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ACORN Plans Massive Layoffs
Big Government.com ^ | October 3, 2009 | Matthew Vadum

Posted on 10/03/2009 5:09:45 AM PDT by Zakeet

A credible source claims the embattled left-wing advocacy group ACORN is poised to announce massive staff layoffs but an ACORN spokesman denies this is the case.

A credible source close to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now revealed that the activist network intends to lay off all staff members operating out of its New Orleans headquarters. All information provided by the source to this reporter in the past has turned out to be correct.

However, ACORN spokesman Scott Levenson of the public relations firm The Advance Group in New York City said the source was incorrect.

In an interview Friday afternoon with Levenson said (referring to BigGovernment.com), “You guys just can’t get it right. You’re wrong again.”

When pressed to elaborate, Levenson declined to do so.

Levenson received media attention earlier this year when Fox News host Glenn Beck ejected the combative publicist from his studio during a commercial break. Beck said at the time that Levenson accused him of being a racist.

My source said that one of the employees to be cashiered in the Crescent City is the daughter of disgraced ACORN founder Wade Rathke. Rathke’s wife, Beth Butler, also works for ACORN but it is unclear at this point if she too will be laid off. Rathke’s son also reportedly is employed by ACORN.

ACORN also plans to lay off two-thirds of its Washington, D.C., staffers as soon as Wednesday of next week, according to the source. Layoffs will also extend to ACORN’s affiliate the ACORN Institute.

The source also revealed that all or most of ACORN’s development staff in the group’s New York City office will soon be laid off if they haven’ been laid off already.

ACORN’s already tarnished image took a major hit last month when BigGovernment.com unveiled undercover sting videos in which ACORN staffers across America were shown advising a pair posing as a pimp and a prostitute on the finer points of avoiding prosecution for prostitution, importation of underage illegal aliens to serve as sex workers, obtaining government grants under false pretenses, and tax evasion.

The adverse publicity generated by the videos and the group’s never-ending scandals is slowly but surely drying up ACORN’s funding sources.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: acorn; bethbutler; hannahgiles; layoffs; neworleans; newyorkcity; obama; waderathke
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Good thing I've never had anything to do with that bunch of losers.

1 posted on 10/03/2009 5:09:45 AM PDT by Zakeet
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To: Zakeet

bttt...Thank-you Hannah, James, Glenn Beck and Breitbart


2 posted on 10/03/2009 5:17:31 AM PDT by Guenevere (....)
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To: Guenevere
I can see the headlines now,

"GLEN BECK RESPONSIBLE FOR MASSIVE LAYOFFS" subtitle,

"must be taken off air to protect economy"

3 posted on 10/03/2009 5:20:27 AM PDT by Billg64 (It is my belief that this is our last opportunity to peacefully protect our republic.)
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To: Guenevere

I would thank them, but like the Terminator in the Arnold Movies, the later ones could morph into anything, the question is what do they turn into?


4 posted on 10/03/2009 5:21:19 AM PDT by taildragger (Palin/Mulally 2012)
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To: Zakeet; All

But what do Lindsay Graham and John McCain have to say about all this?? After all, l’il Ms. Liindsey thinks Glenn Beck is a bad influence.


5 posted on 10/03/2009 5:24:06 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: All

Nothing but a reorganization. The laws that regulate them are so porous that they’ll resurface under a name like “Team Pro America Super Fantastic Foundation” and continue. They are too big and too profitable for too many people to go away.


6 posted on 10/03/2009 5:25:49 AM PDT by newnhdad (The longest of journeys begins with one step.)
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To: Zakeet

Nice headline!!!
How many of us expected that after November’s election?
All the credit goes to the two young film makers.


7 posted on 10/03/2009 5:29:27 AM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (Just say no to Soylent Green health care)
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To: newnhdad

So, it appears ACORN has made it to corporate nirvana. Too big to fail.


8 posted on 10/03/2009 5:32:48 AM PDT by wita
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To: Zakeet

FIRE them ALL.


9 posted on 10/03/2009 5:34:45 AM PDT by 2harddrive
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To: 2harddrive

What ever it takes, one at a time starting with ACORN.


10 posted on 10/03/2009 5:37:42 AM PDT by DownInFlames
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To: Zakeet

“Maswsive layoffs”?? Just how many people does ACORN “employ”??

So either ACORN keeps their staff on, and pays them largely with what money they can scrape up from Government and Private donations...

or...

They “lay off” staff in order to make them eligible for Government funded unemployment benefits instead.

There are other stories here on FR and elsewhere that prove ACORN’s biggest donors are pulling the plug as fast as they can, so I believe ACORN will be slashing “staff”, the question is how many??


11 posted on 10/03/2009 5:43:01 AM PDT by Bean Counter (No, I am Jim Thompson!!)
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To: Zakeet
Thank you Glenn Beck.

Thanks for nothing Lindsay Graham.

12 posted on 10/03/2009 5:44:23 AM PDT by Tribune7 (I am Joe Wilson!)
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To: Zakeet

Didn’t I see a report that a number of rather large liens were placed against Acorn by IRS and other authorities for not paying employee’s witholding taxes in New Orleans?
This would fit,since it seems that their entire operational
goal is to screw the American taxpayer.


13 posted on 10/03/2009 6:02:41 AM PDT by Bob from De ((All liberals may not be narcissists...but it sure seems to help))
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To: Zakeet

SEIU, The Tides foundation and Apollo still need to be shutdown.


14 posted on 10/03/2009 6:03:18 AM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it! FairTaxNation.com)
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To: Zakeet
as the public money dries up, so does the acorn...
15 posted on 10/03/2009 6:10:40 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist *DTOM* -ww- I AM JIM THOMPSON!)
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To: Zakeet

Gee... Wonder if any of those “former employees” will have anything to share?


16 posted on 10/03/2009 6:14:50 AM PDT by OKSooner ("He's quite mad, you know." - Sean Connery to Honor Blackman in "Goldfinger".)
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To: Zakeet

Which is exactly why getting the Olympics to Chicago was so important.

$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$4

Cash for corrupt cronies.


17 posted on 10/03/2009 6:20:26 AM PDT by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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To: Zakeet

As far as I am concerned it will not be until there are massive layoffs that it can be believed their funding has been cut by any and all the tributaries that channel money to this organization.

Can anyone imagine this bunch giving medical advise like they give tax filing advise or help people get a home mortgage, or how they register voters?


18 posted on 10/03/2009 6:32:17 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...

Where’s that graphic of the weeping girl when ya really need it? ;’)


19 posted on 10/03/2009 7:02:57 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv
Where’s that graphic of the weeping girl when ya really need it? ;’)


20 posted on 10/03/2009 7:09:30 AM PDT by jslade (People that are easily offended OFFEND ME!)
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To: Zakeet

Excellent pic to begin the thread!


21 posted on 10/03/2009 7:12:06 AM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: jslade

Heh... oh yeah... I was thinking of that nutty young blonde, an indoor shot...


22 posted on 10/03/2009 7:56:02 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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Maybe they’re just leaving behind the shell. Read somewhere that they were opening in DC? Or was that just the SEIU part of the hydra?


23 posted on 10/03/2009 8:42:41 AM PDT by FreeStateYank (I want my country and constitution back, now!)
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To: newnhdad

You’re right. Beating back ACORN in all its hideous resurrected forms will be like playing a marathon game of whack-a-mole.


24 posted on 10/03/2009 8:45:46 AM PDT by behzinlea
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To: Zakeet

They will be replaced by a new front group, different name, same main players.


25 posted on 10/03/2009 8:51:15 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Public healthcare looks like it will work as well as public housing did.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Heh... oh yeah... I was thinking of that nutty young blonde, an indoor shot...

If you are thinking of the one from the famous "Leave Britney Alone" youtube, that was a guy (well, genetically male anyway).

26 posted on 10/03/2009 8:53:54 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Public healthcare looks like it will work as well as public housing did.)
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To: Carley

I like it. Instead of “Cash for Clunkers”, ... “Cash for Cronies”...

Sounds like a good sound bite for 2010 election ads


27 posted on 10/03/2009 9:03:57 AM PDT by boxlunch
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To: Zakeet; SierraWasp; tubebender; Jeff Head; Liz; george76; BOBTHENAILER

It is time to take the economic chain saws into the Acorn forests and clear cut them.


28 posted on 10/03/2009 9:51:43 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does 0b0z0 have any friends, who aren't traitors, spies, tax cheats and criminals?)
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To: Zakeet
Of related interest...

Fox News Special … Awesome Megyn Kelly takedown of Wade Rathke and Acorn

29 posted on 10/03/2009 9:59:04 AM PDT by kanawa
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To: Grampa Dave; stephenjohnbanker; maggief; GOPJ; Zakeet; SierraWasp; Just mythoughts; Condor51; ...
Adverse publicity generated by the videos and never-ending scandals is drying up ACORN’s funding sources. It is time to take the economic chain saws into the Acorn forests and clear-cut them.

According to Dept of Labor statistics, ACORN has received approximately $4 million from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as well as local affiliates.....Illinois Homecare Workers and HomeChildcare Providers, a local Chicago SEIU union, which was formed through ACORNs efforts, which pays rent to ACORN as well as contributing through the SEIU. According to a recent NPR investigation, ACORN also receives funding from the Change to Win labor federation, the Food and Commercial Workers Union and the United Federation of Teachers.

REFERENCE (NPR: ACORN's Money Tree HasMany Branches, October 15, 2008)

ACORN receives funding from a variety of private charitable organizations that are widely recognized as “liberal” ........The Bauman Family Foundation, George Soros' Open Society Institute, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

REFERENCE (NPR: ACORN's Money Tree Has Many Branches, October 15, 2008).

ACORN and its affiliates also receive funding from more traditional sources, such as corporate foundations, including the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Ben & Jerry's foundation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, and Citigroup, as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and foundations affiliated with the founder of United Parcel Service (UPS). A full list of ACORN and ACORN affiliate donors is available from the Capital Research Center, a non-profitorganization which studies political advocacy groups.

REFERENCE (Foundation Watch, 2008: Capital Research Center Cracks the ACORN). ACORN and its affiliated entities make up a network that has drawn criticism for its complexity and internal relationships.

Elizabeth Kingsley, an ACORN attorney, wrote a devastating 2008 report expressing concerns that ACORN and Project Vote may have violated federal laws because of how they interacted.

30 posted on 10/03/2009 10:18:01 AM PDT by Liz
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To: All
ACORNS IN THE WHITE HOUSE

(1) ACORN's man in the Obama White House is longtime ACORN operative Patrick Gaspard. He holds the title of White House political affairs director, the same title Karl Rove held in President Bush's White House. He's the President’s fixer and the man who gets ACORN projects and money. Gaspard once worked for ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis.

(2) Patrick Gaspard’s brother Michael Gaspard works for The Advance Group. Michael Gaspard works for ACORN’s registered lobbying organization and with ACORN’s national spokesman Bertha Lewis. Michael apparently keeps a lower profile than his brother. He does not appear on lobbyist disclosures for The Advance Group NY State. Nonetheless, he works there. Ms. Lewis’s contacts list confirms Michael Gaspard’s employment there.

(3) ACORN Shaun Donovan. Mr. Donovan is HUD Secy. Before that, Mr. Donovan was NYC Commissioner of Dept of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)---where Donovan worked on affordable housing initiatives----projects right up ACORN’s alley.

(4) ACORN Karine Jean-Pierre is WH liaison for Dept of Labor (headed by latino agitator Hilda Solis). Karine once worked for John Edwards (vertical or horizontal?). She left there to work for Cong Anthony Weiner, then became Barack Obama’s regional political director.

The web of connections from ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis straight into the White House, out the other door into HUD and the Dept of Labor (headed by latino agitator Hilda Solis), then circle back to ACORN’s lobbying operation.

ACORNS EVERYWHERE Senate Finance Committee Study

ACORN comprises a mind-boggling 94 different affiliates, that amounts to "a big shell game," a biting Senate Finance Committee study shows. The study, by the staff of Iowa Republican Charles Grassley, reveals four ACORN charity groups give more than half their revenue to taxable entities that engage in "impermissible lobbying and political activity." ACORN and it’s subsidiaries for decades have moved taxpayer money into their own pockets and into the left-wing Marxist machine.

Sen Charles Grassley's documents show leaders of ACORN community groups transferred several million dollars in charitable and government money-----meant for the poor---- to parts of the group that have political (and sometimes profit-making) missions.

Sen Grassley's documents indicate that ACORN's tax-exempt groups----along with its tangled web of allied organizations---- used more than half their charitable and public money in 2006 to pay other ACORN affiliates.

==================================================

Let's help the White House distance itself from ACORN
FOX CONTACT PAGE http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html
FOX PHONE 1-888-369-4762

31 posted on 10/03/2009 10:22:01 AM PDT by Liz
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To: Zakeet

I thought, NO’s office was closed and re-located to DC.


32 posted on 10/03/2009 10:45:20 AM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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Bookmarked


33 posted on 10/03/2009 11:04:42 AM PDT by ~Kim4VRWC's~ (I am Jim Thompson............................Please pray for our troops....)
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To: Grampa Dave; Zakeet; tubebender; Jeff Head; Liz; george76; BOBTHENAILER
"It is time to take the economic chain saws into the Acorn forests and clear cut them."

Ringgggggggggggg Ding Ding Ding, Wahhhhhhhhhh Wa Wahhhhhhhh, Ringggggggggggggg Ding Pop Dink... TIMBER!!!

34 posted on 10/03/2009 2:34:48 PM PDT by SierraWasp ("Homeland Defense" begins at HOME!!! He who hesitates, is LOST!!!)
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To: SunkenCiv

35 posted on 10/03/2009 2:40:20 PM PDT by Focault's Pendulum (This country elected an empty suit, an absolute economic illiterate!!!)
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To: Zakeet; All

QUESTION:
In all the years of ACORN’s existence, why haven’t it’s employees been organized in to a Union by the SEIU?????


36 posted on 10/03/2009 2:40:27 PM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: Bean Counter

ACORN has AT LEAST 391 separate ACORN-owned Orgs under it’s umbrella. They were listed in a osting yesterday.

They are most likely laundering money the way a drug-dealer does...


37 posted on 10/03/2009 2:42:13 PM PDT by tcrlaf ("Hope" is the most Evil of all Evils"-Neitzsche)
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To: Zakeet

They will move their HQ from New Orleans to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC.


38 posted on 10/03/2009 3:01:13 PM PDT by GeronL (meow)
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To: GeronL

I thought that ACORN just changed their name to COI.


39 posted on 10/03/2009 3:37:14 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: Irish Eyes

They are in the process I think.


40 posted on 10/03/2009 3:47:17 PM PDT by GeronL (meow)
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To: FlingWingFlyer; altair; stephenjohnbanker; little jeremiah; ~Kim4VRWC's~; voteNRA; mkjessup; ...
ACORN Ping!

FReep mail me if you want on/off the list.


41 posted on 10/03/2009 3:48:35 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (A mob of one.)
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To: Zakeet

na na naaa naaa hey hey hey GOODBYE!

don’t let the door smack ya in the back on your way out!

Its ACORN bring a box to work day!


42 posted on 10/03/2009 3:51:09 PM PDT by Danae (No political party should pick candidates. That's the voters job.)
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To: GeronL

Thanks, have heard nothing about it for awhile.


43 posted on 10/03/2009 4:00:54 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: Guenevere

“Thank-you Hannah, James, Glenn Beck and Breitbart”

Amen to THAT !!


44 posted on 10/03/2009 4:58:01 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
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To: Zakeet
ACORN is camped around New Orleans because it has received Billions from the Road Home Program.

A Fairfax VA company, ICF International, was originally hired to administer the program - and they made incredible progress. But they had to contend with the incredible corruption of Louisiana, and groups affiliated with ACORN.

In turn, ACORN and the corrupt pols in LA blamed everything that went wrong on ICF International, even though the loans were finally getting approved.

Last July, Congresswoman Maxine Waters held hearings, and charged ICF with "racism" because the African-American slums in the lower 9th ward were not worth as much as better homes in other wards, so they got less to rebuild. Facts were facts, and ICF could not give them more money by the law Congress had written. It would be akin to an insurance company giving the payment of a Mercedes for a totaled Ford Focus.

It didn't matter - ACORN and the Democrats played the race card, all the while taking their "cut" of the money.

ICF finally had had enough and didn't even re-bid on the contract.

The effectiveness of the Road Home Program dropped overnight, and now nothing is being done.

45 posted on 10/03/2009 5:00:09 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: Focault's Pendulum

Another nice one! But that’s not it.


46 posted on 10/03/2009 6:10:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: PapaBear3625

That’s the one!


47 posted on 10/03/2009 6:11:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: taildragger

Rathke has already started a new organization with the name Community Organizers International. Some on here proposed a logo of a fish (koi) swallowing an acorn. The thing is, it takes years to get new contracts written with the government. The whole thing’s been fun to watch. :)


48 posted on 10/03/2009 6:15:33 PM PDT by TenthAmendmentChampion (Be prepared for tough times. FReepmail me to learn about our survival thread!)
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*
49 posted on 10/03/2009 6:41:03 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Zakeet

The roaches are scattering it’s going to be hard figuring out where they’re ending up at but hopefully someone will be monitoring their whereabouts.


50 posted on 10/03/2009 7:12:27 PM PDT by eaglestar
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