ACORN Sting Filmmaker May Face State Charges (amazing, this really is now a fascist nation)

NBC Universal ^ | 2:45 PM EDT, Sat, Sep 12, 200 | By ASHA BEH

[Behind Liberal Lines]

James O'Keefe's foray into filmmaking may cost him a few years in the slammer.

O'Keefe and fellow conservative activist/budding investigative journalist Hannah Giles were the ones who dressed up like a pimp and a prostitute, respectively (or not), and went to the offices of the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) in D.C. and Baltimore looking for advice on how to buy a house.

The resulting video caused quite a commotion and resulted in the firing of four ACORN employees, as well as other repercussions for those who support the organization.

In Maryland, it's against the law to tape a person without their prior permission. It's also illegal to "willfully use or willfully disclose the content of said audio," Baltimore City State Attorney Patricia Jessamy said in a statement released late Friday.

She added: "The penalty for the unlawful interception, disclosure or use of it is a felony punishable up to five years."

The Baltimore City State Attorney's Office is investigating the matter.

[sand lake bar]

Let ‘em try it. I really doubt they will.

[Kansas58]

If Obama is SMART he will make a phone call, or see that such a call is made, on his behalf.

It would be STUPID to prosecute the whistle-blowers in this case, politically and legally!

[ozzymandus]

Sounds like the Baltimore city attorney is also an Acorn criminal and needs to be fired, too.

[ripley]

Veddy Eentehresting.

[Paladin2]

It’s really just “Street Theater”.

[DoughtyOne]

This man was acting on behalf of the American public. Creating this for publication, he was a member of the press, and someone who should be protected by our first amendment rights. What did he do that differed from the 60 Minutes tactics used for decades? If he is guilty, then every member and former member of the 60 Minute staff should serve time in the same jail cell right with him.

Not no, but hell no. This won’t be allowed to happen.

[FlingWingFlyer]

That’s what I hate about communism. Under communism, the good guys are always punished. Had these people been liberal, commie ‘RATS, the state run “media” would be calling them “courageous whistleblowers” and nominating them for the Pulitzer prize.

[VeniVidiVici]

What’s funny is that their expose on ACORN was little covered by the State Run Media - until this little blurb about how they may face prosecution. Now they all seem to be covering THAT PART of it.

[BigFinn]

Let ‘em try it... you think the Tea Party was big.... this would really be the linchpin to their electability. Give Glen some more fodder... let’s roll.

[I see my hands]

The most important thing is not to sink to their level.

[DogBarkTree]

patricia jessamy

Shocker!

[denydenydeny]

In Maryland, it's against the law to tape a person without their prior permission.

So I suppose there are no video surveillance cameras anywhere at all in the state of Maryland. Cause they would be illegal without the signed permission of everyone walking by, right?

[OafOfOffice]

60 minutes never does a sting in Baltimore or California? We have the same law here in Ca and hidden video is done all the time.

Looks like Obama made a call to protect his buddies just like he did with the black panthers and sac mayor. Corruption is obama’s middle name.

[Renegade]

Let this be the spark to take back the country by force if need be .Baltimore could be Ft.Sumter II

[A.A. Cunningham]

Tell that to Linda Tripp.

[mlizzy]

The Baltimore adventure with ACORN started off as a silly idea, both absurd and incredible by all accounts. But it stuck, and quickly escalated into a full blown operation with scripts, method acting, undercover gear, scandalous outfits, fast minds, good hearts, plenty of humor and healthy homemade blueberry muffins. When I pitched the “prostitute goes into ACORN seeking housing” idea to James O’Keefe at the beginning of the summer, I had absolutely no idea how he would respond. He came back with, “Would you be willing to portray the prostitute? And if so, when can you do this?” --Hannah Giles



Hannah Giles

James O'Keefe is an activist filmmaker. He credits include the "Bailout Prize Patrol" produced for Right.Org in 2009. He also directed, scripted, produced and acted in a series of undercover videos showcasing racism and statutory rape at Planned Parenthood in 2007 and 2008. Before that he served as Publications Coordinator at the Leadership Institute, where he helped initiate 22 independent newspapers and magazines on college campuses nationwide. He also gave lectures on campus strategy and fundraising, preaching the gospel of Saul Alinsky. His most recent project is Veritasvisuals.com, a collection of satirical short films on newsworthy topics, featuring ridiculous situations and demands. These have included straight men with girlfriends getting married to each other in Massachusetts and petitions to adopt Gitmo detainees into American homes. His work has been featured on CNN and Fox News. James got his start producing videos banning "H20" and "Lucky Charms" at his alma mater, Rutgers University, where he founded The Centurion in 2004. James got his start producing videos banning "H20" and "Lucky Charms" at his alma mater, Rutgers University, where he founded The Centurion in 2004.



James O'Keefe

[Joann37]

Those two kids will have the biggest defense fund in history if their prosecution continues. I think every FReeper and many other conservatives would be overly generous in contributing to their defense.

[WKUHilltopper]

Ahhh...the sick and twisted whimsy of tyranny.

[sand lake bar]

Good point.

[UncleVanya]

TAKE ACTION NOW - NO MORE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES
The thing we have to do now, without any hesitation, is vote out this current Congress in 2010. Then take back our Nation in 2012. If we do not mobilize ourselves and others now to do this in ways far beyond where most of us have ever engaged in political matters, we will lose this country. And have ourselves to blame.
FRIENDS, WE CAN NO LONGER JUST 'PREACH TO THE CHOIR' -- WE MUST CARRY THIS MESSAGE TO ALL WE KNOW AND ACT NOW. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

[DoughtyOne]

You better believe it. I agree.

What they did was amazing. My hat is off to the both of them.

[Tribune7]

Will 60 Minutes stick up for them?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Keefe had been a lefty at one time “preaching the gospel of Saul Alinsky”?

[sauropod]

This is what they did to Linda Tripp.

Courtesy of “Father Joe” Curran.

Back at the time, someone here had posted the relevant Maryland statutes governing this.

These kids will need all our help. Defense fund. Glenn Beck. Breitbart. FR.

And - The DAMN LAW NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!

[OafOfOffice]

I don’t think liberals think how it will hurt them. They just want them gone in a Jimmy Hoffa way. GONE! If they get them prosecuted that makes them right. Even if they use thuggery and corruption to do it.

They mentioned Linda Tripp that brought the truth out on Clinton,they prosecuted her in Maryland for recording Lewinsky.

[OafOfOffice]

good one. cameras are everywhere.

[sand lake bar]

In today’s climate, charges against this filmmaker could and should spark a strong civil disobedience response.

[kaehurowing]

In related news, I not the banner at the top says “Washington is laughing at the taxpayer march.” Apparently this is supposed to be based on reader responses. If you look at the actual story, its says 60% are “thrilled” about the March, and 8% are “laughing.”

Just one of a hundred examples of leftwing bias in media.

[Cold Heat]

This president has done more than several outlandish and stupid things. He does them against advice and out of anger.

The Tea Baggers pissed him off and he released the CIA documents. He is unpredictable and very vain.

[dawn53]

That will just bring more exposure to what ACORN is up to, and ACORN doesn’t want that. This case will be dropped like a hot potato, IMO.

[OafOfOffice]

I think it will after todays tea party. People are angry and many times investigations have been asked of Pelosi on ACORN and she refused.

But the marxists won’t be stopped. Just like Pelosi insisting Wilson apologize. She said she had no intention of sanctioning him. Then when she saw the support he got, now he must.

If Pelosi was smart she would back off. She is already the most hated woman on cap hill.

And I think dems are going to push thru HC under reconciliation. Their momentum cannot be stopped. It is not about the people. It is about their agenda.

[GeronL]

Tax Cheat and Tax writer Charlie Rangel is a Democrat hero. But they want to punish Joe Wilson.
Leftism loves corruption.

[windsorknot]

Someone stepped on her aCORN. It doesn't help that the "perps" were white.

[bray]

Sounds like a great Tea Party against corruption??

Pray for America

[GeronL]

So local prosecutions should get the go-ahead from the White House? That doesn’t sound facist at all.

[ichabod1]

It’s not a crime when your Government does it.

[GeronL]

Right. The Obama State Media is a classic example of how the facist press works.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Tripp wasn’t conducting a news sting, she was keeping memoirs for what many believe was her hopes of swinging a book deal. We have a different situation here. If Keefe published a blog, why shouldn’t that count as news. I believe the question has come up before in a different context, whether blog keepers count as media.

[papertyger]

RACIST!

[GeronL]

I am sure there are no video cameras in the banks, convenience stores and grocery stores of Baltimore.

[rockrr]

Does 60 minutes still do the hidden camera thingy? I don’t know ‘cuz I haven’t wasted my time on them in decades ;’}

[HiTech RedNeck]

The sound portion is the focus of the law. Security cameras typically record silent video.

[papertyger]

The most important thing is not to sink to their level.

No, the most important thing is to punish such injustice perpetrated under the color of law!

[GeronL]

They are white and there would be an all-black jury probably in Baltimore. SO yes, the prosecutor will definitely race-bait.

[JimSEA]

I’m afraid that the only thing that kept Tripp out of jail was tainted testimony from Lewinsky and the interference of the Independent Counsel. This is a real threat to these kids. Sickening isn’t it. The first thing a corrupt government does is erect barriers to their own exposure and prosecution.

[GeronL]

Apparently the DA didn’t see anything wrong done by ACORN in the video. I’ll bet you anything the DA is a “friend of ACORN” like my mayor here in Irving TX.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Defense could argue that an “all black” jury is not a jury of peers. One or more white people, and nullification could well hang the jury.

[windsorknot]

What, Me Worry?

[vetvetdoug]

The Acorn debacle is coming down to black corruption versus whites that are tired of it. Acorn is primarily a diverse affirmative action Democrat organization.