# ACORN "pimp" arrested for illegally accessing Senate office; tampering with phone system **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 26, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586 "2010-01-26T23:13:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/1 "2010-01-26T23:13:35Z")
Remember the smarmy little ass biter who dressed up like a pimp and gave those doctored ACORN videos to Fox News? He just got [arrested](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/26/senate.office.break.in/index.html?hpt=T1) for trying to bust into Senator Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans district office and fuck with her phones. > [@](#): > > Joseph Basel, 24, Robert Flanagan, 24, James O’Keefe, 25, and Stan Dai, 24, were charged with entering Landrieu’s New Orleans office, which is federal property, under “false pretenses for the purpose of committing a felony,” according to the attorney’s office. > > Law enforcement officials say they believe O’Keefe is the conservative activist of the same name who dressed up as a pimp last summer and visited an office of ACORN, a liberal community organizing group, in order to solicit advice on setting up a brothel, among other scenarios. > > \ > > Basel and Flanagan attempted to gain access to Landrieu’s office Monday while posing as telephone repairmen, the attorney’s office said in a news release. > > The two men were “each dressed in blue denim pants, a blue work shirt, a light green fluorescent vest, a tool belt and a construction-style hard hat when they entered the Hale Boggs Federal Building,” the release said. > > After they entered the building, the two men told a staffer in Landrieu’s office they were telephone repairmen, according to the release. They then asked for, and were granted, access to the reception desk’s phone system. > > O’Keefe, meanwhile, recorded their actions with a cell phone. > Flanagan and Basel later requested access to a telephone closet, claiming they needed to perform work on the main phone system, the release said. Dai aided the others in planning the operation, the release said. > > If convicted, the four men would each face a fine of $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison, according to the release Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I hope he gets the whole ten years, the little shit. What a dumbass. What did he think he was going to accomplish? Was he hoping to bug Landrieu’s phones or something? How stupid was he to videotape it. I wonder if Fox News will disavow him now. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/2 "2010-01-26T23:16:24Z")
No prison time. The little yuppie wouldn’t last the night in juvie hall. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/3 "2010-01-26T23:21:27Z")
Fluorescent vests and a\* construction-style hard hat\* for an office phone switchboard crew ? Jesus. And here I thought the pimp costume was out of touch with reality… Who are these people, seriously ? Where do they breed them ? Do they look up to the Village People for verisimilitude ? What’s the next cunning plan, infiltration of a NA reservation with war paint and eagle feather bonnets ? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/4 "2010-01-26T23:22:20Z")
Just goes to show, you can’t trust Republicans! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/5 "2010-01-26T23:26:10Z")
What difference does it make, in regards to ACORN? It worked, worked like a charm, their funding was slashed, and their name is mud. What does truth have to do with anything? ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/6 "2010-01-26T23:28:03Z")
Man… phone tampering? That’s SO 1970’s… ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/7 "2010-01-26T23:35:47Z")
Now, now, I"m sure that this was just a harmless little prank. Boys will be boys right? They were just funnin’ ya. Just having a bit of a joke, ya know. Man, you libs have no sense of humor whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/8 "2010-01-26T23:36:15Z")
We all know how high up that 70’s incident reached. Maybe this likewise could could go up to the highest reaches of Republican power. Who’s an insane, paranoid lunatic with lots of power in the GOP? It can’t be…could this go all the way up to Glenn Beck himself. I wonder if it has anything to do with the rumors of that girl in the 70’s… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/9 "2010-01-27T00:56:53Z")
Don’t we have laws against terrorism? I demand an investigation as to why the intelligence agencies of the United States were not identifying and tracking these terrorists and the groups that fund them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/10 "2010-01-27T01:20:58Z")
Text of the House Resolution proposed by Pete Olson (R-TX), 10/7/09 > [@](#): > > Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III filmed investigatory videos uncovering the fraudulent and illegal practices of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN); > > Whereas the House of Representatives voted to completely defund ACORN on September 17, 2009; > > Whereas these videos resulted in the potential annual savings of millions of taxpayer dollars to organizations that contract with ACORN; > > Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III have displayed exemplary actions as government watchdogs and young journalists uncovering wasteful government spending; and > > Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III are owed a debt of gratitude by the people of the United States: > > Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) honors Hannah Giles and James O’ Keefe III for their work as investigative journalists; (2) commends Hannah Giles and James O’ Keefe III for bringing to light the fraudulent behavior of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) and helping save millions of taxpayer dollars that otherwise would have funded ACORN; and (3) respectfully requests the Clerk of the House to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III. I could look up the 31 CongCritters who voted for it, but I’m feeling a mite queasy… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/11 "2010-01-27T01:21:13Z")
But how will this affect Festival? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/12 "2010-01-27T01:22:22Z")
Are you one with Landrieu? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/13 "2010-01-27T01:47:16Z")
It is fine. he is a conservative and he must do what saving the world for corporations demands. We would all be so much better off if he could listen in on Landriau,s phone calls. The safety of the republic demands it. Saying bad things about a patriot like that is just so liberal. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/14 "2010-01-27T01:52:31Z")
Bill Clinton got a blowjob, and Obama lied about here he was born. So I guess things are about even? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/15 "2010-01-27T02:08:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Are you one with Landrieu? Don’t be a Herbert. Does the pit remind anyone else of the Landrieu episode? Everyone’s on their best behavior normally, polite, hepful and calmly IMHOing or GreatDebating. But then once in the pit: _ **SHITCOCK!!! HURRRRRGH!!1** _ ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/16 "2010-01-27T02:12:14Z")
In the AP article I read, O’Keefe apparently said “The truth shall set me free” as he got into a cab after leaving jail. We’ll see, I guess. I don’t think they let you off just because the truth happens to be that you’re a fucking idiot. Anyway, an interesting wrinkle is that one of O’Keefe’s frat-boy commandos (Flanagan) apparently is the son of a current US attorney. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/17 "2010-01-27T02:20:54Z")
He probably thought he was pulling off some kind of Michael Moore style, guerilla journalism stunt/prank. I guess he had no idea how fucking stupid it was to try that shit in a federal building. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/18 "2010-01-27T02:40:41Z")
Annnnnnd countdown to “Vengeful Obama sics jack-booted thugs on ACORN whistle-blower” in 3… 2… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/19 "2010-01-27T02:46:23Z")
Let him be cast apart from the people, and wear the Mark of ACORN upon his brow! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586/20 "2010-01-27T02:47:57Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Annnnnnd countdown to “Vengeful Obama sics jack-booted thugs on ACORN whistle-blower” in 3… 2… Obama’s siccing the SDMB Mods on him? Dang, that’s _harsh_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-pimp-arrested-for-illegally-accessing-senate-office-tampering-with-phone-system/526586.md?page=2)