The ACORN employees' misbehavior put in perspective

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PJABBER

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
4,822
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I'm not too familiar with Politico, but the Washington Post is more right than left, and Politico appears to be a 'moderate' site at a glance. Following is a sample of its current front page with dozens of topics - which are the stories that are 'liberal'? The ones I scanned were about things right-wingers were saying. Ken Blackwell is a scumbag who practiced vote suppression and was blocked by courts.

Craig, is there any site or source that is going to be farther to the left than you are?

:D
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
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Police reports are public record. My short search turned up nothing so until we see an actual police report, Im calling bullshit anyone was contacted.
 

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
15,776
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Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: Craig234
I'm not too familiar with Politico, but the Washington Post is more right than left, and Politico appears to be a 'moderate' site at a glance.
Doesnt invalidate the story.
It wasn't a story, it was an op-ed. It is therefore as credible -- or not credible in this case -- as the person who wrote it.
 

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
15,776
392
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Originally posted by: blackangst1
Police reports are public record. My short search turned up nothing so until we see an actual police report, Im calling bullshit anyone was contacted.
Three problems:

1. It didn't say he filed a police report. It said he "contacted" the police, and as we later learned, it was a cousin.

2. While police reports may be public information, they aren't always available on-line

3. Police reports may be public, but investigative tips, i.e., police intelligence information, are clearly not public. Since this would not be reporting a crime, but would rather be a tip about someone who might be planning to commit a crime, I would expect it to be handled as investigative information. It would not become a police report until the police actually caught them committing a crime or at least had solid evidence they were preparing to commit a crime.


I'd also suggest to those calling "bullshit" that you haven't a clue. As someone who worked in a law enforcement agency and who knows a lot of law enforcement officers, this is exactly what I would do in a case like this. I didn't witness a crime. There was no imminent public safety risk that required an emergency response. Instead, I saw people who said they were hoping to commit a crime. In a case like that, I would pass the tip along to someone I knew, someone who is more qualified than I to assess the information and who would know how to get it to the right resources for investigation.

 

CallMeJoe

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2004
6,938
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Originally posted by: Bowfinger
...I'd also suggest to those calling "bullshit" that you haven't a clue. As someone who worked in a law enforcement agency and who knows a lot of law enforcement officers, this is exactly what I would do in a case like this. I didn't witness a crime. There was no imminent public safety risk that required an emergency response. Instead, I saw people who said they were hoping to commit a crime. In a case like that, I would pass the tip along to someone I knew, someone who is more qualified than I to assess the information and who would know how to get it to the right resources for investigation.
Shens. If blackangst couldn't find an official police report through Bing in < 5 minutes, it never happened!

edit: Lemon law-style quotation fixed.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
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Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
...I'd also suggest to those calling "bullshit" that you haven't a clue. As someone who worked in a law enforcement agency and who knows a lot of law enforcement officers, this is exactly what I would do in a case like this. I didn't witness a crime. There was no imminent public safety risk that required an emergency response. Instead, I saw people who said they were hoping to commit a crime. In a case like that, I would pass the tip along to someone I knew, someone who is more qualified than I to assess the information and who would know how to get it to the right resources for investigation.
Shens. If blackangst couldn't find an official police report through Bing in < 5 minutes, it never happened!

edit: Lemon law-style quotation fixed.

Thanks for the (incorrect) interpretation.
 

CallMeJoe

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2004
6,938
5
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Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
...I'd also suggest to those calling "bullshit" that you haven't a clue. As someone who worked in a law enforcement agency and who knows a lot of law enforcement officers, this is exactly what I would do in a case like this. I didn't witness a crime. There was no imminent public safety risk that required an emergency response. Instead, I saw people who said they were hoping to commit a crime. In a case like that, I would pass the tip along to someone I knew, someone who is more qualified than I to assess the information and who would know how to get it to the right resources for investigation.
Shens. If blackangst couldn't find an official police report through Bing in < 5 minutes, it never happened!
Thanks for the (incorrect) interpretation.
Happy to return the favor!
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
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Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
...I'd also suggest to those calling "bullshit" that you haven't a clue. As someone who worked in a law enforcement agency and who knows a lot of law enforcement officers, this is exactly what I would do in a case like this. I didn't witness a crime. There was no imminent public safety risk that required an emergency response. Instead, I saw people who said they were hoping to commit a crime. In a case like that, I would pass the tip along to someone I knew, someone who is more qualified than I to assess the information and who would know how to get it to the right resources for investigation.
Shens. If blackangst couldn't find an official police report through Bing in < 5 minutes, it never happened!
Thanks for the (incorrect) interpretation.
Happy to return the favor!

:beer:
 

Starbuck1975

Lifer
Jan 6, 2005
14,698
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Why are the Republicans so afraid of an organization that exists to get poor people to vote?
Why are you so afraid of accountability? If these are isolated incidents, then ACORN will recover and continue to serve its original charter and purpose.

It's not a question of fear...it is a suspicion that these incidents are simply windows into an organization lacking oversight and inherently corrupt that also has powerful ties with a sitting President.
 

Bowfinger

Lifer
Nov 17, 2002
15,776
392
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Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Why are the Republicans so afraid of an organization that exists to get poor people to vote?
Why are you so afraid of accountability? If these are isolated incidents, then ACORN will recover and continue to serve its original charter and purpose.

It's not a question of fear...it is a suspicion that these incidents are simply windows into an organization lacking oversight and inherently corrupt that also has powerful ties with a sitting President.
Who is afraid of accountability? The issue is the way wing-nuts have leaped to demonize the entire organization based on the actions of a very few people.
 

Fear No Evil

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2008
5,922
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Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Why are the Republicans so afraid of an organization that exists to get poor people to vote?
Why are you so afraid of accountability? If these are isolated incidents, then ACORN will recover and continue to serve its original charter and purpose.

It's not a question of fear...it is a suspicion that these incidents are simply windows into an organization lacking oversight and inherently corrupt that also has powerful ties with a sitting President.
Who is afraid of accountability? The issue is the way wing-nuts have leaped to demonize the entire organization based on the actions of a very few people.

If you aren't afraid of accountability why not investigate the ENTIRE organization and prove its not corrupt? I think we know the answer to that.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
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Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Why are the Republicans so afraid of an organization that exists to get poor people to vote?
Why are you so afraid of accountability? If these are isolated incidents, then ACORN will recover and continue to serve its original charter and purpose.

It's not a question of fear...it is a suspicion that these incidents are simply windows into an organization lacking oversight and inherently corrupt that also has powerful ties with a sitting President.
Who is afraid of accountability? The issue is the way wing-nuts have leaped to demonize the entire organization based on the actions of a very few people.

If you aren't afraid of accountability why not investigate the ENTIRE organization and prove its not corrupt? I think we know the answer to that.

If you read the link, you would know about the major reforms/oversight planned.

BTW, when are the Republicans going to distance themselves from far, far worse groups who are *thorougly* corrupt, like 'the family', or Rev. Moon? Oh, ya, they aren't.

His point about the right's exaggerations is correct.
 

Starbuck1975

Lifer
Jan 6, 2005
14,698
1,909
126
Who is afraid of accountability? The issue is the way wing-nuts have leaped to demonize the entire organization based on the actions of a very few people.
The same could be said for Wall Street...or corporate America...or Republicans...or Democrats...or the military. When people act under the charter of an organization, unethically, criminally or otherwise, it reflects on the culture, credibility and standing of said organization. It is appropriate and necessary to ensure that these behaviors are truly isolated and not systemic, especially given ACORN's political influence.

If you read the link, you would know about the major reforms/oversight planned.
The expected response...no way to sweep this one under the rug.

BTW, when are the Republicans going to distance themselves from far, far worse groups who are *thorougly* corrupt, like 'the family', or Rev. Moon? Oh, ya, they aren't.
Both political parties need to distance themselves from fringe elements and hypocrisy. To a Democrat, Republicans are in bed with the devil. To a Republican, the reverse is true. That some attempt to assign "shades" of corruption, as if one side is better than the other, is laughable.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
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Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

If you aren't afraid of accountability why not investigate the ENTIRE organization and prove its not corrupt? I think we know the answer to that.

If you read the link, you would know about the major reforms/oversight planned.

BTW, when are the Republicans going to distance themselves from far, far worse groups who are *thorougly* corrupt, like 'the family', or Rev. Moon? Oh, ya, they aren't.

His point about the right's exaggerations is correct.

The major reforms/oversight planned are a result of questions & exposure, not voluntarily. Who will do and supervise, ACORN board members?
When/if will such happen, after the furor dies down?



Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Why are the Republicans so afraid of an organization that exists to get poor people to vote?
Why are you so afraid of accountability? If these are isolated incidents, then ACORN will recover and continue to serve its original charter and purpose.

It's not a question of fear...it is a suspicion that these incidents are simply windows into an organization lacking oversight and inherently corrupt that also has powerful ties with a sitting President.
Who is afraid of accountability? The issue is the way wing-nuts have leaped to demonize the entire organization based on the actions of a very few people.
With all the states having investigations into ACORN; accountability/transparency should be what they aim for, instead of circling the wagons and pointing fingers at the accusers.

For the past 2-3 years, there have been innuendos of misdeeds by ACORN. Now is the time for them to show that there is nothing to hide. Attempts at deflection will continue to raise questions.

One or two incidents could be explained away, but not the pattern that is emerging as more and more veils of secrecy are being removed.



 

DealMonkey

Lifer
Nov 25, 2001
13,136
1
0
Originally posted by: PJABBER
I'm not too familiar with Politico, but the Washington Post is more right than left, and Politico appears to be a 'moderate' site at a glance. Following is a sample of its current front page with dozens of topics - which are the stories that are 'liberal'? The ones I scanned were about things right-wingers were saying. Ken Blackwell is a scumbag who practiced vote suppression and was blocked by courts.

Craig, is there any site or source that is going to be farther to the left than you are?

:D

Politico.com is pretty far to the right. I've been visiting the site daily for at least 6+ months now. At least they're subtle about it, but the bias is strong.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
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Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
The major reforms/oversight planned are a result of questions & exposure, not voluntarily. Who will do and supervise, ACORN board members?
When/if will such happen, after the furor dies down?

The info on the planned reforms is referenced in the link. Did you read the links?
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
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Originally posted by: Barfo
Originally posted by: JKing106
Why are the Republicans so afraid of an organization that exists to get poor people to vote?

First, no one is "afraid" of ACORN. Second, no one is threatened by voters getting registered. And last, if you dont know why the right is calling for investigations, you, sir/ma'am, apparently dont see the elephant ion the room.
 

PokerGuy

Lifer
Jul 2, 2005
13,650
201
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ACORN is simply a corrupt organization intent on registering as many democratic voters by any means. I'm not in favor of using government funds to support such an organization. They should never have been funded to begin with.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
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350
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Originally posted by: PokerGuy
ACORN is simply a corrupt organization intent on registering as many democratic voters by any means. I'm not in favor of using government funds to support such an organization. They should never have been funded to begin with.

You're simply a corrupt poster who is intent on preventing as many Democratic registrations as you can.

ACORN is not a corrupt organization, despite isolate behavior by a handful of people that was less corrupt in any political sense - they didn't benefit - than personal misbehavior.

You may not like the fact that poor people vote Democratic, and you may think it's great to not have them register, but that's a pretty anti-democracy position.

They register people of any party.

Why don't you try earning the votes of the poor people?
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
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Community activism does not respect the boundaries that are required by civility.
 

ConstipatedVigilante

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2006
7,670
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So embezzling millions of dollars in taxpayer money is a "small wrong," huh?

Wow Craig, you really know how to trivialize the issue.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
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Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
So embezzling millions of dollars in taxpayer money is a "small wrong," huh?

Wow Craig, you really know how to trivialize the issue.

Well, its Craig. Democrat Apologist Elite
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
So embezzling millions of dollars in taxpayer money is a "small wrong," huh?

Wow Craig, you really know how to trivialize the issue.

They did? If they embezzled millions of taxpayers dollars, that's not a small deal (well, relative to the Republican-favored contracters it is, but it's not small).

Did I miss a story? Can you link to this embezzlement of millions of tax dollars? Which part of the organizaiton did it, what did the senior management do, were people jailed?

I though this thread was about a handful of people who tried to be 'helpful' to right-wing people posing as criminals, while others at ACORN did not help them or called the police.

By the way - can you point me to your posts against the 'military industrial complex' waste and other far larger waste - or do you trivialize that waste?
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
The major reforms/oversight planned are a result of questions & exposure, not voluntarily. Who will do and supervise, ACORN board members?
When/if will such happen, after the furor dies down?

The info on the planned reforms is referenced in the link. Did you read the links?

I read the links.

the only reference to reforms were a single paragraph in the second article.

ACORN has pledged to institute reforms, with the appointment of a distinguished outside panel to oversee that process. Let us hope they succeed. Even now they seem far more likely to improve their performance -- and to be more sincere in their intentions -- than the Washington hypocrites who are trying to destroy them.

The key word is pledged . So you have an oversight panel. What teeth will it have. There are civilian oversight panels for most major cities for the police - yet you still have incidents of unfairness and abuse that the anti-police claim is a planned & authorized pattern.

"Planned or Pledged" ensures that they are never done - it becomes a lip service until the heat is off.

Both articles are self serving blogs that are attempting to deflect the issue by pointing out that other wsates of money have occurred under Bush.

The issue is not that; the Dems crowed about that for 6 years. The issue is about ACORN and their activities; the spiderweb and unaccounatability; potential ties to the Obama administration and the multiple incidents of different offices encouraging illegal activities.
The amount of incidents/smoke that has many states investigating their activities - not all of those states are red.