Grassroots Groups Challange the Justice Department to Protect America’s Poor and Working Class

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) July 7, 2009 — More than 50 years ago, the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) committed itself “to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, including some of the most vulnerable members of our society.” “Relative lack of wealth” literally defines the most vulnerable segment of American society according to Zena Crenshaw Logal, Executive Director of a good government advocate known as POPULAR (Power Over Poverty Under Laws of America Restored). Shortly after his election, we accordingly hastened President Obama to foster a Justice Department that is conspicuously pro-average American. And today, POPULAR teamed with the ACORN 8 L.L.C. (ACORN 8.) in submitting their first joint complaint to the Criminal Section of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continually submit compelling evidence of various conspiracies against rights and deprivations of rights under color of law and publicize the DOJ’s response” says attorney Michael McCray, national spokesperson for the ACORN 8.

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, you know, people often come up and say we are at an historic moment. Every moment is a part of history because at some time what we are doing is going to be recorded but we really are at another defining moment in American history here this week and this weekend.

And the American people need to know that House Republicans are fighting for the right values and for what 99 percent of Americans have been telling us for the past week. I am also happy to report that most House Republicans agreed with their constituents even before they began hearing from their constituents, and that’s a good thing for the American people to know because that means our resolve is even stronger than it would have been if some of our Members had been of a different mind but changed
their mind once they started hearing from their constituents.

And then a group that people have asked me about ACORN. There is a big gift in here to that group. It includes a giveaway that would force taxpayers to bankroll a slush fund to a discredited ally of the Democratic Party. ACORN’s fraudulent voter registration activities on behalf of Democratic candidates are well known.

This bill that the Democrats have presented would return any profits made in the long term from the economic rescue package partly back to ACORN. In fact, the first part of it would go to ACORN for their often-illegal help in helping Democrats get elected.

I have, Mr. Speaker, a long list of their most recent scandals and unlawful activities. Seven ACORN workers [Page: H10282]
were charged with committing the biggest voter registration fraud in Washington State history. That was from the Seattle Times.

Another article from the Wall Street Journal, “Late last year, a handful of ACORN canvassers in Washington State admitted that they had falsified voter registrations by illegally filling out hundreds of forms with names such as Dennis Hastert, Leon Spinks and Fruito Boy Crispila.”

“ACORN is a long-time advocacy group with whom Obama was once associated. Recently, though, ACORN workers in two states have pleaded guilty to election fraud, an unlikely recipient of federal largess.” Fox News Report, 9/26/08.

“Seven ACORN workers were charged with `committing the biggest voter-registration fraud in [Washington] state history.’ ” The Seattle Times, 7/26/07.

ACORN workers submitted “just over 1,800 new voter registration forms, but there was a problem. The names were made up–all but six of the 1,800 submissions were fakes… The ACORN workers told state investigators that they went to the Seattle public library, sat at a table and filled out the voter registration forms. They made up names, addresses, and Social Security numbers and in some cases plucked names from the phone book. One worker said it was a lot of hard work making up all those names
and another said he would sit at home, smoke marijuana and fill out the forms.” Fox News Channel, 5/02/08.

“Late last year, a handful of ACORN canvassers in Washington state admitted that they had falsified voter registrations by illegally filling out hundreds of forms with names such as Dennis Hastert, Leon Spinks and Fruito Boy Crispila.” Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08.

“Eight workers for a get-out-the-vote effort in St. Louis city and county have pleaded guilty to federal election fraud for submitting false registration cards for the 2006 election, authorities said today. The workers were employed by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), gathering voter registrations.” Associated Press, 4/02/08.

“Acorn has had a number of missteps. This month its founder, Wade Rathke, resigned after news emerged that his brother Dale had embezzled nearly $1 million from Acorn and affiliated groups eight years ago–information the group kept from law-enforcement authorities and most members. Dale Rathke left the organization only last month.” Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08.

So how exactly will ACORN be rewarded if the Democrats get their way? Very simple: behind closed doors, ACORN-friendly language was slipped into the Democratic economic rescue proposal by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). Take a look:

Transfer of a percentage of profits.

1. Deposits. Not less than 20 percent of any profit realized on the sale of each troubled asset purchased under this Act shall be deposited as provided in paragraph (2).

2. Use of deposits. Of the amount referred to in paragraph (1)

1. 65 percent shall be deposited into the Housing Trust Fund established under section 1338 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Regulatory Reform Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4568); and

2. 35 percent shall be deposited into the Capital Magnet Fund established under section 1339 of that Act (12 U.S.C. 4569).

Remainder deposited in the Treasury. All amounts remaining after payments under paragraph (1) shall be paid into the General Fund of the Treasury for reduction of the public debt.

What does this mean? The Wall Street Journal breaks it down in an editorial published today:

“What we have here essentially are a pair of government slush funds created in July as part of the Economic Recovery Act that pump tax dollars into the coffers of low-income housing advocacy groups, such as Acorn.”

“Acorn, one of America’s most militant left-wing `community activist groups,’ is spending $16 million this year to register Democrats to vote in November. In the past several years, Acorn’s voter registration programs have come under investigation in Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri and Washington, while several of their employees have been convicted of voter fraud…”

That’s right. Rather than returning any profits made in the long-term from the economic rescue package, Democrats want to first reward their radical allies at ACORN for their help–often illegal help–in getting Democrats elected to office. Families, seniors, small businesses, and all American taxpayers deserve better than what Democratic leaders are attempting to jam down their throats.

The rescue package should not become a “Christmas tree” for the Democratic Majority’s far-left wing political agenda that seeks to shower taxpayer dollars upon groups like ACORN. On behalf of beleaguered taxpayers across the nation, House Republicans will continue to fight to remove the ACORN payback and any other Democratic poison-pills from the economic rescue package.

Mr. Speaker, I want the American people to know, Republicans are fighting for you.

A district judge who held another ACORN worker for trial Monday on election law violations urged prosecutors to go after the real culprit, the organization that employed him.

“Somebody has to go after ACORN,” Senior District Judge Richard H. Zoller said about the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

“It’s happening all over the country. All you have to do is turn on the television,” he said, referring to voter registration fraud charges brought recently against ACORN and its workers in Nevada.

“We will,” Allegheny County Detective Robert F. Keenan promised as he wrapped up his testimony.

A spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said following the hearing that the county’s investigation into members of ACORN and their activities during the 2008 campaign “remains open and active.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. has backed off his plan to investigate purported wrongdoing by the liberal activist group ACORN, saying  “powers that be” put the kibosh on the idea.

Mr. Conyers, Michigan Democrat, earlier bucked his party leaders by calling for hearings on accusations the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) has committed crimes ranging from voter fraud to a mob-style “protection” racket.

“The powers that be decided against it,” Mr. Conyers told The Washington Times as he left the House chambers Wednesday.

The chairman declined to elaborate, shrugging off questions about who told him how to run his committee and give the Democrat-allied group a pass.

Nationwide - Justice Department Charges Filed Against ACORN: Monday, January 12, 2009

Today began a quiet revolution in the national grassroots community. ACORN board members across the country took a collective breath and screamed “YES WE CAN.” In US Attorney’s offices from Washington DC to California including Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Michigan, Rhode Island, Ohio, Louisiana, North Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi; ACORN members began the arduous process of demanding justice and accountability from ACORN. The US Attorney’s Office and/or the FBI have been contacted in fourteen states and the District of Columbia. The allegations include RICO, ERISA and criminal civil rights violations against ACORN’s low-income membership. The dispute started following embezzlement and an eight year cover up by ACORN founder, staff and executive committee members.

The estranged members of the National Board of ACORN filed criminal charges against senior staff members operating that venerable organization. For decades, ACORN has operated in silence, preferring to keep its members marginalized, while at the same time using them to intimidate banks, politicians and business owners. These ACORN members have sacrificed personal time and money to fight for the liberation of the poor from ACORN. In ACORN offices across the country there is an unofficial policy of removing anyone who questions ACORN or dares to ask for any type of reporting and accountability. After hard work by ACORN 8 members across the country; the advent of the Obama administration, with its pledge of truth and transparency in the government, heralds a new day for ACORN.