I’ve been expecting it for months, but I was still bummed to see the official announcement: ACORN, a decades-old community organizing powerhouse, will be closing its operations permanently as of April 1. As I wrote last year, ACORN has been the subject of a concerted attack by the right and was largely abandoned when liberal supporters, including President Obama and Democratic members of Congress, distanced themselves. But the attack on ACORN isn't about ACORN alone. It's an important element of a conservative strategy to discredit the Obama administration, destroy organizing capacity among progressives and quiet voices for real change. They've helped shut ACORN's doors. Now, it's up to us to make sure the onslaught stops there.

A quick recap. For many years, ACORN has been attacked by conservatives for its massive voter registration program. Accusations of voter fraud during and after the 2008 election were eventually rejected by the courts, but they drew national attention nonetheless, fueled by efforts to link the organization to Barack Obama and by an earlier ACORN embezzlement scandal. Then, conservative activist James O’Keefe—who was arrested recently for plotting to tamper with Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu’s phones—released a video purporting to show ACORN staff advising a pimp and a prostitute on how to get away with tax fraud. The Brooklyn district attorney investigated that incident—in part by simply watching the unedited tape, something news organizations failed to do— and concluded that there was no unlawful activity at ACORN. But it was too late: Congress had already responded to incomplete news stories by banning ACORN from receiving government contracts, including for mortgage counseling and voter registration. A federal judge has ruled that ban unconstitutional, by the way.

I’m not ACORN apologist. The organization had some serious quality-control issues, and hasn't always played well with others.

"

Continues @ CommonDreams.org

============================================


Well, I am DELIGHTED that ACORN is shutting down.

It is organizations like ACORN that give bad name to non-profits.  They become leaches sucking from the public via government grants and not paying any taxes on their operational revenues, donation income, etc..

I hope progressives learn the correct lesson here. Dont do hanky panky. It does not last.  I am also glad to see the charges on James O'Keefe and Hanna Giles being reduced and hope the charges will be dropped.

Want to register to vote? Go to the nearest Post Office!  Or Dept of Motor Vehicles!!


-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 26th of March 2010 08:20:27 PM