Issue Comparison: ACORN running a shadow USA government, why do we need congress?

When Sen. Obama met with ACORN Votes leaders in November, he spoke of his history with ACORN and his beginnings in Illinois as an organizer with Project Vote, a nonprofit organization focused on voter rights and education.

“I come out of a grassroots organizing background,” Obama told members. “That's what I did for three and half years before I went to law school. The reason I moved to Chicago was to organize. So this is something that I know personally, the work you do and the importance of it.” 2008

Obama/ACORN: A side by side History (documented) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105002/posts

Also see: Obama/ACORN: A side by side History (documented) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105002/posts ACORN on Republicans the resurgence of the Republican Party in Congress dramatically changed the political picture for ACORN. It posed new threats to long-standing ACORN campaigns and meant a loss of support for ACORN initiatives. It was not, however, anything ACORN had not seen before. From its beginning, ACORN had fought against politicians who resisted their ideas and their work to build power for low- and moderate-income people. The history of ACORN shows it is stronger than ever and better prepared for the continued struggle. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2745
ACORN on Democrats Insider Opportunities With a Democratic President and Congress, the national government became more receptive to reforms promoting the political power of low- and moderate-income people. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2746
In 2007, ACORN political action committee endorsed Barack Obama for President. This is an important nod from a group that understands the urgent needs of Americans most hurt by this economy and how to organize for social and economic justice. http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=289192
Date	ACORN	Social Policies affecting USA	Obama and Democrats
2005-2008	ACORN pressured Congress, state legislatures, and local officials should pass strong anti-predatory lending legislation that would protect consumers from abusive practices, which disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities. CRA/ACORN part of housing mess today. http://acorn.org/fileadmin/HMDA/2006/Rate_Shock_Report.pdf	Consumer protection	Chris Dodd/ democrats
2004	Increase in Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Funds	Gov. free funding	Agrees/ Voted Yes
2006	Repeal of the Estate Tax For The Wealthy (with Minimum Wage Provision)	Estate Tax	Agrees/ Voted Yes
2006	K-12 Education Funding Increase for Fiscal Year 2006	Education	Agrees/ Voted Yes
2006	Amendment to Reduce Social Security Earnings For Legalized Immigrants	Illegal Immigration	Agrees/ Voted Yes
2006	Bill to Limit Bankruptcy Protections for Consumers http://www.acorn.org/fileadmin/Centers/Press/Report/ACORN_Scorecard-ltr.pdf	Bankruptcy Law	Agrees/ Voted Yes
2006	ACORN Housing has recently been selected as one of the city’s official district planners to assist residents with developing neighborhood plans. http://www.acorn.org/fileadmin/KatrinaRelief/report/Planning_Principles.pdf	Neighborhood/ City/Plannning	Agrees/ Voted Yes
2007	ACORN and Countrywide have signed an agreement of “best practices.” Sen. Chris Dodd, and Democrats support ACORN and received special treatment from Countrywide. Obama, campaign advisor Johnson also has close ties to and loans from Countrywide Financial Corp. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12413	Refinancing/ forclosure/	preferential treatment..to democrats
2008	ACORNCommunity Leaders Join Together to Push for Quality, Affordable Healthcare for Every American	Govt. supported Healthcare for All Americans	Obama's plan
2008	ACORN is opposing privatization efforts, promoting democratic accountability, and aggressively pressuring school systems to bring schools in poor neighborhoods up to the standards of the schools in wealthy neighborhoods. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=43	School choice	Obama agrees
2008	The most important change would occur in the Middle East, where "decades of putting Israel's interests first" would end http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_o_ jesse_knows_133450.htm?page=0	Isreal Policy	Obama and .Jesse Jackson Rainbow coalition
2008	Health care campaign's steering committee includes ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn, NEA, National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, UFCW, and USAction. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=8691&/index.php?id=10964=&L=1&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=8&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=22232&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=12017&cHash=317a53bc6b	Planned Parenthood	Obama/dems agree
2007	Congress votes to raise the minimum wage/part of Iraq war vote. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=11077	Minimum wage	Obama/dems agree
2003	On October 17, the Institute for America’s Future and ACORN released a study documenting the impact of the costs of the Iraq war http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=8495	Iraq war	Obama wants same
2004	Globalization; a short history of economic development after World War II; foreign policy based on trade disagreements; NAFTA; worker's rights and good/bad trade agreements. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=4231	Foreign policy	obama/dems agree
2006	ACORN Members Rally for Immigration Reform www.acorn.org/index.php?id=10300	Open border/amnesty	obama/dems agree
2004	commitment to provide better translation services for patients who do not speak English. https://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12041	Multiple language services	Obama/dems agree
2007	Against tax breaks for businesses, support higher taxes to support low income www.acorn.org/community/index.php?id=16991&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=1&cHash=115568e7c0	For Tax increases	Obama/dems agree
2004	"moral values" appealed only to people who oppose abortion, gay marriage and stem-cell research, http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=17610&/index.php?id=4201=&L=1&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=12&cHash=9537ed8101	Gays, abortion	Obama's values same
1994	CORN played an important role in the passage and implementation of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, or "Motor- Voter," Act. After its passage, ACORN members attended President Clinton's signing ceremony http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2746	Lax Voter registration	Obama worked for ACORN
2008	Forced companies to clean up, move, or cancel plans for toxic chemical plants, dumps, discharges, or waste incinerators in Memphis http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2726	Health and Environmental Justice	Obama/dems
1984	Starting after the ACORN® 80 Plan and reaching its heights in the Rainbow Lobby work in 1988, ACORN® found ways to work effectively with other progressive groups, such as labor, churches- and political movements. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2748	Far left	Jesse Jackson
1990	ACORN Involved in Union Embezzlement where union funds were used in re-election campaign http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-13-2004/0002275937&EDATE	Union Issues	Do what I say phil.
.1996	ACORN bilks AmeriCorps AmeriCorps grant to increase ACORN membership, a violation of federal guidelines. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-13-2004/0002275937&EDATE	political advocacy	Do what I say phil.
2003	ACORN had violated the National Labor Relations Act and was required to rehire and pay restitution to employees terminated for attempting to form a union except the want all other businesses to unionize. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-13-2004/0002275937&EDATE	Stealing union funds, pay	Do what I say phil.
2004	The data below focus on 64 schools in neighborhoods where ACORN has traditionally organized; all of these schools are in low-income communities-- except they have a higher turnover rate http://www.acorn.org/fileadmin/ACORN_Reports/ACORN_turnover_study.pdf	State School system vs ACORN neighborhood schools	Do what I say phil.
1995	ACORN promotes ballot initiatives and local ordinances to force businesses to pay higher minimum wages, ACORN sued the state of California to have its employees exempted from the state minimum wage. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-13-2004/0002275937&EDATE	Minimum Wage

	ACORN’s first target was H&R Block, the nation’s largest tax preparer. In the first two months of the year, ACORN members in 54 cities held 402 pickets, protests and demonstrations at local H&R Block locations – successfully getting the company to the negotiating table. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12029	example of Demonstrations and sitins to coerce
	ACORN Related Organizations http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=4143
	Project Vote www.projectvote.org Project Vote is the leading technical assistance and direct service provider to the civic participation community. Since its founding in 1982, Project Vote has provided professional training,		Obama worked for this group
	ACORN Institute www.acorninstitute.org The ACORN Institute provides low income communities the means to learn about and tackle a broad array of social issues. It provideseducation on community organizational models, and promotes neighborhood awareness, legal assistance, and global-local connections. The ACORN Institute bases its work on problems in low income communities that have been identified during the years of community organizing done by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the housing development and counseling work of the ACORN Housing Corporation.
	WalMart Alliance for Reform Now www.warnwalmart.org WARN, a community alliance, provides the voice for citizens to force Wal-Mart to be accountable to community standards and values. In conjunction with the Wal-Mart Workers Association (WWA), WARN is building a national organization that has the power to affect change in the business practices of Wal-Mart and its affiliated businesses.
	ACORN Housing Corporation www.acornhousing.org AHC works in low and very low-income neighborhoods where over 90% of the residents are African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and/or recent immigrants from Central America or the West Indies. This includes communities such as Flatbush and East New York in Brooklyn; Englewood and North Lawndale in Chicago; and the communities south of the Salt River in Phoenix.
	Living Wage Resource Center www.livingwagecampaign.org The ACORN Living Wage Resource Center tracks the living wage movement and provide materials and strategies to living wage organizers nationwide.
	ACORN Law on the Web www.acornlaw.org ACORN law is legal activity pursued by ACORN and its allies. Its practice is informed by ACORN perspectives on social change in general and legal practice in particular
	KNON Radio www.knon.org KNON is a non-profit, listener-supported radio station, deriving its main source of income from on-air pledge drives and from underwriting or sponsorships by local small businesses
	Service Employees International Union - Local 100 www.seiu100.org		endorsed Obana
	Service Employees International Union - Local 880 www.seiu880.org		endorsed Obana
	Social Policy www.socialpolicy.org Social Policy, a quarterly journal covering community and labor organizing, is now published jointly by the ACORN Institute and AISJ in collaboration with the Organizer's Forum.		Wrote article about Obama
	Tax Preparation: ACORN provides free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income families in 45 cities with plans to expand to 70 cities by 2006. ACORN provides Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs to help low- and moderate-income families, including informing them about the EITC and Child Tax Credit refunds. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=8393	Tax Preparation Service
	Leadership Training http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2707
	ACORN Association Board

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