ACORN whistleblower Anita MonCrief three years later

By Michael Gaynor

Anita remains a problem for Obama and how big a problem depends upon how generally known her story becomes.

Whittaker Chambers incurred the wrath of the Far Left for exposing Alger Hiss in particular and communism in general as well as the appreciation of those who share traditional America values. For the details reaad his book, Witness.

Likewise, ACORN whistleblower Anita MonCrief incurred that wrath and appreciation for exposing ACORN and Project Vote beginning in 2008.

Unfortunately, MonCrief then was an idealistic radical who believed that Obama himself was a great guy and exposing ACORN and Project Vote would free him to be a great President.

Laura Ingraham interviewed Moncrief in late October 2008 on her national radio show and Fox News then offered to have MonCrief on "Fox & Friends" on the Friday before Election Day 2008 and the following days up to Election Day.

Luckily for Obama and tragically for America, MonCrief did not trust Fox News, declined, voted for Obama and blogged about trudging through the rain with her daughter to cast that vote.

MonCrief watched as the Obama Administration was put together and eventually realized what Obama really was all about, became conservative and told her inside story that connected Obama to ACORN and his presidential campaign to improper involvement with Project Vote.

Conservatives appreciated the importance of MonCrief's testimony. MonCrief accompanied Heather Heidelbaugh when she testified about ACORN before a House Judiciary subcommittee in 2009 and then appeared several times on Fox News. She spoke to standing ovations at CPAC 2010 and 2011 and has been traveling around the country telling an abbreviated version of her story and promoting election integrity.

See, for example, the three-part video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgGEqaV2bz8, accompanied by this message: "Anita takes the gloves off in this expose of ACORN's dirty tricks, lies, and corruption. As a former insider, she experience[d] the false promises and duplicity that is allowing poverty & misery to run rampant in even the nation's capitol. This brave lady believes in the power of integrity and good will. She wants to help others to fight for our country and against ignorance. This video is the first of 3 parts You can reach Ms. MonCrief at bolt.libertylinked.com."

A bit more than three years ago I introduced MonCrief to the public arena in this article titled "ACORN WHISTLEBLOWER: OBAMA'S THIRD STRIKE? (October 22, 2008) (www.webcommentary.com/php/ShowArticle.php?id=gaynorm&date=081022);

It's been an exciting presidential campaign.

A rookie United States Senator with no military experience, no service in the Peace Corps or Vista, no executive governmental experience and no major legislative accomplishment (Obama) ran on "the fierce urgency of now," hope and change and beat a former two term First Lady of the United States and a re-elected United States Senator (Clinton) for the 2008 Democrat presidential election.

But after the national conventions, the Republican ticket (McCain-Palin) took the lead in the polls.

Then the financial crisis reversed that and again McCain's presidential aspirations were pronounced dead by many.

It would take three strikes to strike out Obama under the circumstances.

There have been two: (1) Obama came to Joe the Plumber's neighborhood and ad libbed a response that revealed where he comes from — an admission that he wants to use tax policy to redistribute, or spread, the wealth, and (2) Obama's running mate (Biden) assured the world that if Obama became president, there would be a generated crisis within six months.

Americans aren't socialists and Americans don't want a president who will invite generated crises.

But with much of the mainstream media in the tank for Obama, a third strike is needed.

Say, an ACORN whistleblower who will not only expose ACORN, but ACORN's ties to Obama and the Obama campaign.

I posted an article titled "Blame Obama's ACORN for the Financial Crisis" at the end of September and followed up with more articles on Obama and ACORN.

Enter ACORN whistleblower, from Stage Left.

This person had read articles of mine on ACORN and Obama at www.webcommentary.com, set up an email account under an alias and emailed me this message on October 7, 2008: "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."

The idea that ACORN really is an arm of the Democrat Party and the Obama campaign was far from inconceivable to me, but was this a hoax or for real?

I immediately emailed back:

"I'm paying attention and looking forward to checking any illuminating material.

"What did Project Vote do with the lists?

"Please identify yourself and provide contact info and proof of your Project Vote and ACORN history. If you have a resume, please send me a copy.

"Please tell me specifically what you can prove as to Obama that the voters should know."

The next day, the person responded:

"I am a little nervous about sending you my resume. I have been black listed by ACORN, fired from my new job for bogus reasons and threatened daily. I turned to you because with whistle blowers, sometimes the media is the best protection. I am not sure how you would protect your sources.

"Project Vote used the list in violation of FEC rules for fundraising. Obama is in very deep with ACORN and Project Vote and I have knowledge of meetings between the campaign and Senior ACORN members."

I immediately responded:

"Thanks for emailing me again.

"I was worrying that you had set up a gmail account to pose as a legitimate source and trap me into posting bogus info.

"I was fooled into posting the substance of a bogus email once and it's not something I intend to have happen again.

"Apparently your name is in your email, so you don't ordinarily hide, which is encouraging to me.

"Here's my contact info....

"If you haven't googled me, please do."

The person replied:

"David is not my real name, just my alias. I am looking for help and did not know how else to contact you. I did google you and I was happy to see that you are a lawyer. I do have a lot of internal docs for ACORN and Project Vote. I took a call from the Obama campaign while working there and was privy to a meeting where information between the two camps was discussed. I was told by PV that we were working with them and that I was to de-dupe the Obama 2nd Quarter list and get to work contacting donors. We also received help from the DNC, Clinton and Kerry (in 2004). I will take a polygraph and turn over what I have. I am in DC. Obama's camp was contacted by the NYT about the documents and they claim that PV got it online from published document and more questions led to a screaming match between the reporter and the campaign. Two days after that PV began contacting old references and friends in an effort to discredit me. That's why I agreed to the polygraph because I am not lying, they are."

I focused on this part — "Project Vote used the list in violation of FEC rules for fundraising. Obama is in very deep with ACORN and Project Vote and I have knowledge of meetings between the campaign and Senior ACORN members" — and emailed, "The sooner this is demonstrated, the better. If Obama wins, he will appoint the next United States Attorney General."

But I lacked confirmation, so I also emailed:

"I think you are sincere and your information is newsworthy. As an anonymous person with an Internet alias, I can't check you out. You would have to contact me. Time is short. Please call me tonight."

Minutes later, I read this: "Anita MonCrief. Google me. Please do not use my name with anyone until we connect. I also emailed Michelle Malkin but she scares me."

I responded: "I googled that name and hope it's the real you. If it is, you should have plenty to prove that should be publicized. Please call me at or after 9 PM: 631-757-9452. I will be home by then and free to talk."

Anita emailed: "I am really terrified. When I say threats and intimidation, I am not kidding. We (my 2 year old) are moving and I have had union pressure to make me be quiet. I am on linked in. If you still have doubts add me and I will confirm you."

I checked Linked In and then emailed:

"One, call me at or after 9 PM.

"Two, and more importantly, email Martha.J. Raddatz@abc.news.com. As you probably know, Martha is ABC's Chief White House correspondent. You can google her if you are unsure about her. I think you'd be more comfortable with her that Laura Ingraham or Stuart Taylor, others to whom I might have referred you. I chose based on what I thought would be best for you. I have NOT told Martha your name, since you wanted it treated confidentially, but I got her permission to have my 'source' email her and her commitment to deal with you totally off the record if that is what you want. Use you alias email account first, but you have documents for Martha to examine, so the two of you are likely to get together and the more you reveal, the more credible you will be. Andthe sooner, the better."

Anita's response was to mail me her resume.

It shows that Anita is a University of Alabama graduate who focused on political science and history and won a University of Alabama faculty and staff award for academic excellence.

It shows that in 2002, she interned in Washington, D.C. with the American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative as a legislative assistance and research program intern early in 2002.

It shows that later that year Anita served as an election observer with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in which capacity she assessed the conduct of the election in the context of domestic legislation and international standards and practices, interviewed members of local election commissions and executive bodies regarding the conduct of the election and documented human rights abuses, media-related incidents and vote fraud during and after the campaign period.

No wonder ACORN recruited Anita!

The resume shows that Anita simultaneously joined ACORN and Project Vote in Washington, D.C. in October 2005. With ACORN, she was a strategic writing, research and design consultant. With Project Vote, she was a development associate. She designed ACORN's 2005, 2006 and 2007 political operations year end PowerPoint presentations.

Anita did not call at 9 PM that night, but she called later that night and provided many documents.

It had to be very hard for a "progressive" who supported Obama to come forward.

But before Anita emailed Michelle Malkin and me, she had been working with New York Times national correspondent Stephanie Strom, but what ended up published as Ms. Strom's ACORN articles were so "watered down" that Anita decided to turn elsewhere.

Wisely so.

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.

I think that should be in a footnote to The Times' "All the news that's fit to print" motto.

Joe the Plumber was attacked to distract from Obama's revealing answer to his respectful and relevant question about taxes.

If Anita is accused of being a racist, I invite anyone who thinks it's true to google her and especially to check her art posted online, with some text, before this year.

To the list of Obama's "A" problems (Alinsky, Ayers, ACORN), add Anita.

Anita remains a problem for Obama and how big a problem depends upon how generally known her story becomes.

Fortunately, this time she isn't fooled by Obama's hope and change hoopla.

© Michael Gaynor