Congress puts ACORN on the ropes

What a difference a few months makes. In the aftermath of the undercover sting operation conducted by a couple of young, enterprising journalists against several ACORN branch offices, congressional sentiment towards the premier community organizing organization has undergone a complete and stunning reversal.

Byron York of the Washington Examiner writes:

Back in February, during the Democrats’ frenzied rush to pass the $787 billion economic stimulus bill, Republican Sen. David Vitter offered a simple, 28-word amendment: “None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used directly or indirectly to fund the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.” Vitter’s amendment was shot down, 51-45, with all the votes coming from the Democratic majority.

At about the same time, GOP lawmakers introduced similar measures in the House. Those, too, were defeated by Democratic majorities.

Fast-forward to Monday, Sept. 14. A Housing Department appropriations bill was moving through the Senate, and Republican Sen. Mike Johanns offered an amendment that was nearly word-for-word identical to the one Vitter introduced back in February, barring all federal housing funds for ACORN. This time, the ACORN-defunding amendment passed, 83-7. The winning total included 50 — yes, 50 — Democrats. Liberals like Chris Dodd, Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin, Charles Schumer and others who supported ACORN back in February all changed their votes to approve the cutoff of funds.

via Under fire, Democrats abandon ACORN in droves | Washington Examiner .

When Minority Leader, John Boehner introduced a similar measure in the House, it passed by a lopsided 435-75 vote. As York notes:

It was an absolutely mind-blowing turn of events, a total collapse of longtime Democratic support for ACORN. Republicans had worked for years to reduce ACORN’s influence, with little success. Now, in the span of a few days, the GOP scored major victories.

Because of President Obama’s close ties to this organization, for most of Old Media, the story was radioactive, and as such, was completely ignored. Indeed, ABC Evening News anchor Charlie Gibson embarrassed himself recently with the incredulous admission that he had not heard of the story.

In light of the overwhelming and bipartisan Congressional action to de-fund ACORN, those media outlets who refused to cover the story clearly have egg all over their faces. Will they continue to argue that this story is not newsworthy?