Partly because its charter is so idealistic, ACORN has often successfully deflected legal challenges and serious scandals. Especially in its earlier years, it employed Alinsky tactics to coerce organizations (such as banks) to institute policies it promoted as furthering Social Justice. It posed a serious public relations threat to many organizations. No one wanted to be seen as persecuting advocates for Social Justice (as opposed to justice before the law). Few wanted to take on the powerful friends of ACORN in government and the unions. So the government grants kept coming despite serial scandals which came and went quickly in the news. ACORN developed a strategy of blaming its disadvantaged workforce for most of its ethical breaches.
ACORN's problems have long run much deeper than the "helping child sex slavers avoid taxes on a brothel" videos and multiple charges of voter registration fraud. But long-standing problems are getting new scrutiny now. Why are these champions of social justice covering up embezzlement, trying to get around minimum wage laws, mistreating disadvantaged employees, persecuting whistleblowers and failing to pay for employee health care? Etc. Since the prostitution videos, people are suddenly interested. Sad that it took something like that to generate interest. No wonder President Obama is taking the stance now that he has barely heard of the organization.
The IRS is finally breaking ties with ACORN.
Satire alert:
Frank J. Fleming writes political humor at IMAO.us and has always looked for an excuse to dress as a pimp, but never thought of "sting operation."Jay Leno runs an ad for ACORN.
Lessons for College Activists: Why did the sting work?
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