CNN fact-check: Looking like a fraud committed against ACORN
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Stumble Thisfrom thinkprogress:
"Tonight, CNN investigative reporter Drew Griffin fact-checked John McCain’s claim that the grassroots community organizing group ACORN is “destroying the fabric of democracy.” Conservatives have attacked ACORN’s voter registration efforts as “voter fraud” because they have resulted in the submission of a small number of faulty forms. As noted by DailyKos diarist ryeland, Griffin correctly reported, “Our research is showing — this more looks like a fraud perpetrated on ACORN,” not by ACORN. The people who ACORN paid by the hour to register voters committed fraudulent acts against the organization."
"Tonight, CNN investigative reporter Drew Griffin fact-checked John McCain’s claim that the grassroots community organizing group ACORN is “destroying the fabric of democracy.” Conservatives have attacked ACORN’s voter registration efforts as “voter fraud” because they have resulted in the submission of a small number of faulty forms. As noted by DailyKos diarist ryeland, Griffin correctly reported, “Our research is showing — this more looks like a fraud perpetrated on ACORN,” not by ACORN. The people who ACORN paid by the hour to register voters committed fraudulent acts against the organization."
Voter fraud is after the fact.
Voter fraud is much more difficult to commit than election fraud.
Election fraud is what the cons have turned into an art form, for example:
1) Diebold miscounting votes
2) Using felon lists from Texas to purge voters in Florida (2000)
3) Under-supplying Democratic neighborhoods with too few election booths, which they did in Ohio and Denver.
That said, I really do wonder what has to happen before real reaction happens to these sorts of events. After watching the HBO film on the Florida debacle, my heart just sinks to think that this country bills itself as something "democratic" and yet those in power seem to just not get it.
I don't know why ACORN didn't throw out the bad registration forms. It only costs $1000 for each form they withold from the government. With ten thousand bad forms that's only ten million in fines.
Spoken like someone who hasn't been paying any attention.
ACORN flags forms that look fraudulent before they turn them in. To not do so would be negligent.