BREAKING: ACORN Suspends Operations
by PubliusACORN suspends, plans audit, in wake of videos
ACORN, calling the actions of some of its employees “indefensible,” has suspended advising new clients as part of its service programs and is setting up an independent review to see what happened.
ACORN chief executive Bertha Lewis said in a written statement that she was “ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN’s service programs until completion of an independent review.”
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548 Comments
Thank you citizens journalist!
I can't wait to hear what the Maryland AG has to say now…
As well as that ACORN spokesman clown and all those that supported her…
This is FUN!!
Thank you James and Hannah!
Thank you Citizen journalist!
A big step in the right direction
Now that they have admitted the crud and corruption. they must be the two brothers and top echelon be confined to jail cells for the rest of their pathetic life.
All of their property must be seized and sold.
Bank accounts frozen.
SEIU and every org who received money in their relationship must be closed and handled the same way.
This only winning a battle, not the end of the war.
Internal review? Right, and I'm the Queen of Beth-Landia.
hooha!
I have no confidence in ACORN's understanding of "Independent Investigation". How about we have the Inspector General do it? Maybe we could get to the root of this sloppy, enabling, and frequently illegal organization!
WOOHOO!
Save America? Yes We Can!
The Marxists took one on the chin, finally. They will go on though. Their agenda is far from finished, as in "Create a Godless Nation? YES! WE! CAN!" at http://firebreathingchristian.wordpress.com/2009/...
Score one for the good guys!
These people have ADD!
They cant seem to get the story straight.. or for that matter… it takes them a week to garner some sort of outrage for underage sex slaves…..
ugh…
They need to be investigated.
Who says you can't take joy in others misery?
Of course its internal. What you think they would allow independents to examine their existence?
Beautiful, but incongruous in relation to yesterday's statements. This had to come from the DNC, or the White House. This is going to get ugly. Every attempt at damage control make them look even worse, and our intrepid reporters aren't even done yet.
big step in the right direction but… but… but… i though all of this was a made up smear campaign by republicans, taken out of context, etc. mmm, with glee i note that this makes all of acorn's defenders look really stupid.
Not that making them look stupid is a hard thng to do…
They set up an "independent" advisory team in early 2009. Guess it didn't work then. Don't look for it to work now.
A serious question … how can we as citizens force the DOJ (FBI) to start an investigation into this alleged corruption of Acorn which will possibly lead to direct ties to certain politicians? I can only imagine that there are great DOJ law enforcement officials who are chomping at the bit to begin investigating, but their boss – Eric Holder – a friend of Obama is holding them back. If Acorn was a normal business advocating how to defraud the IRS, set up illegal businesses, and house underage prostitutes, the DOJ would have slapped the CEO in jail by now.
There must be a way for us "defrauded" citizens to force OUR law enforcement agency to investigate alleged corruption. How do we do this?
Holy moly! wait…lets see what the NON-Mainstream Media says – IF THEY EVEN COVER THE STORY!!!!
now lets see where acorn has been getting money, as well as who acorn has been paying. we'll see what happens here.
Oh yeah, like I'm gonna believe that woman. Remember, they were trained by Obama. They're just buying time to regroup.
Independant review? More like shredding party!
I hope the feds move quickly, but that may be asking too much…
Independent my butt, its just a cover up!! Dont fall for this!!
We might be to late. but we really need the FBI to lock the doors and sieze all documents before they all get shredded…
It's sad that the state of Maryland or it's Attorney general's office hasn't said "I'm sorry."
Internal review??? Send in the FBI.
If and when the M$M finally covers this, watch it focus on how all the poor people (especially women and children) are going to be starved and thrown out of their house because of the evil republicans and their smear campaign against this saintly organization that just wants to pass out milk and cookies.
It's a step in the right direction but it's still not enough! Until every American can have faith that the corruption and false statements have ended in government only then will we be safe. The main reason that more things do not get done the right way is because of the intimidation that the government emposes on us. I love our country and I believed the government was our friend but, as I've gotten older and wiser I now realize it has been part of the master plan to bring us all into a false sense of sercurity until BAM we couldn't stop it once we realized what was going on. Until we all, republicans, democrates and others stand up and say no in unity we will never get our country back. If we just do it a couple here or there we would be singled out and made to pay so it has to be done in unity.
I think their idea of damage control has already started..its called pulling the race card.
Ms. Lewis was so adamant that this corruption was created to smear ACORN. I believe that she probably halted all new intake interviews only to protect them from other "copy-cat" investigators. Don't believe a thing they say or do. We've got to demand a thorough investigation of the entire ACORN organization – from the lowest levels of employees and clients, to the politicians involved and the senior management. This is a corrupt organization, through and through.
Considering that Acorn is Obama's "herd of sheep", I can't see any internal audit being legit. This will only show that the 270 tentacles of Acorn are honest ,do good community work and the matter will die. He cannot afford to have them dismantled. Who will launder the money?
I smell shell-game coming on…
Thye must have gotten a call from the White House. White House wants this story to go away.
I don' t trust this one bit. It will be interesting to see who leads this independant investigation. Everything this organization does is laced with underhanded and devious intentions. I wouldn't even trust Eric Holder to lead this. To this humble writer, this seems to be a golden oppurtunity to carry out a meaningless investigation so they can say, "Look, we cleaned up!" and then go right back to their same tactics. As always, a few, meaningless heads will role while the Rathke brothers remain… perhaps under a different name for their organization. This investigation must be real and federal for me to buy into any of it.
The review is to be independent. I'm just wondering if an internal review over the last few days led them to believe even worse information will be coming out about them. I'm guess this is more preemptive then reactionary.
From the linked washington times article “The Advisory Council includes John Podesta, president of the liberal Center for American Progress; Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a former lieutenant governor of Maryland; Andrew Stern, international president of Service Employees International Union; Henry Cisneros, a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; John Banks, vice president of Government Relations Con Ed; and Eric Eve, senior vice president of Global Consumer Group, Community Relations, of Citigroup. ”
Are you kidding me??? Podesta (Obama transition chair), Stern (SEIU). Can these people seriously call this an independent review? Do they really think we are this stupid?
Maybe they will investigate just how fake and unfair and racist everyone at ACORN thinks these videos are.
<sarc> They must be racists. Everyone knows that the only reason that you don't like ACORN is because you are a racist </sarc>
James and Hannah, You are amaing. This 22 yr old feels like a total slacker.
If this much dirt can be dug up by walking into an office dressed as a pimp and hooker…imagine what a real, intense and independent investigation of their entire organization would uncover.
Just buying time to purchase more paper shredders and perhaps get ahead of the story by finding out what other offices got tagged and preemptively acting against those employees.
This Administration is unraveling before our very eyes. The House Republicans are putting heat on them about the CZARS, now.
Surely the Slobbering State-Run Media will have to ask Obama on his media BLITZ this weekend about ACORN and the CZARS, or are they not aware.
An internal audit is the same as me asking my teenagers if thier rooms are clean. Waste of time.
Charlie Gibson of ABC said –when asked about the ACORN scandal–"I don't know anything about this–what's the scandal"–no wonder he is retiring –sounds like his head is in the sand or in the early stages of "old-timers" disease– actually ABC in general is suffering from the same thing
Thank you James, Hannah, Andrew and Glenn!!!! Hopefully this will end the veiled threats to sue you all well at least it would be very difficult for them to prevail against you. XD
This in a way isnt very comforting news. I dont quite like the fact that they are doing an independant investiagation. Think about it its the godfather covering the mobsters… this is like saying manson is going to investigate the tate murder… we cant seriously be thinking this is good news… how many records and other evidence will be destroyed for the sake of covering this BIG boo boo up?… I think ppl need to pitch a fit until we get someone in there that is going to be a little more true towards finding the truth… someone NOT associated with the obama admin and NOT associated with the acorn. seek JUSTICE not another way of covering it up.
I wonder if Charlie Gibson has been told.
I'm wondering if Andrew should go ahead and release all the videos you have all in one day. I believe to the bottom of my cynical heart that the only reason ACORN pulled this stunt today was because they were afraid of what is coming and are trying to do damage control. Think about it. As of yesterday they were facing a total cutoff of their funding and investigations into their operations which I'm sure would turn up a lot of dirt. By asking for a so-called "independant auditor" they can control the situation and have time to shred documents and alert corrupt politicians. I say nothing short of shutting down all offices and a FBI investigation will do at this point. When even that tool Jon Stewart has to admit on his show that this ACORN stuff is true then you know you've got the Irrelevant Media on the run and ACORN scared.
5 days late and 53,000,000 dollars short.
I believe this thing will prove to be bigger, and more encompassing (both parties) than was Watergate.
Whitewash in process. What is needed is a full forensic accounting conducted by outside agencies including state and federal government tax enforcement. Meanwhile the shredders are going to be working overtime.
"how can we as citizens force the DOJ (FBI) to start an investigation into this alleged corruption of Acorn"
Elections, plain and simple. Too many people still feel in their guts that their votes don't really matter, particularly in areas dominated by one party or another. What gets over looked by them is the influence the margin of victory has on many a politician. Do you think half of these "Blue Dog" Democrats would be bucking Pelosi's lead if they thought they could get away with it? No, they see that they hold their positions by a slim margin and along with death and taxes the other one of life's certainties is a politician's desire to hold onto power. We need to use that to our utmost advantage.
the movement is undeniable.
http://www.shakemyhead.typepad.com
What a joke, I knew it was just a cover up.
Bit of a change in attitude from Bertha now. Wonder why???? LOVE this site
thats wat im talking about !!!! stop trying to fix a corrupt orginazation because it didnt become corrupt from the bottom it started from the top and was trained corruption down the chain… these ppl on tapes are the LEAST of our worries its the ppl like THE ATTORNEY OF ACORN and chief and all those big wigs that are more corrupt than anyone of these pathetic ppl caught on tape… cause u cant tell me that this has been going on and ppl in position like obama never ever knew anything about it???!!! thats a highly FLASE statement and we shouldnt settle for anything less than shutting it down COMPLETELY and charging ALL ppl involved
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If ACORN is serious about wanting to provide a valuable service in helping people, and wants to clear out any bad apples in the organization, then the internal audit could be an invaluable tool in cleaning up.
Yeah, I know, I don't think they're serious, either.
When the first video was posted, I emailed my Senators and Representatives asking for an audit of the federal monies given to ACORN. I don't expect them to follow through, but I think such an audit would be a good first step.
another thought. They may just be doing this as cover for Pelosi and her hacks to say we won't take any action pending the completion of this reveiw. Again do they think we are this stupid!
CYA time at ACORN…don't ya just love it!
The fact that ACORN is going to hire an "independent auditor", to me, doesn't mean anything. Are to believe that as corrupt as this organization is that it would find an auditing service that can't be bought off by them?
I'm certainly not that gullible.
fantastic. Obama cant defend these a holes.
The fact that ACORN is going to hire an "independent auditor", to me, doesn't mean anything. Are we to believe that as corrupt as this organization is that it would find an auditing service that can't be bought off by them?
I'm certainly not that gullible.
As noted above, Obama REALLY wants this off the airwaves, as in NOW! Meanwhile the affiliated organizations of this crime syndicate will continue to operate. This isn't over folks. Not by a long shot. And yes, release the rest of the tapes ASAP. Pile. It. On. Zero's making the rounds of the talk shows this weekend. Odds on how many questions he'll get about his former associates?
I'd feel better if the "independent review" was established as a third-party investigation with zero ties to ACORN, ACORN's affiliates, or ACORN's opponents.
The Congressional report on ACORN seems to be enough information to forgo an internal investigation. They could save a lot of money (probably taxpayer & union members) and time if they statrted sith this report.
http://patriotroom.com/article/congressional-repo...
this only means they wont get scammed by anyone coming in off the street…they will say they fixed their problems and back to biz as usual… no more pimps n hookers..thats about it
You are exactly correct. These low level street people working for crap, are the pawns. The two brothers at the top, thier advisers, their lawyers. Why lawyers. Because it is the lawyers who set up the frame work that is to ultimately insulate the brothers and higher ups.
Yes, sometimes you have to pressure those lower to get to the top. But those poorly educated people manning the storefronts aren't dangerous as much as pathetically stupid.
Who will be doing the independent review, Code Pink?
"led them to believe even worse information will be coming out about them."
Almost certainly, particularly given how well crafted and deliberate this has been conducted so far by our hero's here at BG. Remarkable, to me, is the restraint show, and the understanding of how political opinions are shifted in this country. Releasing all of the information at once would have been like a swift kick in the acorns, temporarily paralyzing, but straight-forward to recover from. This is the Chinese water torture, slow building, but ultimately intolerable. I know a lot of leftist political operators across this nation are losing a lot of sleep. Drip-drip.
"led them to believe even worse information will be coming out about them."
Almost certainly, particularly given how well crafted and deliberate this has been conducted so far by our heros here at BG. Remarkable, to me, is the restraint show, and the understanding of how political opinions are shifted in this country. Releasing all of the information at once would have been like a swift kick in the acorns, temporarily paralyzing, but straight-forward to recover from. This is the Chinese water torture, slow building, but ultimately intolerable. I know a lot of leftist political operators across this nation are losing a lot of sleep. Drip-drip.
"led them to believe even worse information will be coming out about them."
Almost certainly, particularly given how well crafted and deliberate this has been conducted so far by our heroes here at BG. Remarkable, to me, is the restraint show, and the understanding of how political opinions are shifted in this country. Releasing all of the information at once would have been like a swift kick in the acorns, temporarily paralyzing, but straight-forward to recover from. This is the Chinese water torture, slow building, but ultimately intolerable. I know a lot of leftist political operators across this nation are losing a lot of sleep. Drip-drip.
"led them to believe even worse information will be coming out about them."
Almost certainly, particularly given how well crafted and deliberate this has been conducted so far by our heroes here at BG. Remarkable, to me, is the restraint shown, and the understanding of how political opinions are shifted in this country. Releasing all of the information at once would have been like a swift kick in the acorns, temporarily paralyzing, but straight-forward to recover from. This is the Chinese water torture, slow building, but ultimately intolerable. I know a lot of leftist political operators across this nation are losing a lot of sleep. Drip-drip.
As I feel the votes of the people are important, if we have to wait that long, the damage will already have been done.
Why do you think everyone in the Dem. party is trying to rush everything through.
Suspending operations!!! They should be permanently padlocking the doors. Do they really think the public is that stupid? Acorn is going to conduct an audit of themselves (LOL), fire a couple employees and tell everyone what a great service they provide to the poor. That excersise will give the politicians the cover they need to justify giving them Millions/Billions of our tax dollars. What a joke!
Cut the guy some slack–if all I watched was ABC I'd never have heard of it either.
Ellsworth Toohey and his merry men are scrambling. Keep it coming
Obambi sez to press:
"ACORN's, I don't have to show you no stinking ACORN's"
Not Over.
Yes!!!!!
Glenn Beck, & Bill O'Riely should head up the audit investigation, that way we will know it is "Fair & Balanced"
You have GOT to be kidding me. My guess of "Code Pink" wasn't so far off then, really.
Funny timing, and indicative of Obama's self-opinion, or at least his adviser's estimation. Seriously, the last thing you do when the artillery is coming down is jump out of your foxhole and expose yourself even more. The fact that he will get nothing BUT softball questions this weekend is what's going to lower his influence even more. The MSM's help is destroying his credibility with those critical independents.
As attorneys always say, (maybe not in the exact words expressed here, but you get the picture, I hope) you don't show your hold cards too early.
I say it's Rev? Jackholes "Rainbow Coalition" for the job.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Not Over.
Was going to ask "Define independent" Any members of the ACORN 8 involved? You know I think Gerald Walpin is still looking for work. Government owes him at least 30 days anyway. He seems to have a knack for following dollars too.
They had no choice but to shut the doors to newbies. For the last week, reality TV operatives have been swarming ACORN offices around the country with hidden cameras … and it's really been interfering with social justice.
http://theunionnews.blogspot.com
My question is – who's the supposed "independent review" being done by? And planning audit to what? Cook all the books before the IRS hits town?
Wait, wasn't "Big Bad Bertha" threatening to sue all the conservative racists involved just a few days ago?
I wonder if she's taken her lithium today as her bi-polar disorder seems to be getting the best of her today…
ACORN chief executive Bertha Lewis said in a written statement that she was “ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN’s service programs until completion of an independent review.”
Non-Sense …………. Send the FBI to investigate the criminal activities, cancel any current and future support to this corrupt organization and to the organizations tied to this corrupt organization.
nice start
Sure Acorn will do an internal review, surprise, surprise. HA Acorn is rotten all the way to the top and beyond! Acorn doing internal review means absolutely nothing. Acorn has no credibility! This is equivalent to the Mafia doing an internal review.
RICO!!!!
This is messed up!!!!!
Our government should be shutting them.
They are volunteering to police themselves?
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!!
trueAmerican: I'm not sure how to go about doing that but, like you, I smell a rat. Someone is hiding behind Bertha Lewis's words. She is inarticulate, emotional and, apparently, as deranged as the A.C.O.R.N. office workers caught on tape. Now, however, she is laying out a plan (she is descirbed as the "Chief Executive" , not merely a "spokesperson") that appears to be a palms-up gesture — not a mea culpa, but more like "We're getting out in front of this so that no one can criticize that we aren't taking this seriously."
This is messed up!!!!!
Our government should be shutting them down.
They are volunteering to police themselves?
NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!!
The ACORN spokeswomen clown is quoted above – "ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN’s service programs until completion of an independent review.” – Betha Lewis
The person ordering a review is the same one that was gonna sue FOX and Hannah and James and the producers of the video.
It seems like in the first days of this expose' that she was falling back on lies and obfuscation (lawsuits against the filmmakers and FOX) and has since regrouped (with the highest "Organizers" within ACORN) to go back to their "Rules for Radicals" mantra of "make them play by their own rules." Does that make sense? In other words, they look like they are attempting to kindle an appearance of cooperation and mature business practices in order to truncate or stop altogether a federal investigation. Buying time right now is undoubtedly their primary goal; time to scrub computer files and shred documents. I cannot understand why the film makers did not take this video evidence to the FBI before releasing it to FOX. If a RICO investigation is seriously warranted, it seems the FBI should have been contacted at some point prior to ACORN's knowledge of these tapes.
FTA: She also said the group would begin "immediate in-service training for all frontline staff."
Yes, I sure they will begin a training session that begins with "Do not fall for a white couple who come in here asking for help setting up a brothel !!!"
They are obvously getting marching orders and advise from their supporters in Congress!
Now is the time to slam the toilet lid and break some necks; let loose the entire library of incriminating videos!
Yeeeehaw!!!
Yes they do. They think we are a very ignorant nation. Remember, they live in Ivory Towers.
Yep – said it last night, they need to put freeze on all funds for the 350 + affiliates. We need to get back the $53 million too. I read an article last night that that figure was just what was given to ACORN proper, not all it's affiliates – we lost a lot of money here folks – all to promote "A DEMOCRATIC GET OUT THE VOTE" project.
The why has ever been obvious with them. Other things that need to be done to survive until real substantive investigations could take place include the efforts of sites like this, people peacefully, publicly, and firmly protesting, social networking to start breaking the long-standing memes of leftist ideology so pervasive in our nation, particularly that of political correctness which was the victory the left has been using to stifle real debate for years, send letters and e-mails to government officials, and fund and volunteer for campaigns that you believe in.
These things will get us through to a place we really can change things. I hope.
DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING UNTIL YOU SEE ALL TAX MONIES STOPPED…… I jsut don;t trust them – How about their new name ??? Is it stopped? Are they jsut registering new names ? Congress can be sneaky ya know
I hear Van Johnson is looking for a job.
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