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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

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analysis

Book Tour Shows Palin
Hitting a Nerve

'Going Rogue' phenomenon may foreshadow something bigger

Nov 22, 09 2:46 PM CST
Matt Taibbi

Palin: Our First WWE Politician

Pick an asshole, any asshole, and she'll rock the house

Nov 22, 09 10:44 AM CST
ROLLICKING RHODE ISLAND

Zip It on
Communion
Ban: Bishop
to Kennedy

Tobin thinks Patrick's spiritual matters should be left private

10 hours, 7 minutes ago
Once-Profitable Services
Are Killing Local Budgets

Utilities, transport, even gambling, are now $3.5B drains

11 hours, 36 minutes ago
Debt-Happy US Faces Payback Time as Rates Rise

Cost of debt to skyrocket $500B in next 10 years

15 hours, 59 minutes ago
DAVID FRUM

Pundits Lie, Numbers Don't:
Women Despise Palin

Frum: So stop telling us how popular she is with 'the people'

2 hours, 2 minutes ago
First State Dinner to
Reveal Obama A-Listers

Mad scramble for invitations

21 hours, 46 minutes ago
editorial

NYT to Blankfein:
Your 'Apology'
Is Bull

Editorial board schools Goldman CEO in true meaning of 'sorry'

Nov 22, 09 4:53 PM CST
Ethics Panel Charges Sanford With 37 Violations

Civil committee slams SC gov for travel expenses

9 hours, 3 minutes ago
the big plan

Beck Will Host Conventions
to Educate America

He's shifting toward political organizer, plans big DC rally

Nov 21, 09 5:06 PM CST
Jim DeMint Becomes Hill's Top Tea Partier

South Carolina senator throws weight behind conservative insurgents

15 hours, 41 minutes ago
Congress' New
Whipping Boy:
The Fed

Bernanke & Co. run into populist ire over Wall St bailouts, unemployment

14 hours, 34 minutes ago
Palin Pulls in Big Bucks
—for Democrats

'Going Rogue' boosts Dem fundraising to new high

Nov 21, 09 6:50 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Stingers Release Philly ACORN Video

Says it proves ACORN lied about incident

By Kevin Spak| Posted Oct 22, 09 9:00 AM CDT|

(Newser) – The ACORN stingers have released another video, this time of their visit to the Philadelphia location—where, ACORN has until now insisted, they were kicked out. In the new, edited video, James O’Keefe says they weren’t kicked out, but instead sat for more than half an hour with an office employee, who gave them her business card and scheduled a future meeting.

But the ACORN employee’s voice is muted in the video. After releasing it, O’Keefe called on ACORN to state publicly that it had no objection to him revealing what she’d said. He also promised to release the full, unedited tape. ACORN has repeatedly asked O’Keefe to release all his tapes, but didn’t reply to his demand; a spokesman told the Huffington Post that the group’s political enemies are just trying to keep the controversy alive.

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles are seen in costume in this YouTube screenshot, which appears at the end of all of their edited ACORN sting videos.

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The edited--and partially muted--Philadelphia video. (youtube.com)

View larger videos >>

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11.23.09

Books Are Bad for You

11.20.09

The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun

29 comments

VIEWING:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 9:16 AM CDT

I'm wondering why this guy doesn't make some videos of senators and congressmen and their prostitutes, many of whom use taxpayer dollars to pay for their illegal activity, or at least to travel to and from the location of the crime scene? Acorn hasn't done anything here but provide the services they are charterd to provide. Business are lied to everyday by their customers and I see no reason to believe these admitted liars in their scam to ruin an organization that helps so many people. These video makers are tools of the GOP who want to prevent urban voter registration which tends to increase the number of people voting for democrats. Their purpose is to undermine our democracy to ensure they remain in power. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

paul123
Oct 22, 09 9:43 AM CDT

So are you saying that just because another person, group or organization may or may not be involved in less than scrupulous activities,GOP, DNC or otherwise, that ACORN should be left alone? These video people are just trying to expose any illegal activity, and they are actually doing the job that the mainstream investigative reporters have failed to do. There are allegations of voter fraud, and this needs looking into. If it was a GOP organization then I am sure you would be screaming bloody murder for someone to get in there and poke around. Could someone then accuse you and these investigations as a ruse to suppress "rural" votes. Give me a break.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 10:43 AM CDT

I would not scream bloddy murder about any organization whose sole purpose is to aid people who need help. And would you please tell me where I can read about a single conviction of any Acorn worker for any crime?

IN RESPONSE:

paul123
Oct 22, 09 11:10 AM CDT

With all due respect Face, you are screaming about the investigation of Acorn right now, an organization whose purpose is to help people. A noble cause for sure, but the question is, is are they going through legitimate and legal channels to meet their goal. As far as any Acorn convictions...I have a feeling that the future will hold some.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 11:16 AM CDT

Great, when they are convicted of a crime I will rejoice with you. But until then, will you just take a second to wonder why the GOP, and especially the Tea Baggers want Acorn shut down? It's probably not because they want to see more Americans take part in the electoral process.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

paul123
Oct 22, 09 1:02 PM CDT

Face, unless I'm wrong, these people doing the sting operations have yet to officially affiliate themselves with any group or organization. Looking at the bigger picture, it is not an issue of the GOP, or activist groups wanting ACORN shut down, but it should be an issue of EVERYBODY wanting a disingenuous organization shut down. The problem is, is that the left and DNC seems to be turning more of a blind eye that what they should be. Nobody is trying to suppress votes, but, it is at least suspected that illegal registration may be taking place for nefarious purposes, and that is what is causing the uproar.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 6:18 PM CDT

There is nothing to turn a blind eye to. If there is, please tell me what. This is the left helping people in a way that the right doesn't like. Rather than do something positive, like running their own voter registration drive, they seek to destroy the only hope some people have. It's a Karl Rove type hatchet job.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

hybrid
Oct 22, 09 9:17 AM CDT

keep it alive,,well stop giving them reasons to keep it going Reply

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Oct 22, 09 9:25 AM CDT

so hybrid... hmm, i got it! a perfect mix between jester666 and dontlikefacts!

IN RESPONSE:

hybrid
Oct 22, 09 11:51 AM CDT

im a centrist not a pawn that can be directed by party lines and the promise of CHANGE. Get your own views and stop whatching MSNBC and FOX.

| 0 minutes ago

davjc09
Oct 22, 09 9:51 AM CDT

Of course ACORN wants him to release all the tapes, they want to know what they're up against so they can try to spin it the other way. It makes it a little difficult when you don't know what other dirt they have on you. I thought it was funny when they released the first and ACORN was quick to say that they had "tried this at other locations and failed and were kicked out" then the tapes just kept coming. I don't have a problem with ACORN's mission, by all means help the poor with voter registration and securing housing. But do it all legally, especially when you get taxpayer money. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 10:46 AM CDT

Please post the url of any reliable news source describing the conviction of a single Acorn worker for any crime committed while they were conducting Acorn business. I would be very grateful. All I can find are allegations from republicans, and from those who let the GOP do their thinking for them.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

davjc09
Oct 22, 09 11:19 AM CDT

They haven't been convicted, no. I never said that they were. I would appreciate it if you'd stop putting words in my mouth. There's significant evidence that questions whether they are really doing a service to the country. The video and other reports are troubling enough, I believe, to warrant a congressional investigation. ACORN officials are constantly contradicting themselves in their responses of these tapes. It just seems fishy. And worth looking into.

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Oct 22, 09 11:20 AM CDT

....I'm sorry, but you may be retarded. If I said that Bush was as pure as snow because nobody had ever convicted him of launching an unjust war, you would do the same double-take I just did.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 11:31 AM CDT

dav - please tell me where I can read about this 'significant evidence.' (Your words by the way). I haven't seen any evidence and neither has anyone else, it's all innuendo, with no substance. north - yes, I would do a double-take, but then you are the one talking about being pure as snow. All I'm talking about is ditto-heads taking other people's opinions as truth.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Oct 22, 09 12:16 PM CDT

That would be a logical line of argument, if by "opinion" we meant "circumstantial evidence." While they are innocent until a court finds otherwise, it's fairly difficult to watch these videos and conclude that no wrongdoing took place.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 12:28 PM CDT

Your conclusions leave a sorely needed organization in the lurch. Save the conclusions until you have enough data to support them. Wouldn't that be a fair way to treat you if you were secretly video-taped by ambushers with an agenda to destroy you?

-1

IN RESPONSE:

northeast
Oct 22, 09 1:44 PM CDT

....if I was videotaped being an accessory to child prostitution, then yes, I should definitely say good-bye to all federal funding and prepare to face criminal charges - no matter what good deeds I do when I'm not breaking the law. I'd consider that fair.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 6:22 PM CDT

No one at Acorn has been videotaped commitiing a single crime. Will you please stop calling opinions and interpretations crimes? They haven't even been arrested and you are ready to call them criminals. The tea baggers have you right where they want you.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Reader83540559
Oct 22, 09 10:34 AM CDT

Acorn should go away. I would never give them any information Atleast the census bureau has dissed them. They would not be welcome in my house ever Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 11:10 AM CDT

Dissed by the census bureau!! Wow!! These crooks are really terrible people. How dare they register voters and find housing and food for desperately poor people. It's no wonder the GOP hates them, and with such good cause.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

pitiful_pulp
Oct 22, 09 10:45 AM CDT

much ado nothing. these wanna be kiddie journalists are picking on low hanging fruit. next they will uncover drunks in the homeless shelter and illegals in the Home Depot Parking lot. GASP OMG the country is going to hell with liberals in charge. meanwhile there is Meth epidemic in rural america, predatory lending and bank fraud, torture in our military, physical rape by defense contractor employees.... and this dude is complaining about lucky charms being in the community college cafeteria and acorn suggesting a hooker pay her taxes. loser. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

davjc09
Oct 22, 09 11:27 AM CDT

Taxpay money given to an organization that tries to help the poor by securing housing and voter registration. That is not bad. I do, however, have concerns that if a few workers of ACORN at different locations across the country were caught on tape trying to aid a prostitute (who, allegedly had minors from overseas to be taught prostitution) to commit tax fraud. I'm not saying ACORN therefore is a terrible organization. But those consistencies at different locations brings up reasonable grounds for a congressional investigation.

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 11:36 AM CDT

dav - you just don't take up time in congress to get to the bottom of innuendo. Let the saviors of American virtue produce some facts, then by all means, make those facts available to congress.

| 0 minutes ago

glassa
Oct 22, 09 5:01 PM CDT

I would totally applaud this man if he started going after elected officials as well! Yes, don't stop at ACORN. It's time to clean house and I don't understand why so many people are willing to excuse corruption as long as it comes from THEIR side of the political aisle (leftist are great at that). So go get 'em! We need a clean sweep of all the pigs in DC. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

glassa
Oct 22, 09 5:04 PM CDT

"please tell me where I can read about this 'significant evidence.' (Your words by the way). I haven't seen any evidence and neither has anyone else" Wow, talk about turning a blind eye! The significant evidence is called the videotape they got while undercover. But you know, who cares about evidence if it's an organization you care about? Just keep turning a blind eye to corruption. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

glassa
Oct 22, 09 5:06 PM CDT

"How dare they register voters and find housing and food for desperately poor people" OIC Face-Of-RNC is a troll. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Oct 22, 09 6:27 PM CDT

Facts please, just tell me some facts. I'll tell you some, all you saw on the tape was people talking, you didn't see any prostitute, or any pimp, just two people lying about what they do for a living. Did you see any Acorn person aid and abet a crime? No you just saw her offering forms to be filled out, which is what Acorn does. Since you aren't willing to provide any facts to support your argument, I think that makes you the troll.

-3

| 0 minutes ago

OWLWOMANXXXX
Oct 22, 09 7:33 PM CDT

I don't think this video is good enough to support good evidence......first video was much better...and harder to detect tampering....this one is definately a farce Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 29 comments »

Philadelphia • prostitute • hidden camera • pimp • Acorn • James O'Keefe • Hannah Giles

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Stingers Release Philly ACORN Video