Borat of the right releases fantasy of ACORN prostitution ring
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In the “gee, I made this not very smart person look really stupid” genre of film making- the sort of “ask stupid questions and play ridiculous characters and edit to make funny” made most famous by Sacha Baron Cohen- comes “Baltimore Acorn Workers support prostitution.”
Acorn is a community organizing network that works on a variety of issues, from voter registration to fighting predatory lending practices. In other words, it is just the sort of organization for poor people that the Right loves to hate.
According to the news stories, the video may show two (Black and seemingly not terribly educated) Acorn employees trying to help two (white and seemingly educated) young people figure out how to start a brothel with girls from El Salvador (who, not coincidentally, are here illegally).
ACORN workers caught on tape allegedly advising on prostitution – CNN.com.
Within this fantasy is every fear and desire of the far right: evil Black women activists, poor people, illegal immigrants, and sex.
Of course, it’s also every left wing fear and desire as well: two upper class white kids pretending to be a pimp and a prostitute in a way that can only be described as “are you fucking kidding me?”. He is wearing white pants and a blue oxford (very preppy) and a fur cape! What white college kid “pimp and ho” party did that cape come from? Also, as you watch the video, it is clear that these women are trying to help, but also seriously disturbed by the behavior of these two white kids. On the other hand, the class hierarchy is beyond them, the power dynamics well known to all the participants, and the women continue to try to please the white kids.
And who is this brilliant Borat of the Right? A young man by the name of James O’Keefe. According to his website, he
directed, scripted, produced and acted in a series of undercover videos showcasing racism and statutory rape at Planned Parenthood in 2007 and 2008.
Before that he served as Publications Coordinator at the Leadership Institute, where he helped initiate 22 independent newspapers and magazines on college campuses nationwide. He also gave lectures on campus strategy and fundraising, preaching the gospel of Saul Alinsky.
His most recent project is Veritasvisuals.com, a collection of satirical short films on newsworthy topics, featuring ridiculous situations and demands. These have included straight men with girlfriends getting married to each other in Massachusetts and petitions to adopt Gitmo detainees into American homes…
James got his start producing videos… at his alma mater, Rutgers University, where he founded The Centurion in 2004.
Okay, I don’t really get the Saul Alinsky reference, but the rest of it makes sense. A privileged, ultraconservative, straight white man who hates: same sex marriage, Planned Parenthood, civil liberties, and ACORN. Gee, who would have guessed that’s the genius behind this incredibly “shocking” piece of film.
The worst part is, of course, that this ultraconservative fantasy will be played over and over on Fox News, throwing grease on the fire that is white resentment. More “evidence’ that Acorn and other groups that work for social justice for poor people are in fact part of a vast left-wing conspiracy to deflower the purity of “our” women.
Perhaps we need a Borat of the Left who will make right wing nuts like James O’Keefe look ridiculous? Oh, never mind, they don’t need our help.
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As a CPA I am well educated in tax law: ACORN is advocating fraud.
As taxpayer I would never mislead or lie on a tax return: ACORN is advocating deceit.
As a woman I am acutely aware of the treatment of women in prostitution: ACORN is advocating abuse of women.
As a mother I am an advocate for the safety of children and the vileness of children in pornography and prostitution: ACORN is advocating pedophilia.
As a legal resident of this country I take seriously the immigration laws: ACORN is advocating illegal immigration.
As a citizen of this country I respect the Constitution: ACORN is advocating dismissing the Constitution.
The ease at which the ACORN employees disregard law, leads me to believe their conduct and advice is common practice. The fact that they are advocating this fraud leads me to believe the IRS is not auditing tax returns. The fact that our President is a product of ACORN confirms for me that he is capable of any form of deceit and fraud. ACORN is the breeding ground that spawned our President, we should be proud.
SylviaSoraya
Hello Sylviasoraya,
Have you considered exactly what these individuals are purported to have done? A man and a women come into the an ACORN office and claim they want to bring into the country about a dozen 12 – 13 year old girls to be prostitutes. They then ask for advice on how to do this. They are told the woman should claim to be a “performing artist” on the Federal tax forms. Now exactly how does her claiming to be an artist help her commit “fraud”.
Further advice was to claim some of the girls as dependents. Let us say Mr. & Ms. Pimp filed taxes last year (I guess pimps pay taxes) with no dependents but this year they file with a handful of 13 years girls who are unrelated to them. You do not have to be a CPA to see that this is going to raise a few red flags over at the IRS.
Further advise was that “You want to … make sure they go to school.” Someone is advising a pimp who will be illegally bringing under-aged girls into the US to be prostitutes to send these prostitutes to school, public I am assuming. We are lead to believe that the ACORN folks offered this advice as way for the pimp to more effectively run his prostitution ring? Pimps often encourage their prostitutes to attend public school as a cover.
This “advice” that Mr. and Mrs. Pimp received, if actually followed, would be guaranteed to get them arrested.
In response to another comment. See in context »“Also, as you watch the video, it is clear that these women are trying to help, but also seriously disturbed by the behavior of these two white kids.”
Are you kidding me?!?!? Yeah, they’re trying to help, help them establish an illegal prostitution scheme that will import 13 and 14 year old girls for more prostitution.
They were so “disturbed” their answer to using 14 year old girls was to “keep them quite”, “loose lips sink ships”. Seriously, get your head out of your rear end and stop attacking the messenger.
Hello Sevesy,
Obviously you have never run a prostitution ring. Their advise was to 1) file a tax form with the IRS, 2) claim a dozen under aged girls as dependents, 3) send the prostitutes to public school. This is the worst possible advice you can give a criminal organization. The number one way that the FBI catches racketeers is through the IRS (does the name Al Capone come to mind?) How would they document their income? “As a performing artist I earned 200,000 USD last year but I have no W-2s or 1199s and I am claiming a dozen dependents who are all 12 and 13 year old girls and for whom I have no documentation that I am the parent or legal guardian. I am also deducting the cost of the private school I am sending these too”.
If ACORN is in the business of providing tax advice to criminals, they gotta get an new gig, ’cause they are really bad at it.
In response to another comment. See in context »Are you serious on this article? Are you saying, because the undercover investigators are white, young, and conservative, that there is nothing wrong with what they found? Stop drinking koolaid. This is the problem with extremists on both sides of the isle. You never agree with what is right, unless it fits your distorted views. If this was an investigation of AIG or someone, you would be boasting about this story. Be fair, please. Are you saying that the people working here, who seem to be smart enough to help people qualify for houses, at taxpayer expense, are not smart enough to deny or see through a prostitution scam? I’m afraid you have no valid argument in this kind of story. This is an embarrassment for the organization. They have committed all sorts of fraud and intimidation, and because they are connected to President Obama, you will never see the horrific nature of what these people tried to do. You need to center yourself just a bit.
I’m a lawyer, and I watched the video asking myself, “How would I handle a situation like this?” Lawyers are required to be zealous advocates for the interests of their clients, and they get DISBARRED if they violate the confidence of a client, but there are some rules that make it possible for an ethical lawyer to not only refuse to facilitate child rape but also to report it.
People who aren’t lawyers have a legal requirement to report suspicions of child sexual abuse. Failure to report is a crime in most states. Here’s the relevant Maryland law, which covers the ACORN office in Baltimore:
Child Abuse
By law, reportable child abuse is abuse
committed by a parent, guardian, other
person with permanent or temporary
care or custody, or family or household
member. Reports are confidential.
ANYONE who suspects the physical or sexual
abuse of a child (up to age 18) is required to
report to Child Protective Services (CPS), the local Department of Social Services or law
enforcement.
I see this has struck a nerve. I don’t think we can tell from this video- which is highly edited- what the women actually said and did not say, let alone whether they went to their supervisor afterward to discuss reporting issues of child abuse or whether they had just been punked. I think the costumes and accents of the “pimp and ho” may have let them in, after the fact, on the “joke.” Who knows? Whatever it was, whatever actually happened, this “reporting” is about as truthful as Borat.
In response to another comment. See in context »Struck a nerve? You HAVE some nerve! I’ve represented children who have been victimized by sexual predators, and NO political agenda can EVER justify winking at this.
If this video is BOGUS, why were the workers fired? If they came to the supervisor, what happened? ACORN could score big points by revealing that they filed a mandated report of child sexual abuse. It would prove that they are caring and competent, and would reveal the film-makers as everything you’ve said and then some. That’s NOT what ACORN did or said.
You say, “this ‘reporting’ is about as truthful as Borat.” What part of “facilitating child rape” do you not understand?
In response to another comment. See in context »The entire audio can be heard at Biggovernment.com
http://biggovernment.breitbart.com/2009/09/10/introducing-james-o%E2%80%99keefe/
btw, you’re still attacking the messenger. You haven’t even seen the entire video yet you know the reporting is about as truthful as Borat.
Aren’t you just a “little” concerned about the actions of the employees? Is your hatred of conservatives so deep that you’ll blindly let just about anything from a left leaning organization pass your way without a second glance?
In response to another comment. See in context »Really? Wow. That’s reaching. I just found your article because I was trying to see who has covered this, and you are one of the few, thus far. I can clearly hear and see everything the women say, and it’s clear what their goals are. What will be interesting is what happens next, and what this story should REALLY be about. If it WAS inflammatory and a set up, WHY were they FIRED??? If they did NOTHING wrong, they would stand by them. This will get very interesting. Acorn is a front, and nothing more than that.
In response to another comment. See in context »Laurie:
Do the TWO new unedited versions make you any more confident in the organization that our President is closely associated with? Consider that more tapes may be out there. These women (and probable mothers-given the children’s voices in the background) would give ANYONE with a soul a heartache. How educated must you be to have some semblance of morality?
In response to another comment. See in context »I say take away ACORN funding. We’ve seen enough and then some. May I suggest giving the 8.5 billion tax dollars to Junior Achievement instead?
And, since when is FOX the only organization to fear when participating in illegal activities? One ACORN worker mentioned that the neighbors witnessing this “business” could call FOX if they weren’t careful. Is FOX now considered the only source that is moral enough to care about these types of issues? What ever happened to law enforcement and all other media journalism?
Don’t you love how even white liberals play the race card with full stereotypical enthusiam, especially when they can’t admit that the behavior exposed was truly abhorrent? It amazes me how this is supposed to be a college instructor. Well not really. Another example of propagandists teaching our nation’s youth. Now you know where the intellectual rot embedded in this country comes from. My brother and I were radicalized in the early 70’s by such a revolting and intellectually dishonest character. My brother told me what he was taught in sociology and I became the revolting mouthpiece in our family. We later became believers in Alinsky, Michael Harrington, and Herbert Marcuse — and other Leftwing ideologues. It took me into my 50’s to free myself of such poison. And here you see this ideologue as a teacher in denial of the facts of the case, who would rather attack the messenger with silly Leftist idiocy than deal with the facts. What we witness hear is the embodiment of the cancer that is the Left: deny what you see, stick with the bigoted narrative at all cost — and just keep attacking. This is our intellectual future? I hope not for civilization’s sake.
In response to another comment. See in context »Why do you have such a hard time accepting that the undercover film uncovers the TRUTH. I have watched the video and read the transcript. It was not edited. If you had half a brain you would realize how stupid it would be to edit something like this to show something it is not. You would have all kinds of grounds for a lawsuit. I think he put it out there like it is and idiots like you can’t accept that ACORN is crooked.
In response to another comment. See in context »You do realize they were fired…I don’t think it was because they went to their supervisor to address the fraud issues….
You are absurd.
In response to another comment. See in context »Laurie,
The video count is up to three now. At what point will you admit that there is something systemic wrong with ACORN?
14 states investigating them and all you can say is that this is like a bad Borat movie.
I have voted Democratic all my life including my vote for Obama. Even I can see the depth of the problem with our country.
2+2=4 Everytime. Not 5. It adds up.
You did not strike a nerve with me. Your inability to see the truth did.
In response to another comment. See in context »LAURIE ESSIG,
You say:
“I don’t think we can tell from this video- which is highly edited- what the women actually said and did not say, let alone whether they went to their supervisor afterward to discuss reporting issues of child abuse or whether they had just been punked.”
Are you that naive or is it that you can’t stop drinking the “Kool-Aid”????
Aren’t you aware that even as corrupt and sleaze as ACORN is they fired those employees??????????
In response to another comment. See in context »Hello Somerschool,
Imagine yourself in this situation, a person you have never met before in your life comes up to you and tells “I want to bring underaged, illegal immigrant girls in the US to be used as prostitutes against the will, what do I do to avoid arrest?” I will unfairly assume that you have no scruples whatsoever but this person is not giving you any money for your advise and is asking you to commit to conspiracy and racketeering. What would you do, give this individual your sage advise on how to be a successful criminal while committing a felony or two (with no remuneration to you) or would you suspect that something “funny” was going on. Maybe you would – oh I don’t know – pull his leg a bit. You could tell your newest criminal associate to enroll the dozen or so girls in school as a way to provide cover for his ring of prostitution. What do you think, is that something you might do?
In response to another comment. See in context »if you’re interested in the whole transcript and the entire two hours of the “interview,” you can see them:
http://biggovernment.com/2009/09/10/complete-acorn-baltimore-prostitution-investigation-transcript/
there’s no “we’ll see” about it. these women broke the law and didn’t bat an eyelash. it has nothing to do with class warfare or race relations.
Hello Kellydianna,
What crime do believe was committed? Is it a crime to encourage criminals to file tax returns? Is it crime to encourage pimps to send their prostitutes to school? Is it a crime to record a private conversation without the express consent of all parties involved?
In response to another comment. See in context »Wow… all these people jumping to attack ACORN and even the President based on a piece of blatant pseudo-journalism. Can you at least wait until a real investigation is conducted?
Barney Frank said it best on Maddow right after the President’s speech Wed. night, The weakness of the Right’s argument is a testament to the strength of the Left’s
Wow, you must not even taken the time to watch the video or listen to the full audio. There’s no investigation needed, the full unedited audio and video make it clear.
In response to another comment. See in context »Why won’t the video’s makers respond to CNN? Why did the girl cancel her appearance on CNN last minute? Why are large parts of the video blacked out?
You wouldn’t know clear if it bit you on the ass.
In response to another comment. See in context »Because CNN sucks ass. Who would want to be on that fake “news” station?
In response to another comment. See in context »Bringing Barney Frank into this discussion just discredited your whole point of view. There are some things you just can’t defend, this Acorn situation being one of them and Barney Franks’s ridiculous behavior with the housing industry another. His arrogance towards ordinary Americans is another story.
In response to another comment. See in context »Weakness?? Obama wouldn’t know a strong argument if it bit him in the ass. Why do you think his “health care reform” is crashing and burning? “Hope” and “change” isn’t a platform you can run on forever. People actually expect specifics. He still has none and lies nonstop. Barney Frank… LOL… you’re really smoking something good, huh?
In response to another comment. See in context »If the “weakness of the Right’s argument is a testament to the strength of the left,” I’d like to review the Right’s argument. As I understand it, the Right is saying “It is unwise to provide $8.5B in taxpayer support to ACORN.” Having seen this video, I’m not so sure that’s a weak argument.
LOL! How typical. You rush to judgment without even seeing the entire video.
I was wondering how long it would take for the Race Baiters to bring up the irrelevant fact that the employees were black and the pimp/hooker were white.
Tell me: How is this even remotely relevant? Of course, you know it isn’t, but you need to build a smoke screen to protect this corrupt, tax dollar-sucking, money laundering organization.
You should be ashamed for attempting to protect an organization such as ACORN. What’s the phrase – You judge a person by their friends?
Nice friends you’ve got there…
Hello Theothermikes,
Clearly you did not read the actual transcripts. I am guessing you got the talking points but did not actually read what the individuals actually said, at least according Mr. O’Keefe’s rendering. “Kenya” and “James” come across as a pair of nitwits. She is a 19 year old hooker who wants to got to John Hopkins as a grad student and he is pimp who wants to run for congress (O,0). James asks if prostitution is illegal in Maryland. Kenya is talking about “acclimatizing” 13 Guatemalan girls and the ACORN worker tells them not to do anything not approved by the government and to make sure to send these child sex slaves to school
. Real sage advice for a pimp running sex slave operation. This is to say nothing of the idea of encouraging racketeers to file for Federal tax returns.
The whole “sting operation” is completely laughable. Only a complete bumpkin would believe that a pair dim bulbs like “James” and “Kenya” were really running some sort of criminal organization. So take some time and read the transcripts before you make any pronouncements about who is committing any criminal acts.
In response to another comment. See in context »Read the transcript and also the transcript from the Washington, DC Acorn office and, oh yeah, the one from the Brooklyn, NY office.
Lots of ACORN Bumpkins out there.
In response to another comment. See in context »One more thing – How many of these scenarios do you think played out for real, given that we have now seen three different locations with the same result. Think this might have something to do with the subprime mess? How many unqualified buyers, black,yellow, brown, white, green, etc., did ACORN assist in falsifying tax returns in order to quality for a mortgage they could never pay? I’m guessing plenty.
In response to another comment. See in context »Round 2: videotape from ACORN DC is now up. It’s the same scenario and the same advice.
They don’t get QUITE as explicit about their plans for systematic child rape… but that’s because the ever-so-eager tax advisor had to go before they could explain what they meant by “girls.” (She gave them her card though and urged them to call her back!)
Here’s the video from DC: http://biggovernment.com/
Pr. Essig,
I think you missed the forest from the trees here. Let us take a worst case scenario, that the two individuals working in the ACORN office were in fact doing what they are alleged to have done, offering criminals advise on tax fraud and racketeering. Then those two individuals obviously were doing something wrong. However, as the other commenters here make clear, the real question is does this represent ACORN policy. In fact there is no evidence that ACORN has a policy of aiding and abetting criminals. It would seem that the same “couple” had attempted the same “sting operation” at several other ACORN offices and failed. So at worst, there are two individuals in one office who do something pretty foolish in an isolated incident which in no way represents the policies or practices of ACORN.
However, as you rightly point out, the tape in question is not the hard copy but has been copied and edited. If the individuals in question at the ACORN office did in fact do what was alleged, there would be no reason to edit the tape. It seems far more likely that this is not the worst case scenario identified above but something far less significant.
The question of the interpersonal dynamics of race and class that were played in that office are not the issue.
Now there is another tape with the same situation in DC and the same handling of the situation by the employees. Coincidence? I think not.
In response to another comment. See in context »Elliot,
Do you actually believe that ACORN has a national policy of encouraging prostitution and tax fraud?
In response to another comment. See in context »Of course there is not a “policy”. Just like there is not a “policy” of politicians taking money from people they shouldn’t. A “policy” doesn’t mean it isn’t the process they “teach” wink wink. Why do you think the ladies say the same things. They obviously deal with people who have less than honest deals going on which allows them to “qualify” for a loan. Come on, you can’t be that naive, can you? The organization is so crooked, it’s amazing they are not getting attention from the media… well, I guess it’s not surprising.
In response to another comment. See in context »Hello Elliott,
You wrote: “Of course there is not a “policy”. Just like there is not a “policy” of politicians taking money from people they shouldn’t.”
So at worst, these individuals were doing something contrary to ACORN policy. However, what precisely did they do? A man claiming to want to set up a criminal organization approaches two complete strangers who happen to give free advise from a ratty storefront non-profit organization. These two women then give advice to this man whom they have never met in their lives on how to commit tax fraud and run a prostitution ring. Now why would a pimp want to file a tax return, fraudulent or otherwise? How would it aid him filing a fraudulent tax return for his wife to claim to be a performing artist? Would it really help a tax cheating pimp to claim as dependents a dozen or so illegal, under aged, immigrants? You don’t think that the IRS might find that a tad suspicious? Consider this, a complete stranger comes up to you and asks you how to run a prostitution ring made up non-English speaking pre-teens. You tell this stranger “Make sure to send those girls to school” because that is how prostitution rings work!
Who is naïve?
On the other hand, correct me if I am wrong, but in Maryland, it is a felony to record a private conversation without the express consent of all parties. I seem to remember an investigation along those lines, something about taped conversation between Monica Lewinsky and a Linda Trip that occurred in Maryland.
In response to another comment. See in context »Can’t be that much of a ultraconservative fantasy there Class Warfare guru…..
These very same “actors” got fired.
While I understand that this is a blog, and I support your write to post whatever you deem fit, I find it my responsibility to point out a glaring logical fallacy in your argument. You are trying to discredit your opponents argument by attacking your opponents character. Argumentum ad hominem. If you would like to be a credible debater, you must attack the argument. These individuals raise a valid point. Here we have individuals from an organization that is supposed to help the underprivileged joking (or going along with a joke as you would claim) about child prostitution. Child prostitutes are the most underrepresented group out there, and as such these women had a legal responsibility to protect these individuals whether or not the exist. No ship is unsinkable, and acorn has been taking on water in the past few weeks. These two individuals are modern day muckrakers and you should welcome their attempts to point out problems, even if it is in regards to an organization to which you have blinding sympathies.
Hello Ripeham,
I fear you lack a certain amount of “street savvy”. This whole “sting” is right out of a Simpsons episode. A man dressed up with prop clothing from a high school drama department to look like “a pimp” (he probably got the costume idea from the “King of the Hill” episode where Kid Rock plays a pimp from OKC) walks into some ratty ACORN storefront office he has never been to before and wants (free) advice on how to run a prostitution ring from a total stranger. I am surprised that he did not call himself “Guy N. Kogneeto” and call his girlfriend “Joee Jo-Jo Shabadoo”. If you saw it on TV you would groan.
Unlike so many more gullible individuals, the ACORN workers figured these buffoons out right away and played them for all they were worth for two hours. Call yourself a “performing artist” on the tax forms that all pimps and prostitutes fill out (she was pretending to be a whore, she was in deed “performing”, get it?). Be sure to send these under-aged Spanish speaking sex-slaves to school, that’ll fool ‘em. Oh and claim them as tax deductions, the IRS will never never figure out how a pimp suddenly got 12 dependents he never had before, all of whom are the same age.
Now ACORN should be pretty mad at their two employees, they aren’t paid to jerk-off circus clowns for two hours while simultaneously generating a few cyber-seconds of bad PR for the organization. I personally hope that these two (former?) ACORN employees sue this film maker for invasion of privacy (Pearson v. Dodd, 410 F.2d 701 (D.C. Cir. 1969) and Dietemann v. Time, Inc., 449 F.2d 245 (9th Cir. 1971)).
In response to another comment. See in context »davidlosangeles you might as well let it go. These morons at Acorn got caught doing something stupid now 3 times.
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me 3 times and we’re idiots.
The blaring truth is that they committed a dumb act. And if they thought it was a joke and was in fun, then it must have been really funny when they got fired.
But the actions of the few does not a whole organization make. If this was advocated by a higher up, then it is a bigger problem. As it is now, since they were only talking and did not file fraudulent paperwork, they just committed a lame brained act.
In response to another comment. See in context »WOW! You “see this has struck a nerve”? Your article serves as the poster child for denial. I’m not sure what is more insulting, the actions of the ACORN employees or your portrayal of it.
Hello Fuzz,
I will bet you did not actually read the transcripts of this “sting” did you. It is a total hoot. “Kenya” is 19, planning on going to John Hopkins (grad school no less), wants to buy a house, and earns 200,000 USD per year in cash.
“James” says he wants to go law school and run for congress but is concerned about “Kenya’s” “unique business”.
James says “Is it against the law in Maryland, prostitution”. Shira replys “right and anything that is not government approved is always against the law that is rule number one and remember that”.
LOL
In response to another comment. See in context »I put “policy” in quotes to make the point that it is an unspoken rule to do whatever it takes to get the job done. It is disgusting that you would be more concerned with them taping the conversation than what those women were aiding. They thought it was real and I don’t know how they sleep at night. All they care about is signing people up for the $125 to become an Acorn member. The “non-profit’ organization is a front for a political organization and there is no way to cover that up.
Hello Eliot,
You did not answer my question. Consider this, a complete stranger comes up to you and asks you how to run a prostitution ring made up non-English speaking pre-teens. You tell this stranger “Make sure to send those girls to school” because that is how prostitution rings work! Does that make any sense whatsoever? Of course, it is not even non-sense, it is anti-advice, it is advice guaranteed to get a real pimp arrested. I eagerly await your reply.
In response to another comment. See in context »Sorry, I’m not really getting your angle. And no disrespect, but if you can’t comprehend the scandalous activity shown in two separate ACORN locations, I’m not going to change your mind. The actions in those videos are indefensible. And Maryland law deals with “interception” of communication- says nothing of videotaping a crooked organization… so that is a reach.
In response to another comment. See in context »Eliot,
The two “investigative reporters” got punked. The two ACORN workers were pulling their legs. All of the “advice” that they were giving was junk. The whole thing is a giant joke on James O’Keefe, only he was too dim to get it. That is the angle.
In response to another comment. See in context »you mean the ‘4′? 2 at each location?
In response to another comment. See in context »Do you really seriously think the ACORN employees (former employees) were just joking and were not serious. It is time you put down whatever your smoking and see the truth. These folks were not kidding around. I can’t believe people like you try to defend thier actions.
In response to another comment. See in context »hehe, anything to win eh kids? Even defending child prostitution. Nice. Whatever gets you people through the day. Laurie, seek professional help. “I don’t think we can tell from this video….what the women actually said.” My dear, you are either a liar or highly deluded by your own fantasies. ACORN fired the women. Nuff said – they thus admit it happened.
On a side note. You look nuts. At least in that pic…I am reminded of a very angry militant lesbian I once worked with. And before you bash me, I am gay. Chill the hell out woman. People don’t want thugs running their country, and all you can talk about is “how unfair it all is” …please.
Hello Maui,
If you had actually read the transcripts you would have seen that the two ACORN workers actually told these two “investigators” no do anything illegal i.e. anything “not approved by the government” and think carefully about what they do because they could end up in jail for the next 50 years. The whole “prostitution ring” was a joke, the ACORN workers told them to send the 13 Guatemalan girls to school, an unlikely bit of advise for a pimp to get. The transcript reads like the script for a bad sitcom.
In response to another comment. See in context »Yes, I read every word, and watched all of the available video. Do you really think that whole “they thought it was a joke” angle has any traction? Are ya 6? Please.
Honestly I was impressed by how helpful they were. They should be running seminars for government employees. Were they doing so in your state of CA, perhaps all the businesses wouldn’t be leaving for for NV, AZ, and TX. But no, they had no prob with underage sex slaves, and gave the pair helpful advice such as instructing the pair to tell the girls to keep their mouths shut.
Do you work for ACORN?
In response to another comment. See in context »Hello Maui,
You wrote: “Yes, I read every word, and watched all of the available video. Do you really think that whole “they thought it was a joke” angle has any traction? Are ya 6? Please.”
I knew that “James” and “Kenya” were joking. There is nothing there when you read the text. The two ACORN workers tell them to file taxes (because that is what pimps and prostitutes do), to not do anything illegal because they could end up in jail, and to make sure those 13 Guatemalan girls go to school. I was laughing, what kind of advice is that? That is the fastest way for a couple running a sex slave ring to get caught, sending them to school. Then they tell “James” and “Kenya” to file federal income tax, that was hilarious. Can you imagine how they are going explain 200,000 USD income without any W-2s or 1199’s? It was hysterical.
You also wrote: “They had no prob with underage sex slaves, and gave the pair helpful advice such as instructing the pair to tell the girls to keep their mouths shut.”
They also tell them to send these girls to school! All “James” says is “You know they could get us for these 13 Guatemalan girls they the feds could come right in? They could put us in prison for 50 years “Kenya” says “I am not going to racketeering I am going to be acclimating them to our country”. Shira responds “right but think about yourself you are 19 years old and are a pretty girl..you do not want to go to jail for something like that.”
Hardly a smoking gun.
You wrote: Do you work for ACORN?
No I do not.
“I knew that “James” and “Kenya” were joking”
Would you like to share how you “knew” this? Do you know them? I don’t think they think it’s funny in the least. I’ve seen them both interviewed and they both seem disgusted by what they found. Or perhaps you meant that you felt that acting was subpar. I guess you can pass on nominating them when Oscar season rolls around.
As to the quality of the advice they were given by ACORN staff, I think it was highly practical advice on how to avoid getting caught by the police or IRS while running a brothel; and how to job the system, as when the woman emphatically advises them to keep the girl’s mouths shut. Of course they told them to send the girls to school. You don’t think that 13 underage girls in a house who never go to school wouldn’t raise someone’s suspicions? Even in the worst of neighborhoods, “Johns” pouring in and out of a house of teenage girls who don’t go to school will be noticed. So yes, make it appear as normal as you can.
As for the $200,000 issue, I guess you didn’t notice the staff tell them to under report their income since it’s a cash business and they could get away with it?
“Hardly a smoking gun”…. actually, it’s the definition of one.
I contend that you would rather this type of slimy organization continue it’s theft of the treasury, poor neighborhoods continue to be hell holes, and the president give them an award for their stellar public service
In response to another comment. See in context »Hello Maui,
Let us review the cover stories of James and Kenya. She is a 19 year old hooker who wants to got to John Hopkins as a grad student and he is pimp who wants to run for congress. James asks if prostitution is illegal in Maryland. Kenya is talking about “acclimatizing” 13 Guatemalan girls and the ACORN worker tells them not to do anything not approved by the government and to make sure to send these child sex slaves to school.
Maui, think this one through, you approach a total stranger for free advice on how to run a sex slave operation and she tells you to file a federal tax return, not to do anything illegal or you might end up in jail, and to send your sex slaves to school. If this advice to a criminal, ACORN needs to get a new line of work.
I know James and Kenya were joking because they were not actually a pimp and a prostitute. If you pretend to be something you are not, and do so in a very funny way, it is a joke. This whole episode is a total joke.
In response to another comment. See in context »Are you contending that the ACORN staff of TWO different offices “saw through” the ruse and were “playing along” (in great detail and at length)….to what end? What would be the purpose of that? Slow day at the office? Opening themselves up for God knows what repercussions in the process? These weren’t dumb women. The Baltimore tax specialist seemed to have a good grasp of IRS rules – written and unwritten….”don’t claim more than three of the girls or it will send up a red flag”.
The advice, as I have said several times was highly practical if this was the type of endeavor you were motivated to pursue.
As for the “total stranger” portion of your response. ACORN is not a “total stranger”. They run a shady business which assists low income people with taxes and housing. It is the same as walking into a thug version of HR Block and a mortgage company. They don’t care what you are doing as long as they get their fee. Interestingly, the DC Acorn staff were busy and dismissive until the actors informed them that the girl was a hooker.
ACORN staff were “educating” the pimp and ho as to the laws. ACORN did not at ANY point tell them that what they were planning on doing was either something ACORN wanted nothing to do with or morally repugnant, nor try to talk them out of it, nor call the police. The filmmaker played dumb re: the laws because he was trying to draw them out – that they themselves (ACORN) knew that the pair they were assisting were planning some highly illegal activities. These two ACORN staff were unconcerned regarding the nature of the business (let’s pause a moment and remember what that was – obtaining tax advice and housing assistance for the purpose of importing 13 underage (15yo) sex slaves from El Salvador). ACORN merely wanted the business.
I don’t think you’re dumb. I think you know they got busted cold. Only the silliest of explanations that can be put forth to defend this mountain of evidence. You feel the need to for some reason. That is your choice. I also appreciate your civil tone. I just ask you this – try to remember the sounds of those children in the Baltimore ACORN office and ponder many possibilities and sad scenes. It’s tough to not let that though settle very hard on your heart.
In response to another comment. See in context »Laurie-
Are you being disingenuous or are you unaware of the fact that the Census Bureau has terminated their partnership with ACORN. Also, it’s fact that ACORN has fired not only two employees in the Baltimore office, but on Friday they fired two more employees in their Washington D.C. office for the same issues. To be fair I don’t like partially edited videos. However, the fact remains that four ACORN employees in two seperate offices were trying to help two people evade payings taxes and setting up an illegal business. I am shocked and sadden employees were willing to help setup a business that would smuggle a dozen underage Salvadorans girls into this country for the purpose of being prostitutes so you can personally attack two
Americans just because u want attack and demonize then as priviledged racists. The story is not that Mr. O’Keefe and Miss Giles are white, ultraconservative(in your opinion), and priviledged. The story is we have an organization who receives millions of dollars in taxpayer money, hiring four employees who was aiding and abetting two people set up a child prostitution business. In a major American city. Miss Essig, Mr. O’Keefe and Miss Giles are not the dumb ones it’s you and your fellow ultraliberal Kool Aid drinkers who are the one who look stupid. If I was one those ACORN employees I
would have called the police immediately the minute Mr. O’Keefe said he wanted to smuggle
underage girls into this country to serve as prostitutes. In
Typical liberal throwing race around. We’re all racists says the angry white woman who THINKS she’s so fucking smart. You’re not. On top of that, you can’t write.
In response to another comment. See in context »Let me also add this link: http://www.lvrj.com/news/7183331.html
It is the end result of this type of endeavor. Imagine the lives of those women enduring forced sex, hell – rape, all day long. Imagine the kids who have to live in a complex where “on windy days used condoms would blow up and down the street.”…where drunken Johns spill out of cabs at 2am and vomit before going to rape one of the sex slaves. It’s depraved on a level that is truly hard to put in words. I want everyone to have good living conditions and children to be well educated and safe.
As I said in my first post, it appears the perceived loss of political power by conceding the point that this is completely unacceptable, has blinded you defenders of ACORN to the aftermath of your politically strategic apathy.
I believe ACORN fills a much needed role to the community, but does it need to be as corrupt as the mafia? Who wins there? Ask the Rathkes. A quick Google search will show that these are criminals of the highest order, criminals who are ENSLAVING the poor people they claim to help. Disgusting. But he’s well connected with the president so I won’t hold my breath that anything substantive will change.
Hello Maui,
Well your posting shows that you did not like ACORN one bit before this whole episode and were only too glad to see any negative information get even the tiniest publicity, which is fine. However, your attitude that you are shocked,shocked to discover this “investigation” is more than a bit disingenuous. Has anyone been arrested for this? No, of course not, because nothing illegal (other than invasion of privacy(Pearson v. Dodd, 410 F.2d 701 (D.C. Cir. 1969) and Dietemann v. Time, Inc., 449 F.2d 245 (9th Cir. 1971)) went on.
In response to another comment. See in context »David…Laurie…whoever you are.- You lack a human soul.
In response to another comment. See in context »There is no way this is real. It has to be the funniest satire I’ve seen in a long time. Even the picture is awesome. You used a typical liberal looking woman so angry because she can’t get laid to save her life.
Hysterical! Good job! You nailed the clueless liberal who doesn’t know what the hell they’re talking about but thinks they’re so smart. GREAT!
Yet another example of Obama caving to Amerikaners:
“Census Director Robert Groves said Acorn had become a distraction.”
But not Blackwater. No distraction there. Dead Iraqis, maybe.
Amerikkkaners hardly get worked up by the fact that:
Jason, I’m sorry. We were talking about ACORN, you must have posted to the wrong page. The “Amerikaaner”/Blackwater discussion was yesterday. Perhaps you were too busy raping your underage sex slave. Ooops, sorry for the ad hominem attack, but then I see you realize how easily they just spill off the tongue yourself. I’m sure you’ll forgive me.
In response to another comment. See in context »This article is loaded with logical fallacies. I will note the fallacies, briefly explain, and then give examples.
Fallacy #1: Circumstantial ad hominem.
Definition: A Circumstantial ad Hominem is a fallacy in which one attempts to attack a claim by asserting that the person making the claim is making it simply out of self interest.
Person A makes claim X.
Person B asserts that A makes claim X because it is in A’s interest to claim X.
Therefore claim X is false.
The author notes that the young man making the film is “A privileged, ultraconservative, straight white man who hates: same sex marriage, Planned Parenthood, civil liberties, and ACORN. Gee, who would have guessed that’s the genius behind this incredibly “shocking” piece of film.”
Therefore, the material in the video must be false because the person making the video has an agenda.
A similar circumstantial ad hominem would be the following:
Who is this logical loser, Laurie Essig, on the left. According to her info page on Middlebury College’s web-site, she is an equally-prvileged college professor with degrees from Columbia University, enjoying the benefits of tenure by taking leave for the acadmeic year of 2009-2010, who teaches such important-to-the-betterment-of-the-world subjects like: The Sociology of Freakishness, Intro to Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, and Questioning, and has published monumental works such as Queer in Russia, a work to “examine how Russian queers imagine themselves.” Plus, just look at her picture at the top of the article with the ridiculous black, buttoned-to-the-top blouse, orange hair, the look that says, “I am rebelling against pictures because they are biased towards ‘pretty’ people,” rife with penis envy, thus my work entitled “My Detachable Phallus.”
Therefore, her counter-argument has no merit.
The other end of a circumstantial ad hominem is pretty frustrating, no? You’ll probably reply at how angry you are that I didn’t spell fallacy, P-H-A-L-L-U-S-Y
More later.
I have to love the strategy that these film makers have engaged. They have blindsided the left as no one has done in ages with the biggest undercover video sucker punch in the past 10 years.
They come out with one story in Baltimore. ACORN fires the workers, isolated incident, we’re here for poor, minority BLAH BLAH BLAH. Writers such as Laurie Essig, wow lady really this is the best you could come up with as a defense? Ooops, I digress. Writers such as Laurie Essig call it Borat journalism.
Okay, fine. We’ll assume that Baltimore had “Poor unfortunate blacks conditioned to be subservient to white people.” and it was an unfairly skewed. Oops, next day we get Washington DC. “Oh these are isolated incidents!” Oops, Monday is New York City, well Brooklyn is still one of the five boroughs.
Wait, wasn’t New York one of the cities listed where this effort was supposedly tried and failed? Ooops, guess Bertha Lewis lied or as liberals have taught us how to say in the past year “misspoke”. Perhaps a re-clarification is in order.
Meanwhile Laurie Essig can go on about her joke of an academic career “deeply concerned”, “deeply troubled” and “monitoring closely” the unraveling of ACORN and how it’s all a vast white wing (Pun intended.) conspiracy that better than a dozen offices will be shown to co-operate in the setup of houses of prostitution and underage sex abuse rings.
Well, if she is attacking these messengers without concern for the the abundantly clear reality as it has been demonstrated to her in these comments (and as web resources make plain) it is hard to find another explainaation than that Laurie Essig’s form of class warfare permits, like ACORN, abetting child prostitution and tax fraud. It is possible that she is just not very bright, or jaded to the point that she cannot see any possible way that the people who are suspicious of ACORN could possibly be right. But any fourth grader with a mouse and an internet connection would figure this out. The most hateful and opposite ideologs would be forced to see eye to eye on this one.
No, either she will immediately and publicly recant what she wrote in this post and apologize, or she is pro-institutionally aided child prostitution and tax fraud. Pro-child prostitution. Pro-fraud. Which is it?
Regardless, this woman must be utterly discredited after this, right? I mean this sincerely: her mind seems addled and her spirit sick. Time to lose the keyboard and find a couch and someone to talk to. Someone should pray for her, she is sadly content to cover for some deeply wicked people, and too proud admit when she is wrong.
I wish I could say your post is laughable. It is more than that. It is sad!
Have some principles! Adhere to them, no matter what.
I am a conservative because, to me, I love liberty.
I used to listen to Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby on the radio in the AM in NYC.
I mostly agreed with Curtis, but I loved listening to Ron Kuby because A) he was smart, but far more importantly, B) he was principled!
You, my friend, are not. It is a shame.
WTF? You cannot be serious! “In the “gee, I made this not very smart person look really stupid” genre of film making…” As a black woman I find this statement reprehensible! I predict a very quick decline in the white liberal elite’s influence on the minds of the young in our country. Their “enlightened” views on race are some of the most disgusting and insulting views being spewed today.
As a black person I experience racism on occasion, so I understand that some of the worst racists around are the ones who think they aren’t. Your comment about the 2 women “Black and seemingly not terribly educated” going up against the 2 young white people who are “seemingly educated” is as racist as it gets! Not to mention the brilliantly expressed belief that black people go out of their way to please “massa” when you wrote, “…the women continue to try to please the white kids.” This is just more proof of the fact that liberals see only color, race, sex and social class in EVERY situation. Most who viewed this videos saw 2 people working for an organization that has been accused of corruption and currently in the throws of several investigations, having no problem with criminal activity moving into a poor neighborhood and advising how to further break the law by lying for the purposes of obtaining a loan for a house and defrauding the IRS. But you saw, black – white, educated – less educated, rich – poor.
If the left is so damned “enlightened” why did they not think for one moment about the fact that ACORN employees apparently have no problem with a prostitute opening a brothel full of under aged girls in a poor neighborhood. Did they think about the hard working people in the neighborhood who work to obtain a better life? Did they think about the dangers it could pose to the community? Did they consider the safety of the children in the community if that activity were running rampant in their back yards? Did they think of the poor then? Did you?!
This is the most important comment in this entire thread. Thank you. These self-professed geniuses who think they are so enlightened and advanced will be the death of this country. I am a gay guy and I know there will be people who have a problem with that. So friggin what? I don’t particularly care for Laurrie’s haircut and lack of pigment – maybe she should try to get a law passed. Thank god blacks in this country realize there are no bigger racists than these Marxists who want to categorize us all. How about one category – Americans?
In response to another comment. See in context »