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Republicans raise red flag over voter fraud

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 9, 2008 07:42 PM

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff

John McCain's presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee have added a new alleged villain to the effort to raise doubts about Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the closing weeks of the race -- a community organizing group accused of generating a flurry of phony voter registration cards in a number of states.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), which says it has signed up about 1.3 million voters in 18 states this year, has come under fire for irregularities in at least eight states, including Nevada where voter cards for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys were turned in to local election officials.

ACORN spokesman Brian Kettenring said that in most cases the bogus registrations were flagged by ACORN supervisors during a review, brought to the attention of the local officials when they were submitted, and ACORN fired "probably a couple of dozen" employees who fabricated them. Under most state laws, the organization must submit every card an employee collects, he said.

The Republican National Committee has held five separate conference calls for reporters on the subject this week after a string of news reports in different states, and McCain's campaign has also been trumpeting links between the organization and Obama dating back 13 years.

In 1995, as a lawyer in private practice, Obama and two other lawyers from his firm represented ACORN in a successful suit that forced the state of Illinois to comply with a federal law that made it easier to register to vote. The group's political arm endorsed Obama in February and an ACORN-affiliated group was paid about $800,000 for get-out-the-vote operations in four states during the primaries. The Obama campaign flatly denies claims the Republicans that Obama once trained ACORN employees.

Still, McCain raised the issue of voter registration fraud at a rally today in Wisconsin: "You've seen the allegations, the multiple registrations under the same name, the more registered voters than the population. These are serious allegations, my friends, and they must be investigated, and they must be investigated immediately and they must be stopped before November the fourth, so Americans will not -- will not -- be deprived of a fair process in this election."

McCain spokesman Ben Porritt later added ACORN to the list of other Chicago figures with links to Obama. "Whether voters consider Barack Obama’s relationship with William Ayers, Tony Rezko, or ACORN, he has a litany of concerning associations that should be fully examined,” he said, referring to a 1960s domestic terrorist and a former Obama fundraiser convicted earlier this year of fraud and bribery.


And the RNC launched a web ad that cites Ayers and Rezko and says, "The Chicago Way. Shady politics. That’s Barack Obama’s training.”

Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt responded: "McCain advisers said this week that he would lose the campaign if they talked about the economy, and so to cover up Senator McCain's erratic response to the biggest economic crisis facing our nation since the Great Depression, they are concocting outlandish conspiracy theories and looking for any attempt to distract from the serious challenges facing our nation that we will continue to address."

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One thing the Republican Party has defined over the past decade is the psychological term "projection." Everything THEY do they BLAME on Democrats. Projection is the basis of all psychological testing. We all do it to some degree - we define the rest of reality by the one internal to us. But man, these clowns do it on national TV, every day, and they do not even realize how obvious they are!

Posted by Will Flood October 9, 08 08:25 PM
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Fired??????

should they have said the involved employees were ARRESTED ???

what threat is firing a volunteer, especially when it involves such a serious CRIME
I'd bet voter fraud is MUCH more common than anyone would like to believe, WHO polices this area??

Posted by Dave Gillie October 9, 08 08:29 PM
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McCain/Palin are now shameless in their slash to win campaign, with both country and truth sacrificed in McCarthyite guilt by association. It is no different from Cindy McCain's shivers over Obama's supposed voting against troop support when her husband did the same (which goes unmentioned). Once more the Karl Rove philosophy that mud sticks dirties an election in which the public is concerned about vital matters of the economy and foreign relations. When McCain wakes up, won't he be ashamed?

Posted by wp October 9, 08 08:32 PM
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Jaja, this just shows the desperation mounted around the the elephant.
How in the world are you guys trying to sell that idea. Man, this campaign just proves how inadequate your party is fitted for command. I think we should have another revolution, this country is being lobbied to the point where you guys are just poppets or condoms of another person that really calls the shots from the shadow.
See, that sucks, this country and most of is people deserve better than to be lied and toyed around by politicians that seek power and return favors to those that got them there. The system is corrupt, and it hurts to say that.

Posted by LethalInterjection October 9, 08 08:34 PM
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The Acorn voter registration is the work of one person. No one is setting
the record straight. Voters want straight, honest talk. Please if you are going
to blame anyone, have some evidence, not just "pie in the sky."

Posted by Jo Ann K. Dohe October 9, 08 08:35 PM
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The press should have been investigating Obama's ties to these shady figures months ago. The economy is so bad at this point, calls to do so are falling on deaf ears. People want "change" no matter what kind of "change" they eventually get.

Posted by Barak-cuda October 9, 08 08:37 PM
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Now do you all get it? Obama can no longer hide his past, and still insists on denying it, calling the accusations as "distraction." It's not negative campaigning if you expose a criminal. It's not mud slinging if you address this as an issue the American people should know about.

Because it boils down to honesty. I don't care how much he denies it. It only makes us trust him even less. Please continue to press the media to investigate. They'll have to give him up if we all stand up against the blatant bias the media has for Obama. It's our future and it will be a sad one if we allow this shady, dishonest criminal steal the election by deceiving the American people.

If any of you liberals feel the need to point fingers and say "What about McCain and this and that", save it. There's no comparison.

Posted by Emm October 9, 08 08:37 PM
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ACORN fired the ones that did it to cover their own backside.
everyone knows what they are doing and why they are doing it.
Its sad that we have to have another election where questions about the fairness will come in to play..
its even worse when you read that in California, more than 600,000 people who are in the country illegally are also registered. I guess that is what we get when you fill out your driver license paper work, it also registers you to vote, no questions asked

Posted by james October 9, 08 08:42 PM
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When will the democrats learn from the republicans, its much easier to keep people from voting than to fabricate votes. haha

Posted by Kevin October 9, 08 08:43 PM
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It would be terrible if more people voted. The more who vote the less likely the idiots in power will remain.

Given the lawless scum running the country at the moment, the thought occurs that ACORN is likely a Republican-funded outfit.

I would put nothing past their desperation. Nothing.

Posted by Mark Richards October 9, 08 08:44 PM
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let's see.... dead people voting for a Democratic politacian from Chicago....

NOOO, that would NEVER happen.

Posted by Cod Hunter October 9, 08 08:49 PM
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McShame is running scared and looking under every rock in hopes of finding a shred of anything. They did it in Florida and are trying it again. The only truely sad portion of this whole affair is that all that run for office are not first required to resign their present position before being allowed to run for another position. I am from Arizona and McShame will be back here come Nov 8

Posted by jeff barron October 9, 08 08:50 PM
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Florida 2000. Ohio 2004. I didn't see the Repubicans raising any red flags there.

Posted by Sandra S October 9, 08 08:51 PM
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once again the elections will be a joke. First we got screwed with George W. Now we will be screwed with OHB... the country is lost to the BS, and the Media...

Posted by james October 9, 08 08:52 PM
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"Under most state laws, the organization must submit every card an employee collects, he said."

If they're forced to submit the duplicates by law, then you can't really arrest them for following the law, now can you?

Posted by Gordon Pettey October 9, 08 08:53 PM
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McCain should know all about voter fraud - he got it from George Bush who fixed his last 2 campaigns [Ohio and Florida] where he had more votes than residents. The Republicans are great at fraud.

Posted by mmarin October 9, 08 08:53 PM
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Well if they can't win it they can steal it...again

Posted by tom October 9, 08 08:54 PM
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This is nothing more than an attempt by McCain & certain Republicans to legitimize modern day Jim Crow laws, to cut down on voter participation through intimidation and misinformation. They must be so desperate because they know legitimate voter turnout will lead to a clear victory for Obama.

Posted by Jason Rose October 9, 08 08:54 PM
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Obama supporters can not keep putting their heads in the sand. This man can not be trusted. When will he name OBL to his cabinet?

Posted by XDEM October 9, 08 08:55 PM
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Well obviously after 2000 and 2004 the Republicans "Police" this area using the justice's system to decide who should be the idiot in office. This conspiracy theories happen every single election and notice how it's the underdog that always brings it up...

Posted by indy October 9, 08 08:55 PM
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Vote early ! Vote often!

Such has been the battle cry of Democrats since N.Y.C machine politics began and the only Democrats to one up them have been the great Chicago machine politicians.Where is Obama from again ? Oh yeah,Chicago baby!

Posted by Randolph Van Horn October 9, 08 08:56 PM
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No BLAME......LOOK FORWARD Senator McCain. Too much effort attempting to discredit your opponents (with sometimes half truths). Remember, we're listening to help ourselves decide who's going to be our next President. Think LEADERSHIP!!!!!! www.LikeSoup.com

Posted by Jim Campbell October 9, 08 08:57 PM
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We have voter registration fraud, and in another article abuses of improperly removing voters from registration lists due to mismatches in the Soc Sec database, moving within the state, having a recently foreclosed property, or people with identical names but having different residences.

It's realy hard to say what the net effect of all this will be. I sure wish we could have an election without these kind of worries.

Posted by Seattle October 9, 08 08:57 PM
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the republicans are worried about voter fraud?

the republicans??? but it's worked so well for them...

Posted by lyla October 9, 08 08:57 PM
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Dave,
Acorn is not the police or the state prosecutor - You know that don't you?
All they could do was report it to authorities (and they did) and fire the perpetrators.
By the way the people that did this were moles in the pay of McCain and the RNC!!!

This smells like a Karl Rove operation!!!

Posted by Kate Cooper October 9, 08 08:58 PM
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I love how Republicans are suddenly up in arms about voter fraud, when in years past they RELIED on voter fraud to steal multiple elections.

Now, I don't condone the actions of ACORN; but I also don't think Obama needs the "help" this year. He's the clear-cut better candidate, with a more intelligent approach to handling America's current problems and our future potential.

The sad fact is, McCain & Palin are desperate. After all, who would try to insinuate that a US Senator is a terrorist by association? By those same criteria, wouldn't Sarah Palin be a radical separatist who believes the US is so flawed that she wants her home state to withdraw from the Union? Ask the Alaskan Independence Party, whose convention she attended as recently as 2004. Or talk to her husband, who was a full-fledged member.

Posted by Dave Mongan October 9, 08 08:58 PM
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If the GOP wants to talk about voter fraud, then we should all take a much more refined look at the 2004 election in Florida and Ohio.

Posted by Theresa B. October 9, 08 08:58 PM
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Obama can do no wrong. There is nothing he could do that would dissuade his supporters. All they know is that we need a black president. It doesn't matter what tactics he uses to get there. It doesn't matter how shady he may be. It doesn't matter what he will do when he gets there. People just really want a black president.

If that is your only criterion, and you don't care about his actual job performance once he gets there, then hey, you will get what you deserve. I just don't want to deal with it if he is a total disaster. I want a good president, not one of a certain race.

Posted by coolit October 9, 08 08:59 PM
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Hmmmm, something fishy here. Even if they did turn in voter registrations for the starting line-up of the Dallas Cowboys or any other fictional name... those folks aren't going to show up at the polls on election day, are they?

Posted by Jeff Edwards October 9, 08 08:59 PM
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Oh, voter fraud. Like what the Republicans in Florida perpetrated to get George W. Bush into the White House? Voter fraud like that?

Posted by Lars Lunde October 9, 08 09:00 PM
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I sorta liked the Republicans untill they stuffed there pockets with gold and made up enough lies to fill up China. I'm fed up with it all. At least give Obama a chance and stop playing this gruesome political game for the publics disgust and annoyance.

Posted by Mark Guttman October 9, 08 09:01 PM
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Voter rigging via registration fraud, machine tampering (or design), and ballot destruction are well documented There are crooks everywhere. Voter fraud is certain, but its much harder to pull off than just throwing away votes you don't like. RNC saw this happen in 2000 and 2004. Enough destroyed votes were later found to have won democrats both elections. Fraudulent elections date back through all time. The real question is how we function at all as a society with such a disengaged population. Most people should probably be executed for the greater good.

Posted by Roy Shupe October 9, 08 09:02 PM
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man they styeal the election in 2000 now their losing and they accuse obama of everything fromlack of leadersip to shady vote registration when will they stop its the emporers new clothes. isn't she qualified , I can fix social security, That one has a funny name. I say John Mccain hung around a lot of commies in nam maybe they flipped him, Maybe he dumped his wife cause she was disfigured . Maybe he and charles keating split the profits, i am suspending my campaign!

Posted by David Cherry hill NJ October 9, 08 09:02 PM
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Dear Will Flood,

You realize that ACORN is "independent" of the political parties. At least that is what they claim. Anyone one with any wit about them knows they are leftist. My point is this: If their are no Republican affiliations in the group, how can they have done something within the group, then turn and blame the democrats. A little note, the Democrat party association was not made until you posted. Read and you will see that ACORN is not linked to the Democrat party in this article. The only clown projecting here is you.

Posted by Zack Welch October 9, 08 09:02 PM
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What about all of the fraud committed by the RNC and Karl Rove over the last 8 years to get Bush the 2nd elected? The RNC should be ashamed of themselves for the fraud committed in Florida, Ohio and dozens of other places. The McCain campaign is reaching for straws at this point. Especially on the W. Ayers issue. Come on, B. Obama was an 8 year old child when this guy did these horrific acts. If the RNC really wants to play guilt by association, how about McCain's association with GW Bush, Karl Rove and the lobbyists that are on his campaign? Do we need another inside man to further take down this economy? Get a life, RNC and take your lumps and go away. Come back in another 4 years for another crack at the game.

Posted by Sam Harris October 9, 08 09:02 PM
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Voter fraud is extremely common. It won Bush the 2004 election.
It's amusing to see Republicans in uproar about voter fraud. I'm sure they're -so- concerned about the fairness of the electoral process.
It'd be like blaming slavery on the slaves, or the Holocaust on the Jews. Ridiculous.

Posted by Demosthenes October 9, 08 09:02 PM
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Given the last couple of days, I am not at all surprised that the GOP would raise this issue. I figure if I guessed they would, so probably have others, since I am admittedly not as smart as some (although I have two college degrees from the east, making me an elitist, right...?)
Anyhow, McCain and crew are grasping at anything they can, but really need to pay attention to the economy, not, as Caribou Barbie put it, focus on the past. ACORN isn't the only organization that has pulled this, and from the sounds of it, we aren't talking many registrations and they were pulled by ACORN themselves. If they were doing it purposely, why would they alert the authorities themselves?Also, I

On

Posted by steve October 9, 08 09:03 PM
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Oddly enough, Democrats have not necessarily 'cornered the market' on voter fraud. There is no way to control things like people registering in multiple states (or perhaps even other counties within their states) . There are retirees who are registered in their home states as well as in their 'winter' states, who vote absentee in the one and in person in the other.

There are also counties (like mine) who 'purge' their voters from the roles whom they 'suspect' do not live in the county. These voters may be surprised when they show up to vote only to find that they are not longer registered.

There will always be voter fraud of some type, proving that we are not necessarily the ones who elect our politicians. Bottom line, though, is that if the candidate who is ahead in the polls close to election day loses, then there might be a suspicion of some kind of fraud.

Posted by MaryT October 9, 08 09:05 PM
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One thing for sure... is that the Republicans are experts on voter fraud.

Posted by Jim October 9, 08 09:06 PM
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Is any else but me tired of the constant negative accusations being sprayed at every opportunity?
How will our country ever move forward if we consistantly divide ourselves along bipartisan lines. We are a fallen power, and a country without leaders, it's no wonder things are going so pear-shaped.
Our poiticians need to pull their heads out and work for the people they so eagerly want to control (I mean lead). Where is our hope for a better future? Where does it exist in such low standards? We as a public are all dumbasses. No direction.

Posted by You're either with us, or against us....menatality October 9, 08 09:07 PM
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IF, and I repeat, IF there was even one single person in ACORN who they could prove committed a crime, we'd hear about it constantly. There will always be some "irregularities," but this is meaningless. republicans always fear monger about voter fraud and use it as an excuse to supress millions of votes.
republicans are the ones committing serious CRIMES with their repeated vote caging efforts. Karl Rove WILL be convicted of voter fraud, mark my words, for his previous work in Alabama.

Posted by KC October 9, 08 09:08 PM
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Is any else but me tired of the constant negative accusations being sprayed at every opportunity?
How will our country ever move forward if we consistantly divide ourselves along bipartisan lines. We are a fallen power, and a country without leaders, it's no wonder things are going so pear-shaped.
Our poiticians need to pull their heads out and work for the people they so eagerly want to control (I mean lead). Where is our hope for a better future? Where does it exist in such low standards? We as a public are all dumbasses. No direction.

Posted by You're either with us, or against us....menatality October 9, 08 09:08 PM
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Obama lies and cheats and gets away with it...When are the youth of tomorrow realize that he's NOT THE ONE? This former Dem will be voting for McCain/Palin ticket this November...Obama the terrorist will not get my vote.

Posted by Anna43019 October 9, 08 09:08 PM
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McCain is a horrible person that will say anything to get elected. He is disgusting. I could never live in a country where he is the president. This negative campaigning makes him look terrible. I hope that we are smart enough to understand that we can't afford to have John McCain as president. Sarah Palin is not a smart women and it is scary that she was able to succeed at any level of politics.

Posted by M Jennings October 9, 08 09:09 PM
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Obama is a thug, even worse than Bill & Hillery. Why hasen't the biased news media looked into this stuff we have been seeing on the internet for a year? How about his trip to Libya with another bad person Rev. Wright to give Louis Farikon an award for his terroist work?

Posted by Ray Cutler October 9, 08 09:09 PM
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There are more registered voters in Indy than residents over 18. Thank you Acorn, your democratic sponsors and your biggest booster, Barry Obama. Yep, heaven forbid they ask for ID's at the polls. Let me guess who most of these phantom voters will be pulling a lever for. Hmmmmmm....think, think, think. Oh yeah, the Chosen One.

Posted by unenrolled October 9, 08 09:15 PM
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Once again, we see the Obama camp refusing to admit to wrongdoing of which they are guilty. Is Mr. Obama so afraid of losing this election that he has to further stack the deck against his opponent?

Posted by Jason Luksa October 9, 08 09:18 PM
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For every ACORN on the Democratic side there is one on the Republican side. This country is starring down the barrel of the biggest crisis of the last 50 years, if we do not get the financial markets fixed our economy could fall into a bottomless pit. We do NOT need Republicans or Democrats!!! We need leaders!! Leaders who are not afraid to make a stand against Wall St., or any other special interest. ALL the politicians in office at the current time are interested in, is getting Re-Elected. Vote every incumbent OUT!!!!!!!

Posted by Dave Churchill October 9, 08 09:20 PM
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Here we are October 9, 2008, the Dow is in perpetual freefall, Congress just wrote a $700 BILLION check to save our failing banks, we are spending $10 BILLION a month on a war nobody wants, and it is this moment that the McCain campaign thinks is the time to talk about the 60's. And here I thought you guys were the ones who didn't like talking about the past. If the McCain people can't appreciate the gravity of this moment, but only care about winning, at any, and all cost, then they are the ones who are truly "NOT READY TO LEAD".

Posted by Hans October 9, 08 09:21 PM
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When is the mainstream media going to address Obama's admitted use of illegal drugs? We cannot afford a third term of a cokehead! Think about the message it would send to kids!

Posted by Sluggo October 9, 08 09:24 PM
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I just don't get how some PAID employees do something illegal and stupid and that is blamed on Obama. Ummmm my kitchen sink is clogged...I bet Obama had something to do with it. Do you know that I was looking for a job and went to this place which I do beleive was affiliated with ACORN and there were a room full of people (and no not cute elderly volunteers...young, poor, some brought their babies with them to the interview) and a lady at the front who explained in less than 30 minutes how to go out and get voter registration and the law...IN LESS THAN 30 minutes. There was a quota for how many you had to sign up to be able to get paid. Did you know that is how they work? I didn't but now I do and so I am hardly surprised that a whole bunch of registrations were faked. In this bad economy....GUESS WHAT...they just were trying to get their pay for the day.

OH BUT THAT MUST BE OBAMA'S FAULT!!!!!! NO...it is the economy that is making people willing to do that to just be able to get paid a measly hourly wage for the day.

I hope no governement money is wasted to investigate this cause we can't afford more waste!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Sherry October 9, 08 09:25 PM
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In Illinois, Barack Obama is referred to as the Senator from ACORN. Stanley Kurtz, on the NRO web site has a very good summary of Obama's relationship with ACORN explaining how he funneled millions of dollars of foundation and public money to ACORN, and how he got it contributed to his political campaign. Pretty cute -- he uses his Chairmanship of the Annenberg Challenge to use public money to fund ACORN who give it back to him -- illegal money of course. Kurtz also documents how Obama got hundreds of thousands of dollars (public money again) for training ACORN operatives. Not very pretty is it??


Posted by Arthur E. Lemay October 9, 08 09:26 PM
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Obama is a filthy, dirty, lying criminal Chicago machine politician and I hope the Feds get his smarmy butt soon.

Posted by Bettysuela October 9, 08 09:29 PM
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Voter fraud always benefits the Dems that's why they never want to pursue making it mandatory that you produce an ID when you vote. Obam will do anything, including illegal activities, to win this election. This election is a farce. The liberal media and their friends in Hollywood are acting like campaign activists for Obama. Because of this the people are being denied the truth about the man. If Obama wins are we going to have a government controlled press, like in communist countries?

WILL FLOOD
"Everything they do they blame on Democrats"
Are you for real? Everytime something goes wrong the first thing you hear from liberals is "It's Bush's fault". The liberal media and Democrats do nothing but blame Republicans for all the problems we're facing without offering any solutions of their own.. The blame game is easy, when you have no answers of your own. Can't wait to see what happenes if the Dems take control of the Whitehouse, the senate, and the house. Who are they going to blame then?

WILL FLOOD


Posted by David October 9, 08 09:31 PM
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Hey! Its difficult to escape the "reality" of Obama's ties to the corrupt Chicago political system that includes the malcontents mentioned here ...not to mention Fanny and Freddy and a whole host of other things. There is only one reason I need to not vote for Obama: He's A Crook! Oh, you can ignore a lot of the evidence if you want but if you vote for him, you vote for a crook and I don't vote for crooks, regardless of how many times ACORN signs me up!

Posted by Nathan R. Smith October 9, 08 09:32 PM
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Senator Mccain has already proven he is a clone of Richard Nixon. His idea of America First is to be elected President. Just as Nixon did, he says he has all the answers to the hard issues of the day - just elect him.
His slogan should say McCain First.

Maverick - no way. Obstinate-yes. Truthful- doubtful. Rememer McCain's kissing up to his radical new friend, Jerry Falwell.
MCain's only comment about others should be ( I want to be president-- I want to be president.

Posted by Maye Schanuel October 9, 08 09:34 PM
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Hysterical. The Republicans complaining about voter fraud. Where was their outrage in 2000 and 2004 when they stole those two elections through voter fraud? And, has anyone checked the Diebold electronic voting machines lately.......?
Voter fraud is serious, no matter who commits it, but the fact is that it was Bush's operatives like Rove who should be in jail. And so should the ACORN people if they in fact committed the act of voter fraud. It has nothing to do with Obama. Put the blame where it belongs.

Posted by MarcyRW October 9, 08 09:43 PM
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Well! Steal a couple of elections via chicanery, and now the GOP is whingeing about fraud? Man, that takes gall.

Posted by A Laughing Canadian October 9, 08 09:45 PM
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Republicans complaining about voter fraud? Can you say, "2000 election"?

Posted by Paul October 9, 08 09:45 PM
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Obama had no response to the economic crisis-he showed up at the meeting with Bush and looked like kid who wanted to go outside and play instead of sitting with the grown ups. Obama offers no opinion on anything of substance and what he does say for change really amounts to a ridiculous idea piled on top of another one. McCain may not sound smooth but his substance is correct. McCain has sufficiently irritated enough people that he might get something done. If Obama criticized a Democrat like Barney Frank or Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi then I might take him seriously. If he wins he will just be a puppet on a string for the Capitol Hill gang that doesn't do anything except blame Republicans. The idiots will rule the roost but it won't be cute and fuzzyt like a baseball team. It will be much worse.

Posted by kevin luby October 9, 08 09:50 PM
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ACORN is not the police, so they can't arrest the involved employees! Would you accuse a Wall Street firm of not arresting an employee involved in a potentially criminal activity?

Posted by harry judge October 9, 08 09:52 PM
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Florida 2000? Ohio 2004?

Posted by Sandra S October 9, 08 09:54 PM
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Character is better shown in relationships and actions than in words. Granted Character is developed in early life, and decisions later are mentored by choices in relationships. However, choosing to do what is right and persuading others to follow is not done by compromising to please those around us and to better our personal desires. Rather it is to go by a standard higher than ourselves, and to do so repeatedly.
Obama did indeed have a difficult early start, and he has come a long ways; But (Media, don’t forget the “buts”) he’s not there yet.
Where is “there”? (1) The experience to run an “executive branch of a democracy”. Has Obama ever been an executive, -of any entity? (2) A history of choosing what is right by a standard higher than himself. McCain has that history. (3) The ability to offer creative possibilities as answers to current problems. This involves the “how” and “why” to achieve the answers rather than the claims of how good the answers will be. Obama talks well and raises valid questions; but dangles nice sounding “carrots” out in front of the electorate, without telling the hard news of “how” they will be funded. Should any of us really expect to receive something for nothing?

Posted by Russell Cumings October 9, 08 09:57 PM
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Ayers is NOT a former Terrorist! Once a Terrorist - Always a Terrorist!

Posted by Joe October 9, 08 09:58 PM
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I am still waiting for obama to be asked the hard questions by the media even orielly made a deal with him. He is not worthy to be President in Ilinois he gave his friend ayers a big chunk of our money to further ayers programs and If the truth be known he probably got a kick back from it. Why do you think he wants to give our money to countries overseas, so he can get kick backs, I'll bet the Kenya leader will get a lot of that money, We don't even know where he was born, Did you know that some of the kenyan people say he was born there, that would make it illegal for him to even run. How come he can't produce a birth certificate. HE'S EVIL

Posted by TOMMY THE PATRIOT October 9, 08 10:03 PM
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I wish someone would register me 72 times and my three cats too!
Shades of the 1960's, where are the Che Guevara posters? Or maybe
Chavez and Morales?

Posted by Toner October 9, 08 10:03 PM
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Comment to 1)

That's a stupid overgeneralization. If what you assert had any validity whatsoever, then the Democrat Party can be guilty of nothing that they are accused by Republicans of.

Isn't it interesting that there is no MSM coverage of 0bama's membership in the New Party whatsoever as opposed to that of Palin's relationship with the AIP.

Posted by concerned October 9, 08 10:09 PM
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Comment to 1)

That's a stupid overgeneralization. If what you assert had any validity whatsoever, then the Democrat Party can be guilty of nothing that they are accused by Republicans of.

Isn't it interesting that there is no MSM coverage of 0bama's membership in the New Party whatsoever as opposed to that of Palin's relationship with the AIP.

Posted by concerned October 9, 08 10:12 PM
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Comment to 1)

That's a stupid overgeneralization. If what you assert had any validity whatsoever, then the Democrat Party can be guilty of nothing that they are accused by Republicans of.

Isn't it interesting that there is no MSM coverage of 0bama's membership in the New Party whatsoever as opposed to that of Palin's relationship with the AIP.

Posted by concerned October 9, 08 10:17 PM
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Ha, ha, ha. The Republican Party wrote the book on committing voter fraud.

Posted by Frank October 9, 08 10:19 PM
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It seems to me that the system is working. The fraudulent registrations are being flagged and thrown out. The campaign paid for a job which was not done, and they are the only ones who have cause for outrage. Until someone explains to me how these dummy registrations could be turned into fraudulent votes, (see if any of these "voters" actually show up at the polls), then I'll hold on to my opinion. Right now it just looks like someone got bored with their job & found an easy and (and obvious) way to get paid for not doing the work. The Republicans know all about the right way to steal an election - Diebold machines....and no paper trail.

Posted by Jonathan Harris October 9, 08 10:22 PM
.

ACORN should be shut down and EVERY SINGLE one of the 1.3 million voters that they registered should be reverified at ACORN's expense. No more government money should be spent on ACORN. PERIOD!

Posted by Tom Grady October 9, 08 10:23 PM
.

The voter fraud that has taken place in the twenty-first century has been committed by the Republican Party and their stooges in the Supreme Court.
If the last two presidential elections had been on the level we would not be facing the disasters now before us and with us. I agree with Will Flood. Republican accusations are always pure projection.

Posted by John Bonanno October 9, 08 10:23 PM
.

Hey Will....your statement makes no sense....the Repubs haven't illegally solicited voters, they haven't turned in phony voter registration cards, and the Repubs (at least in this election) have no ties to domestic terrorists....

maybe the repubs projects things like not forcing the dems in congress/senate to regulate fannie and freddie mac...but that's because the mainstream media doesn't really remember any of the positive things the the Repubs do...

thanks!

Posted by mickey October 9, 08 10:35 PM
.

I think if any one would know about voter fraud it would be the republicans. If there had not been voter fraud in 2000 Gore would have been president and we would not be in the numerous messes we are in and hated by the world. We would not be losing our home, and we would not have invaded another country . So , lets take voter fraud seriously so the republicans wont be able to steal another elections. Catherine Harris and Ohio any one?

Posted by roxiee pruitt October 9, 08 10:38 PM
.

Republicans complaining of voter fraud? The irony is amazing!

Posted by era October 9, 08 10:46 PM
.

I believe that voter fraud has existed. Certainly with the Bush and Gore race, it was a fiasco. Considering that, Obama's association with ACORN and OTHER QUESTIONABLE TIES needs to not be overlooked.

Obama is, without a doubt, charismatic. However, behind the cheezy grin is a parroter whom mimics McCain and has been unsolid on his issues weighing his campaign rhetoric upon what McCain says. McCain does the same and is passive. - McCain has my vote as he is far more prepare for presidency.

Posted by Jennifer October 9, 08 10:55 PM
.

Well, the U.S. Attorneys are charged with policing this area. When it comes to voter fraud, especially in states like New Mexico, it only takes one high-profile case to keep a handful of voters home who feel like they might not have filled out their registration card 100% completely or correctly. David Iglesias can tell you all about that side of what the Republican machine was doing. He was fired because he was instructed to investigate voter fraud ahead of any other agenda item. He assigned a task force and found that there was one case that involved a woman who forged registrations. Why? She was paid by the number of registrations that she could produce. So simple greed was to blame, not some nefarious left-wing get out the vote comspiracy. He was fired because the evidence for the charge his superiors wanted him to persue was not there, and he refused to prosecute her for voter fraud as it would have been thrown out of court. So he didn't pursue it. His politically-minded boss, Alberto Gonzales threw him and other attorneys who weren't "on the same team" out on their ear. Blind justice indeed.

Posted by Informed October 9, 08 11:04 PM
.

I read in another version of this story that voter 'registration' fraud is relatively harmless. The volunteer signs up people who don't exist, or exist somewhere else which is easier than actually signing up a real voter. The pay is the same, $30 per name. The person that they signed up to vote doesn't actually show up to vote...so there isn't much chance of voter fraud. But it does bog down the registration process for legitimate voters which is obviously problematic. I'm just responding to Dave Gillie who thinks this is a major crime

Posted by Leslie Holder October 9, 08 11:04 PM
.

Woah, hold on. This was not voter fraud. This was voter-registration fraud. The bogus cards had not yet been submitted, and would have been weeded out before then.

Let's not buy into the smear.

Posted by Concerned October 9, 08 11:14 PM
.

GOP has targeted voters as the enemy for a while now. Unable to "Get out the vote" because nobody wants 4 more years of their disasters, they are now devoted to blocking registration. Hear about the attempts to use foreclosure lists to challenge voter registration? And the plans to station challengers outside of polling places... if this ACORN thing is for real it's the first voter fraud in a long time that didn't involve cooking election results. GOP is jumping for joy that they've found a target for their paranoia.

Posted by Fran October 9, 08 11:27 PM
.

Let's see here:

Obama:
Spent 20 years listening to Anti-American, Anti-White rhetoric from his racist minister and then when he and his wife accidentally make racist, Anti-American remarks like "typical white person" "clinging to bibles..etc" and "Never been proud of my country" they claim that it is not related

Launched his political career from the home of a man who bombed the Pentagon. Check that again...Obama spent time with, respects, and launched his career from the home of a man who bombed the the United States Military Headquarters. Obama is friends with the guy who attacked the United States!

Had his campaign contribute $800,000 to an organization which has been convicted in 12 states for voter fraud. An organization which he worked for 13 years ago. An organization the is left wing radical.

Accepted over $250,000 from Tony Rezco (who is now in jail for fraud). He and Rezco have a long and corrupt relationship that is too long to list here, but you can read about it on Wikipedia (The left wing college idiots keep erasing it but it keeps coming back)

And this is the guy that is leading in the polls???? THis is the guy that the media is in love with? ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE??????

Posted by Don October 9, 08 11:35 PM
.

Grasping at straws, sad to see such a great man, go down like this, John it isn't you it your party and GWB that is killing you. I bet you don't like 90% of your party, loose like a man.

Posted by jbd October 9, 08 11:58 PM
.

To the blogger,

Let me guess,..... you will not post my remark.

Posted by Zack Welch October 10, 08 12:14 AM
.

Well, I don't see how whining about questionable election tactics is going to help the Republicans. Or does anyone remember as far back as 2000?

And then there's Diebold, oops, they recently changed their name to Premier Election Solutions. Kind of like Phillip Morris changing their name to Altria, I think. It would be a service if some hacker would ensure that Gerry Garcia or Calvin Coolidge won the next election by a landslide, so that all the ballots would have to be counted by hand. Or at least all the ones we were still old fashioned enough to keep. (DIebold execs were serious fund raisers for Bush, hired felons, etc., plus it's been alleged that the software isn't secure.. But that's what my ballot goes into, and I bet yours does too. )

I think if you want to make stuff stick to the candidate, you have to find something that he condoned. Or, at least, you should have to.

Posted by LR October 10, 08 12:19 AM
.

Anything dealing with crime or the undermining of America on a large scale you always find a democratic, Weather its ACORN, Ayers, Rezko, to Obama taking money from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries.
One thing for sure. With Democrats ruling both houses if Obama is elected may God help America, Israel, and the world

Posted by Garry Newby October 10, 08 01:29 AM
.

It wouldn't be much of a surprise to find that the volunteers submitting the fraudulent applications were paid for and planted by the republicans so they could act indignant and point fingers! They are remarkably good at that kind of thing! They sure have a lot of schemes in the works right now!

Posted by Zeke Blatz October 10, 08 01:44 AM
.

ACORN pays people a low wage to meet a quota of registered voters per
day. That's a HUGE problem from the get-go, because it gives incentive
for these economically poor workers to meet their quota, even if they
did not do so authentically. So toward the end of the day, they will
register a Johnny John and sign it, when Johnny John is actually the
name of pizza restaurant and no such person exists. Thankfully, there are clear and effective mechanisms, at several points, several layers of protection, to weed out these fake voter registrations, at the state level.

Posted by qwdv October 10, 08 02:15 AM
.

Just like the Republicans to try and bring down the Democrats off the backs of an organization that sets out to empower the poor!

OBAMA 08!

Posted by fedupgurl October 10, 08 02:31 AM
.

Its not the popular vote...its the electoral so who gives a **** if there is voter fraud. Your vote has little consequence. McCain needs a new line.

Posted by Nate October 10, 08 04:17 AM
.

********I'd bet voter fraud is MUCH more common than anyone would like to believe, WHO polices this area??********

Karl Rove.

Posted by nighthawksoars October 10, 08 04:49 AM
.

Not too hard to connect the dots. ACORN has had fraud cases in multiple states over the last 10+ years. In this election it is worse, one man claims they registered him 72 times over 18 months in Ohio-could be verified. Not projection look at the history.
Obama was a community organizer with ACORN, then he trained organizers for ACORN, then as an attorney he defended fraud and coercion cases for ACORN and his campaign paid $800,000 to ACORN to Get Out The Vote program. How is this any a Republican issue. Fraud threatens our system of 1 person 1 vote.

Posted by Bill L October 10, 08 09:00 AM
.

Lets assume you're correct-some guy registered 72 times. So what???? Does that mean he's able to vote 72 times? Or Registering the Dallas Cowboys? Does that mean Tony Romo's gonna get an extra vote? Get real!

There are a few ACORN workers of the thousands that have been hired that have tried to rip off ACORN.

But never have these relatively few fraudulent cards resulted in fraudulent votes. But 1.3 M new voters are scaring the R's to death!

The

Posted by Carl Roggins October 10, 08 11:27 AM
.

I know fellow students who have registered and voted already in Columbus, Ohio but are going back to their homes in other states (PA, NJ, IN, IL, MI) to vote again on November 4th.

ACORN representatives are encouraging these students to do that.

The federal authorities need to shut down ACORN and arrest its leaders.

Posted by The OSU student October 10, 08 12:12 PM
.

McCain's behind in the polls, there's panic that Obama just might win. How do we beat him? Flood the successful voter registration group with phony write in names and call the authorities. Say there's corruption there and pin it on Obama. Let it be noted that ACORN workers are the ones who noticed the flood of false applicants.

Next. Say the media polls are wrong, because that's rigged too. Fear people, fear change, fear Obama...drink the coolaid of fear.

How low will McCain go?

Posted by Conservative Not NeoCon October 10, 08 02:54 PM
.

ARE THE POLLS TO BE BELIEVED ???
I, like many Americans believe that character, honesty, and integrity really do go to the foundation of who the next president should be.Obama is ahead in the polls because Obama is dramatically outspending McCain with television advertising ... he has a biased media in the tank, who provides him with more and better exposure, and editorial endorsement ... Obama has 96% of the black vote ... he enjoys the relentless support of a completely biased entertainment industry, plus the left wing educational community, plus massive illegal, or unethical fund raising, and voter registration drives, by groups like Acorn ... not to mention the fact that thanks to democratic propaganda, McCain has to carry Bush's weight. At this point in time, many Americans are also beginning to question the validity of the POLLS. Are they skewed, like the biased media? Do they truly reflect reality? Are the sample groups mostly black voters? If the Democrats are so sure they've already won, how come they keep trying so hard to make the rest of us believe it? Just like they did against Hillary! There is a good chance that if we can keep voter fraud out of this election, that on November 4th, the actual voters, in the privacy of their booths, will elect McCain/Palin, by a comfortable margin. If you vote for Obama, you are also voting for voter fraud and a crooked media.
On November 4th cast your vote for McCain/Palin !!!

Posted by Howard October 10, 08 03:12 PM
.

You Libs are Pathetic, Perverted, and Mentally ill. Get back in the Dumpster where you belong.

Posted by Hugh G. Rection October 10, 08 06:34 PM
.

Unfortunately here in Ohio Acorn representatives road the busses bringing folks to register in Columbus and Cleveland then went into the booth to advise how to VOTE ON THE SPOT. Now Jennifer Bruner gets off too as the US District Court overturns the case. People registering legally with real documents saw these actions but Bruner won't bother to investigate the incorrect identification numbers. Democratic government in nonaction. Scares me

Posted by David Reedy October 18, 08 06:11 PM
.

Everyone should watch Stealing America, Vote by Vote where it shows how the Rove and Bush stole all elections from 2000 and on. Why is it only since we have the electronic voting machines that the exit polls are sooooooo wrong. Because they are rigging the election. We must go back to paper ballots. I am so tired of the Republicans stealing the elections. This must be stopped. America will not stand for it again.

Posted by Marsha from Frisco, TX October 29, 08 03:16 PM
.

Democrats have always been famous for vote fraud. They actually boast about it.
There is NO discussion here.
Here's an idea that we should all want to prevent vote fraud.
Voter registration cards: the kind where you show that you are a native born or naturalized citizen, proof of address, SS card, etc. Then a card would be issued like a license, but from a federal agency so no counterfeiting possible. Maybe even fingerprints also.
And how about updating ALL of the voting machines? No bull crap about the cost.
In eight years a uniform upgrade wasn't possible?

Th

Posted by Brenda November 3, 08 01:14 PM
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