http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/19/barney-frank-michele-bach_n_205529.html

“(Barney) Frank also pointed out that ACORN received significant federal funding from the Bush administration.”

I have been searching for 20 minutes. I have found no other source other than ACORN’s own site that reports they do not receive Federal Funding.

I’ve watched this video at least 3 times. Can you please point me to the segment where Maddow “laid out the facts” that these people were paid? I may have missed it. But I did not see it.

As a matter of fact, could you also point me to where she “laid out the facts” or in any way proved that any of these people were “brought in by bus” or “didn’t even live in the area.” I didn’t see that either, although I may have missed it.

I would disagree with you that Maddow laid out the facts or did “one hell of a good job of reporting accuracy.” And I agree with you…you or any other reasonably intelligent person “aught to know.” Aught [sic] to know better.

What Rachael did was prove this memo existed. No question there. Prove there was a lot of angry constituents at these meetings. No question there. She did not draw any substantive connection between the two. She left the viewer (you and I) to draw their own conclusions. What she did was suggest there was a connection. (Powerfully) She did not establish or prove a connection. Again, if I am wrong, can you point me to the segment where she proves any of these people were acting because of, influenced by or directed by this “memo”.

Those are the “facts” as I see them. I understand you see them differently. I have outlined my reasoning to you. Can you please point me to specific information that suggests I am in error.

In my opinion, Maddow’s piece is an effort in “guilt by assumption”. Or “Suggestive Journalism” (if that’s a term). She has suggested a connection but has proven nothing.

Take care.

http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=17857&tx_irfaq_pi1showUid=161&tx_irfaq_pi1back=P2lkPTE3ODU3&cHash=3b5f677fec

As a trained journalist, can you find out the specific groups who do fund Acorn? It would be a similiar story to the one Maddow presented.

#2 The comment made about how many people were involved in screaming at the town halls, did you listen to Rachel Maddow tonight? She laid out the facts that those people were paid, that many were brought in, even by bus! Many don’t even live in the area! They were told to “spread out” to look like they fit in! They were told to intentionally disrupt the moment the speaker began to make any points. A copy of their memo to those protesting was revealed on air! Go watch Rachel Maddow lay out the facts. It was one hell of a good job of reporting accuracy and I aught to know. I graduated top of my class in Broadcast Journalism.

#3 If anyone takes offense, sorry, but I deal in the facts. It makes life a little easier and as a trained journalist I was taught to verify every story with at least two confirmable sources. Rachel did that tonight so I am proud of her work. Go watch it.

Anyway, this is really nothing new. Conservatives have always gotten away with saying the craziest things possible. That’s their strategy. This crazy talk only gets scarier the more it’s repeated. It’s like a game of telephone. They sort of read a bill on healthcare, for example. They read that end-of-life counseling will be provided to seniors and covered by Medicare. After going through the conservative filter, that turns into “The government will force you to have this end-of-life counseling.” After going through the media filter, that turns into “You’re going to have to make decisions about euthanasia and plug-pulling and all that.” After going through the ears of some seniors, that turns into “Some government official is going to come to my house and tell me how I’m going to die.” And then that senior asks President Obama if this will happen, when he’s trying to have a serious discussion about healthcare reform. When the conversation is derailed, the conservatives have won. Instead of answering another serious question about healthcare reform, Obama has to entertain this poor woman who can’t afford to wonder if these wingnuts are just playing politics. Of course, the conservatives know that they’re lying to people. They don’t care, as long as people believe the lie. It’s very cynical.

1) Acorn works to sign up voters
2) They sign up mostly democratic voters
3) Their operations are paid for by government funding, given to them by the democrates that are elected.

And you DON’T see a conflict of interest there? And you think that republican’s efforts to encourage constituents to speak their minds is bad because….