CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– LEGAL AFFAIRS
Sept. 22, 2009 – 7:59 p.m.
Reid Rejects GOP Call for ACORN Hearings
By Kathleen Hunter, CQ Staff
Majority Leader Harry Reid rebuffed a Republican request that he call Senate hearings and an investigation into recent allegations against the scandal-tainted community organizing group ACORN.
Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday that he would not ask the Senate committee chairmen or Congress “to do anything that would distract from efforts to address” health care, climate change, an overhaul of the nation’s financial regulatory system and oversight of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Reid made the comments in letters to 28 Republican senators, who had asked for the investigation into the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The liberal-leaning group has faced heavy criticism following the release last week of a video showing ACORN employees apparently advising a couple, posing as a prostitute accompanied by her pimp, about how to conceal their line of work, evade taxes and handle undocumented, under-age sex workers.
Reid called the actions of ACORN employees and contractors captured on the video “shocking” and said he shared the concerns voiced by Republican senators.
But Reid noted that federal and state authorities are investigating ACORN and warned about politicizing such probes. “I am sure you would join me in praising the effectiveness, honest intentions and impartiality of our nation’s law enforcement communities and inspectors general,” he said.
The group of GOP senators, led by National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas, lodged the request Sept. 17 amid a flurry of legislative activity related to ACORN.
On that day, Senate and House Democrats joined Republicans in voting in favor of separate GOP proposals to block federal funding for ACORN.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., called Thursday for a thorough investigation of the group and Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rescind a nearly $1 million fire safety and prevention grant awarded to ACORN this month.
Comments
Two wars going on, an economy in shambles, global warming on the rise, and the nutbags in the GOP are worried about ACORN. Wow.
George, The manner in which our President is supporting the far left rather than his Generals on the ground indicates that the wars you refer to will continue for a long and dangerous time. As for Global Warming...wake up. The earth has been cooling for the past 10 yrs. Cap & Trade is an idiotic plan for Gore and Immelt (GE) to make a fortune off of taxpayers. And I would expect a leftwinger to continue to give ACORN/SEIU another pass, just like Rangel, Dodd, Murtha etc. After all it's only taxpayers money...right!!
Well, George, by your statement I guess there's just NO good time to investigate this criminal/thug organization, since there's always a crisis-du-jour in this country these days. ("Global Warming" is not on the rise either. Fact Checking might be a good idea...) No matter if you think the right to be "nutbags" or not, this is NOT going away, no matter how much you and your ilk would like it to. Neither is the NEA issue. Neither is the ACORN/Apollo/SEIU unfolding scandal. Neither is the opinion of the EU and foreign terrorists that The Big O is "weak". Neither is the "No-Longer-Silent Majority". Nor am I, or the legions that share my opinion. GET USED TO IT!!!!!
such staunch rejection of an investigation can only mean complicity in the illegal activities.
@Hayduke ACORN and now NEA, too. Let's just get the Liberal Democrats out of office, put in fiscally and socially responsible Conservatives (notice I did not say Republicans - because they currently do not represent Conservatives), and put an end to those two wars, revive the economy, forget about the non-issue of Global Warming, and become the nation of wealth, happiness, hope and excellence we were first meant to become.
George: if you can't see that Acorn is at the very root of the economic crisis, you are truly blind and/or grossly ignorant. The term, "head in the sand", comes to mind...
WOW George Hayduke you are a genius! I guess it is ok for ACORN who Obama went before and told them they would have a seat at the whiteh house to allow for prostitution and support internalional sex trade. Obama and other leftist whackos havent disavowed themselevs enough from these guys.
Harry Reid refuses to investigate because he is a coward and KNOWS that any investigation is likely to not only bring the senate and house democrats down, but will more than likely bring our Socialist Dictator down as well! Another example of why Reid will no longer be a senator in 2010.
Really, George? You think it's just about Acorn? It's about mass corruption with Acorn, Americorps, SEIU, the Tides Foundation, and the infiltration of our government through widespread corruption and Obama's affiliation with these groups. It's about Soros, Ayers, Jeff Jones, Van Jones and other radicals, Marxists and Communists that hate America. You don't have a clue and you're blinded by your partisanship.
George Hayduke: With the economy the way it is it's even MORE important that we are vigilant with where our tax dollars are going. I don't want another cent going to a corrupt organization like ACORN when it could be going to honest and decent ones who don't promote breaking the law.
Jesus Christ, the idiot left is stuck on this garbage health care plan! Wake up!! That is the problem right now! No other business is being taken care because Obama' s presidency rides on health care. A good commander chief would keep his ass off the television and radio for a moment and concentrate on trying to run this country properly...which we know he cannot do anyways! There is more to being president than being a tv hog!!!! Our country is in a sad state of affairs at present! This country is NOT recovering...not as long as the left continuing running in the ground. Barry allowing Attorney general to investigate our CIA will have grave consequences! Our safety of our once great nation comes first, but not to Obama!!! Keep going Obama and the left, you will be replaced!
I find is disgusting that congress can find the time to investigate steroids in baseball and the cheating scandal at the New England Patriots, but when it comes to investigating a corrupt organization abusing America's tax dollars they suddenlt seem to find more important things to do. To me, this is simply more proof of how corrupt our politicians really are. Come 2010, I hope we unseat as many incumbents as possible. Washington definitely needs some new blood that isn't beholden to corrupt special interest groups.
Funny the left wing nutbags found time to censure Joe Wilson but cant find time to investigate ACORN, odumbos corrupt political group. This goes to show corruption is deep in the democrat side of the house.
Unbelievable! What will it take to shock the left wing back into reality?
What is going on back there in Washington? A scandal is uncovered, much in the style of Bob Woodward did back in the Nixon days. And now instead of investigating it, Congress seems determine to sweep it under the rug. Why? What are they hiding and don't want us to know??
"Global Warming on the rise"? Where have you been? The earth has been in a cooling period the last 10 years. ACORN has been stealing elections for democrats so that's pretty important, right? Ya know, DEMOCRACY.
Hey George, by Obamas own admission there is half a trillion dollars in waste & fraud just in the Medicare/Medicaid system. And this he says will go to pay for the health care reform I'm sure you are for so I would think that you would be all for this investigation. Unless you like what you see? Just imagine how much the the American people are being ripped off for!
@Nick: I couldn't agree more. Do something wrong in sports who get no tax dollars and BAM in front of Congress you go! Own a large company making profits and BAM in front of Congress you go! Stealing from taxpayers? Hmm not so much. I for one am tired of having to contribute to campaigns out of my state. I call for a boycott of Vegas until Reid is out!
"Global warming on the rise" >Where have you been? The earth has been in a cooling period for 10 years. "Economy in shambles" >ACORN is directly and eyeball deep in its creation! BTW, ACORN has been stealing elections. I'd say that's important, too. Ya know, that little thing called DEMOCRACY.
George Hayduke is not his real name....it is an environmentalist in a book it would be pretty funny if it was though too afraid to put his real name...loser
Let's see Harry there was plenty of time to drag in the Auto Companies, Airline companies and the House to take time to rebuke Joe Wilson. But you don't have time to bring ACORN in for questioning on misuse of Federal Funds. Interesting view from Harry. Harry this is more of a crisis right now than Health Care is, you really don't understand the important issues of the people, just the ones this administration tells you to focus on. You seem to be ok with the activities of ACORN and the misuse of Federal Funding.
Because of the growing distrust of how our tax dollars are being spent and by whom, it is no wonder Craig T. Nelson (Coach) went on television to say he may stop sending money to Washington DC. I guess Harry wants to stick it to us as much as he can before he gets booted at the next election.
George, count the numbers on this post of comments . . . do you see the handwritting on the wall? 10 vs 1. That's 9% for the ACORN supporting, corrupt liberals vs. 91% "no longer silent majority". May truth and righteousness reign in our hearts again.
Reid might as well get his diggs in while he has time left in his office because when it comes time for his next election he will be what we all call....."unemployed". Have a nice day.
And yet we can have other congressional committee in the House to be focused on the impact of the newspaper industry's financial problems. We are stepping on dangerous ground if we start asking for Reid to do something productive instead of self-serving. Nevada, he needs to go! I hope people take the time next time they vote to understand what these people stand for, it is not the American people.
george is only getting his guidance from Olberdork, what else is a acorn loving fool to do.....................
I'm shocked! The Field Mouse, Harry the-war-is-lost-and-the-surge-has-done-nothing Reid is refusing to investigate illegal activity. I'm sure he's busy working on investigating the real criminals--the CIA interrogators who may have actually been tough on terrorists! How dare they! Go get 'em Harry.
ACORN the organization is responsible for turning in almost every single employee who was later found guilty, thanks to evidence supplied by ACORN. http://mediamatters.org/search/index?qstring=acorn&x=0&y=0 If you want to investigate election fraud, then why are you not going after ESS, who manages most of the country's easily hackable voting machines? http://votersunite.org/ Why are you not going after Halliburton, the company convicted of numerous fraudulent no bid contracts and who also has been implicated in dozens of accidental deaths of our soldiers in Iraq? They were caught red handed with serving tainted meals and toxic water to our troops. Plus their electrical subcontracts connected ground wires to water pipes leading to shower stalls that electrocuted several soldiers. http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/
In response to Liberty and Justice question . . . "Unbelievable! What will it take to shock the left wing back into reality?" Another march on Washington DC . . . this time to fire them! Glenn Beck is calling for the removal of corruption by "quarantining" Washington DC, "nothing in and nothing out" until the disease of corruption is gone.
We must make our voices heard that this is a disgrace! That the Dems in Congress and the White House can just continue to "dictate" to us what is important rather than cleaning house of all of the corruption that runs straight through Washington DC? Makes me physically ill. We must continue to let our voices be heard by calling, emailing and writing to our representatives in the Congress and White House! They are there to represent the people, not dictate to the people what they should represent! I guess we need to get even louder, people!!
gimmie a break. Harry Reids in bed with these bafoons. I hope these people are gone in the next election.
this so surprising. i can hardly believe it. i thought for sure this new bipartisan president and open minded congress would want to squash corruption no matter where they found it. why so socialist, harry?
NO COMMUNISTS IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
There was time for Micheal Jackson speeches, sports achievement recognition, and passing rules that limit free speech, but no time to investigate crime (ACORN, Rangle, and Frank). Seems to me it is a matter of priorities - taking as much as they can before they are stopped.
George is right. The NUT BAGS on the right are always Rabble Rousing. My god folks stop all these investigations. The next thing you will want is an in vestigation into Barney Frank, and why he had male prostitutes working out of one of his houses, or why Barney's Gay lover is on the Board of freddie Mack, or god forbid how ACORN got all those DEAD Democrats to vote for Barry.
So, Acorn is being investagated by all these Democrats chosen by Democrats to report to Demorcrats. I feel so relieved. I know they will get to the root of the coruption in that organization one of these days. Whew!
Nick... you're right. Republicans and Democrats both need to go. If we can't get term limits, then as many incumbants as possible need to loose their next elections. I don't care what they say, spend too much time in Washington, and you're in somebody's pocket sooner or later.
It's interesting how our new president promised to change Washington and "politics as usual". It's changed alright, now corruption is 10 times worse. The sad part is he's do arrogant he doesn't even try and hide it....WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harry Reid and his ilk are the problem. We the people need to take back this country and secure our rights under the Constitution. Rule of Law not of governmental officials. There are only two outcomes. Either the people reassert their rights or the 'professional' politicians continue to bleed the country to it's final death.
Wow George - I guess if we found a sex ring at some public schools we should just look past that... Great advice... Viva la revolution! Right George ? I guess you didn't listen to the President speech today.
Harry Reid is even more corrupt than ACORN so why would he be eager for an investigation into this gang of criminals and thugs? It's time to clean house, people, one corrupt politician at a time, from both sides of the aisle.
Wow...George, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Valerie Jarrett, Bill Ayers, Jeff Jones, Van Jones, Cass Sunstein, Mark Lloyd, Burack Obama, Soros, the Federal Reserve, ACORN, SEIU, NEA, Americorps, Tides Foundation, Unions...it really is true Birds of a Feather flock together. WAKE UP!!!
Arrogant Harry thinks he's impervious to damage by anyone outside Nevada. The best way to make sure we don't have to put up with Harry Reid in the future is to go to the following website and make a donation to his opponent, Danny Tarkanian. http://www.dannytarkanian.org/
ACORN: Assisting Call-girls, Obama, Reid and Nancy
ACORN: Child "Services" / Financial "Services" / "Voter" Registration ---Democrat Funded To those defending this organization, please. It has been caught on tape five times (with more to come!) offering advice on how to evade the authorities while enslaving Salvadoran children as prostitutes. As the WSJ tenderly put it to other apologists, "There is no kind way to say what we think of this, but we will try to put it as gently as we can: Partisanship is well and good, but one ought to take care to observe some minimal standard of basic moral hygiene."
ACORN: Association of Criminals Obama Represented in the Nineties. "I've been fighting alongside of Acorn on issues you care about my entire career. Even before I was an elected official, when I ran Project Vote in Illinois, Acorn was smack dab in the middle of it, and we appreciate your work." --Obama, 2007 MR. PRESIDENT, DO YOU FEEL COMPLICIT IN THIS SCANDAL, HAVING "WORKED ALONGSIDE OF ACORN" FOR YOUR "ENTIRE CAREER"?
So....I guess all of our elected representatives are unable to multi-task? I guess 4 subjects (healthcare,war,reform,climate change) are all that congress can focus on. Time to get new leaders who can do more.
Harry Reid needs to be targeted when he comes up for re-election. This was successfully done with Daschle and Reid is clearly vulnerable and richly deserves to be humiliatingly defeated. Once he is back in the private sector, investigations into his shaky real estate transactions can be more thoroughly reviewd
1.) As a mortgage broker in the first Bush years (H.W.) we made loans that made sense. In the Clinton years THANKS to BARNEY FRANK AND the Federal guidelines I had to make loan's that I knew that they would fail. A.C.O.R.N. HELPED With the pressure on lenders to make the loans that FULED THE SUB-PRIME MORGATGES the Bush years (W). kept the dream of home ownership alive by not correcting Fannie and Freddie mortgages, now in the Obama term it looks like Selling Out the economy is not enough they want to own it all; wall street, banking, automotive companies to take all of the profits for themselves by turning it over to labor unions as Obama said "I will own this bill" that is until something goes wrong then he will blame Bush or even Lincoln if he can make a connection.
Its simple the Congress wont investigate itself. By investigating ACORN the money trail will flow to Congress. Global Warming, Healthcare and the Economy is the excuse to stop any investigations. Even the latest of many stories like the Hassan Nemazee,one - a fund-raiser for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats, who was just indicted for defrauding Bank of America, HSBC and Citigroup Inc out of more than $290 million in loan proceeds - is off the media radar screen. The amount of money - OUR tax payer money that has been deceptively moved about to fund their power base is a crime against democracy.
Now is the time for all responsible Nevada voters to come to the aid of their state and country. Kick out Reid, and do it in a resounding manner ,one he will never forget or live down.
Yeah, Harry. Investigage ACORN, Apollo Alliance, Tides Foundation and your own pathetic existance in Searchlight, NV. Removing Reid from office is not enough - he needs to be investigated along with Ms. Pelosi. Deep corruption there in Washington.
Here in Las Vegas Harry Reid is known for his shady real estate deals,and bringing in illegal aliens for the casino operators.We all think he is a criminal scumbag idiot.And we WILL race down next election and get rid of him. I apologize to the rest of the nation for the harm this parasite,democrat hack has done to them
Hayduke is scared to death that if ACORN is investigated thoroughly the fallout could take a big bite out of the environmentalist's slush fund. Read all about how the Tides Foundation and other radical organizatins fund all the left wing radicals. (especially Chapter 9 - scroll down about halfway) http://frontpagemagazine.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34496 Wouldn't be surprised if George Hayduke is Mike Roselle (just google for more info) The WV coal industry has been hit hard by these nuts joined by Daryl Hannah & James Hansen and all their "actions". Congress needs a message - the American People want ACORN & all these other groups investigated.
George: "Two wars going on" The two wars only matter to the Dems when it helps them win elections. You won't be hearing anything serious about this from Obama or the rest of the Dems unless elections are at stake. Just wait for it. "an economy in shambles" This is because of the Dems, and tax-payer funded groups like Acorn. Were you serious with that objection or was that part of a sarcastic jab? Not sure. "global warming on the rise" Global warming is not on the rise. We've been cooling for at least a decade. Where do you get your facts from? "and the nutbags in the GOP are worried about ACORN. Wow." Yup. I know this hard for you to understand so read very slowly and carefully here: We believe that tax evasion, underage prostitution, drug dealing, and misuse of American tax dollars is worth investigating. You and Harry Reid believe that a guy yelling "You lie!" (when the President DID lie) is worth investigating.
George Hayduke September 23, 2009 8:27 AM Two wars going on, an economy in shambles, global warming on the rise, and the nutbags in the GOP are worried about ACORN. Wow. 1 war going on in case you missed that. The economy is out of recession according to osama i mean obama. Temps have been cooler not warmer. Maybe you are the nut bag George????
Clearly Reid and all the other leftist trash in Congress have been wallowing in ACORN's muck and know they can't scrape enough of it off to withstand an investigation. Lipstick on pigs, birds of a feather..... I second an earlier poster's suggestion that we all donate to Danny Tarkanian's campaign (the guy who'll be running against Dingy Harry (or is that Dirty Harry?) Let's MUCK OUT CONGRESS IN 2010!!
"George Hayduke September 23, 2009 8:27 AM Two wars going on, an economy in shambles, global warming on the rise, and the nutbags in the GOP are worried about ACORN. Wow. " We're concerned about giving this corrupt organization $20B in federal funds to conduct the census and help child sex slave traders cheat on their taxes. Silly us.
yes - by all means let's investigate ACORN, and Obama's birth certificate, and the myriad violations of the constitution that these fascistic communist socialists have inflicted on this country. But first, let's take a look at our educational system, and try to find some answers to the pathetic ignorance of the 25 - 30% of the people in this country who can't understand when they're being manipulated into fighting against their own best interests by charlatans like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity. Then perhaps, with a well informed, intelligent electorate, we can get this country back on track, and the 70 to 75% of the population that is already capable of rational independent thought can have the government they voted for. Just a thought.
George, No time for ACORN, who thinks it's Ok to bring in 13yr olds to work the streets, but let's take time to hang Wilson for calling Obama on his lie, Obama was not telling the truth. No time to read the bills, because we must get this money into the system or the country falls apart, yet the money has not got into the system yet, come on George.
"But Reid noted that federal and state authorities are investigating ACORN and warned about politicizing such probes. " Really? So the Democrats haven't politicized national security and CIA interrogation techniques? Haven't demonized all of Wall Street? Hasn't politicized EVERYTHING they've touched? Reid is such a tool!
Liberals the new slave masters. Selling 13 year old girls into a life of prostition is not a big deal to liberals. Not if investigating it means they may lose their foothold on power. Liberals care about the poor and downtrodden my a**! Your brief little time at the top is already over, you've been exposed for what you truly are, good riddance. 2010 can't come soon enough.
Unbelieveable. George wants tax payers to pay money to Acorn and they help set up for high crimes in America? George works for Acorn?
I'm an Illinoisan, and would like also to apologize for any woes caused by my reps. That being said, anybody else finding it hard to get anything close to the facts anywhere but fox?
Post from above: "Two wars going on, an economy in shambles, global warming on the rise, and the nutbags in the GOP are worried about ACORN. Wow." Obama constantly claims he can pay for his health care program with savings from waste and fraud. Yet when faced with obvious examples of waste and fraud, Obama completely avoids the issue. Harry Reid runs as fast as he can. Total Proof that the Dem Health Care Proposal Can Not WORK.
I don't live in Nevada but I am going to make a campaign contribution to Reid's opponent and I hope others will join me.
It is interesting to me that with all that is going on, a look at another thing is too much. "The plate is too full." I seem to remember that "anyone is better that Bush" but, somehow Obama is not named "Anyone". Some how Bush was able to tackle so many things and never was his plate too full. A critique of ACORN could do two things, point out their strengths and highlight their weakness, so corrections can be made. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house, unless it is a great pitch.
Ya know, the party George is aligned with has plenty of time to waste investigating the CIA but he doesn't think that they should waste time investigating ACORN. I bet he thinks that they shouldn't investigate Charlie Rangel either. Georgie, art thou a bit partisan?
I wished I lived in Nevada so I can help vote out Henry Reid next year! Not surprised by his response though since he obviously loves the Apollo Alliance and praising them for writing the stimulous bill whom they happen to be connected with ACORN.
Only i America...We have a media whore for a president, a gutless Senate majority leader and a speaker of the house who still thinks she is a prom queen. America you voted for this bozo and his band of thugs now what the hell are you going to do?
Mrgubmint: Since you are one of the "smarter" Americans, why is it that you refuse to read things for yourself? It's not about the talking heads on Fox. It's about the facts. Then again, you dems always resort to name calling and finger pointing rather than refute anything with proof. Prove we are wrong and then we'll shut up. Until then, get use to it. WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!!
To the Texan Steer who like Danny Tarkanian, please tell us why? He has no voting record, but we know he gives money to a liberal congress woman, and we know his mom is a democrat who serves on the Las Vegas city council, and we know his dad attends fundraisers for Harry Reid. Sounds like a sucker vote. Reid will tear him up.
Of course the GOPpers want to investigate ACORN. That organization has committed the unpardonable crime of registering low-income voters who vote overwhelming Democratic. It's all about the imbalance of power, baby. But let 'em proceed - it will blow up in their faces
Dear CQ - I've been reading CQ for years; it's a great source for unbiased political news. I also enjoyed the intelligent and focused comments from readers on different stories. I read the stream of comments for this story and wonder what happened to the old CQ?
Out of a long group of posts here, I found only a few that showed any common sense at all. The ACORN thing is just a method to get under the President's skin and incite nutjob right wing pundits who don't know a darn thing other than what they are given on their teleprompter. The words FOX and facts don't even belong in the same dictionary. As for those "dead people" that ACORN arranged to vote for Obama, you that suggested that give "sheep" a bad name. Arthur Smith, what planet do you really live on? I agree with jimsepa. CQ, where have you gone?
Conserative Missourian, I could not have said it better!!! If Harry wasn't wasting his time investigating the CIA (which has helped keep America and it's people safe) for interrogating terrorist a little rough (they would just cut our soldiers heads off and show it on national TV) and trying to go after the previous President and Vice President, he could investigate such a criminal know organization. THEY ARE AFRAID WHERE THE FINAL INVESTIGATION MAY LEAD!!!!!!!! WE TRUE AMERICAN'S NEED TO KEEP THE HEAT ON AT ALL TIMES!
I just notice it seems there are some ACORN workers infiltrated in the blog. It's great to know how well informed those who answered them and hit the nail right on its head. They are on the spot answering these people who do not know what they are talking about. Our tax dollars are been wasted in everyway by these ACORN groups, since they do not have to work hard to earn it. Only we the slave workers had to really sweat it. I wonder if they will really investigate and put in jail for a long time for their abuse waste of our tax dollars.
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