# If ACORN is so evil, why did it take 38 years to notice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 18, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515 "2009-09-18T00:16:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/41 "2009-09-18T15:24:53Z")
They hire a bunch of temps around election times. They are gone after the election.Only repubs can hire thousands of temps at one time and have every single one follow rules and laws perfectly. There is no malice. ACORN tries to get voter apps. You sign who comes . You do not ask what party they follow or who they vote for. But if your job is to collect voter apps. It is simply logical to go where there are the most unregistered voters. It is not a plot. But if repubs can shut them down it is to their advantage. That is what this is about. It has nothing to do with voter fraud, because those who fake registrations can not vote. It is political and it is a republican witch hunt. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/42 "2009-09-18T15:28:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apparently hypocrites, whores and crooks are a target demographic for Democrats. Who knew? 😃 I wish this were true. Unfortunately, a lot of hypocrites, whores and crooks are found in the Republican Party. The key difference seems to be that the poor, unsuccessful ones go for the Dems, while the rich, successful ones support the Pubbies. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/43 "2009-09-18T15:37:26Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Gad, this shit is funny. Corruption, embezzlement, nepotism, cover-ups - “Move along now! Nothing to see here!” Apparently you won’t take ‘yes, I agree’ for an answer. You’d be a great Congressional Republican. > [@](#): > > Right, right - the mere fact that they cover up the theft of funds shouldn’t affect whether or not they get more money. That’s an interesting position for you to take. I’m assuming it’s your position, because I certainly never said it was mine. > [@](#): > > Apparently hypocrites, whores and crooks are a target demographic for Democrats. Who knew? 😃 Or it just might be that people who aren’t registered to vote are much more likely to be in Dem-leaning demographics than in GOP-leaning demographics. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/44 "2009-09-18T15:40:39Z")
Pubbies want to send somebody to work the trailer park, I say, bring it! Haven’t sicced the dog on anybody since those nice Mormon boys came round! Of course, the dog was sober that day, so its sort of a hit-or-miss proposition… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/45 "2009-09-18T15:40:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It didn’t. ACORN has been up to no good for years. [Cite](http://www.nlpc.org/stories/2008/07/28/acorn-admits-embezzlement-scandal-founder-steps-down), [cite](http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6968). The hard Left and its allies in the MSM simply denies for as long as they can, then minimizes until it goes away. > > Regards, > Shodan Dude, that second link – DiscovertheNetworks? **Really?** :rolleyes: You are aware, are you not, that [David Horowitz](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000703/sherman) is a pure-D crank, and that that DiscovertheNetworks is conspiracy-theory bullshit? Oh, I’m sure the connections it maps are real enough, but the funding amounts have got to be trivial compared to a single RW think-tank budget; there’s just no comparison between LW and RW “networks.” See also [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=307816) psychotic crap about a “Shadow Party” within the Dems. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/46 "2009-09-18T15:42:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Of course, there is absolutely nothing illegal, unethical or improper about ACORN targeting “a demographic that is favorable to the Democratic party” for voter registration – and there is nothing to stop conservative or Pub-friendly organizations from doing their own voter-registration drives in the trailer parks. If they do, I would encourage them – the more eligible voters are registered voters, the healthier for democracy. But conservatives, for some reason, don’t seem to see it that way. Correct, why do they need governmental funding to do so? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/47 "2009-09-18T15:43:03Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Dude, that second link – DiscovertheNetworks? **Really?** :rolleyes: You are aware, are you not, that [David Horowitz](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000703/sherman) is a pure-D crank, and that that DiscovertheNetworks is conspiracy-theory bullshit? Oh, I’m sure the connections it maps are real enough, but the funding amounts have got to be trivial compared to a single RW think-tank budget; there’s just no comparison between LW and RW “networks.” See also [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=307816) psychotic crap about a “Shadow Party” within the Dems. In my experience, \*\*Shodan \*\*likes to linkdump and then hope like hell nobody takes too close a look at his “cites”. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/48 "2009-09-18T15:45:41Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > Correct, why do they need governmental funding to do so? They don’t; but isn’t government funding for voter-registration efforts a legitimate and laudable use of tax dollars, regardless of the funded organization’s target demographic? ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/49 "2009-09-18T15:46:51Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > They don’t; but isn’t government funding for voter-registration efforts a legitimate and laudable use of tax dollars, regardless of the funded organization’s target demographic? I would say no. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/50 "2009-09-18T15:51:03Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > I would say no. Why not? Isn’t more voters a \*good \*thing? Or is it the fact that ACORN tends to get more Democrats that bothers you so much? If so, why can’t a suitably right-wing organization do the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/51 "2009-09-18T15:51:24Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > …Or it just might be that people who aren’t registered to vote are much more likely to be in Dem-leaning demographics than in GOP-leaning demographics. Bingo was his name-o! The settled, secure and comfortable have been canvassed within an inch of their lives, there’s not much blood to squeeze out of that rock. Progressives have two main enemies, conservatives and apathy. You can at least argue with conservatives, apathy deadens everything it touches. Who is it that usually puts forth proposals to make registration and voting easier and less burdensome? Well, I guess that would be the people who think it would be better for their politics if more people voted. And who opposes such moves? That would be the people desperately trying to hold on to the illusion of majority. Tell me why people shouldn’t vote. Tell me why reaching out to people who don’t vote isn’t obviously a good thing, if democracy is what you’re about? And if democracy isn’t what you’re about, you’re my enemy anyway. Democracy is about the only faith I have left, and a battered faith it is, too. But I say give as good as you get, and go down swinging. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/52 "2009-09-18T15:54:20Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > I would say no. Why not? The more who vote the closer to a representative government we will have. Our turnouts have been pathetically low. People who live in the boonies or live in cities with poor transportation are under represented. We should include as many as possible in the process for it to get more legitimate. The repubs favor a low turnout because it favors them, not because it is better for America. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/53 "2009-09-18T15:56:50Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Why not? The more who vote the closer to a representative government we will have. Our turnouts have been pathetically low. People who live in the boonies or live in cities with poor transportation are under represented. We should include as many as possible in the process for it to get more legitimate. > The repubs favor a low turnout because it favors them, not because it is better for America. If you want people to vote, why not mandate it? Oh, don’t want to do that? Spend money so that you can get people (who will vote for your side) to the polls! This is pure partisan bullshit, really. I don’t see what is so hard to understand. If people want/desire to vote, then they will. If some private organization wants to push for votes from a demographic, more power to them but they should definitely NOT be getting funding from the government to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/54 "2009-09-18T16:05:49Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > If you want people to vote, why not mandate it? > > Oh, don’t want to do that? Spend money so that you can get people (who will vote for your side) to the polls! > > This is pure partisan bullshit, really. > > I don’t see what is so hard to understand. If people want/desire to vote, then they will. > > If some private organization wants to push for votes from a demographic, more power to them but they should definitely NOT be getting funding from the government to do so. No, it isn’t really. No one was espousing the government fund voter registration for one particular demographic only. Register as many voters as possible; that’s it. R, D, L, I…doesn’t matter. Your post reads as paranoid. There is nothing wrong with getting people to vote. We should have more participation. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/55 "2009-09-18T16:07:26Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > If you want people to vote, why not mandate it? Because \*forcing \*people to vote is nothing like \*enabling \*them to vote. I should think this would be obvious. > [@Kearsen](#): > > If some private organization wants to push for votes from a demographic, more power to them but they should definitely NOT be getting funding from the government to do so. Which would mean, of course, that the wealthier party would have better funding, and get more votes. What’s to stop your favorite party-of-choice’s voter registration organization from getting funding similar to ACORN? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/56 "2009-09-18T16:08:30Z")
Why, whatever do you mean? Surely, the Republican Party doesn’t actually favor the comfortable and secure, why, that’s just a bunch of lefty propaganda, right? Why would one think that the \*status quo \*is less popular amongst the poor and powerless? If, as I’ve heard so often, the vast majority of Americans are center-right, and naturally conservative, why, any effort to be inclusive is just bound to reap great benefits for Republicans! (Furiously batting big, brown innocent eyes…) ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/57 "2009-09-18T16:09:00Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The more who vote the closer to a representative government we will have. Only if the voter representation is an accurate microcosm of the population at large. But by targeting demographics based on partisanship, you are simply skewing the results towards your own side. The end result is no different than vote suppression of the opposite side. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/58 "2009-09-18T16:13:05Z")
What if results that tilt toward one side _are_ an accurate microcosm of the population at large? Again, no one is saying target demographics. No one is stopping other groups from doing the exact same thing. Do it! Register voters. Get them out there to vote. Hell, carpool them if you have to. It happened here in Texas in 2000 and again in '04. Get everyone legally and physically able to vote registered. Why is that such a scary proposition? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/59 "2009-09-18T16:15:11Z")
Vote suppression of the other side? That’s bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515/60 "2009-09-18T16:15:21Z")
I can see a case for government-funded voter registration drives by private organisations, but it would have to be done in a non-partisan way, making sure that all groups of potential voters get covered by those drives. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-acorn-is-so-evil-why-did-it-take-38-years-to-notice/510515.md?page=4)