The decline and fall of ACORN (and Obama too)?

By Michael Gaynor

With ACORN criminality having been recently exposed in videos, Fox News and especially Beck are being urged to present Ms. MonCrief to explain ACORN's political corruption.

Last year ACORN's man, Senator Barack Obama, was elected President of the United States.

But less than nine months after he was inaugurated, ACORN stands publicly exposed as a criminal enterprise and — surprise! — President Obama is imperiled.

Will the glib Obama escape, Houdini-like?

Ironically, that may depend on Anita MonCrief, a young black single mother who testified against ACORN but voted for Obama hopefully last year and then became very disappointed with "Obama change."

On her blog (www.anitamoncrief.blogspot.com) on November 1, 2009, Ms. MonCrief described herself and explained why she had testified:

"Coming forward was not an easy choice and I weighed my options repeatedly and realized that there was not much of a choice. ACORN is a corrupt organization that is preying on the marginalized in this society and they have become the cancerous growth of this election.

"I have never claimed to be perfect and only answered questions honestly on the stand....

"I am a liberal Democrat, pro-choice and a Obama supporter. I never wanted for this to progress to this point. I tried contacting www.rottenacorn.org in June of 2007 before the credit card, before the termination. I was told that it could get ugly and that since I was a single mom and needed this job for my baby, that I should try to find somewhere else and then contact them again."

The day before the election, Ms. MonCrief mused:

"I do feel that in the fervor of the elections that we have let our emotions cloud some truths. Much has been reported to try and sway opinions one way or the other. However, one fundamental fact is undeniable. ACORN has been hiding behind the age old tactic of race baiting and demeaning tactics. As 'poverty pimps' they have misused the system and polluted the fundamental right that so many have shed blood for (black, white, men and women). Tomorrow is so important for many and it is frustrating to see honest, good, law abiding people fighting someone else's bogus fight. ACORN is better than the mob because they use the underlying fears of people used to fighting to be heard to make money and influence elections.

"This may be Obama's year, but if it had been Clinton's ACORN would still be using the same tired voter registration practices and using intimidation to worm their way into the campaign. As an African American running for president Obama was put in the unique position of denying ties to an organization that Clinton and Edwards actively and openly courted. ACORN's strategic plan for the new administration was set way before the first candidate threw their hat in, and much attention has been paid to the Obama and ACORN connection. What about the ACORN and corruption connection?"

The day after the election Ms. MonCrief happily reported that she had voted for Obama:

"I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past 24 hours. I am sure that everyone has touched upon the historical significance of Obama's win. However, for me, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Last night, despite the best efforts of the GOP on one side, and ACORN on the other, no one was able to stop the true movement of people. America spoke in shades of brown, tan, white, and other. They spoke from comfortable homes, dingy apartments, and military posts. What ACORN and the GOP failed to realize is that there is a true need for people to organize to be heard; but when groups try to divide those people for monetary purposes, our voices are diluted.

"My daughter and I walked through the rain yesterday to vote, and though I knew that there are some who didn't want my vote, who said that I was the enemy; I have never wavered in my support of Obama and wanted to give my vote to him. My connections to this campaign started in 1963 when my mother was born on the Southside of Chicago, and like some of Michelle Obama's extended family, we to chose to migrate south, but maintained strong Chicago roots. To me, yesterday was more than making history as the first African-American president, it was a reaffirmation that like Obama has said, 'it doesn't matter where you come from'. The American dream is alive and well in its people who never stopped believing that anyone can start a new life and become something great.

"As a student of history, I look at the Ford's, the Rockefeller's and the Kennedy's. Joe Kennedy was a bootlegger who did what he had to do to pull his family out of poverty, and though this was not an ideal situation; that is exactly where America is now. America has realized that we were in a period of darkness, but we are clawing our way towards that light of a new day. President-elect Obama was right when he asked for our help. We have to be prepared to get our hands dirty and move forward when it looks like we are headed towards the edge of a precipice. America has always been about taking nothing and making something great. I saw this greatness last night, not onstage, but in the crowds with their barely constrained emotion.

"At ACORN I always advocated for including the middle class in our membership. I stated that by making something an issue that only affects the poor and minorities, which we were missing the true 'mavericks' who had fought and won during the sixties. These people may have traded in the flowers, tents and VW bugs for houses, BMWs' and 401ks'; but that their enduring spirit of purpose had propelled America for the last 40 years. However, ACORN never wanted people that would ask questions or buck against the status quo, and this meant that their primary vehicle for money and defense against the attacks became the marginalized.

"I hope that the new administration will help remove the albatross from around the poor's neck and let us join the rest of America in advocating for true change."

But by June 24, 2009, Ms. MonCrief perceived Obama as a huge problem, not a post-racial solution:

"After a series on domestic and international crises and tragedies, Obama may be suffering from statement fatigue, but waiting for tanks to roll and more courageous young women to die should not be an option. CNN's interview with an Iranian protester pleading to President Obama seems to have fallen on deaf or uncaring ears:

'My message...to the international community, especially I'm addressing President Obama directly — how can a government that doesn't recognize its people's rights and represses them brutally and mercilessly have nuclear activities? This government is a huge threat to global peace. Will a wise man give a sharp dagger to an insane person? We need your help international community. Don't leave us alone.'

"Neda's death illustrates the will of the Iranian people, a resolve that many Americans can identify with. The Telegraph article portrays a young woman who would rather 'live free or die.' What is the Obama Adminstration waiting for? Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush both made strong statements in regard to massive attacks against basic human dignity and freedoms, but instead of issuing a 'tear down that wall' statement Obama stands on the sidelines and states "We don't know how this thing is going to play out."

"The battle to have one's voice heard is not necessarily quick or non-violent as history has shown repeatedly, however this 'plays out.' Voices like Neda's are being heard, but not without bloodshed. As the administration operates in a totally partisan fashion, national networks shut out opposition, and the will of thousands of Americans [is] ignored; a more strategic reason for the administration's silence emerges."

Ms. MonCrief had become an "ex-liberal" and fully ready, willing and able to share the ugly truth she had learned inside ACORN with her fellow Americans.

She appeared on Fox News with Eric Shawn, Megyn Kelly and Bill O'Reilly.

But O'Reilly uncharacteristically let New York Times public editor Clark Hoyt have "the last word" in the dispute over the spiking of an Obama/ACORN expose last October and Glenn Beck turned to Ms. Reid and the ACORN 8 after ACORN national spokesman Scott Levenson told him off camera that he was afraid of black people, not Ms. MonCrief.

With ACORN criminality having been recently exposed in videos, Fox News and especially Beck are being urged to present Ms. MonCrief to explain ACORN's political corruption.

"Radio Patriot" Andrea Shea King, in "Glenn Beck: Why Not Anita?" (September 14, 2009):

"I don't understand it. Maybe you can explain to me why Glenn Beck, Greta Van Susteren, Sean Hannity, and other Talkers won't have ACORN whistle blower Anita Moncrief on their programs explaining what she knows about this corrupt organization.

"Anita knows the score, and can articulate more clearly, about the skeletons in ACORN's closets than any other ACORN reps they've had on their shows, [ACORN 8 leader] Marcel Reid included.

"We've had Anita on my program several times, most recently last Thursday, Sept. 10th, to talk about the video expose of the Baltimore ACORN office.

"Since then, there've been two more ACORN video exposes — Washington and New York. This is a scandal of corruption linking straight into the Oval Office of Watergate proportions."

The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats finally are on defense.

ACORN has been barred by the Obama Administration from participating in the next census and steps to stop ACORN from receiving federal funds are in process in Congress.

Michelle Malkin: "Sen. Johanns' amendment to prohibit transportation/HUD appropriations funding from going to ACORN in the wake of the sting videos just passed at around 5pm Eastern by a vote of 83-7. The Democrats are starting to throw ACORN under the bus. It's a start."

Last year then presidential hopeful Obama first said that he would no more throw Rev, Jeremiah A. "God damn America" Wright under the bus than he would the black community, but after Rev. Wright publicly said that Obama had to say some things for political purposes but really agreed with Rev. Wright, under the bus Rev. Wright went.

Will ACORN go quietly?

Ms. Malkin:

"This is the beginning, not the end.

"The Dems are finally, finally on the defensive on ACORN.

"Republicans, keep digging and pushing and connecting the dots."

It will be relatively easy, if Fox News turns to Ms.MonCrief for the facts and proof.

Ms. MonCrief appeared on "The O'Reilly Factor" earlier this year and flatly stated that ACORN has served as "an unofficial arm of the Democratic Party.

Ms. MonCrief said it twice.

O'Reilly was not so bold as to go there.

But Ms. MonCrief not only knew what she was talking about, but has proof.

Recruited from Alabama as an idealistic radical with computer skills, researching ability and a questioning nature, Ms. MonCrief worked for both ACORN and its Project Vote affiliate, learned what ACORN really was and struggled with the eternal ends versus means conflict.

A conflicted young black single mother, Ms. MonCrief wanted to expose the truth about ACORN's corruption without hurting Obama politically.

It was impossible to do, because the Obama campaign had improperly coordinated with ACORN and Obama lied about his relationship with ACORN, most prominently during the last presidential debate.

Ms. MonCrief had wanted The New York Times to tell the whole ACORN story, since it is a "liberal" publication, but she became suspicious that might not happen because the Stephanie Strom stories for which she served as a confidential source had been "watered down" in the editing process.

So Ms. MonCrief decided to have a Plan B (for backup) and emailed me: "I worked at Project Vote and ACORN for years and can provide inside information on the connections with Obama and FEC violations, IRS 501 (c)3 violations and the threats and intimidation that ACORN has used to keep me quiet. I am willing to submit to a polygraph and turn over Obama's 2nd quarter donor list with was obtained by Project Vote Development Director Karyn Gillette directly from the Obama Campaign. I also have a DNC list that was forwarded to Project Vote along with donor lists for Kerry and Clinton."

As a young radical who had been told by her friends that Fox was evil and believed it, Ms. MonCrief did not want me to put her in contact with Fox News, so I sent her to a member in good standing of the liberal media establishment, ABC.

By October 21, 2009, it was apparent that neither NYT nor ABC would be doing an Obama/ACORN expose and the voicemail left by Ms. Strom and kept by Ms. MonCrief is proof that NYT definitely preferred covering up to uncovering.

Ms. MonCrief responded by doing what she had been unwilling to do: she let me publicly identify her and chose to become a witness in the Pennsylvania ACORN case.

On October 22, 2009, I reported: "Yesterday, Anita advised me, Ms. Strom apologetically canceled a meeting for today and explained that New York Times policy was not to publish what might be a game changing article this close to the election."

It's too late to change the election result, but that does not mean the truth should not be told.

It needs to be generally understood, for America's sake, and Ms. MonCrief is uniquely able to tell it.

© Michael Gaynor