Swami57 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 HAHAHA...I love it when Republicans outsmart themselves. I couldn't help but feel all the righteous indignation over ACORN was a bit overblown last week. First of all, the organization receives very little public funding and secondly, don't poor people have it bad enough? So this brought a smile to my face today. Any bets on how long it takes for the Congressional outrage over ACORN to die?Whoops: Anti-ACORN Bill Ropes In Defense Contractors, Others Charged With FraudGoing after ACORN may be like shooting fish in a barrel lately -- but jumpy lawmakers used a bazooka to do it last week and may have blown up some of their longtime allies in the process.The congressional legislation intended to defund ACORN, passed with broad bipartisan support, is written so broadly that it applies to "any organization" that has been charged with breaking federal or state election laws, lobbying disclosure laws, campaign finance laws or filing fraudulent paperwork with any federal or state agency. It also applies to any of the employees, contractors or other folks affiliated with a group charged with any of those things.In other words, the bill could plausibly defund the entire military-industrial complex. Whoops.Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) picked up on the legislative overreach and asked the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) to sift through its database to find which contractors might be caught in the ACORN net.Lockheed Martin and Northrop Gumman both popped up quickly, with 20 fraud cases between them, and the longer list is a Who's Who of weapons manufacturers and defense contractors.The language was written by the GOP and filed as a "motion to recommit" in the House, where it passed 345-75. It carried the Senate by an 83-7 margin.POGO is reaching outto its members to identify other companies who have engaged in the type of misconduct that would make them ineligible for federal funds.Grayson then intends to file that list in the legislative history that goes along with the bill so that judges can reference it when determining whether a company should be denied federal funds.The Florida freshman is asking for direct assistance. He has set up a Google spreadsheet where people can suggest contractors who have been charged with violations and include a link to a media or government report documenting the alleged transgression.The weapons manufacturers might have a better line of defense in court, however. Immediately after the bill passed, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), a constitutional whiz, noted that the measure appeared to be a "bill of attainder" -- specifically targeting a company or organization or individual -- and is therefore specifically barred by the Constitution. If it's not targeted at one group, then Northrop Grumman is in trouble.Reps. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the Congressional Research Service on Tuesday asking it to clarify, among other things, if the Defund ACORN Act is constitutional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Firstly, they shouldn't receive ANY funding from taxpayers unless it's voluntary.Secondly. who cares how bad someone else has it? Don't like your lot in life then change it. Need help, there's private charities for that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 HAHAHA...I love it when Republicans outsmart themselves. I couldn't help but feel all the righteous indignation over ACORN was a bit overblown last week. First of all, the organization receives very little public funding and secondly, don't poor people have it bad enough? So this brought a smile to my face today. Any bets on how long it takes for the Congressional outrage over ACORN to die?Whoops: Anti-ACORN Bill Ropes In Defense Contractors, Others Charged With FraudGoing after ACORN may be like shooting fish in a barrel lately -- but jumpy lawmakers used a bazooka to do it last week and may have blown up some of their longtime allies in the process.The congressional legislation intended to defund ACORN, passed with broad bipartisan support, is written so broadly that it applies to "any organization" that has been charged with breaking federal or state election laws, lobbying disclosure laws, campaign finance laws or filing fraudulent paperwork with any federal or state agency. It also applies to any of the employees, contractors or other folks affiliated with a group charged with any of those things.Good. I don't care if one group is fraudulently helping the left and another is fraudulently helping the right, it matters not. Neither deserves federal funding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dome_Gnome Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 but...but...but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 but...but...but... From the article it's Nadler, Conyers, and Frank that are upset with it..... have Republicans come out and said "oops, nevermind"? Keep making it a partisan issue though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Are u saying a defense contractor only helps the right? Cause, last I heard the United States military serves and HELPS our country. If someone breaks the law, arrest them. If an Org breaks the law, shut them down. If a contractor does anything illegal they should be penalized within the rule of law.I'm saying regardless of which "side" is benefiting from an organization, if they're involved in corruption... they need to be cut out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami57 Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 You're really missing the beautiful irony of all this. Republicans, and conservatives in general, hate ACORN because ACORN mobilizes poor people to vote against their agenda; so they sic their media machine on them to shut them up. In the process they may have killed the golden goose for all of their powerful defense contractor pals. The real corruption in Washington starts with defense contractors because it's such a large part of the Federal budget, we're talking BILLIONS in direct fraud.Poetic justice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=abrahamburger= Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Overlook the issue and focus on the other party.You, Sir, are very well trained. Hit the feed bar for a pellet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=abrahamburger= Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 You are so freaking silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncja Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 You're really missing the beautiful irony of all this. Republicans, and conservatives in general, hate ACORN because ACORN mobilizes poor people to vote against their agenda; so they sic their media machine on them to shut them up. In the process they may have killed the golden goose for all of their powerful defense contractor pals. The real corruption in Washington starts with defense contractors because it's such a large part of the Federal budget, we're talking BILLIONS in direct fraud.Poetic justice./facepalm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcons Ace Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Overlook the issue and focus on the other party.You, Sir, are very well trained. Hit the feed bar for a pellet.You sir, on a winrar of teh thred! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1968again Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 hilarious. went rushing to score political points and guess what! YA DID! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.