Activist Group Draws Praise, Ire Over Campaign Tactics

[LiberalHeart]

COLUMBUS (AP) -- In the three years since it arrived in Ohio, the group known as ACORN has been praised for its advocacy for low-income families but also has become a lightning rod for criticism of its tactics. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Known calls itself the nation's largest advocate for low- and moderate-income families.

Since the group set up shop in Columbus, people it pays to register new voters have twice been accused of fraud. Last week, the Franklin County Board of Elections said some signatures appeared forged on a petition seeking a vote to consider raising Ohio's minimum wage.

"ACORN is the poster child of registration fraud," said state Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Dayton-area Republican, adding that "people may disagree with their tactics, but no one disagrees with their goal" of getting more people to take part in politics.


More:
http://wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5332324

[Eric J in MN]

1. It's typical for 40% of signatures on petitions to be invalid.

The article seems to put down ACORN, a good organization which advocates for the poor, without showing that its petitions are worse than the next organization's.

[ShockediSay]

4. how many Lieberman signatures were declared invalid? nt

[seriousstan]

5. Their signatures are averaging 52% invalid throughout the state.

ACORN IS the reason for the registration laws recently imposed in Ohio. The story of them paying a crack addict in crack for signatures was too much.

http://www.dispatch.com/election/election.php?story=207269

[Ian David]

8. How many Dems signed their names as "Ben Dover" on LIEbermsn's petition?

I suspect that many "forgeries" on LIEberman's and ACORN's petitions were actually done by opponents wanting to sabotage their efforts.

If ACORN has a bunch of people signing as Bigus Dickus and Naughtius Maximus, much of it probably isn't fraud on the part of ACORN or their supporters-- but sabotage by their opponents.

[seriousstan]

11. If ACORN is stupid enough to accept Bigus Dickus and Naughtius Maximus

then they shouldn't be doing this job.

[Ian David]

12. Why? What's so funny about "Bigus Dickus"?

I have a very good friend in Rome by the name Bigus Dickus...

[seriousstan]

13. It was your example, I simply borrowed it to make a point.

As a person registering folks to vote, it is my responsibility to make sure they are valid. ACORN does an abysmal job of this.

[Ian David]

15. He has a wife, you know. Incontonentia Buttus. n/t

[evlbstrd]

2. From a Franklin County Republican?

Sounds familiar.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Our local peace group

that protests twice a week here is being hassled by cops lately. One week they came and told us they had a report that we were selling narcotics.

The other side is gettiing scared. They feel threatened. So they are fighting back with false police reports and increased harrassment.

[LiberalHeart]

6. Are you in Ohio? If so, what city?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. no not in Ohio

[Ian David]

9. I'd set-up a video camera across the street from your activities. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. We have

:)

[SoCalDem]

14. "Invalid" voters?

I'm sorry, but if you are a citizen, you are entitled to vote (unless your voting rights have been stripped for a felony...in some states).

This whole charade of "registration" is the problem..

Every citizen should receive, on or near their 18th birthday, a US voter ID card. All they should be required from that point on, is proof of address..

The Selective Service seems to know when every male turns 18, so how hard would it be to issue a card when someone is naturalized or to just mail one when a native-born USer turns 18.... and unless you were convicted of voter-fraud, your voting rights and a new ID card should be issued when someone is released from jail.

The whole registration nonsense is what makes it squirrelly..

Just more hoops to jump through..more way to disqualify someone..