The number of ACORN personnel under investigation or indictment is astounding. During this last election alone there were accusations in I believe at least 14 states. Their tactics are ruthless and their philosophy is misguided. They are well connected politically as well. Even The Obama himself gave their group $800,000 to help him campaign and they will get millions more through the stimulus that was recently passed. If there is any group that should be held responsible for their part in the financial crisis, it is them. But I do not believe that will happen. Not even with the recent report from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In this report they question the legality of the ACORN organization sighting numerous investigations and evidence. Here are some of their conclusions copied and pasted from the report which you can read here in its entirety if you wish.
First, ACORN has evaded taxes, obstructed justice, engaged in self dealing, and aided and abetted a cover-up of embezzlement by Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke.
Second, ACORN has committed investment fraud, deprived the public of its right to honest services, and engaged in a racketeering enterprise affecting interstate commerce.
Third, ACORN has committed a conspiracy to defraud the United States by using taxpayer funds for partisan political activities.
Fourth, ACORN has submitted false filings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor, in addition to violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Fifth, ACORN falsified and concealed facts concerning an illegal transaction between related parties in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
As you can see, it is much more than voter fraud. It is hard to believe that the media is not going after this group like they did Sarah Palin. Their repeated offenses of voter fraud over the last decade should be enough to hammer ACORN, but I am not seeing the outcry. Maybe this report will get something going, but maybe not. It will be interesting though to see if Obama makes any statements about the report considering his very close ties to the group. I guess time will tell.
