ACORN.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, in an e-mail to supporters, noted that ACORN has endorsed Obama. The Alaska governor added, "We can't allow leftist groups like ACORN to steal this election."

Democrats responded by noting that Republican John McCain spoke at a pro-immigration rally co-sponsored by ACORN in 2006. Today, the group issued a news release saying, "ACORN to McCain: Have You Lost That Loving Feeling?"

For his part, Obama said today that his relationship with ACORN stemmed from more than a decade ago, when as a young lawyer he represented the group as it tried to implement the motor-voter law in Illinois that allows voter registration at driver registration agencies. And, in a news conference, he noted that voter fraud does not occur until citizens try to vote.

This isn't actually a situation where people who are going to try to vote, because these are phony names. It's doubtful that Tony Romo is going to show up in Ohio to vote. So, this is another one of these distractions that gets stirred up during the course of a campaign. What I want to make sure of though, is that this is not used as an excuse for the kind of voter suppression tactics that strategies and tactics that we've seen in the past. Let's make sure everybody is voting, everybody is registered, everybody is doing this is a lawful way.

With local officials in several states, including Nevada, investigating suspicious voter registrations produced by ACORN, the organization also is fighting back. Spokesman Scott Levenson told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren Monday that Obama's campaign did not, as rumored, pay $800,000 to ACORN, but paid that amount to CSI, a private organization, which in turn hired ACORN for $80,000 to get out the vote in the primaries.

Today, Levenson said that his group was being demonized for trying to "empower the powerless and enfranchise the disenfranchised." Noting that ACORN itself alerted local officials to instances in which its registrations might not be valid, as required by law, Levenson said he was proud of the organization's record of registering 1.3 million voters.

In an interview with CNN, he said complaints from Republicans are "a sad, cynical sign of how desperate the McCain campaign is."

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: A police officer entering the ACORN office in Las Vegas on Oct. 7 as part of an investigation into voter fraud. Credit: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Comments

[Pete Suarez]

The question is: Did Hillary Clinton lose the nomination to ACORN last Spring? Think about it...

[Jared]

Obama has plenty of skeletons in the closet. In many cases, his philosophy on how America should be run is just plain Un-American. And here we are on the verge of actually electing him. But it's easy to see why we got to this place--just watch the news! The American media has fallen in love with Obama, and they are absolutely cramming him down the throats of voters. They made it "uncool" to hold traditional American values of independence, self-sufficiency, and freedom. We've gone so far to the left that here we stand on the verge of the government taking a stake in private banks, and about to elect a man that will swing the pendulum further. We can only hope that people begin to wake up before America is just a nice memory.

[Ernesto]

Funny how the wingnuts overlooked that McCain used to support ACORN. Here is a link to a picture of him as the keynote speaker at a 2006 event.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/13/153851/92/91/629442

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

Senator McCain spoke at the rally attended by hundreds of ACORN members, most of whom were dressed in the red shirts typical of its members. Senator McCain's speech focused on the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act.

[xinunus]

Man Overboard you also forgot to mention that Obama campaigned for Odinga in Kenya in 2006. Odinga was running for president and he lost the election. After Odingas loss his supporters (many radical muslims) went on a killing spree murdering thousands of Christans. Some of them burned alive in churches as they hid from the violence. Obama has blood on his hands and he has some explaining to do. I have heard from missionaries in Kenya and they have told me that Obama gave Odinga millions of dollars in campaign financial support.

[Mim]

This organization needs to be investigated regardless of who is President. If people want to imply that the investigation is racial, then so be it. The people tht will imply, you are already familiar with: Wright, Sharpton, Lewis(Georgia). I am outraged that tax dollars in the millions are going to this organization. Tax dollars should not be going to this organization. Hopefully, more people will be outraged about the funding from the federal government. DO YOU BELIEVE, THAT IS WILL BE ONE OF THE FUNDINGS THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED IF OBAMA BECOMES PRESIDENT, REMEMBER ANY PROBLEM AREAS THAT ARE NOT PROVIDING RESULTS??????????????

[Zetton]

Another sad distraction by a failed campaign and a corrupt Republican party. No, Virginia, Mickey Mouse won't get issued a voter's registration card just because a bogus form exists with that name, and he won't be voting. The very concept is silly and reeks of desperation. Are the Right really this brain dead? McCain speaking at the 2006 Acorn event is pretty hilarious, especially when he says, "It's people like you (ACORN) that makes America special". Look it up on YouTube. David Inglesias, one of the 8 attorneys fired essentially by "Karl Rove" in the Republican efforts to politicize the US Justice Dept., was fired because he was pressured by the New Mexico GOP to find voter registration fraud cases there against ACORN. He couldn't find any prosecutable cases, got fired. He said this was a partisan effort to suppress minority vote. I'm looking forward to the Republican nightmare ending for this country in November.

[BIGTEX]

Voter fraud? If the GOP's see their numbers in the Sente drop to 40 or less then
the DNC can begin investigating real voter fraud. The 2000 election. Bush's brother refusing to step aside on the conflict of interest issue. Republican majority Supreme Court investigated for conflict of intrest. Was Bush election valid if voter fraud can be proven. Will DNC sweep finally allow for people to vote more openly. Internet access. Felons automatically have renewal?

[Richard]

I am sure Micky Mouse and Tony Roma will ride to the polls together with fake ID's and vote. Get real! Less talk about "we the people" rebuilding Americas infastructure with the billions that Congess is giving away to the wealthy instaed of creating jobs for the people!!!!!

[mullerohana]

If the Justice Dept investigates this garbage I will be seriously pissed. These are false REGISTRATIONS folks! There is no voter fraud here. Your vote will be counted. Mickey Mouse will not be allowed to vote if he shows up. This is what we consider "investigation worthy" when Obama got ZERO votes in several HARLEM NY precincts?

You got a problem with REZCO? Sarah Palin had her house built for free by the contractors who built her $12 million sports complex. Got a problem with Ayers? Sarah Palin associated with AIP, who's founder died handling plastic explosives, and who's members stockpile weapons in order to shoot FEDERAL AGENTS and AMERICAN TROOPS. Got a problem with Wright? White conservative preachers were saying the exact same thing after 9/11 - that our sins brought the attack on ourselves. Nothing "sticks" to Obama because what ever you throw at him is already all over the person who threw it.

[Tweeter123]

Haters of democracy, life, liberty and the United States endorse Obama: Castro, Qaddafi, PLO, Pro-baby-killers, ACORN, Rev Wright, Ayers, MoveOn.Org, etc. Need we say more?

[lurkitty]

Will anyone investigate the fact that the head of McCain's Presidential transition team was a lobbyist for Saddam Hussein? Or that McCain himself gave the keynote address at an ACORN event? Or that two states are purging voter rolls illegally within 90 days of a federal election in violation of the Help America Vote act?

The duplicate registrations won't result in voter fraud because they have already been discovered. ACORN is required by Federal law to turn in all registrations they receive, so they can't hold back even forms they know are false. THEY alerted officials to the problem.

It's only voter fraud when the voters are doing something fishy. This would be Registration fraud. If you need a valid ID to vote they should give it to you for free. An ID or some ramen?

[Joe]

The sad thing is, most people don't know how ACORN works. What happened is that jerks who worked for ACORN made up phony registrations because they collect a few $$ per registration they get. So they defrauded ACORN.

Now, you might ask: why not just throw out these obviously fake registrations? The problem is that ACORN CAN'T legally do that. They did, however, separate them and asked the proper authorities to vet them because ACORN thought they were phony. They were phony. And now ACORN is being punished for doing the right thing.

Remember how Bush illegally fired lots of prosecutors in the DoJ? It was over this very issue. They've now been replaced with folks who will seek an indictment with no proof at all.

[A L Flanagan]

Somehow I suspect that even if Mickey Mouse shows up to vote, they won't let him. You have to be a human being. ACORN's just engaging in fraud to boost their numbers; it's wrong, but it shouldn't favor one candidate over another.

[Richard]

Unsolicited Apologetic On behalf of ACORN

1) Organizations like ACORN, and ACORN themselves, who collect registrations are bound by law to submit registrations that are filled out and signed, even if on the face of the registration it is bogus like "MIKEY MOUSE."

2) Organizations like ACORN "red flag" such registration when they are submitted if noticed prior to submittal, no one benefits from this. A fake or bogus registration will not translate into vote for either side. Remember, a vote has to prove their identity up to vote.

3) On election Day, that is when the votes are counted. Now if someone's name legally is "Mickey Mouse" and they have proper identification, then they can vote.

So who is hurt than? Well clearly, blank registration cards have been wasted on people fooling around, (so tree hungers are upset) and of course county officials and the proper authorities who now have to weed out the bogus registrations... which is wasting government resources, and I agree, this is not right, this hurts here too. But bogus elections does not translate into votes cast. This is not a terrorist act as some are alleging.... However, the voter disenfranchisement of the election in 2000, now that was an act instilling terror in the hearts and minds of many.

[FlyDiesel]

Fraudulent registration is a felony at the federal level, in my state (California), and I imagine in most other states. CNN just ran a story in which ACORN turned in 5,000 registrations in one county, and after processing more than 2,000 they were all fraudulent- every single one.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/09/acorn.fraud.claims/index.html

So, this guy writes a story for the times AFTER CNN EXPOSES ACORN AS A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION, and implies it's right-wing bloggers who are responsible for defaming ACORN. Now, that's rich- CNN a right wing anything. How the Times has fallen.

[CheeseMan]

Voter fraud is when you, the voter, does something to the vote. This would be registration fraud. There is a big difference. If you need an ID to vote, than IDs should be free. Voting is a right remmember?

[c earl jr]

And let's PLEASE not remember the voter suppression and vote elimination tactics of 2000 and 2004... Katherine Harris, anyone...?

You can't say you love democracy if all you really love is winning at any price...

Democracy IS the price for what happened in the stolen election of 2000...!

Why did Diebold change it's name...?

Because the last vestige of democracy, our right to vote, has been bought and sold...

Democracy was sold to Free Market Capitalism, and now we see what a good idea THAT was...

[Guy Fawkes]

"American voters depend on their government to ensure that their votes are fairly counted in an election."

Then Americans are deluded. The government has colluded with Diebold to ensure that votes are NOT fairly counted: See http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9116465

[Sceptical Republican]

Why is it that Obama's relationships with a convicted felon, a terrorist, and a rabid preacher is off the table for analysis and discussion? The main stream media has spent days and weeks dumpster diving in Wasilla, Alaska, to dig up dirt on Sarah Palin. But Obama gets a free pass on Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko and Reverend Wright.

Let's take Ayers. He was a member of Weather Underground, a domestic terrorist organization that planned attacks on the Pentagon and the Capitol, set off bombs and killed a policeman in San Francisco. Ayers has never apologized for this and in fact said he "didn't do enough".

All this happened while Barack Obama was a child. So there's his defense: "What that man did Barack Obama has condemned. And by the way, he did it when Barack Obama was 8 years old. Come on," Democratic senator McCaskill said.

But consider this: While Obama was a child during the bombings, he was certainly a grown up when he held his first political fund raiser -- in Ayer's private home! What kind of judgment does this show? And where's the "condemnation" McCaskill refers to? Are we supposed to believe that Obama first used Ayers to raise money, then later condemned him?

There is a long chain of bad judgment calls in Obama's political life. He bought his house in a shady real estate deal from a man who was later convicted for fraud and is now in prison. His pastor for 20 years calls for God to "damn America" and claims that white people intentionally inflicted AIDS on blacks. His first fund raiser was held in the house of a terrorist, and he served on the board of an organization founded by this terrorist for years afterwards.

There's no doubt Obama has given many inspiring speeches and has a charming and charismatic personality. But Americans should consider his actions, not just his lofty words. They don't add up.

[Nick]

If they do investigate ACORN - which I bet they will. Then they should also investigate the charges made by Greg Palast about voter caging in Ohio and Florida by the Republicans. It seems there are accusations on both sides of naughty business.

[Charles]

Guys, is voter REGISTRATION fraud, not voting fraud. Registering Mickey Mouse, or the same person several times will not result in voting fraud. Mickey Mouse will not appear to vote and a person registered several times will only be able to vote once. So many stupid people out there

[John]

This story is rich coming from the Republicans - where was the Republican concern in Florida during outright vote stealing in previous elections? Their hypocrisy is beyond belief.

[Jerry Garcia]

So when I am told only 35% of registered voters actually vote, I have been misled because those registered votors are even real?

[Shannon]

Yes, this is sad but this did happen in 2000 when precious Bush stole the election! I didn't hear any Republicans crying then! Hopefully this problem will be fixed once and for all. but 5,000 fake registrations isn't going to win or loose an election for anyone. Hopefully Obama will win and John McCain will retire and Sara Palin will go be a mother to her children.