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ACORN Scandals - 9/24/2009 7:15:57 AM

FirmhandKY

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Many on the left have been asking questions about why ACORN "all of a sudden" is in the crosshairs. As well, they are trying real hard to discredit the people behind the "pimp, whore and child sex slavery" sting.

So, I thought maybe a listing and discussion of more of ACORN's operational methods and problems might help them to understand why some of us have a problem with ACORN.

Here's the latest scandal:

ACORN: Tax cheat
Group faces huge IRS liens
By DEROY MURDOCK
Last Updated: 1:30 AM, September 22, 2009
Posted: 1:16 AM, September 22, 2009

ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis told Fox News' Chris Wallace on Sunday that her group "absolutely pays its taxes." Not true: The IRS and Louisiana's taxmen have imposed nearly $2 million in liens against ACORN for failing to fork over taxes at its New Orleans national headquarters.

The IRS recently filed a $548,000 lien against the group, and Louisiana state tax officials have slapped $334,000 in liens on ACORN since last October.

...

But the tax mess shows that the lawlessness starts at its headquarters. (ACORN actually has three national HQs -- in the Big Easy, Washington, DC, and New York City.)

Another New Orleans group, the free-market Pelican Institute for Public Policy, uncovered official records that confirm ACORN's deadbeat tax status.

...

At the Orleans Parish Clerk of Courts Office, Pelican researcher Steve Beatty found a Sept. 3 IRS filing showing that "Elysian Fields Corp., Inc., Alter Ego of ACORN" skipped five quarterly withholding-tax payments -- covering income, Social Security and Medicare levies -- in 2005-08, and made no federal unemployment-tax payments for the fourth quarters of 2007 and 2008.

"We have made a demand for payment of this liability, but it remains unpaid," reads IRS form 668(Y). So the federal taxmen have placed liens on ACORN's New Orleans offices at 2609 Canal St. and 2610 Iberville St.

This follows a $1 million invoice that the IRS already had handed ACORN, as Pelican reported last August. The group's in trouble with the state, too.

"We have a full-scale investigation into ACORN and all of its subsidiaries," Tammi Arender, spokeswoman for Louisiana Attorney General Bobby Caldwell, said recently. "No stone will be left unturned. We're still looking into their recent activities."

Caldwell subpoenaed ACORN, former ACORN head Wade Rathke and the group's financial institution, Whitney Bank. Caldwell seeks information stretching back to 1998 on ACORN and some 361 tax-exempt and non-tax-exempt outfits in its universe.

Citizens Consulting, Inc. -- ACORN's bookkeeping arm, no less -- scored a Louisiana "Notice of State Tax Assessment and Lien" on Oct. 29, 2008. It details 66 withholding-tax payments that Citizens Consulting skipped in 2002-08, totaling more than $300,000.

These documents are online at pelicaninstitute.org.

***

There is plenty more. Anyone want to add to the list?

Firm

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RE: ACORN Scandals - 9/24/2009 8:28:57 AM

Mercnbeth

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Firm,

A few weeks ago there was an attempt by 'Spinner' to 'civilize' the political debate. The focus was on semantics - words.

From my perspective situations like ACORN, the disclosures of the history of the Administration's appointed 'Czars', even the numbers attending the 9/12 demonstration; are what make that impossible. You have people ignoring reality to rationalizing their side being 'right' or at least not at fault. As a result you justify reprehensible acts, excuse the past, and turn lies into prospective based truths. It happens on both sides, and if anyone wants to point out the 'Rights' version of those examples I'll save them the trouble and stipulate it as fact. However, similar to "Bush did it!" as an answer, it proves the point.

The fact that ACORN is a corrupt organization is up for discussion. The fact that in as least a few cases they are - should be a moot point; accepted by both sides - lets address it and move on. But no; it has to be beaten to death and rationalized to the point that the fundamental reality is forgotten. Yet it should be at that level where, if there is any, common ground and a starting place for actual beneficial improvement should be found.

Can the political agenda be suspended to accomplish that? I doubt it.

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RE: ACORN Scandals - 9/24/2009 11:01:45 AM

servantforuse

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ACORN is now in the cross hairs of the Treasury Dept. and the IRS..This investigation is not going away. Big trouble ahead for that group and those who still support it.

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RE: ACORN Scandals - 9/24/2009 4:13:07 PM

rulemylife

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quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY

Many on the left have been asking questions about why ACORN "all of a sudden" is in the crosshairs. As well, they are trying real hard to discredit the people behind the "pimp, whore and child sex slavery" sting.

So, I thought maybe a listing and discussion of more of ACORN's operational methods and problems might help them to understand why some of us have a problem with ACORN.

And you needed a separate thread to do this?

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RE: ACORN Scandals - 9/24/2009 4:33:41 PM

rulemylife

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

The fact that ACORN is a corrupt organization is up for discussion. The fact that in as least a few cases they are - should be a moot point; accepted by both sides - lets address it and move on. But no; it has to be beaten to death and rationalized to the point that the fundamental reality is forgotten. Yet it should be at that level where, if there is any, common ground and a starting place for actual beneficial improvement should be found.

Can the political agenda be suspended to accomplish that? I doubt it.

I don't think there is any ignorance of reality.

And I do agree that there were/are cases of corruption within the organization.

But I had two main points in mind on the other thread. First, that this so-called "sting" was put together by influential conservatives, not because they really care about any ACORN corruption but because this can be used against the President to try and discredit him.

My second was how is it this supposedly corrupt, criminal organization has so many cases of corruption suddenly coming to light since the latest election cycle?

One would think that with such an ingrained criminal philosophy they would have been shut down years ago.

< Message edited by rulemylife -- 9/24/2009 4:36:00 PM >

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RE: ACORN Scandals - 9/24/2009 7:10:13 PM

Thadius

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

The fact that ACORN is a corrupt organization is up for discussion. The fact that in as least a few cases they are - should be a moot point; accepted by both sides - lets address it and move on. But no; it has to be beaten to death and rationalized to the point that the fundamental reality is forgotten. Yet it should be at that level where, if there is any, common ground and a starting place for actual beneficial improvement should be found.

Can the political agenda be suspended to accomplish that? I doubt it.

I don't think there is any ignorance of reality.

And I do agree that there were/are cases of corruption within the organization.

But I had two main points in mind on the other thread. First, that this so-called "sting" was put together by influential conservatives, not because they really care about any ACORN corruption but because this can be used against the President to try and discredit him.

My second was how is it this supposedly corrupt, criminal organization has so many cases of corruption suddenly coming to light since the latest election cycle?

One would think that with such an ingrained criminal philosophy they would have been shut down years ago.

Evening,

The truth of the matter is that it isn't just since the latest election cycle, it is just getting a bit more coverage (read louder coverage).

The St. Petersburg times wrote:

quote:

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Thursday said the Association of Community Organizations For Reform Now, or ACORN, is a target of a statewide investigation of voter irregularities.

The group faces criminal investigations in a half-dozen other states over voter registration and petition signatures gathered by its employees.

One would automatically assume that they were writing about the 2008 election cycle with all of the current events, but the article is from Oct. 2004 Group faces accusations of broken voting laws. There were also investigations into ACORN bribing folks with crack to forge voter registrations in Ohio, and numerous other allegations.

Whether this is a system wide thing or not, I have no clue. There is however at least some probable cause to look a bit deeper. On that note, I would suggest that ACORN does or has provided some very necessary services to the various communities they serve; is it enough to outweigh the other stuff? That is a question for each individual to make up their mind on. I see no harm in shining a little sunshine into the darker corners, if there is nothing to hide it shouldn't be an issue.

I wish you well,
Thadius

P.S. As an after thought, whether Congress or the government does an investigation into them is probably moot at the moment, as ACORN just opened themselves up to subpoenaed discovery by suing the couple that made the films. Just wait until that stuff gets leaked...

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