# What does the acronym ACORN stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 12, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634 "2008-10-12T21:24:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/181 "2008-10-19T03:46:29Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Yes, but not from most Republicans I know, which is what makes the party’s line so odd. The majority of Republican _voters_, the rank and file membership, are Republicans because they agree with the basic Republican values (small government, fiscal responsibility, some social conservatism), regardless of the fact that the party operatives haven’t actually delivered on those values for several decades now. The majority of Republican _politicians_, including the party machinery who don’t actually hold official government posts, are Republicans because they’ve figured out how to manipulate that rank and file’s votes to achieve power. They like the power and they like using that power to make themselves and their friends wealthy(er). The basic Republican philosophy of governing, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/182 "2008-10-19T04:27:37Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally posted by **kaylasdad99** > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > Originally Posted by **Carol Stream** > > > \*Round here, there are multiple places where one can register to vote–the DMV, the library, the village hall, the county courthouse, and etc. > > > > > > Somehow, I don’t think one guy could go to the Carol Stream Library and register 73 times. Why can that guy go to ACORN and do it?\* > > > > What would there be to stop him? He asks someone behind the desk for the registration form, fills it out, and turns it in. Later he does it again. If he gets challenged, all he has to say is that he wants to change the party affiliation, or correct his ZIP code, or whatever occurs to him. If he doesn’t get challenged, he doesn’t get challenged. Either way, any form he submits at the library gets forwarded to the registrar. > > You have to prove who you are (hence, no registrations for Mickey Mouse), and that you live in the precinct (hence, no Tony Romo registrations in Ohio). If the lowly Carol Stream Library can manage it, why can’t ACORN, other than they don’t even try? Funny how what you wrote in response to my post has such a small amount of relevance to what I wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/183 "2008-10-19T12:13:06Z")
I think this simple failure to communicate will be solved when we all realize that when a Republican voter drive receives a card filled out with a funny name\*, they throw it in the trash. \*You know, anything that sounds foreign or poor. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/184 "2008-10-19T13:09:50Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Some don’t fill them out to vote for Barack Obama? It doesn’t really matter who “Mickey Mouse” intended to vote for. Mickey Mouse doesn’t have a driver’s license identifying him as Mickey Mouse, so he doesn’t get to vote on election day. A voter registration form does not equal a vote. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/185 "2008-10-19T22:45:13Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > What actual bad effect do you think will be produced by the unfortunate but inevitable fact of having some fake registration cards submitted to election officials? Voter registration fraud can lead to voter fraud, as shown here: [http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/news/politics/bogus\_voter\_booted\_amid\_probe\_of\_acorn\_133540.htm](http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/news/politics/bogus_voter_booted_amid_probe_of_acorn_133540.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/186 "2008-10-19T23:24:00Z")
So which is worse, **Carol**? An organization registering people to vote regardless of party which ends up submitting (according to the law) about 1.5% false registrations, 99.9% of which are not going to be ever used to vote, or [someone registering people to vote as Republicans completely without their knowledge through what is basically fraud and forgery](http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fraud20-2008oct20,0,3842357.story)? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/187 "2008-10-19T23:25:06Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > Legally, in this case, voter fraud does not occur until _somebody tries to vote_ using one of the fake names. So RICO has no chance of applying. Nice try though. > > Let me set another scenario. I’m a disgruntled citizen watching my candidate’s chances spiral down the tubes. I go to the local farmer’s market one Saturday and see one of those damn ACORN people walking around, trying to register people that I can tell by looking will vote for the other guy. I decided to mess with the ACORN douche by filling out an application with a fake name 'cause maybe I can get him fired. Stupid asshole deserves it, recruiting voters for the other guy. Isn’t ACORN supposed to be [non-partisan](http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12342)? > [@](#): > > ACORN is a non-profit, non-partisan social justice organization with national headquarters in New York, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/188 "2008-10-19T23:51:13Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Isn’t ACORN supposed to be [non-partisan](http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12342)? It is, in fact, non-partisan. That doesn’t mean that it will be perceived that way, as we’re seeing right now from McCain and friends. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/189 "2008-10-20T00:10:54Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > So which is worse, **Carol**? An organization registering people to vote regardless of party which ends up submitting (according to the law) about 1.5% false registrations, 99.9% of which are not going to be ever used to vote, or [someone registering people to vote as Republicans completely without their knowledge through what is basically fraud and forgery](http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fraud20-2008oct20,0,3842357.story)? **Carol Stream,** could you please tell us if you think **jayjay’s** example is a good thing to do or a bad thing? Just that. Good or bad. Tell us. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/190 "2008-10-20T00:37:16Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Voter registration fraud can lead to voter fraud, as shown here: > > [http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/news/politics/bogus\_voter\_booted\_amid\_probe\_of\_acorn\_133540.htm](http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/news/politics/bogus_voter_booted_amid_probe_of_acorn_133540.htm) So the system worked, kicking this guy out. Thanks for pointing this out. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/191 "2008-10-20T00:39:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > It is, in fact, non-partisan. That doesn’t mean that it will be perceived that way, as we’re seeing right now from McCain and friends. It is, technically. In practice, not as much. But my comment simply went to the Jenaroph’s post, which implied that they were able to act in a partisan manner. [QUOTE=Jenaroph] …I go to the local farmer’s market one Saturday and see one of those damn ACORN people walking around, trying to register people that I can tell by looking will vote for the other guy. I decided to mess with the ACORN douche by filling out an application with a fake name 'cause maybe I can get him fired. Stupid asshole deserves it, recruiting voters for the other guy. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/192 "2008-10-20T00:43:11Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > So the system worked, kicking this guy out. Thanks for pointing this out. Of course, the system would work even better, if ACORN wasn’t registering Mickey Mouse to start with. Why not try THAT? ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/193 "2008-10-20T00:47:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > **Carol Stream,** could you please tell us if you think **jayjay’s** example is a good thing to do or a bad thing? Just that. Good or bad. Tell us. Bad thing. Anything else? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/194 "2008-10-20T00:52:50Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Of course, the system would work even better, if ACORN wasn’t registering Mickey Mouse to start with. Why not try THAT? Well, how was ACORN supposed to stop this guy? He had a valid name and a valid address (albeit not his). What institutional change do you propose that would have stopped this guy from attempting to register multiple times? As noted above, he was caught by the registrar. This fruitloop was warned to stop by the authorities, yet continued. Then he went and voted, and got busted. Far as I can tell, the system works. Personally, I’m not happy with ACORN. They do have a history of this sort of problem, for various reasons. But if ACORN is forbidden to collect voter registration, then we also have to outlaw the League of Women Voters and other organizations that do the same thing. So what’s your solution? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/195 "2008-10-20T01:01:48Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Of course, the system would work even better, if ACORN wasn’t registering Mickey Mouse to start with. Why not try THAT? That this has been [explained](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10308174&postcount=16) multiple times, in multiple posts, in multiple threads, THEY HAVE TO FILE EVERY REGISTRATION THEY COLLECT IF THEY DON’T THEY’RE BREAKING THE LAW, and you still don’t understand it speaks loudly. CMC +fnord! ---
**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:** [October 20, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/196 "2008-10-20T01:14:24Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > That this has been [explained](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10308174&postcount=16) multiple times, in multiple posts, in multiple threads, THEY HAVE TO FILE EVERY REGISTRATION THEY COLLECT IF THEY DON’T THEY’RE BREAKING THE LAW, and you still don’t understand it speaks loudly. > > CMC +fnord! Sorry **CMC** , I didn’t quite get that. Am I to understand that there is some law REQUIRING groups that register voters to submit ALL of the paperwork, even if they suspect that some of them are false? This new learning amazes me! What a good law! Otherwise, groups could go into a predominantly (lets say democrat) area, collect registrations and then throw them all away! And this good law prevents that! Excellent! (has anyone told **Carol Stream** this?) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/197 "2008-10-20T01:37:05Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Of course, the system would work even better, if ACORN wasn’t registering Mickey Mouse to start with. Why not try THAT? Because: 1. THEY AREN’T DOING THAT, DAMMIT. They aren’t asking people to register as Mickey Mouse. 2. BECAUSE IT’S ILLEGAL, DAMMIT. If some wiseass takes the form offered to them and fills it out with a fake name, ACORN LEGALLY CANNOT REJECT IT. From this point on, please preface your posts with: “I understand that ACORN cannot legally reject or discard registrations even if they seem fake, but…” ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/198 "2008-10-20T02:16:53Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Because: > > 1. THEY AREN’T DOING THAT, DAMMIT. They aren’t asking people to register as Mickey Mouse. > 2. BECAUSE IT’S ILLEGAL, DAMMIT. If some wiseass takes the form offered to them and fills it out with a fake name, ACORN LEGALLY CANNOT REJECT IT. > > From this point on, please preface your posts with: “I understand that ACORN cannot legally reject or discard registrations even if they seem fake, but…” I seriously doubt my local municipality would register Mr. M. Mouse, so how are the rules different for ACORN? Are you saying that the law requires groups like ACORN to be less stringent in their documentation? That doesn’t pass the common sense test. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/199 "2008-10-20T02:22:19Z")
A note of curiosity. I see several times the phrasing “most states require…” that all such registrations be turned in, clearly to prevent mischief, etc. But which do not, and what could their justification be? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634/200 "2008-10-20T02:28:52Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I seriously doubt my local municipality would register Mr. M. Mouse, so how are the rules different for ACORN? Are you saying that the law requires groups like ACORN to be less stringent in their documentation? That doesn’t pass the common sense test. Couldn’t be simpler. Your local municipality is empowered to register voters. By the same token, they are empowered not to, if they have sufficient reason, such as an abridgement of civil rights due to felony conviction, etc. The ACORN workers are not…let me repeat that for you, you seem to have some problem with this…not registering voters. They are assisting and encouraging that registration, but they are not empowered to decide anything at all…anything, mind you!.. as to the registrants status or eligibility. They can only pass along the paper work to the empowered authority. Period. Full stop. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-acronym-acorn-stand-for/467634.md?page=11)