Lies, manipulation, and propaganda

Most of you have heard about the latest round of attacks being orchestrated against us by a pair of actors and their friends at purported "news" organizations on cable TV and the internet.

The behavior of some ACORN employees has been completely indefensible, but make no mistake -- the resulting sideshow is being fueled by the Right to distract all of us from the truth. And the truth is this: ACORN's work is invaluable. We make sure the have-nots and have-lesses get some say and some political power in this country -- and the people protecting the status quo have never been a big fan of that.

 But ACORN takes the public's trust seriously and is taking dramatic steps such as an immediate in-service training for all front-line workers and an independent review of our service programs to ensure that trust is, and will always be, well founded.

The vast majority of ACORN employees roll up their sleeves day-in and day-out, working long hours on behalf of the low- and moderate- income people in this country. They do good work -- most of it work that the government can't, or simply won't, do.

And that's why we need you to contact your members of Congress and ask that they stand with ACORN now. Join with us.
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2749/t/4433/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=676​

From: "Bertha Lewis, ACORN"
Date: 17 сентября 2009 г. 15:58

I could not get the link to go to the site properly so I am posting this petition here with a comment box option in the lower right corner in the event that anyone would like to praise ACORN publicly for the enlightenment of those who are not aware of what a great org it is.
However, you are welcome to try and sign it on ACORN's site if you wish where I believe the letter is editable:
Stand with ACORN. And contact your member of Congress now to ask that they do the same.
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2749/t/4433/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=676 
AND/OR
Sign the petition below to let Congress know you Stand With ACORN.

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PETITION TEXT:
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Stand with ACORN

Dear Congress Member:

We, the undersigned, are expressing our support for ACORN, which has been recently targeted for a vicious smear campaign orchestrated by supposed “news” outlets and websites. We believe that ACORN’s long track record as an effective advocate for low- and moderate-income families and families of color far outweighs the images of a few workers saying things that don’t belong in a professional environment.

ACORN has played an instrumental role in issue-based campaigns to raise the minimum wage, combat predatory lending, and confront the foreclosure crisis that precipitated the economic meltdown that occurred in 2008.

A study from 2006 found that from 1995-2004 ACORN’s work resulted in benefits to low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color of over $15 billion, or $1.5 billion per year. http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12439&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=22426&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12384&cHash=795e76af4c

For example:

-- ACORN has helped nearly 50,000 homeowners access foreclosure prevention services since the start of America’s foreclosure crisis

-- ACORN played an integral role in the passage of 6 statewide minimum wage increases in Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, Arizona, and California and the City of San Francisco -- increases that set the stage for the national increase in 2007; all told over $2 billion put directly in the pocket of low-wage workers

-- ACORN fought hard against predatory lending for a decade, winning legislation in Massachusetts, New Mexico, California, New York and New Jersey, and changes in the behavior of some corporations that led to over $6 billion of equity staying in the hands of working families.

From 2004-2008 ACORN helped 3 million people complete voter registration applications, people predominately from inner-cities across the country. This work resulted in helping an estimated 1 million voters from disadvantaged communities accessing the voting rolls in 2008 who would not have been there without ACORN’s efforts.

And just this year, ACORN’s members have been heavily engaged in the public policy debates surrounding health care reform, modernizing the regulatory framework for the financial services industry, comprehensive immigration reform, and labor law reform.

It is this record of achievement that makes it easy to stand in support of ACORN and we urge you to see beyond the attack to the real achievements of this remarkable organization.

Sincerely,

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