Why Won't The Media Address the Real Issue? 'ACORN' Is Wingnut Code for The 'N' Word.
By Susie Madrak Thursday Sep 17, 2009 5:00amThose right-wing anti-ACORN activists tried their little trick in several cities that didn't provide them with the response they wanted - and yet, I haven't heard FOX News mention this. Hmm.
It's hard out here in Philly for a pimp.
At least, it appears that's the lesson that self-described filmmaker-activist (and graduate student at Fordham University, a Jesuit institution) James O'Keefe learned when he and cohort Hannah Giles showed up at the Philadelphia ACORN headquarters on July 24 in the middle of a probe that has touched off a conservative-media firestorm.
O'Keefe and Giles were dressed as a pimp and prostitute, just as they were during undercover visits to ACORN offices in Baltimore, Washington, Brooklyn and San Bernardino, Calif., over the summer. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
Those visits were part of an investigative probe into the anti-poverty group - as ACORN staffers were secretly videotaped giving O'Keefe and Giles advice on how to hide illegal sex businesses in low-income housing. ACORN has fired three workers implicated in the films.
Giles, in a post on the Web site Biggovernment.com, said she and O'Keefe had been driven by their belief that "ACORN is corrupt" and are on "a quest for truth unraveling the mystery of organized corruption."
But when the phony pimp and prostitute tag team visited ACORN's local office, on Broad Street near Parrish, on July 24, they were apparently shown the door.
Philadelphia ACORN president Carol Hemingway said in a statement on Monday that "after causing a major disturbance, they were asked to leave the office, and a police report was filed."
Hemingway e-mailed copies of the incident report to the news media. No charges were filed against O'Keefe or Giles, and their visit to the City of Brotherly Love has not been part of a series of reports aired on the Fox News Channel.
I'm sure this will be prominently mentioned on Glenn Beck's show tonight. Right?
From today's Times:
In a statement over the weekend, Bertha Lewis, the chief organizer for Acorn, said the bogus prostitute and pimp had spent months visiting numerous Acorn offices, including those in San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia, before getting the responses they were looking for.
“I cannot and I will not defend the actions of the workers depicted in the video, who have since been terminated,” Ms. Lewis wrote. But she defended the group’s overall record and said it had become “the boogeyman for the right wing and its echo chambers.”
Robert L. Borosage, co-director of the liberal Campaign for America’s Future, called the tactics used to go after Mr. Jones and Acorn “McCarthyite,” and said the critics were harping on minor failings and distorting records that over all were admirable. “This is dangerous stuff,” Mr. Borosage said. “I don’t think progressives will sit back and let this gain momentum.”
Until progressives learn to speak in plain language and effectively call out racism when they see it, of course it will gain momentum. It already has.
In the meantime, I've filed an ethics complaint against our young filmmaker friend at his school. I'll let you know what happens.
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"In the meantime, I've filed an ethics complaint . . ."
Thanks for that.
Lamar Alexander has a Bill pending that would prohibit any government funding going to ACORN. Due to
ACORN's habit of "fraudulent" behaviour. Based on this headline (from today):" Insurance Company Must Pay $10 Million For Revoking Policy Of Teen With HIV" - I think Alexander should immediately offer a Bill denying any government funding of any insurance company engaging in fraud and deceptive practices.
And see how the Republicans will vote on it.
http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/09/senators-mad...
Not even any
"Goo goo...bah bah..."
?
Would Hofstra, a Jesuit Institution, conduct an Inquistion?
expect it. }:)>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGOl-jfUK0
http://www.uclick.com/client/nyt/ta/
You wouldn't expect FOX News to report that their scheme failed in numerous other cities because FOX is not a news organization but a political propoganda machine for the right wing in this country. By trying to defend corruption at ACORN you are just playing into their hands. The real b.s. here is the implication by FOX and the rest of the right wing noise machine that ACORN is part of some fictional "Obama National Security Force" which exists to steal elections with voter fraud, and ultimately herd opponents to Obama into re-education camps in some kind of socialist/fascist state (whatever that is). Any story defending ACORN should begin with the preface that Barack Obama is in no way responsible for what is going on at ACORN or else we are taking the right wing bait (in my humble opinion). But I digress, if Barack Obama can call Kanye West a "jacka$$" why can't he get a little tougher with some of these thugs and bullies on the right?? (see: Obama on Kanye West, Ellen on Idol, ABBA on school bus beatings)
1!
Was this not a hoax by those emplyees..this is what you reported????
WTF??? Can you get this straight? Does anybody know what the fuck is going on here?
Which is it?
... the 'hoax' has always been on the part of the 'filmmaker' and his associates, and not ACORN employees having a laugh.
It is not known why those specific employees gave the answers they did, but they have been fired, and are clearly not representative of ACORN's policies or staff as a whole.
and why do you suppose the Senate just voted 83-7 to shut down continued funding to this Obama-shillin, corrupt, sinkhole of an organization?
Because 83 of our Senators are racist.
Progressives not only need to speak in plain English about ACORN, the need to get their stories straight, too. Of course that's going to take all kinds of contortions and the ever-continuing 'in no way do we condone the actions of the few workers depicted in the video, who have since been terminated' statements, but I'm sure you guys can do it.
After screaming about Halliburton for eight years, you have to be somewhat embarrassed about your lame attempts to defend this organization with video after video of workers being perfectly fine and willing to help out people bring underage girls from outside the country for a child prostitution ring, even if you have to pull out the race card to defend them.
Shameful.
That you attribute things to me which I have not said.
I did not say the ACORN employees, who were summarily dismissed, without any equivocation or shilly-shallying by the organization, did not violate the law. Nor have I maintained that it is 'clearly racist.' But it's a throw to say that these employees said X about tax evasion/prostitution, therefore ALL of ACORN is corrupt, and anything else ACORN did is suspect.
Furthermore, if the Obama Administration had not distanced themselves, you'd no doubt be here to sing the same tune: ACORN is corrupt, and Obama is complicit.
But, as you should know, it's entirely possible for someone to be in public service and have skeletons in the closet. We present Mark Foley, known for his work against sexual predators, exposed as a pederast communicating with underaged teens. We present Gov. Mark Sanford, who disrespected his marriage and then steadfastly refuses to step down.
are you guys apparently going against every shred of DNA in your being save for the 'must fight for progressives' one and defending this piece of shit organization and calling anyone who's alarmed at how much of our tax dollars is going to a place that let's these scumbags work and operate for them?
There was a time not that long ago that people here would be screaming to high heaven about this no matter who was doing the investigation.
Now all you guys scream about is race.
Go check out the newest one out of San Diego, where the ACORN employee not only wants to help out with the child prostitution ring, he also wants a piece of Hannah Giles for his efforts.
Oh, but the Philly ACORN office did the right thing and said "no, we can't help out with child prostitution", so three cheers for ACORN, right? See, they're not so bad.
Everyone help out now and file ethics reports on these kids.
... you're conflating everything that has ever been said about ACORN and attributed it to me, personally.
But that's the sum of your argument, isn't it? That the ACORN employees identified in this little 'sting' by the intrepid journalist (and, who, I wonder, paid for his jaunts all over the country?) establish the norm for the whole of ACORN, anyone affiliated with ACORN, anyone who might have remotely profited from ACORN's activities, and anyone who defends the organization at large from hack-job character assassination such as you seem to prefer in lieu of facts (or even criminal charges, arrests, indictments, etc.).
Regardless of the video which shows ACORN employees offering advice on how to conduct illegal activities, the photographer may still be open to ethics charges, depending on the privacy laws and policies of the university which he attends.
Oh, and by the way - I still haven't said opposition to ACORN, in this or any other instance - is inherently racist and/or perpetrated by racists. I'll go one further and approve of the Senate's decision to suspend funding, as it should in any case where there is concern as to the propriety of an organization's credentials VIA the actions of its members and/or personnel in direct affiliation with them ... but you should understand that would also apply to things like President Bush's faith-based organizations.
As an aside, you're outraged that someone would offer advice to a pimp/prostitute and insist that they and the organization they work for be stomped on, but it absolutely floors you that someone of such high moral standards would ask 'for a piece of Hannah Giles'. Was she not posing as a prostitute? Was her colleague not specifically stating he was establishing an illicit business?
It doesn't excuse the ACORN workers' response, but the fake outrage doesn't play well.
As an example when they have not been striped of their Government funding. You GOPs have been telling us for years and years that we have to wait to get the whole picture when it came to KBR/halliburton. But the second you get something anything on ACORN not only is there funding taken away before a full investagation you want more then that.
by the US Senate. That has a Democratic majority. 83 of them voted to defund them.
Do you think, as Susie Madrak is implying, that they are all racist?
Think real hard before you hit 'Submit'.
But down here in Texas, when Senators run to do what they did the other day we have a description of it that does not involve a human trait like racism. The term is stampede.
Based on your past comments I think you can be accused of both racism and bovine behaivior.
just about everything here, little ricky. To the point that names mean absolutely nothing to me. But I'm neither racist nor bovine. You guys call everyone you disagree with racist, so somehow you thing it matters to say it any more.
It doesn't. It's expected.
Don't like seeing creeps from ACORN trying to aid and abet child prostitution? "You're a racist!!!"
"Don't like seeing creeps from ACORN trying to aid and abet child prostitution?"
And how were they doing that exactly?
... a black-only problem. Where's your outrage about the Catholic Church, Dennis? Nice, white men of the cloth, molesting boys and girls in Jesus' name?
but it has nothing to do with ACORN.
Nor this thread.
Sorry.
You express your outrage that we aren't foaming at the mouth over ACORN employees 'aiding and abeting' (your words) a supposed child pornographer ... and then claim an observation that child porn is not purely an issue among blacks is NOT RELEVANT?
Laughable. As always, you come here claiming we're the ones that are confused, but demonstrate the converse in short order.
I am not quick to call people racist. But I do know it when I see it, and I based my statement on your body of work which predates this topic.
As for bovine, do you claim to be spreading your bullshit as fertilizer? If so I should have called you a farmer.
on which you base what you know something when you see it. then please state it, ricky.
Maybe it will be a teachable moment for me.
Like so many here, you make the claim, but you have nothing with which to make it.
But you know it when you see it.
Translated: I don't like your political opinions.
You cheapen the dialogue and the accusation at the same time when you say things like that, ricky.
And please don't call me son.
Ricky expresses himself in a manner which more than a few people (myself included) have objected to when he crosses certain lines.
Why are you so sanctified that you can't be a target like the rest of us?
you noticed.
All of Halliburton's Government contracts have been canceled?
I didn't say that.
Shouldn't they be? After all because of criminal neglect they killed servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
which is ok for you, but not me.
Sorry, meet me on an open thread sometime and remind me.
You compared ACORN to kbr/Halliburton. If you didn’t want to open that can of worms you should have never brought them up.
Quite frankly I'm glad you did it shows the difference "liberal" companies are treated compared to "conservative" companies.
You used Halliburton as an example I showed why that fails and how your being a hypocrite. Halliburton is still under Government funds and they have been accused of everything from Child sex trade to murder. The GOP who are jumping on ACORN and called to have the funds taken away before and investigation have on the flip side told us progressives in Investigation after investigation to wait for the big picture to come out and refuse to even talk about cutting ties with KBR/Halliburton. Hell many low level KBR/Halliburton employees have been convicted on seriously changes and the company still get contracts all the time.
Or what?
(LOL. Sorry, one-line waste of space. But I giggle when "discussion" gets authoritarian like that.)
eom
I've never backed down to anyone or avoided anything, kth. You'll notice that Neotg never answered the question that I implored him to think real hard about when I asked him if he/she thought all 83 Senators were racist.
And now the White House is distancing itself from ACORN.
So now I'll ask you, is the White House racist, too?
That's because ACORN represents the poor and Halliburton Represents the rich.
The poor includes immigrant 13 year old child prostitutes, too, Captain.
With the San Diego ACORN rep apparently wanting a little taste before he commits.
Disgusting.
when you just make shit up. the facts are bad enough, no reason to inflame the situation with more of your right winged bullshit
State your case. Nothing I've said is made up.
And Tom Foley was trying to get underage same sex interns into his bed. Do we bring down the whole congress.
Disgusting.
...someone once killed someone somewhere. Do we hold the whole human race accountable?
... isn't it clear? It's all Eve's fault! And Adam! I mean, look at them! Consorting with serpents and breaking the law and giving birth to the first guy to commit murder!
It's a clear condemnation of the entire rotten mess. And, of course, since Adam & Eve Corp. is affiliated with God, Jesus, and Spiritus Sancti LLC, well ... the whole mess ought to be done away with.
... there was a San Antonio news anchor charged with possession of child pornography. He was arrested during his break after the evening news and wound up being the lead story at 11.
Does that mean we dispose of the media? And what does that portend for our 'intrepid undercover journalists' exposing the perfidy in ACORN?
ANd the creep got bounced. You were here then, Captain. There were about ten threads on the guy with about 200+ comments per, all going crazy.
You guys aren't consistent at all any more.
What happened to you?
You've really sold your souls. Don't take that as me trying to flame, because it's true.
I don't know if you can access any of those threads, but if you can, you really should. I remember them quite well. It's pretty much how Dems gained back the House and the Senate in '06. You guys took full advantage of it and played it well.
This one, not so much.
Did anybody ever on any of those treads call for binging down the congress because of Foley?
People here, right now, are defending ACORN against the likes of Fox and you trying to bring them down because of a few bad employees. Those employees are assholes and should get what is coming to them but the whole organization? You cannot deny that Fox and the right wing have been aiming at ACORN for a long time and the main reason is because they help Democrats get elected. Every other complaint against ACORN that I have heard has been lame and not near enough to bring them down.
and gets billions and billions of funding from the US Government?
Our tax dollars that we have video evidence of a willingness to promote tax swindles and illegal prostitution?
And we are racist to ask just WTF is going on?
Got it, Captain.
Loud and clear.
I don't think that ACORN gets "billions and billions." I would like to see some evidence of that. Billions and billions from the U.S. government? For real?
Dennis you are being disingenuous saying that you only are asking WTF is going on. You and your ilk (Fox and all you other freaks) are calling for bringing ACORN down, not asking WTF is going on. You are not representing your view.
Got it, Dennis.
Loud and clear.
IIRC, Foley resigned despite a decided lack of action by the House. He also pled not guilty and tried to pass it off as related to other personal problems.
ACORN summarily dismissed the employees in question. No dithering, no qualified statements. The Senate cut off further funding - again, no dithering, no qualified statements.
What consistency are you looking for? I sure haven't said 'these people did nothing wrong' (in which I refer to the specific individuals who are alleged to have offered advice on the commission of a crime), but my opinion is still not admissible in court. It's what they call 'speculation' or 'hearsay.'
The video is certainly intriguing, but as far as legal proceedings go, I would want to know the state of mind of the employees.
Dennis,
Try again maybe after ACORN murders a few hundred thousand people and runs our economy into the ditch. Until then your arguements here are impotent.
Those 83 senators aren't racists. They're pussies.
They sure know where their bread is buttered,don't they?
Roland Burris. Stand-up guy.
Kristen Gillibrand "Which way do I vote? Can anyone help me, here?"
To bow down to a pressure vote. How dare they Act like the GOP and want to wait till an investagation was done.
you make no sense at all.
that you want to acknowledge at least.
You fish for perch while an a Marlin trip. Your presence here is more an affirmation of our principles than any kind of legitimate debate. Your opinions are spoon fed to you. It shows. You know ACORN is no threat to the nation. You and other RWNJ's have latched onto this isolated incident but there is no substance. There is no issue. Your desperation is quite evident.
You have no clue what you're talking about, Trantorian.
If no substance, why your lame attempts to defend them.
And why bring out the race card as cheaply as you are?
Lastly, why are you so angry? You won, remember?
Brilliant.
I never used the race card in my comments here. AS a matter of FACT, I pointed out quite clearly that the 83 senators are NOT racists. And your lowering of your discourse to "no clue" and "lame" are excellent indicators of your frustration at being totally unable to get your ridiculous points across.
And you, did you scream about Halliburton? How about KBR and the electrocution deaths? Were you ouit there in front on those? Were you there AT ALL?
What's a bigger deal to you, critically and criminally under-supplied American troops in wartime, equipment (wiring, water, showers) not fit for Americans IN America bought with American treasure to supply our troops in war — or the joyous silver-platter gift those 3 ACORN employees supplied to the snarling, preoccupied-with-just-beating-those-libtards sociopaths on the right?
You've already answered that.
Carly,
Troop Mom
... I can't tell you how reassured I am to learn that Parsons Corporation, the contractor that built the much-ballyhooed Iraqi Police Academy where sewage dripped from the ceiling, is apparently involved in the seismic retrofitting of the Doyle Drive approach to the Golden Gate Bridge.
One of the soldiers electrocuted, Ryan Maseth, was the nephew of a very close friend of mine. I know the case well.
There is no relationship between the two, it's a classic false equivalency. And a very poor tu quoque.
"video of workers being perfectly fine and willing to help out people bring underage girls from outside the country for a child prostitution ring, even if you have to pull out the race card to defend them."
Let me know when it's not a bunch of "undercover" conservative retards in costume.
... if I approach you in a public venue or even in a private office and solicit advice pertaining to illegal activities, be it prostitution, murder, whatever ...
... and it turns out that I am not what I claim, but some goofball with a buttonhole camera and I post to YouTube proclaiming how our conversation is proof positive that you, your employer, everyone even remotely affiliated with you, anything you've ever done in your life is suspect and should be subject to immediate approbation and legal action ...
... I'd get laughed out of court. If the conversation did, in fact, take place at your office, I'd certainly expect your employer to take disciplinary action, but there's no legal grounds for that which extends beyond the individual, and then only if you can establish that a crime has been committed.
http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=275
http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-new2.cfm?...
It's so horrible that you libbrills malign a patriotic outfit like Halliburton.
Besides, ACORN has done much worse than that.
A couple of their employees were acting stupid while being n-e-g-r-o-e-s.
Your post is a clear defense of Halliburton. How in God's name could you?
Democrats voted for this because it's a poison pill. You know as well as I do that a Dem voting against it would be bombarded in his/her state with those ads that say, "Senator X voted to
give your tax dollars to ACORN".
On the other hand, it is indisputable that these goofy activities were not part of any official policy of ACORN and no leadership has been implicated. The proof? Were it policy - implicit or explicit - the hoaxers would not have been shown the door at several other ACORN offices.
This is an embarrassment. Granted. But it hardly rises to the level of fraud, corruption and abuse that numerous corporations and "start-ups" have engaged in all across the spectrum, from Katrina Relief to the wars/reconstruction in Iraq and AFghanistan.
Not to mention Katherine Harris' activities in Florida in 2000, or the Republican firm that was
busted for deceptive registration drives and destroying Democrat registration forms. And whose leaders are actually in jail right now.
This is not to condone ACORN, which I think needs to really have a serious talk with all employees about repercussions for anything they say or do as a member of ACORN.
After word got around what FOX was up to, some of the ACORN employees started messing back with the undercover FOX reporters like an ACORN employee who claimed she killed her husband but was actually just joking. But some of the stories are true apparently.
where these guys got a responce it was the employess playing around with them. But the other one it looks like the women were serious as such they were fired
Or maybe not since the whole punked part puts the other parts in question now.
This post seems to indicate that the ACORN employees were gaming the filmmakers. Is that what happened? I don't get it. In any case, ACORN sure blew it this time. There should be a special hole where progressives can dump their dipshits. Heads up down there, John Edwards, here come a couple of ex-ACORN employees.
you should see the ginormous pit filled with members of the right and the gop.
You named 2. I could name shit loads of perverts on the right.
http://www.armchairsubversive.com/
I didn't know this was a grad student. I suggest contacting the university's Institutional Research Board as well. This kind of conduct could jeopardize outside funding.
... there are rules pertaining to privacy and 'undercover' video/film shot. You can't just don a buttonhole camera and claim to be a crusading journalist.
The way I understand it there are laws that say you cannot record people like this without their permission in certain states. Regardless, ACORN is a pretty large organization. Offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Brooklyn and San Bernardino we visited with the objective of trying to entrap them. It didn't work at these offices but hey........
If you see a news photographer with a camera, it is within your rights to request that they not use any footage/photos in which you appear.
You must notify participating parties when you are recording phone conversations.
These issues came up in the Food Lion case against ABC News some years back.
In Pennsylvania you cannot record audio without the explicit permission of the people being recorded. That's why you'll never see surveillance video with audio...anywhere in PA. If these guys recorded audio in PA, they're subject to arrest.
Fox just does not like organizations who help minorities. You never see Fox reporting on Haliburton ripping of the American people for BILIONS of $$$$$$. No, they hate ACORN because ACORN registers BLACK people to vote. Back people vote for... Democrats. Everything thing Fox has said negatively about ACORN has been bullshit or a tempest in a teapot yet they act like they taken down a communist plot or something.
So if Acorn is to be judged by a paltry few irresponsible members discovered after months of searching does this mean the Tea Party freaks can be judged by the much easier to find crazed racist lunatics among them?
Leave it up to the racist, lowlife Scumbags, in the Reslug party to pull terrible, hurtful stunts like this.
And there you have hit the nail on the head. Just like with the health care debate.
Have you noticed the changing terminology to hide their racism (besides using a "pimp" and his "hos")?
Instead of "Chicago style politics", which use to infer mafia connections to politicians, it is now "President Obama and his Chicago thugs".
Its like when they used to use "Welfare queens".
Without labels the GOP cannot function.
NARF!!!
Welcome back, all we're missing from conservatives is police dogs and fire hoses.
The police dogs fire hosed the hydrants.
Now we've got LRAD.
... irradiated with their little microwave emitters. (Wonder what the effect will be when you aim it at the tin-foil hat crowd?)
Would "intelligent" Republicans who claim that African American descendants of slavery harbor feelings of racism toward White Americans also claim that the descendants of the victims of the Holocaust harbor feelings of anti-Nazism toward neo-Nazis? If their ancestors had been enslaved and murdered by White Americans, what would they feel toward White red-neck hillbilly crackers still talking about Secession and waving rebel flags and actively promoting American neo-Nazi groups? Is there a Black KKK in America? Is there a Black neo-Nazi movement in America? Are there Black politicians suggesting that their states secede from the United States? Are there any Country Clubs in America who don't accept White members? Are there literally thousands, perhaps millions, of towns and cities throughout America where White men and women are pulled over by the police simply because they're driving through a predominantly Black neighborhood? Are there any "intelligent" non-racist Republicans in America?
Are there any "intelligent" non-racist Republicans in America?
More than likely, yes. I think there's a difference between acknowledging stereotypes (we all profile to some extent), and the unfettered racism from the foaming-at-the-mouth tea baggers who are insistent that America is being 'taken away' from them.
I just don't know many examples.
Are there any "intelligent" non-racist Republicans in America?
Yes, they're called Independents.
They're RINOs, and they're banished from the party these days.
I used to live in Kansas. We had 3 political parties: Democrats, "Conservative Republicans" and "Moderate Republicans". When referred to in statewide or local news it was: "John Smith, a Conservative Republican from Olathe proposed a . . .".
Although all Republicans technically belonged to the same party, it was really split in two. The "Conservatives" referred to the Moderates as "RINOs". Moderates were mostly Eisenhower-type republicans. They voted for Reagan in the general, but not in the Caucuses. They don't morally oppose education, and aren't completely against social welfare. The environment concerns them a little, and they aren't creationists or racists. Many have bailed out to become Democrats.
"Conservative Republicans" are the types you see at Teabag rallies. They are the neoconfederate wing, brought in when Nixon welcomed the Dixiecrats fleeing Johnson's civil rights support. There were plenty of these Southern Democrats in Kansas left over from Civil War days when both sides tried to pack the population with political friendlies. They hate the moderates more than they hate the Democrats.
Telling the two apart is easy. Just ask what they think about Lincoln.
n/t
...that we're still in the codeword stage. I'm afraid it won't be long before someone high up drops the N word and there is no meaningful outcry or repercussions.
At least with codewords it implies they know that what they're doing is wrong, or at least they understand its socially unacceptable. And that's a lot better then having these people feel that the current atmosphere would support outright open racism.
We're damn close though.
Why do you people keep asking stupid questions like this?
Networks rolled their news divisions into their entertainment divisions TWO DECADES ago, long before there was an internet or cable television. There is no "news media". Wake up.
Stop whining about it, and DO something about it.
Otherwise...sit down and STFU.
..a million person march on FCC headquarters demanding the "racists" on faux be terminated and faux be curtailed to either really reporting and not opining or shut down. rupert owns and operates newspaper and broadcast media in the same market because he got a free pass to do so; isn't it about time that 'pass' be reconsidered?
Off-topic but this story gives me hope:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32881567/ns/us_ne...
How will faux spin it if at all?
Freedom of speech is not the freedom to lie!
Who cares what FOX does?
n/t
what would you suggest people "do," pardner?
Every single person in the left-blogosphere could turn off their tvs, and every person they know could do the same, and it wouldn't amount to a fleck of snot in a hurricane.
You do what the right did to get to this point.
You start building from the grass roots. You take over public access tv. You start building your own personalities. You start infiltrating the media yourself. On the outside...you continue to protest. Yes, you turn off your tvs.
We didn't get to this point overnite. If you know anything, this entire situation was a strategy that was devised by the GOP back in the '60s and culminated with the election of Reagan in 1980. They have simply been building on it ever since.
then we turn it off.
No dude, we take over public TV OR we turn it off. Don't be obtuse. This is serious shit.
"You take over public access tv. You start building your own personalities. You start infiltrating the media yourself. On the outside...you continue to protest. Yes, you turn off your tvs."
That suggestion from Liberal AND Proud is some "serious
shit."
Woody...I like ya so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt.
I don't know how old you are, nor do I know if you've only become actively engaged in this recently.
I've watched this entire debacle unfold over the last 30 years. The influence of the evangelical right was predicted in an article in Playboy magazine and several other publications...I simply can't recall the author...back in the mid to late 70s.
That article stuck in my mind waay back then...and I have watched literally everything that was written in it come true. Media consolidation, privatization, all planned...all justified in the name of "efficiency".
63, last april...
I have been involved in politics one way or another since 1968. I cast my first for Nixon--he promised to end the war, you may recall; to my undying shame, I believed him--in 1968, after I got home from 'the war.'
The left will not be able to mount any counter-hegemonic initiatives in the style of those so successfully promulgated by the right unless they can mobilize and activate a bunch of really rich sugar-daddies to finance the footwork. It would take BILLIONS to make a dent, and the sources of that kind of money are not normally associated with lib/prog causes...
The right didn't just "take over." They were backed by GAZILLIONS of bux, from dozens of hugely wealthy, anti-democratic, CoproRat interests, which interests by their very nature have no stake in seeing "the People" empowered; just the opposite, if anything.
So, saying "we" can regain the initiative by mimicing the strategies of the right is naive, at best...
The woman who claimed to have killed her husband was obviously pulling their leg and was at times flagrantly stalling while trying to think up what BS she was going to tell them next. But the two young black women have really got me flummoxed. I mean, if somebody comes in asking for help on how to avoid taxes for underaged sex slaves the last thing I would have expected them to do was actually help. Jeebus!
Ummm....Because they are complicit?
What I always hear about ACORN from a FREEPER colleague are the key words "illegal immigrants" and "Mexicans".
What I always hear about ACORN from a FREEPER colleague are the key words "illegal immigrants" and "Mexicans".
Probably under these circumstances..."My illegal immigrant mexican gardener does a great job of keeping my lawn free of fallen acorns."
Hey, are we not missing something rather obvious here? When people are played, some will say and do stupid things. Since when have we not all known that corruption is endemic, no matter what the organization?
Obviously, this opens the floodgates wide to pull similar stunts on all kinds of groups. Get your cameras, write your scripts, dress up in character and have some fun.
I have a few target suggestions. How about corporate lawyers, insurance company flacks, congressional staffers, Operation Rescue, cops, social workers, the KKK, evangelical Christians, militias, lobbying firms and on and on, the list is endless!
From his appearance on Fox morning show:
Fox Host: "You're not a pimp, you're just playing one on our show"
Pimp: "Ya, I'm one of the whitest guys ever."
So clearly this kid equates being a pimp with being black, and not being a pimp with being white.
I'd say he's a racist.
at ACORN willing to help, these two might have dressed up in othe ways and sought to prove ACORN would not help white people.
That guy is an ass. There are white pimps and he knows it. What the hell does he think the guy running the bunny ranch brothel up in Las Vegas is ? Oh, lemme guess, he'd probably say he's just an entreprenur.
taxed and licensed in Nevada. So I doubt very much they really have what we know as "pimps".
These ACORN employees sound like good Ron Paul Libertarians!
Why should big government be telling people what should be legal and illegal?
At least they are willing to pay taxes on their income.
It seems at least one ACORN employee was trying to find a way to get the hooker on the tax rolls as a Freelance Performance Artist.
I believe Colbert, a few seasons back, interviewed one Republican Congressman who was trying to do the same thing. He was from Georgia as I recall. It wasn't Gingrey, but Savannah sticks in my mind. I'll search but if anybody remembers, it would be worth a link.
said that also
"In the meantime, I've filed an ethics complaint against our young filmmaker friend at his school. I'll let you know what happens."
You go, Susie! :)
Who gives a damn? Fire them, put out a statement that signifies how shocked you are, and move the freak on. The more time we dwell over the misdeeds of a few, the longer these rethugs are able to focus the conversation on them.
It is all about controlling the conversation, and we, progressives and liberals, have done a piss poor job on this front.
Peace.
Rick Beagle
... progressives/liberals not controlling the conversation.
The tone of civil discourse in this country has degraded severely, as marked by a lack of empathy, a I've-got-mine-fuck-the-others mentality encouraged by reality television, the lowest-common-denominator joys of 'real life' as presented by Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, and Bill O'Reilly back in his 'Inside Edition' days.
I'm still looking forward to the premiere of the new reality show America's Top Hitmen.
Regardless if ACORN knew they were fake or not, ACORN workers screwed up! An organization already under intense scrutiny, why the hell would anyone under the spot light go along with a shtick if they knew it was fake? If you know people are out to get you, and obviously the far right is out to get ACORN, why would ACORN workers not think a little more? It was a stupid mistake at best to entertain those two. At worst ACORN workers really didn't know and they are now trying to cover their idiocy with the only defense they can.
C&L you are not doing yourself any favors by carrying ACORN's water on this because right, wrong, honest, or dishonest ACORN blew it.
if anyone here thought the right had a monopoly on misdeeds, let this be "your sign". These blooming idiots screwed up, were fired, and now its time to move the freak on. Shame that this little diversion will kill what had been for the most part, a powerful ally in our struggles.
peace.
Rick Beagle
Well it seems like some people who work for ACORN blew it and the organization have acknowledged it and fired the people responsible. What these employees did was despicable and maybe they should be prosecuted (who knows) but it is difficult for me to blame the whole organization. It would be like bringing down the congress because Bob Ney was corrupt or because Mark Foley was trying to get under age male interns into his bed or because Tom Delay was laundering money. "Yeah, the whole congress is corrupt. They need to be defunded.".
“I don’t think progressives will sit back and let this gain momentum.”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!
Unbelievable, isn't it.
These idiots don't even realise that they've already lost.
you are wrong
... that if Acorn employees are paid by the number of customers they sign up - voters and such - it leaves it open for cheating. Could this be the case here that a few employees thought they could scam the system for a few extra bucks?
'
And did anyone say these two people were 'acting' or impersonating'?
... proudly displayed a chart that shows that 'ACORN MEDIA COVERAGE' Reports from Jan 1, 08 - Sep 14, 09 are:
Fox - 322
CNN - 90
MSNBC - 10
NBC News - 2
ABC News - 2
CBS News - 1
Looks like Fox leads the nation in persecuting Pres. Obama.
You guys will never get sick of playing the race card, will you.
We're playing the race card?
Bullshit!
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/09/17/limbau...
Yes, you're playing the race card.
I don't care what Limbaugh says - I despise Limbaugh.
Bullshit!
yeah right, suuuure you do.
It's understandable why you'd want to characterise me as a right winger, especially considering your position. If I could in any way be construed as turning a blind eye to child prostitution, I'd probably want to divert attention elsewhere as well.
But you're wrong. I don't listen to Limbaugh.
I know it's hard for you to understand that there are those out there that don't walk in lock-step with whatever movement you subscribe to.
Hate to tell you this but no actual children were harmed in the making of the film.
And if there were any children involved you'd have to blame the fake reporters.
Unlike you guys I've actually watched the films.
I know what happened in them.
- an independent filmmaker posed as a pimp (and his associate as a prostitute) and solicited advice on how to break the law.
- in select instances, workers affiliated with ACORN responded with advice along those lines. I have not heard whether or not this is actionable/sound advice, or if it the 'business' was clearly referred to 'offering sexual services with minors'.
- said workers were summarily dismissed for inappropriate conduct when the video was released.
NO ONE that I've seen on C&L has excused the workers or contested their firing. They ARE, on the other hand, questioning opinions wherein the whole of ACORN, every last volunteer and staffer, everything they've ever done, and anyone who has potentially benefitted from their activity is being excoriated.
To my knowledge, law enforcement officials are NOT investigating those employees for further involvement in child pornography.
As for the filmmaker, there are serious questions as to the ethical and legal aspects of covert recordings.
If you're going to maintain that You Know What Happened, it takes more than watching a hit piece on YouTube.
where you claim to be from?
I am curious why that admission came in the only comment you have made during your brief period on this blog that was on anything other than ACORN.
The "admission" came because I was asked a direct question from another commenter related to where I was posting from.
If you're curious as to why I would tell the truth when asked a direct question, well, perhaps that says more about you than it does about me.
Then why the fuck are you commenting about something that doesn't involve Australia...
I don't go to Aussie blogs and talk shit about what's goin on there.
I live in Australia.
I never said I was Australian.
where then, are you from?
Your must be a bushman than.
would find ACORN so compelling as to register and fill this blog with two pages of comments on a single topis in just two + days.
I understand why you'd like to talk about something else.
Then why is the thread up and active?
Because there was a race card to be played.
So in other words no matter what the site does or says you'll vent your spleen
And you call that a consistent argument?
you been a member for 2 days...you don't know me...unless you've been here before, under another handle.
I am not defending child prostitution you jackass.
No one here is defending that.
Just because some people don't think the entire organization should be scrapped for the stupidity of several employees does NOT mean we defend child prostitution!
That's the problem with you righties...eeeeeverythings black and white...until it involves one of your own.
I completely understand that not everyone is in lockstep with me.
That would be boring.
Seems you are failing to understand something here, hoss...
Just joined up 2 days ago, and coming in here and doin what you do...pretty much signals all the regulars here as to what you really are.
My position:
http://rgr-static1.tangentlabs.co.uk/media/97...
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