Why Was McCain Involved With ACORN?
October 14th, 2008, 11:43 AM EDT
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But McCain and his supporters think there is when Obama has the ACORN relationship, and they’re using it in advance to claim the election will be fraudulent. But John McCain was their keynote speaker at a February 2006 rally held by the organization that he is now negatively trying to tie to Obama.
Mark Ambinder has the video of McCain telling ACORN, “What makes America special is what’s in this room tonight. That’s what makes America special.” It’s at 1:54 into this video:
In fact as Firedoglake points out, Republicans love ACORN, too:
- Both Gov. Charlie Crist and Secretary of State Kurt Browning have said they don’t mind ACORN being active in Florida’s election process. When reporters asked Crist if there was a problem with ACORN here, he said, ‘No.’
- ACORN supported a law signed by Governor Crist which changed the rules last year to restore the voting rights of about 112,000 former convicts.
- [Connecticut Congressman] Chris Shays? He supports ACORN too. Shays put out a press release stating, “Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) today announced the availability of free tax assistance for low- and moderate-income residents of Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford.”
- Arnold Schwarzenegger? According to the San Francisco Chronicle on 7/9/08, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB1137, a bill designed to help California homeowners avoid foreclosure.” He was joined by “members of community group ACORN, which helped draft the measure.
- [Florida Republican] Senator Mel Martinez even awarded a grant to ACORN: According to the Times-Picayune on 10/3/03 the [then] U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez recently announced that his agency has awarded grants to Xavier and Tulane universities as well as ACORN and the city of New Orleans. The money will be spent to remove lead, educate the public about the dangers of lead-based paint and support research.
- Mitt Romney, as Massachusetts governor, and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota both signed Acorn-sponsored bills into law.
Does the McCain campaign actually do its homework?
There is really only one explanation for all this. There is more than one John McCain. One of them is a “maverick” who supports govt intervention to bail out industry, banks and homeowners with mortgage problems, who addresses organisations like ACORN and is pro-choice.
The other is a blood-red Conservative who denies tax money to everyone – even our Vets, who spews or allows others to spew racial hatred on his behalf and who is anti-choice.
If ever these two John McCains meet – that will be the debate the entire country should tune in to see.
p.s. Fortunately for everyone – there is only one Sarah Palin.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
This was a brilliant find, Alan. Sadly, most of the guests you feature on Fox are so disingenuous, this will be buried or spun. I’m becoming increasingly annoyed about the sinister direction of FNC. This ACORN angle is so malevolent and I’ve noticed that they’ve really upped the stakes, spin and distortions over the last week. Sorry to offend your employees, but I do worry they might swing this to McCain.
I’m cynical, and here’s why:
Every night, for instance, we see the same GOP talking heads on H+C. No matter what the discussion is, up pops Rove, Morris, Giuliani, Huckabee or one of the less sophisicated idealogues (Hewitt, Obenshaw etc).
Alan, it would appear that, no matter how fair and balanced YOU are, you’re not granted as much say in the direction of the show. You are so frequently right and incisive in your commentary. However, without anyone there to support you, the PERCEPTION is that you are wrong.
If you tell enough lies and tell them often and convincingly enough, people might start believing them. That’s what I’ve been seeing from FNC lately. Alan, there are some quality correspondents and pundits on FNC, but the agenda of the network is so flagrant lately. The desperation of the GOP is being mirrored on FNC; the reporting about Bill Ayers and ACORN has been absolutely shameful on the whole.
http://www.slate.com/id/2202163/
October 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
McCain was for ACORN before he was against ACORN.
Next week, we’ll find out he was for Santa Claus before he was against him.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Paul:
Don’t watch Fox if you like the total Liberal view; watch the “normal” media like CBS, NBC and ABC. Fox reports from a mostly Conservative slant. I think Hannity & Colmes is the best show out there. You have (2) guys with polar opposite viewpoints that are able to co-exist and break down their guests from both angles. No other Network does this as it takes real BALLS to do it. It gives us, in the know, the best possible conclusions on what the guests are saying.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
This proves beyond all doubt that a McCain white house would absolutely be a continuation of the Bush train wreck–BECAUSE HE’S RUN THE MOST INCOMPETENT CAMPAIGN SINCE WASHINGTON CROSS THE POTOMAC!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Does the McCain campaign actually do its homework?
*cough* Sarah Palin *cough*
October 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
on FNC, but the agenda of the network is so flagrant lately.
Paul,
Don’t you think it’s fair that conservatives have 1 (one) channel to promote their agenda?
After all, the liberals have abc. nbc, cbs, cnn, msnbc, all award shows, entertainers, etc.
Like I ask old lefty and he never wants (or is able) to answer… Name the conservative that have shows on abc, nbc, cbs, cnn, msnbc. I’ll even add for you, who is the last conservative to host the academy awards show and made political remarks?
If you tell enough lies and tell them often and convincingly enough, people might start believing them.
Exactly paul. That’s why the liberal bias in the media is so harmful to the country.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
@Bert Killian: Don’t watch Fox if you like the total Liberal view; watch the “normal” media like CBS, NBC and ABC. Fox reports from a mostly Conservative slant.
Um, no.
Fox News reports from an entirely conservative slant. If you want Republican press releases read to you verbatim, and enjoy hearing liberals get yelled at by bigots and whiners, watch Fox.
Other news outlets have their failings and foibles, but they do a actually occasionally make an effort to engage in real journalism or report the news as-is.
Fox News is the official press office for the GOP. There can really be no argument about this.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Truth2Power makes an accusation:
Exactly paul. That’s why the liberal bias in the media is so harmful to the country.
What liberal bias is that? I guess you think if you tell enough lies about a liberal bias, and tell those lies often and convincingly enough, people might start believing them.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I might have to change my posting name. I thought they were fixed when you register. I wrote the first post about FNC. The other Paul who has posted does write the truth, though!
Let’s get this clear: there is NO Liberal bias in the “elite” media. This is the biggest myth and it’s perpetrated by the GOP and spread by FNC. It allows them to attack dishonestly and, if ANYONE calls them out on their lies, they can use the old “elite media” slam. You see, from the GOP perspective, if you attack the GOP or call Bush out on one of his MANY lies, you are a “liberal”, “in the tank” or represent “the elite”. Isn’t this obvious?
The “liberal media” has an obligation to tell it like it IS. FNC tell it as they want you to see it. They frame the discussion. Of course there are little biases here and there in the “liberal media”, but people forget that the last 8 years would make anyone but a zealot biased against the Bush administration.
My point was clear. I have zero problem with the GOP getting talking points and I think there NEEDS to be discussion. The world is based on different opinions and I have had my eyes opened to a few things just by listening to an earnestly-formed “alternative opinions”.
For example, I used to be pro-Choice, but I am now anti-abortion. I have two kids and have seen enough well-intentioned propaganda about abortion that I have been swayed. I still don’t judge people who have had abortions, though, and know that these are complex issues.
People like Hannity will always have a “black and white” view of the issues. There is no nuance at all. FNC’s GOP commentators will find a way to spin ANYTHING Obama does into a negative. That’s my problem. *If* Obama becomes President and brings the USA to a place of peace and prosperity, there are people on the GOP and FNC who’d reframe it as “he’s taking credit for Bush’s hard work”. Really! It’s THAT comically one-sided and deceptive.
It seems that, for the most part, FNC pushes the GOP agenda to ridiculous degrees. If H+C, which I do enjoy and watch daily, had more Democrats or Liberal commentators, it would be easier to accept Bert Killian’s point. To be clear: I don’t mind so much that Rove and the like have such blinkered, one-sided opinions. I mind that, by and large, that is the only opinion we are ALLOWED to hear. It’s dishonest and unfair.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
“Does the McCain campaign actually do its homework?”
Are you really asking this question, Big A?
Oh, I get it. It’s a trick question.
My bad.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
How can there be voter fraud when the election is not until Nov.4th. There may be voter registration fraud, but that should be caught before anyone votes. My concern is more about voter purgeing than registration fraud. As usual the Republicans focus on the wrong things.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
“After all, the liberals have abc. nbc, cbs, cnn, msnbc, all award shows, entertainers, etc”
And if we accept this as true, just as a point of argument, how do you suppose all these organizations stay in business?
Because they reflect the views of the majority of the American people.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Va. officials ban campaign clothing at polls (AP)
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia voters won’t be allowed to wear clothing featuring John McCain or Barack Obama when they head to the polls on Nov. 4. The State Board of Elections on Tuesday voted to ban clothing and hats as well as buttons and other paraphernalia that directly advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate or issue.
The American Civil Liberties Union argued that the ban violates the First Amendment’s right to free speech. The board, however, said it has to weigh that against the right to vote free of undue influence or the tension that candidate advocacy might create.
Efforts to enforce a similar ban are headed to court in Pennsylvania. At least four states — Maine, Montana, Vermont and Kansas — prohibit wearing campaign buttons, stickers and badges inside polling places. In September, a Pennsylvania Department of State memo — it is not legally binding — advised counties that voters’ attire doesn’t matter as long as the “voter takes no additional action to attempt to influence other voters.”
Two Pittsburgh-area elections officials sued to have the memo rescinded. The two argued that if the memo stands, “nothing would prevent a partisan group from synchronizing a battalion of like-minded individuals … to descend on a polling place, presenting a domineering, united front, certain to dissuade the average citizen who may privately hold different beliefs.”
Poll workers in Kentucky were told last month by election officials that they should admit voters with campaign apparel. E-mails had circulated warning that Obama supporters would be turned away if they wore shirts and pins.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
On its face, ACORN is a worthwhile organization. However, when the troops go bad, watch out. It’s not necessarily (if you discount sending a bunch of unemployed people out to walk the streets all day in 90 degree temperatures with the charge that they must get so many signatures before getting paid and expecting them not to find a way to slide by while sitting the the A/C) ACORN’S fault. I’m sure most people support ACORN…on its face. Plus, giving a keynote speech at a gathering and actually acting as a trainer for the organization are apples and oranges.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
“You have (2) guys with polar opposite viewpoints that are able to co-exist and break down their guests from both angles.”
If one watches the show, they’ll be constantly impressed that usually, Alan is pitted against anywhere from 2-4 conservatives at once.
The liberals/moderates are rarely matched in equal numbers by conservatives, although it’s a stitch to watch Hannity being thrown down by the likes of such moderates and liberals as, say, Phil Donahue. Would love to see him again.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Yeah! McCain was involved with ACORN, not me!
October 14th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Listen, for a carton of smokes, I can get voters for a dead Lennin, and then we can really spread the wealth around !!
October 14th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
And for a few bucks, I can register voters, and
– Federal, state, and local officials are gathering information about allegations of voter registration fraud that were first raised Channel 8 Eyewitness News.
An employee of a private voter registration firm alleges that his bosses trashed registration forms filled out by Democratic voters because they only wanted to sign up Republican voters.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
A white house with Mccain and Palin will be cleaned out of all it’s trash! what do you fools want, to be controled by the evil that will come with obama? obama can not tell the lies from the truth! he only really speaks to the poor and blacks, he is using them fo9r his votes, he is telling them what they want to hear, but he is not telling them the truth! what ever any of them tell you they will give you this or that, it’s not true, in some way we all have to pay! in obamas case we will pay dearly with our freedoms and our way of life! in our chilerens future it will be pure he–, they will not know how AMMERICA use to be ( free,and the greatess place to live)for we will lose all our freedom forever! GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS and SAVE AMERICA and ISREAL, NO VOTE FOR obama!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
And John McCain was a KGB agent who had a black baby, and Hillary was a secret lesbian, and I disappeared Jimmy Hoffa, blah, blah, blah,
This is SOOO old and lame.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
What is especially lame is that there is one person who keeps changing his or her name to put out these idiotic posts.
Stick to one name, Ruth, Omar, Nancy, Bruno, or whatever.
Sheesh.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Alan, Alan, I know you are a smarter man then you portray in your support for Obama. I have been a democrat all my life and refuse to support this man. You ignore and deny the facts of this candidate. You guys dodge the questions and do comparisons that are ludicrous. Obama has far too many ties to radicals, you choose to twist the reality of who this man is. Obama is all talk with NO track record to back up his false promises. Kind of like a highly educated car saleman and the weak minded fall for the pitch.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Acorn is a fine American organization that provides advocacy for the underprivilaged. They are a magnificent, albeit imperfect, organization that helps literally millions.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Alan show this video on hannity & colmes. Last night you failed to show it.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:53 am
They are called sockpuppets.
They are worse for a blog/message board than trolls (bradley).
Alan (his staff), should be checking IPs and delete all the sockpuppet comments.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:26 pm