Morris uses boogeyman of nonexistent ACORN funds to solicit funds for GOP group
SUMMARY: In a fundraising email "[p]aid for by The National Republican Trust PAC," Dick Morris claimed that "the Democrats want to give almost $5 billion to groups like ACORN" in the recovery bill. In fact, the bill does not mention ACORN or otherwise single it out for funding; ACORN itself has said that it is ineligible for the funds and has no plans to apply for them.
In a February 6 fundraising email "[p]aid for by The National Republican Trust PAC" and sent to his mailing list, Fox News contributor Dick Morris claimed of the economic recovery plan: "Outrageously, the Democrats want to give almost $5 billion to groups like ACORN [the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now]. As you know, ACORN has been accused of massive vote fraud in many states." Morris added: "With billions in hand, ACORN will be able to register more Democratic voters. That's what this is all about." In fact, as Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 does not mention ACORN or otherwise single it out for funding; ACORN itself has said that it is ineligible for the funds and has no plans to apply for them. Morris' claim is based on a misrepresentation of a provision of the bill that would appropriate $4.19 billion "for neighborhood stabilization activities related to emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes as authorized under division B, title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008."
Morris also claimed ACORN has "been accused of massive vote fraud in many states," echoing a claim he made on the October 15, 2008, edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, when he baselessly accused ACORN of "committing voter fraud." In fact, ACORN does not stand accused of "committing voter fraud." While ACORN has, according to The New York Times, "acknowledged cases where canvassers submitted false or duplicate registrations," many states require ACORN to submit all registration forms it receives. Moreover, New York University's Brennan Center for Justice stated in a 2007 report titled "The Truth About Voter Fraud" that voter fraud is "fraud by voters" and "occurs when individuals cast ballots despite knowing that they are ineligible to vote, in an attempt to defraud the election system." During the October 15, 2008, segment, and in his email, Morris did not cite a single allegation to support his assertion that ACORN has engaged in "voter fraud."
Media Matters also noted that in a February 3 email, Morris wrote that he "work[ed] with" the National Republican Trust PAC during the 2008 election. Morris wrote: "As I did during the election, I am working with the National Republican Trust to do what I can to stop this package from passing." But following questions raised by Media Matters regarding Morris' financial relationship with the group, in a November 24, 2008, appearance on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Morris said that "some of the liberals have lashed back at me, claiming that somehow I'm getting paid by this group, but the fact is that all they've done is buy ads on my website, like they buy ads in The New York Times." Morris insisted, "I'm no more in cahoots with them than The New York Times is."
Media Matters has previously documented other media figures making the false claim that ACORN would receive government money from the recovery bill, including CNN's Lou Dobbs, Fox News' Steve Doocy, Sean Hannity and Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox Business Network's Elizabeth MacDonald. Media Matters also noted that The Washington Times, The Hill, and the San Francisco Chronicle repeated the falsehood.
From Morris' February 6 email:
I wish they would give 5 billion to ACORN. Too bad it isn't true.
Five Billion to groups "like" Acorn. It's the old Rush Limbaugh technique of lying without technically lying.
In response, the Democrats should point out that Republicans are insisting on tax cuts for companies "like" Hustler of Hollywood.
Actually you are incorrect. Using "like" doesn't free Rush from the lie either. He's lying either way. In the portion of the stimulus plan that Republicans have been hammering on, ACORN wouldn't even qualify to receive ONE DIME of the 4.19 billion dollars.. I wrote about this once before in another thread.
There's a link in this MMFA article that directs you to page 222 of the stimulus plan.
http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_hr1_text.pdf#page=222
Republicans have used the phrase "neighborhood stabilization activities" to fool people (including me) into thinking that ACORN would qualify. But the bill is not vague at all like Republicans would like us to believe. It specifically limits the fund to "emergency assistance for the redevelpment of abandoned and foreclosed homes." It doesn't even mention "nonprofit" As far as I know, I don't think that ACORN qualifies as a (A) financier (B or E) building contractor or (C) land bank operator, or (D) demolition contractor.
Republicans have used the phrase "neighborhood stabilization activities" to fool people...
I agree... My impression has been that the words "neighborhood" and "community" have been captured and demonized by the far right, as is their history of manipulating words. IMO it all stems not just from those words being associated with ACORN's work but also from Barack Obama's work (job?) as a "community organizer". In the Republican lexicon "neighborhood" and "community" now have liberal connotations.
I guess that means they no longer favor "neighborhood" schools.
I think that i should correct myself now. It does mention nonprofits. ACORN would qualify for some of the money with lots of strings attached in part 2, as it should be.
Attached strings (which is a good thing): Up to $750 million would be awarded in competition.
In short: Accelerating productivity and increasing efficiency and infrastructure capacity to meet the goals of the provision. Then it goes on to list various qualifications needed to get any money such as demonstrating capability to do the job.
ACORN would not qualify for anything in part 1 that consists of $3.44 billion.
Yes, but just because Morris lies to raise funds for GOP groups doesn't mean he isn't fair and balanced:)
just because Hitler was a mass murderer does not mean he wasn't a compassionate conservative ;:)
Exactly...Saddam Hussein was a good father, for example. ;>)
A father bringing his sons into the family business says love to me. ;>)
Just look at those cool model airplanes he bought for them. You know, the ones that could fly to America and spread Anthrax...all on one battery charge. What a dad!
Nerzog, are you suggesting Saddam was a threat to America with weapons of mass destruction? Turn in your lifelong liberal membership, immediately!
Saddam didn't even have weapons of local destruction after the Iran war of the early 80's.
Tell that to the people of Kuwait(and nerzog)!
"...end the two party system"????
Uhhh...wasn't it the Republican Party whose stated, but failed, goal was the creation of a permanent Republican majority. in effect ending the two party system? The Republicans even SAID that was their goal.
Grover Norquist, to be specific.
"Outrageously, the Democrats want to give almost $5 billion to groups like ACORN .... As you know, ACORN has been accused of massive vote fraud in many states."
Morris added "by me !" OK, he didn't, that would have been too honest.
I accuse Morris of child molesting and bestiality.
Outrageously, Fox News employs Dick Morris who has been accused of child molesting and bestiality
Col. tell us more, I wasn't aware of those charges and would be interested in learning more?
I just read on the internet (right here) that Morris is both a pedophile and a beastophile, so I can confirm what you just wrote Colonel. Someone should start a campaign to have him and the other sex offenders at Fox thrown off the air.
These charges have been leveled at Morris from multiple sources, and still others are asking questions about Morris' tast for children and barnyard animals.
Are accusations against Dick Morris of strange sexual deviancy a problem for the Republican Party? Stay tuned.
What makes the accusation even more credible is that Dick Morris has never denied it. At least ACORN has denied (Jan. 28, 2009 press release) that it is even eligible or intends to apply for the funds. ;>)
honestly, I'am curious about this guys pedophile and bestiallity allegations. Please point me to them?
Isn't what you've seen proof enough? The exact same number of state governments that have accused ACORN of voter fraud have charged Dick Morris of pedophilia AND BESTIALITY.
Okay, hahaha, man I'am just waking up !Good morning!.
Wouldn't it be great if this discussion resulted in an MSM circus.
Well, we have a clown on the 1st thread of the day, looks like you might be getting your wish!
"As you know, ACORN has been accused of massive vote fraud in many states."
Well, it is true that ACORN has been accused of that, but they're false accusations. ACORN hasn't been involved in any vote fraud. They had workers who were accused of falsifying voter registrations, but that's not voter fraud.
They had workers who were accused of falsifying voter registrations...
And, if I am not mistaken, it was ACORN that turned in the workers. But that is a distinction, just like the distinction between voting fraud and voter registration fraud, that Republicans do not wish to acknowledge. It's just another page from the Republican play book to demonize anyone and anything that stands in the way of winning elections.
LuvLuLu,
Technically that is voter registration fraud. The pattern of corruption is so widespread by ACORN workers that it is a direct assault on our democracy.
It has been documented that ACORN sponsors initiatives, like miminimum wage issues, in order to turn out more Democrat voters and influence elections.
ACORN is about as non-partisan as MMFA. It relies on legal mumbo jumbo and a shawdowy network of affilliations to promote that fiction. The reality is that they are simply a "private" arm of the Democratic Party similar in spirit to MMFA and corrupt to boot.
See the DCExaminer.com for more information:
http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/Stimulus-bill-funds-ACORN-despite-its-history-of-corruption-39288257.html
Technically that is voter registration fraud.
I don't know if that's a legal term, but you're right in concept. ACORN was the victim of a lot of fraud by temporary workers. Of course, there was no threat of damage to elections as far as I know.
The pattern of corruption is so widespread by ACORN workers...
Any evidence of how widespread, or just a reflex on your part in response to the guy on the radio?
that it is a direct assault on our democracy.
Some temp. workers screwing ACORN is an assault on our democracy? Please explain.
Since Ann Coulter is presently under investigation for voter fraud I hope she gets no stimulus funds, either... ;>)
God..., please! Please! No 'stimulating' of Coultergeist!
Since when has our Democracy become as fragile as a Republican housewife?
If it withstood the systematic attempts to gerrymander a GOP majority and the Presidential election of 2000, I'm sure a few part time, minimum wage ACORN employees won't be able to finally put a stake through it's heart.
I'll tell you what's an assualt on our democracy, AA...it's the wholesale and illegal purging of voter rolls in black areas such as what the Republicans have been notorious for.
ACORN sponsors minimum wage initiatives to get out the vote? What about the Republicans placing state constitutional amendments outlawing gay marriage on ballots during presidential elections in order to get out the Praise the Lord vote?
What about Bush funneling millions of dollars to evangelical groups after Hurricane Katrina for clean up work? Not exactly non-partisan groups there.
ACORN helps predominantly lower-income people. Lower-income people vote predominantly Democratic...except the inbred types who watch FOX .
ACORN is non partisan. They are not a democratic, or republican group. And if they were, this still wouldn't be any different.
What pattern of corruption? Where? There isn't one. If it were, don't you think that this would have been exposed before? It hasn't been. There are investigations going on, but that relates back to some of the people who worked for them, and not the group itself.
What legal mumbo jumbo does it rely on? Where are seeing said mumbo jumbo? You're not. You're making it up.
Are you mad because they help poor people have a voice?
MMFA makes no bones that they are a liberal organization exposing conservative misinformation in the media, and they don't promote anything.
Private arm of the democratic party? Where do you guys come up with this stuff?
DC Examiner? Really? You're going to use this as a source of information? You were better off quoting Malkin and the WND.
ACORN is not getting stimulus funds. They have never received federal funding, they have no plans to apply for stimulus funding. Why do you hyperventilate over a group that helps poor or lower income people? Isn't this what you guys always claim you want the poor folks to do? Pull themselves up? Help themselves out? And then when they do, you freak out about it.
You have nothing on ACORN, and nobody else does either.
And, lest we forget, George Bush "has been accused" of planning and carrying out the attacks of 9/11.
Gee, what a surprise. A crooked republican uses lies to solicit funds for a front group that does nothing more than employ him to spread lies. What a scam!
For me to judge who is right on the ACORN donations spat, I would have to see the lines of the stimulus bill that Limbaugh, Morris and others are referring to. Otherwise, I am just a spectator watching people hurl content free jibes at each other. Entertaining, but not educational. Can someone please point out exactly which lines of the 700+ page Senate stimulus plan are alleged to give ACORE money?
Thank you.
Ed Bradford
Ed,
Where have you been? It is all over the news:
$4,190,000,000, to be used for neighborhood stabilization activities related to emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes as authorized under division B, title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–289), of which—
“(1) not less than $3,440,000,000 shall be allocated by a competition for which eligible entities shall be States, units of general local government, and nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities[.]”
“(2) up to $750,000,000 shall be awarded by competition to nonprofit entities or consortia of nonprofit entities to provide community stabilization assistance […]”
That comes directly from the House Bill.
http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=109339...related to emergency assistance for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes...
The provision is for the repair and re-sale of foreclosed and abandoned homes. ACORN says that's not what it does. How do you reconcile that ACORN has publicly declared that not only does it consider itself not eligible for any of these funds but that it has no intention of applying for them? That sounds pretty clear to me. Please show me where any entity has factually refuted ACORN's statement.
Of course, AA also forgets that ACORN has NEVER received federal funding. Nope, never. He ignores that part as well.
Also, Section IX, page 125.
ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities.
So in the Bill they may not use the word Acron, but under sect. IX, page 125, they have 50Mil going to YouthBuild activities. 750 Mil for worker training and placement, 500 Mil for labor exchange and job training projects, so whom do you think this will go to? It will be organizations like Acron. Do you all disagree with this statement, if you do, tell me whom will get this money? These are the organizations they speak about in this bill, Acorn may not get 5 Billion, but they will receive some of this money, and since they are under investigation in 11 states, they should not get any money until their cases are resolved.
As you have failed to ackowledge the source info. How are you to believe anything which the republican noise machine doesn't tell you?
Shhhh everyone, markbfoot199 is gonna explain the provisions of the stimulus package when he doesn't know what a "flat tax" is. This is gonna be FUNNY!
I will guarantee that the bill will not contain the word Acron.
I think Acron was the name of Dick Morris' hooker...but he called he Tootsie. And, yes, you are correct; there is no money for Acron/Tootsie in the stimulus bill. ;>)
And ACORN Has said that they're not eligible for any of the funds being discussed, and had no plans to become eligible. What part of that don't you understand?
Would you rather have all of these homes foreclosed on? ACORN will not receive any money from this bill. They have also never received federal funding. Ever.
Notice that you have to keep reminding AA, markbfoot199, etc. of those facts every time there's a thread concerning right-wing lies over ACORN here? Notice how it doesn't do a bit of good? Notice how these guys are totally incapable of absorbing facts?
Just like their heroes on the radio- the facts don't mean s**t to them. It's all about the talking points, all the time.
Of course, but I'll keep trying. They keep saying that they committed voter fraud, they didn't. They keep saying that they committed voter registration fraud. They didn't. Folks who worked for them tried to do that, but ACORN turned them into authorities, flagged the cards, and turned them into the registrar as required. They always forget the part about where ACORN followed the laws as required of them.
Is Dick branching out?
Is Hillary Clinton not that lucrative of a subject anymore?
Maybe he's just trying to make sure he keeps getting paid to spout nonsense, so he's branching out.
Hey has anyone seen Phillib? I am trying to respond to his post the other day but the discussion was closed. He claimed I would not respond so I would really like to clear up some of the clear errors he stated as "my position". Come on Phil, I am here to answer you just have to show up. I won't hold my breath.
He does that a lot. Comes in after everyone else has moved onward with the discussion, responds to something, and then claims that he must be right because nobody has responded to him, of course, because nobody is reading that specific thread any longer.