WSJ editorial leaves out relevant information in smear of ACORN
SUMMARY: The Wall Street Journal asserted that Sen. Barack Obama's "kind of organizers work at Acorn, the militant advocacy group that is turning up in reports about voter fraud across the country." The editorial cited as evidence reports that ACORN submitted allegedly false or duplicate voter registration applications this year in Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Connecticut, and Texas. But the editorial did not note that the statutes of at least nine of those 11 states require third parties registering prospective voters to submit to election officials all registration forms they received -- even those they believed to be false or duplicate applications.
In an October 14 editorial, The Wall Street Journal asserted that Sen. Barack Obama's "kind of organizers work at Acorn [the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now], the militant advocacy group that is turning up in reports about voter fraud across the country." The editorial cited as evidence reports that ACORN submitted allegedly false or duplicate voter registration applications this year in Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Connecticut, and Texas. But the editorial did not note that the statutes of at least nine of those 11 states require third parties registering prospective voters to submit all registration forms they received. In an October 10 press release, ACORN noted that "in almost every state we are required to turn in ALL completed applications, even the ones we know to be problematic."
The Journal also claimed that "recently, Democrats tried and failed to stuff an 'affordable housing' provision into the $700 billion bank rescue package that would have let politicians give even more to Acorn." The Journal's claim echoes recent false assertions by media figures and Republicans that Democrats wanted to direct millions of dollars to ACORN in the bailout legislation. In fact, as Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented, neither the draft proposal nor the final version of the bailout bill contained any language mentioning ACORN. The claim is based on a provision -- since removed and absent from the bill President Bush signed -- that would have directed 20 percent of any profits realized on troubled assets purchased under the plan into two previously established funds: the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund. Under legislation signed by Bush in July, money going to the Housing Trust Fund is to be distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the form of block grants to states, which would then award grants to qualified applicants. Money going to the Capital Magnet Fund is to be distributed by the U.S. Treasury Department through a competitive grant application process.
Media Matters noted that when Congress considered adding the provision in September, Salon.com's Gabriel Winant reported that ACORN's legislative director said the organization's housing advocacy affiliate, ACORN Housing, is "considering applying for funds from the Housing Trust Fund, but will probably choose not to do so," and that even if it did, it would have to go through the same application process as any other group.
Further, the Journal editorial also noted that Obama "served as a lawyer for Acorn in 1995, in a case against Illinois to increase access to the polls," but did not note that the Department of Justice, the League of Women Voters, and the League of United Latin American Citizens joined with ACORN as plaintiffs in the suit, which sought to force the state of Illinois to implement a federal voter-registration law.
A Media Matters review of the election laws of the 11 states the Journal cited in asserting that ACORN is "turning up in reports about voter fraud across the country" found that at least nine of them have laws requiring organizations to submit all voter-registration forms to election officials.
Nevada
The Journal wrote: "Earlier this month, Nevada's Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller requested a raid on Acorn's offices, following complaints of false names and fictional addresses (including the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys). Nevada's Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said he saw rampant fraud in 2,000 to 3,000 applications Acorn submitted weekly." According to Chapter 293.505 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, "any ... person providing a form for the application to register to vote to an elector for the purpose of registering to vote ... [s]hall not alter, deface or destroy an application to register to vote that has been signed by an elector except to correct information contained in the application after receiving notice from the elector that a change in or addition to the information is required." Violators are "guilty of a category E felony." A "Guide to Conducting Voter Registration Drives" authored by Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller further states, "When the registration drive is complete, all forms, both completed and uncompleted, must be returned to the respective county clerk."
Ohio
The Journal wrote: "Officials in Ohio are investigating voter fraud connected with Acorn." According to Chapter 3599.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, "No person who helps another person register outside an official voter registration place shall knowingly fail to return any registration form entrusted to that person to any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state within ten days after that registration form is completed, or on or before the thirtieth day before the election, whichever day is earlier, unless the registration form is received by the person within twenty-four hours of the thirtieth day before the election, in which case the person shall return the registration form to any board of elections or the office of the secretary of state within ten days of its receipt." Violators are "guilty of election falsification, a felony of the fifth degree," or of "a misdemeanor of the first degree" under some circumstances.
Florida
The Journal wrote: "Florida's Seminole County is withholding Acorn registrations that appear fraudulent." According to Florida statutes, "A third-party voter registration organization that collects voter registration applications serves as a fiduciary to the applicant, ensuring that any voter registration application entrusted to the third-party voter registration organization, irrespective of party affiliation, race, ethnicity, or gender shall be promptly delivered to the division or the supervisor of elections." If the third-party voter registration organization fails to submit a voter registration application, it is liable for "[a] fine in the amount of $1,000 for any application not submitted if the third-party registration organization or person, entity, or agency acting on its behalf acted willfully."
New Mexico, North Carolina, and Missouri
The Journal wrote: "New Mexico, North Carolina and Missouri are looking into hundreds of dubious Acorn registrations."
According to Section 1-4-49 of the New Mexico Statutes and Court Rules, "Organizations employing registration agents or using volunteer registration agents shall deliver or mail a certificate of registration to the secretary of state or county clerk within forty-eight hours of its completion by the person registering to vote or deliver it the next business day if the appropriate office is closed for that forty-eight-hour period." Violators are "guilty of a petty misdemeanor and the person's third-party registration agent status shall be revoked." In addition, if the violator "is an employee of an organization and has decision-making authority involving the organization's voter registration activities or is an officer of the organization," then their organization "shall be subject to civil penalties" of "two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each violation, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000)."
According to Section § 163-82.6 of the North Carolina General Assembly General Statutes, "The applicant may delegate the submission of the form to another person. Any person who communicates to an applicant acceptance of that delegation shall deliver that form so that it is received by the appropriate county board of elections in time to satisfy the registration deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of this section for the next election." It is a "Class 2 misdemeanor" to "communicate to the applicant acceptance of the delegation described in subsection (a) of this section and then fail to make a good faith effort to deliver the form."
Under Section 115.203 of Missouri election law, "No person who agrees or offers to submit a voter registration application for another person shall knowingly destroy, deface, or conceal such voter registration application. ... Any person who accepts or receives a voter registration application from another person and agrees or offers to submit such application to the election authority for the registrant shall deliver the application to the election authority within seven days of accepting or receiving the application." Further, "[a] violation of this section is a class four election offense."
Indiana
The Journal wrote: "Then there's Lake County, Indiana, which has already found more than 2,100 bogus applications among the 5,000 Acorn dumped right before the deadline. 'All the signatures looked exactly the same,' said Ruthann Hoagland, of the county election board." According to Indiana Code 3-14-2-5, "A person who recklessly destroys or fails to file or deliver to the proper officer a registration affidavit or form of registration after the affidavit or form has been executed commits a Class A misdemeanor."
Connecticut
The Journal wrote: "Bridgeport, Connecticut estimates about 20% of Acorn's registrations were faulty." According to Section 9-23g, paragraph b, of the Connecticut General Statutes, "If the applicant entrusts the applicant's application to another person or to such a voter registration agency for mailing or return to the registrars of voters, such person or agency shall immediately mail or return the application."
Texas
The Journal wrote: "As of July, the city of Houston had rejected or put on hold about 40% of the 27,000 registration cards submitted by Acorn." According to Chapter § 13.042 of the Texas Election Code, "A volunteer deputy registrar shall deliver in person, or by personal delivery through another designated volunteer deputy, to the registrar each completed voter registration application submitted to the deputy, as provided by this section." Intentional failure to comply is a Class A misdemeanor. According to § 13.044, it is a "Class C misdemeanor" to "purport[] to act as a volunteer deputy registrar when the person does not have an effective appointment as a volunteer deputy registrar." Further, according to a "Short Guide to Helping Voters Register Under Texas Law" produced by Project Vote, which collaborated with ACORN on its voter registration drive, "only properly appointed volunteer deputy registrars may engage in voter registration activities."
From the Journal editorial:
At the recent Emmy Awards, historian Laura Linney averred that America's Founders had been "community organizers" -- like Barack Obama. Too bad they aren't like that any more. Mr. Obama's kind of organizers work at Acorn, the militant advocacy group that is turning up in reports about voter fraud across the country.
[...]
But the organization's real genius is getting American taxpayers to foot the bill. According to a 2006 report from the Employment Policies Institute (EPI), Acorn has been on the federal take since 1977. For instance, Acorn's American Institute for Social Justice claimed $240,000 in tax money between fiscal years 2002 and 2003. Its American Environmental Justice Project received 100% of its revenue from government grants in the same years. EPI estimates the Acorn Housing Corporation alone received some $16 million in federal dollars from 1997-2007. Only recently, Democrats tried and failed to stuff an "affordable housing" provision into the $700 billion bank rescue package that would have let politicians give even more to Acorn.
All this money gives Acorn the ability to pursue its other great hobby: electing liberals. Acorn is spending $16 million this year to register new Democrats and is already boasting it has put 1.3 million new voters on the rolls. The big question is how many of these registrations are real.
The Michigan Secretary of State told the press in September that Acorn had submitted "a sizeable number of duplicate and fraudulent applications." Earlier this month, Nevada's Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller requested a raid on Acorn's offices, following complaints of false names and fictional addresses (including the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys). Nevada's Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said he saw rampant fraud in 2,000 to 3,000 applications Acorn submitted weekly.
Officials in Ohio are investigating voter fraud connected with Acorn, and Florida's Seminole County is withholding Acorn registrations that appear fraudulent. New Mexico, North Carolina and Missouri are looking into hundreds of dubious Acorn registrations. Wisconsin is investigating Acorn employees for, according to an election official, "making people up or registering people that were still in prison."
Then there's Lake County, Indiana, which has already found more than 2,100 bogus applications among the 5,000 Acorn dumped right before the deadline. "All the signatures looked exactly the same," said Ruthann Hoagland, of the county election board. Bridgeport, Connecticut estimates about 20% of Acorn's registrations were faulty. As of July, the city of Houston had rejected or put on hold about 40% of the 27,000 registration cards submitted by Acorn.
[...]
Which brings us to Mr. Obama, who got his start as a Chicago "community organizer" at Acorn's side. In 1992 he led voter registration efforts as the director of Project Vote, which included Acorn. This past November, he lauded Acorn's leaders for being "smack dab in the middle" of that effort. Mr. Obama also served as a lawyer for Acorn in 1995, in a case against Illinois to increase access to the polls.
So what makes them militant? That's the first question that I have.
Second question is; what is all the hub bub with ACORN? They are registering, or trying to register voters. The board of elections and voting registration is reviewing said registration forms, as they're supposed to, and they're ferreting out the bad registration forms. What's the big f-ing deal? ACORN isn't responsible for registering the people filling these forms out. The board of elections are, and from all indications, the systems are working as they're supposed to be working. Also, as we keep hearing, ACORN is required, by LAW in most places to submit these "dubious" registration forms for the official agencies to straighten out. Imagine if ACORN flagged someone's registration for appearing to be suspect, and it turned out that it wasn't suspect, and that person, or persons, were not allowed to vote because of it. That's worse if you ask me.
What ACORN is doing out there is no some shady thing. They're trying to register as many voters as they can, so that Americans can take part in their rights, and the process of elections that we have. Why does the WSJ and so many right wingers have an issue with that? The systems that are in place are working, and they are throwing out the bad registrations. ACORN is not trying to get away with anything, nor are they trying to commit voter fraud, they are submitting the registration forms that they get, as required, again, by LAW in most states, and even in the states where it is not required, wouldn't that just be prudent for them to do so anyway, and let the State voter registration professionals decide who is, and who isn't legal to vote?
Mags, the big deal is that they managed to register 1.5 MILLION homeless voters. The idea that destitute americans (including former soldiers that rightwingers refuse to believe exist) frightens them. Especially the fact that that 1.5 million registered voters are in swing states that had margins of error in the thousands last election.
I know that this is what frightens them about ACORN, but who is to say that everyone, or even a majority of who they did help to register are going to vote democrat come November? I see them as a group that helps people to vote. Period. Regardless of party affiliation. They're not going around telling people that they need to vote R or D, they just want them to vote, take part in the process, and have a say in the election. And the conservatives think that it's a bad thing? Of course they do, mostly because they think only certain people, and genders, should be able to vote, OK, not all of them, but I bet in the back of their minds, there is a lot of that going on.
That's true. They don't know, so they just assume ACORN is a liberal organization so they can "alledge" voter fraud. The sad part about statistics is that with proper data it can predict what you'll most likely buy, how you'll vote, and a myriad of other lifestyle events. Contrary to claim, republicans have a HUGE statistical database on voter preferences by race, religion, color, wealth etc. The "southern strategy" wasn't about they're more racists in the south, it was about there are more poor white people who think minorities and immigrants are taking their jobs. They know their base, the only thing that can go wrong for them is that statistics has a very difficult time predicting excursion events. They will happen...
I think there are two reasons. First of all, high voter turnout is not likely to favor the Grampy/Twit ticket. Secondly, this fabricated scandal keeps our focus away from the Republicans who are rigging the voting machines and purging the voter rolls. As a bonus, it will position them to cripple Obama's presidency with accusations of voter fraud, minimizing his mandate.
I think you're exactly right. Look over here! Acorn! Scary voter fraud! (Don't pay attention to voter caging or anything else.) Look where we point! Then, later, no matter what happens, they will do all they can to make sure people "know" that all bad things under the sun are Obama's fault, while the Repugnicants fought valiantly to keep everying "good."
I think we are all getting the message now, ACORN is the reason McCain will lose, the right wing nuts will be yelling ACORN for 4 years.
Exactamundo. This will be the reasoning by which they will delegitimize an Obama presidency.
Well, even a blind squirrel is bound to find an ACORN nut in the forrest. ;)
ummm somone explain how voter registration fraud equates voter fraud ? even if a guy fills out 3455432 registration cards he can only vote once .mickey mouse and the dead guy arnt gonna turn up to vote so wheres the upside for acorn . seems to me like somone was trying to defraud acorn by collecting money for faked cards
That seems more like what was happening, either that, or there are certainly a bunch of people who want to do something stupid, like fill out a voter registration form indicating that they're Mickey Mouse, or something else just as stupid.
And again, ACORN doesn't actually DO the registrations, which is what these crazed right wingers seem to be portraying, they just turn in the registration cards. Now, if there is some huge voter fraud that happens in November, then indeed, it's still NOT ACORN's fault. Why? Because, they don't confirm the voters, they just turn in the cards. Jeesh...
I would like to believe that the WSJ would not have been so blatant in its ignoring of the facts before it was bought by the sleezyist of sleeze Rupert Murdoch and his evil empire Propaganda........ er News Corp.....
I swear..... I really do believe that the evil media mogul in the Brosnan as James Bond movie from a few years ago... with Michelle Yeoh was fashioned after Murdoch!
It would not suprise me in the least if true!
The liberal defense of ACORN would be laughable if it wasn't such a trevesty on the election process. I'd really like to see the demographics on these "turned in cards" that show how many republicans they registered. I'd be amazed if you found any in there. ACORN is one of the most transparent of scams, and let's face it- your attitudes about "well, let the registrars sort it out" is another waste of tax payer dollars, time, and an effort to muck up the system. There are enough means to register through annual census, motor votor registration, and hell, just walking into a town or city clerk's office to register.
And if you're worried about homeless vets not being able to register, I'd really like to see what you'd say if the VFW and AmLegion did what Acorn does. You'd all be screaming from the rooftops that it was a conservative ploy to screw the election process. Look in a mirror... jeez
Are the Troglodytes equally concerned with the illegal systematic purging of voters? Or the ease with which the electronic voting machines can be flipped? Apparently not. You're fussing over gnats when there's an elephant crapping on the carpet.
"the statutes of at least nine of those 11 states require third parties registering prospective voters to submit to election officials all registration forms they received -- even those they believed to be false or duplicate applications"
Keep reading this...over and over and over...until you get it: they turned them in because they are REQUIRED to. It isn't a matter of "let the registrars sort it out" - Hon, that is the REGISTRARS job. Looking up the meaning of "registrar" might help you sort it out too.
The problem is that ACORN is actively involved in recruiting these fraudulent registrations.
And, the registrars having to deal with all the bs registrations can't be a good thing.
"The problem is that ACORN is actively involved in recruiting these fraudulent registrations."
The problems is: you are WRONG. Some of the people hired by ACORN submitted fraudulent registrations...for which ACORN TURNED THEM IN TO THE AUTHORITIES...and they also submitted them to the registrara as they are REQUIRED TO DO.
Exactly. The potential for fraud would be far greater if third party groups were allowed to just toss out registrations at their own discretion. Actually I seem to recall that did happen in 2004. I'm a little vague on the details but some group was tossing out cards of people who registered as Dems. I want to say it was in Nevada but I can't honestly recall.
I have never heard a liberal complain about conservative efforts to register voters. Of course I've never heard of a conservative effort to register voters. They prefer to supress.
Why don't you start your own voter registration drive then? It doesn't matter how many republicans they register, or take registrations for. It doesn't matter how many democrats that ACORN registers, or take registrations for. It's not a scam. Allowing American citizens to vote, who are legally eligible to vote is somehow a scam to you? I get it.
Also, did you even read what ACORN does? Probably not, because you just assume that is some sort of liberal scam. Here's the deal MissDee. They take registration cards from people. Once they get them back into their local offices, they make up to, and over 3 phone calls to the numbers listed on the registration forms. If they can't establish that the person who wrote out the registration card is not the person they're calling, they flag it with a coversheet, nothing that it is suspect, and send it into the registrar of voters, as they are REQUIRED to do for them to complete the final review. ACORN is a non partisan organization. They are registering voters, and do other things for their local communities where they are active. What is it about lower economic classes that you have a problem with? I thought it was about pulling one's self up by said bootstraps, and taking responsibility for their own actions? Which is what members of ACORN do, in their local communities. You want to change the direction of the election possibly, and turn the people who you elect towards the issues that you care about, then you register more like minded voters. It still cracks me up that cons like yourself talk about voter registration as something that "mucks" up the system.
Another thing. First, there is no annual census, there is one every 10 years, and you can't register to vote when they take the census numbers.
Motor voter? What about if you don't own a car, or you know, drive?
In larger cities, how many people even know where to locate the town hall, or city hall, and the city clerk's office, especially if you're homeless. Chances are good, they're going to get booted out just for being there.
I'd LOVE to see the VFW and American Legion, and also the DAV do what ACORN is doing, as long as they do it in a non partisan manner, such as ACORN is doing. It wouldn't be a conservative ploy, as long as they don't bring politics into it, like ACORN. They take names, and registrations, flag the suspect ones, and the ones that they can't confirm, and then submit them, as required by the law, for review, and final approval. Also, bear in mind that in the locations where ACORN is doing this, most places have had active voter registration drives going on for the better part of 2008, and they also turn in their registrations 1-2 times per week so that they don't flood the voter registrar, as you're suggesting.
Thing is, you guys don't like poor people voting. That's where all the outcry about ACORN is coming from. Be honest with yourself for a change. Look in the mirror, and just say it out loud, "Poor people shouldn't be voting." You'll feel better in the morning. Also, remember, in 2006, John McCain spoke at an ACORN seminar and gathering, and praised the work that they were doing. My, how times have changed.
Also, ACORN has been found to have done nothing illegal. Voter fraud occurs when fraudelent voters cast votes. Out of all of the registrations that have been completed, and approved by ACORN, not a single ONE can be traced back to any voter fraud.
You guys are just mad because poor people tend to vote democratic.
In an October 10 press release, ACORN noted that "in almost every state we are required to turn in ALL completed applications, even the ones we know to be problematic."
The reason they made that a requirement is that in past years, GOP-sponsored organizations that were doing voter registrations would take all the applications where people registered as Democrats and throw them in the trash.
* * * * * * * * * *
Voter Fraud Charges Out West
GOP Group Under Investigation In Oregon; Similar Charges In Nevada
TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2004
(CBS) By CBSNews.com Chief Political Writer David Paul Kuhn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Officials in Oregon have launched a criminal investigation after receiving numerous complaints that a Republican-affiliated group was destroying registration forms filed by Democratic voters statewide, Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury told CBSNews.com.
Meanwhile, CBS affiliate KLAS-TV is reporting accusations of similar malfeasance in Nevada.
Both state's allegations are linked to a Phoenix political consulting firm called Sproul & Associates run by Nathan Sproul, former head of the Arizona Republican Party. Sproul & Associates has received nearly $500,000 from the Republican National Committee this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Calls from CBSNews.com to Sproul were not returned.
Late Thursday afternoon, two Democratic senators, Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, sent a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft asking the Justice Department to "launch an immediate investigation into the activities of Mr. Sproul and his firm."
According to KLAS-TV, a former employee claimed hundreds, if not thousands, of Democratic registration forms were destroyed by a Sproul & Associates group called Voters Outreach of America.
<more>
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/14/politics/main649380.shtml
Yeah. THat's the one I was trying to remember.
The crimes being commited by ACORN won't matter for the presidency. The Electoral College will make that decision. And it wouldn't matter even if the popular vote was relevant to selecting the president. Obama is so far ahead that McCain should drop out now.
The crimes being commited by ACORN
Wrong again. The "crimes" are being committed by employees of ACORN who saw an opportunity for a quick buck and used the phone book or Disney characters in their registration forms. It's the JOB of the state registrar to throw out the bogus registrations. One more time - ACORN has committed the "crime" of hiring some questionable people. That's it.
The point is they can't receive federal funds or claim their tax entity status if they're partisan. It is unassailable that they are, therefore, are frauds.
ok but i still dont see how filling out bogus cards helps either side u can only vote once regardless of how many cards u fill out . where was the outrage from the right when the califoirnia gop had exactly the same problem in 06?
Well how many Republicans do they register? You should find out. I don't think Fox and others care to tell you. ACORN is an umbrella group that coordinates and works with local community organizations. Voter drives are only part of what they do. If you are trying to help poor and disabled people to vote, they will statistically vote Democratic...but then again, reality has a well known liberal bias.