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July 24, 2008
Edwards Visits ACORN
Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend a very interesting roundtable discussion at ACORN's new digs in Midtown, an event headlined by former U.S. Senator, presidential, and vice presidential candidate John Edwards.
For those of you not familiar with ACORN, it is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a nearly 40 year-old, nationwide grassroots group with over 400,000 members, that focuses on issues facing low- and moderate-income families.
While Edwards' remarks opened and closed the event, the bulk of the program focused on a fairly in-depth discussion of basic economic issues facing non-affluent Texans, from mortgage foreclosures and unscrupulous mortgage bankers, to the need for expanded access to education and healthcare, to the importance of increasing participation in the mainstream banking system. The panel featured current and former elected officials, including Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, Houston City Controller Annise Parker and former City Council Member Gordon Quan, as well as policy experts and a few ordinary ACORN members with painful but all too common stories about low wages and bad mortgages.
The substantive hour-long session covered a lot of ground fast, and underscored the myriad basic economic problems facing too many Texans today. And in the face of many, many depressing statistics, the thrust of the meeting remained upbeat and forward looking. Perhaps this was due to the presence of Edwards, who appeared here as part of his ambitious project "Half in Ten", aimed at reducing poverty in America by 50% in the next ten years.
Ordinarily, we would be skeptical of the efficacy of such an effort, but given the growing gap between the ultra-rich and everyone else, and the breadth of economic pain being felt in this current downturn, perhaps they have a shot at making some real progress. We sure hope so.
Posted by houtopia at July 24, 2008 10:40 PM
Comments
So did anyone ask about the million dollars that the head of ACORN's brother stole and how the head of ACORN sat on the embezzlement for nine years before reporting it to the board of directors? or how Edwards' new out-of-wedlock baby is doing? or how his cuckold's dying wife is doing? or what about all of those voter fraud allegations against ACORN?
Posted by: Rorschach at July 28, 2008 01:37 PM
The situation with the head of ACORN and his brother is tragic, particularly given that the organization's members, all of whom pay dues, don't exactly have loads of disposable income.
As in previous scandals involving not for profit entities, such as the United Way and the Catholic Church, what else can the overwhelming majority of honorable members do but carry on with their good works?
As for Edwards, given that he was appearing on behalf of ACORN and its mission and that he is no longer running for anything, his personal affairs hardly seem relavent.
Posted by: houtopia at July 28, 2008 09:37 PM
It is exceedingly relevant. The number one cause of poverty in the US is having children out of wedlock. The number one cause of crime is kids growing up without a father in their lives. The number one cause of divorce is cheating. What has Edwards gone and done? He's hit the trifecta here! I would submit that if the real goal of ACORN is to fight poverty, Edwards is the absolute WORST person they could get to be their public face.
Of course you and I both know that is not the true goal of ACORN. ACORN exists not to eliminate poverty, but to exploit it for political gain. Sure there are plenty of true believers in it's ranks, but they are not the ones with the power. That is the reason why ACORN has been caught numerous times in numerous places committing voter fraud. Because it is not about solving problems, it is about political power.
Posted by: Rorschach at July 29, 2008 12:00 PM
More on ACORN's hypocracy.
http://www.consumersrightsleague.org/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=22897
Posted by: Rorschach at July 29, 2008 04:52 PM
First of all, I haven't seen anything other than unsubstantiated allegations about Edwards. And even if they turn out to be true, I rather doubt any child of his, born in wedlock or out, will grow up in poverty. And would Edwards really be the WORST person they could get? How about Larry Craig?
As for ACORN's true goal, I know many members here in Houston, and assisting low-income people is exactly what they do every day. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for example, ACORN was an enormous help to many people in dire need.
Finally, given that the Consumers Rights League is little more than a right wing front organization -- http://www.frontgroups.org/node/6421 -- I take any of its allegations with a healthy dose of skepticism. Nice try.
Posted by: houtopia at July 29, 2008 10:13 PM