WHAT THE HELL IS ACORN AND WHY AM I FUNDING THEM?
It was founded by Wade Rathke, an activist for labor unions and low income workers, and Gary Delgado, an activist on issues of race and social justice.
According to Acorn, they have chapters in 110 cities, Canada, Mexico, and Peru. It has become far-reaching, influential, and a bit frightening if you care at all about the possibility of a world government and socialism.
Departure from ACORN
The New York Times reported on July 9th, 2008, that Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN's founder Wade Rathke, was found to have embezzled $948,607.50 from the group and affiliated charitable organizations back in 1999 and 2000.[1] ACORN executives decided to handle it as an internal matter, and did not inform most of the board members or law enforcement, and instead signed an enforceable restitution agreement with the Rathke family to repay the amount of the embezzlement. Wade Rathke told the Times, "the decision to keep the matter secret was not made to protect his brother but because word of the embezzlement would have put a 'weapon' into the hands of enemies of Acorn, a liberal group that is a frequent target of conservatives who object to ACORN's often strident advocacy on behalf of low- and moderate-income families and workers." A whistleblower revealed the embezzlement in 2008. On June 2, 2008, Dale Rathke was dismissed, and Wade stepped down as ACORN's chief organizer, but he remains chief organizer for Acorn International L.L.C.[1]
According to an article in the New York Post, Oct. 8, 2008, 40% of Acorn's operations are funded through grants it receives from the government through various agencies, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Justice Dept.
So, while Acorn has vehemently declared that they are not mentioned in any way, shape, or form in any stimulus package, they are right. What they don't point out, is that money directed at other agencies has already been earmarked to be funneled through to Acorn and other organizations similar to Acorn.
According to http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/ACORN, Acorn also receives funding from private organizations such as the Bauman Family Foundation, George Soros Open Society Institute and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and several labor unions.
Included in the funding participants are, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Ben & Jerry's foundation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Citigroup, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation and a foundation associated with the founder of the UPS! Very interesting.
Acorn is a growing social organization that is in no way non-partisan in it's approach, unbiased in it's voter registration agenda, or non-committal in it's efforts to influence people as to their liberal programs. It certainly is no organization that I would want to conduct a census!
While they may be within their rights to accept money from any group, or government faction, I personally do not want to fund them.
Funding draws criticism - From Ballotpedia
Donations to ACORN from traditionally "progressive" groups has drawn criticism to the social justice organization from other political organizations. The Consumer Rights League (CRL), in particular, has focused on ACORN's funding. They assert that ACORN's budget is "is fed by extracting immense resources from labor unions, government grants, private foundations, its members, and "settlements" with targeted businesses".[13].
A press release from CRL on June 18, 2008 claimed, "The ACORN Housing Association (AHC), an ACORN affiliate that receives over 40% of its funding from government sources, claims to be a consumer advocate. In a newly-released report from CRL, however, a series of documents obtained from a whistleblower source reveals hypocritical and potentially illegal use of taxpayer dollars by ACORN and its related organizations."[14]
ACORN's financial construction has also led to investigation by authorities. According to an October 21, 2008 article in the New York Times, "Acorn faces demands for back taxes by the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax authorities."
Requests to end government funding
On October 22, House Republican leader John Boehner asked President Bush to block all federal funds to ACORN because of the voter fraud allegations surrounding the group. Boehner said, "It is evident that ACORN is incapable of using federal funds in a manner that is consistent with the law," Boehner, R-Ohio, wrote Bush, saying that funds should be blocked until all federal investigations into the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now are completed.[15]
The following is part of an editorial from- Washingtonexaminer.com The Examiner
May 24, 2009
Under the guise of due process concerns, congressional Democrats have opened the way for organizations with criminal histories to gain greater access to taxpayer funds. Exhibit A here is the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN), now under investigation in at least 14 states for voter registration fraud.
Earlier this month, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, sponsored an amendment to the $140 million Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. The Frank measure allowed organizations being investigated by state or federal authorities on corruption charges to receive federal funds as long as they avoid conviction. Frank argued that his amendment, which was approved by the House, protected the presumption of innocence in federal spending.
In the light of what transpired this week, it would seem that what we all knew about ACORN is not only true, but rampant. And, there were those, that for many years have been calling for the investigation of this organization and were ignored, because ACORN is, of course, the champion of liberal causes and candidates.
On the surface, any group that is actively trying to help the poor, the homeless, and the underdog is a good thing. But, not if they are merely a front for more sinister purposes, and illegal tactics. ACORN has only lasted this long because the atmosphere of political correctness has chastised anyone who dared investigate them, or deny funding to them. Hopefully, they will lose their preferred status, and finally be exposed for what they are.
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