It’s pretty clear that how you feel about this will probably depend on your political beliefs. Is this a good or bad thing? What will be the consequences (politically and otherwise)? Who or what had the greatest impact on the closure? Does this say anything about the power of any form of media (the Internet, the lone blogger, etc.)?
Theoretically, they were divided into two wings, one of which did public works and one of which did political pushing (getting people registered to vote, campaigning for their preferred candidate, etc.), but that the bank account for these two activities was wholly independent from one another so it was alright for them to receive government money for their public works because none of it went to their political work, which was funded by alternate means.
If they have to shut down both arms of their activities, doesn’t that rather imply that the funding for their political work really was dependent on government money and not funded by alternate means? I certainly don’t want to be taxed to supply money for political campaigning.
That’s possible, although it could also be that the political ill will engendered by the public works side has poisoned the ability to raise funds for the political works side. If so, I’d expect that they could at some point reincarnate one or both sections later as separate entities.
Fox News spent a lot of time covering this yesterday. The reason for shutting down was a combination of factors, one of which was not getting the Census contract, the recent laws made it harder for them to get grants, and all of the negative publicity made it harder for them to get private/corporate donations.
As a matter of context, I spent 4 years working for a very successful charity, and they operated on a razor thin margin at the best of times. It’s almost by definition, they aren’t going to be awash in cash reserves, they don’t have access to unlimited credit, and their stated goal is to run at near full capacity (helping the most people with the money you have). There isn’t a “war chest” for when something goes wrong, it’s a charity, not Toyota.
They also haven’t stopped doing anything. Like any good corporation after a scandal, they have essentially broken up the organization, and relabeled each individual branch (which means each branch can now get government funding again). Since after all, ACORN wasn’t any actually thing, it was just an umbrella group that linked hundreds of community organizations. Not some monolith seeking to make everyone in America poor.
It will certainly be interesting to see how or if this stains the Republican Party in the future–what aspect of this will people remember? Hard to call yourself a compassionate conservative, and campaign in poor urban areas, when you’re known for squashing community aid groups.
Personally, I think it’s a shame that they got run out on a rail like that.
On the other hand, I’d never friggin’ heard of them before they got run out on a rail like that, so there you go.
I believe there is a law suit over that faux pimp. By disbanding, they may be able to claim more damages. I think that may be a motive. In any case, the pimp thing was the final straw in regards to tarnishing their brand, which would make it more difficult for them to raise money.
If ACORN can show that all the negative publicity from the lying shitheads who lied about them, and those who lied about them by proxy, actually hurt them financially, could those lying shitheads be sued in a civil court for said lying?
Good riddance-I see no reason why my tax dolars should be given to an organization that works against my interests. If wealthy liberals like what they were doing, they can fund it themselves.
Also, commiting election fraud is a Feral offense, I think the people who were forging signatiures ought to be prosecuted.
Wasn’t that the same guy who got caught fiddling with the phone lines in a Congressional office? What ever became of that?
When asked he stated that he was not allowed to comment while his legal action was pending. He also stated that he was “acting as a journalist” when he went into that federal building, much like some other guy did back in the 50s.
This has been covered nigh-endlessly in this forum and I’d hope you would eventually stop perpetuating incorrect information.
There was no election fraud. At worst, there was attempted voter registration fraud – that ACORN monitored and reported (as required by law).
It’s difficult to find accurate information on this, as Googling turns up a huge number of right-wing sites, none of which seem to contain actual facts. (Rather, they’re very big on “It’s being reported…” and the like.) The article Acorn Voter Fraud Claims Are Phony looks accurate, but I can’t vouch for the site and also have to acknowledge it’s an Op-Ed.
If you can supply factual information showing that it’s wrong, I’d appreciate a cite.
That’s what the smiley is for. He’s not really spreading right-winger horseshit, its a joke. Ha, ha.
I just like the term “Feral offense”. Some vivid imagery there.
Perhaps, but I was sure the laugh was some (incomprehensible to me) play on Feral rather than Federal.
Damn tea-bagger threads have my “joke” meter totally out-of-whack.
I think their largest units had already changed their names and will continue doing what they do. As a national organization, ACORN is done and we’ll see if someone else fills the gap.
The dickhead in the pimp suit.
It says that if an organization that mostly represents poor people is targeted by national political groups, they’re fucked. Take that, scapegoat!
Because that’s what tax dollars do? My tax dollars go to fund the US Army, an organization that’s working against my interests. By the same token, should I say that if rich conservatives like waging unprovoked wars of conquest, they should fund it themselves?