In the Fine Print (Did DeMint "defund" ACORN?)

NRO Online ^ | 10/21/08 | David Freddoso

[Dutchgirl]

In July, before an overarching Wall Street bailout was part of the national vocabulary, President Bush signed a piece of legislation called the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. This bill provided funds to bail out bad borrowers and grants for states to buy foreclosed homes. It also created a permanent “Affordable Housing Trust Fund” — a large slush fund that conservatives complained would be exploited by such left-wing groups as ACORN, which has its own housing corporation, allowing them to fund political activities.

But that law, which also included a belated and vain attempt to save Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, contains a provision which becomes pertinent in light of the ongoing voter-fraud scandal involving ACORN’s submission of apparently fraudulent voter registrations in several states. An amendment to the housing bill, submitted by Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), contains the following language:

SEC. 2304. LIMITATION ON DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. (a) IN GENERAL. — None of the funds made available under this title or title IV shall be distributed to — (1) an organization which has been indicted for a violation under Federal law relating to an election for Federal office; or (2) an organization which employs applicable individuals. “Applicable individuals” is then defined to include contractors, permanent employees, and others acting under a group’s authority, who are indicted on federal charges related to elections to federal office.

This provision made it into the bill on unanimous consent on April 9, amid several other amendments, to the notice of almost no one. It is rather obvious from the context that DeMint had ACORN in mind when he wrote it. While there may not ever have been federal election-related charges laid against ACORN employees, there have been a number of state charges, indictments, and convictions.

[Dutchgirl]

Thanks Jim!

[pray4liberty]

Good work...hope it passed, right under their noses!

[Dutchgirl]

It passed in July. I think it was the original $300 billion before the $700 Billion. I keep hearing dems claim that “we bailed out banks without a penny for homeowners in the $700 Billion” It looks like the $300 Billion slipped their minds.

[Entrepreneur]

If Lord Obama wins, with Pelosi and Reid as the other stooges, ACORN, the shock troops of voter fraud, will not just be reinstated, they will be institutionalized to ensure there’s ever again a fair election.

[GOPJ]

ACORN engages in many forms of left-wing activism, often employing the intimidation tactics made popular by Saul Alinsky, the father of community organizing and a role model to presidential candidate Barack Obama. The group has waged campaigns against Wal-Mart, against welfare reform, and in favor of “living wage” laws. In October 2005, the group was accused of flooding a non-union hospital’s emergency room with patients they had bused in from far away as part of a unionization pressure campaign. ACORN also controls the ACORN Housing Corporation, which along with its local affiliates has received at least $29 million in federal taxpayer funds since 1998 (other ACORN-related groups have received an additional $2 million).

Does this mean that for the last eight years, taxpayers have been subsidizing this criminal organization?

What in hell are our Republicans doing in Washington?

[GOPJ]

If Lord Obama wins... ACORN... will not just be reinstated, they will be institutionalized to ensure there’s never again a fair election.

You're right about this.

[DHC-2]

MY SENATOR! (Pride)

[Dutchgirl]

What in hell are our Republicans doing in Washington?

Ignoring their constituents- a la my rep. Ander Crenshaw? Losing badly due to the porked out transportation bill a la 2006? Lining their own pockets- a la Denny Hastert? Diddling a la Newt Gingrich and Larry Craig? Selling us out to the illegals a la McCain, McConnell and Kyl?

They've obviously got more important things to do than count beans. After all-it's not like it's their money...

[Jabba the Nutt]

During the time the Republicans had their majority in Congress, I'd receive requests for money. I'd respond, that they ought to stop funding the Left with my tax dollars, then ask me for money to fight the Left, they THEY were making fund by taxation.

The next time the GOP gains a majority in Congress, they better know what to do with it, other that sit on their thumbs and rotate.

[TigerInSC]

MINE TOO!!! God bless Jim Demint!

[hflynn]

Robert Kennedy Jr did defend ACORN on morning Joe this morning. He essentially said they ACORN was doing gods work by registering a voter 17 times, that registering to vote 17 times was not a crime, that so what if you registered 17 times you will only be allowed to vote once anyway, that registering Mickey Mouse was not ACORN workers fault it was the fault of the pay structure they were working under. Why the only way these poor darlings could make money was per registrations so to file fraudulent registrations or open the telephone directory and start filing applications was understandable.

Even the Morning Joe crew looked at RFK Jr with wide eyed incredulity.

[polymuser]

.

So, we need to get ACORN "indicted for a violation under Federal law relating to an election for Federal office", to get them federally de-funded.

Indicted.

.

[Free Vulcan]

And this kids, is how you play the game.

[GOPJ]

It is money. OUR money.