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ACORN Sting Duo Says Nobody Put Them Up to It

Call themselves 'concerned citizens'

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 18, 2009 8:05 AM CDT

(Newser) – James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles say there's no conservative conspiracy behind their decision to dress up as a pimp and prostitute and walk into ACORN offices with a hidden camera. They’re just a pair of concerned citizens, who’ve managed to wound the mighty activist group on a budget of just $1,300, they tell the Washington Post. But they do have major conservative connections. Giles’ father runs the Clash Church in Miami, and the pair were advised by columnist Andrew Breitbart.

O’Keefe says he brought Breitbart in after filming the DC and Baltimore stings. “When I saw these videos, I couldn’t help thinking, this is the Abu Ghraib of the Great Society,” says Breitbart, who advised releasing the videos slowly, a strategy that’s worked well. ACORN has launched an internal investigation, though supporters note that some of the video’s claims are inaccurate, and that the stunt didn’t work everywhere; the Philadelphia office threw O’Keefe and Giles out.

James O'Keefe talks to Sean Hannity in this YouTube screenshot.
James O'Keefe talks to Sean Hannity in this YouTube screenshot.
Hannah Giles talks to Sean Hannity in this YouTube screenshot.
Hannah Giles talks to Sean Hannity in this YouTube screenshot.
James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles talk to Sean Hannity in this image made from YouTube screenshots.
James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles talk to Sean Hannity in this image made from YouTube screenshots.
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Sean Hannity talks to James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles about their ACORN investigation.   (tomcuvagrad)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 58 comments
bewilderbeast
Sep 21, 2009 7:30 AM CDT
Aah, christians! True, honest christians. What a lovely lot. It's because of importing girls into the sex trade (the christians' suggestion, remember!) that they would ruin ACORN. NOT, repeat NOT because ACORN has empowered poor (shudder, black!) people. No - Hollywood-looking "Clash" christians have always LOVED poor, black people, right?
bewilderbeast
Sep 21, 2009 7:18 AM CDT
a glimmer of hope: godawgs and mehrheit agreeing that America needs to go after ALL the crooks and liars. Here's to this tiny moment of common sense without the usual partisan crap! Cheers!
Guest
Sep 19, 2009 8:44 PM CDT
Well, It actually has lots in common with Abu Ghrab, because the Republicans and Bush got blamed for what a few soldiers did. So you intellectual midgets maybe can now see why the comparison fits. You guys can be so dense sometimes.

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