ACORN'S HOUSING-RIGHTS HUSTLERS

[classicman]

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PRESIDENT Obama used his speech last night to advance his massive government plan to help "responsible" homeowners avoid foreclosure. While gently acknowledging that "people bought homes they knew they couldn't afford," Obama blasted banks and lenders who "pushed those bad loans anyway."

What you didn't hear from Obama's lips: While I support efforts to keep people in their homes, I condemn the lawless tactics of my old friends at the Association of Community Orga nizations for Reform Now. ACORN's "civil disobedience" campaign is in full swing across the country - bolstering the Obama housing rights' agenda with media-friendly tales of foreclosure woes.

But a closer look at ACORN's sob stories shows that the prototypical foreclosure "victims" don't deserve an ounce of sympathy - or a cent of our money.

Earlier this week, ACORN activists broke into a foreclosed home in Baltimore. With a mob cheering and camera crew taping, Baltimore ACORN leader Louis Beverly busted a padlock and jimmied the door open at 315 South Ellwood Ave. The home once belonged to restaurant worker Donna Hanks, who assailed her evil bank for raising her mortgage by $300 and leaving her on the street.

What ACORN didn't tell you: Hanks' house was sold in June 2008 for $192,000. She bought it in 2001 for $87,000. At some point in the next five years, she refinanced the original home loan for $270,000. Where did all that money go?

The property initially went into foreclosure proceedings in spring 2006. Hanks soon filed for bankruptcy and agreed to a Chapter 13 plan to pay back her bank and other creditors. But she didn't comply with the legally binding plan. In December 2007, the loan servicer issued a notice of default on nearly $7,000 past due.

While she was reneging on her mortgage IOUs, she managed to rack up a criminal record on charges of theft and second-degree assault. The house was sold seven months ago after two years of court-negotiated attempts to allow Hanks to dig out of her debt hole.

Beverly was charged with burglary for the break-in and released. He is literally a housing thug - having been charged with a separate second-degree assault and property destruction earlier this year.

The Washington Post spotlighted Beverly's and Hanks' activism without following up on their criminal records and financial negligence. The paper also shilled for ACORN foreclosure "victim" Veronica Peterson of Columbia, Md., recycling uncritically her claim that she had been tricked into buying a $545,000 home by a broker who inflated her income and misrepresented her assets.

But Edward Ericson Jr., a reporter for the Baltimore City Paper, found that the "victim" - who took out a full mortgage with no down payment on a house she couldn't afford - looks more like a predatory borrower. Amazingly, Peterson lived in the home more than a year without paying rent or mortgage.

"The online court and land records show that Peterson closed on the house on Nov. 3, 2006, with two loans from Washington Mutual. The main mortgage, for $436,000, had a starting interest rate of 8.5 percent, adjusting in December . . . The second loan, often called a 'piggyback,' totaled $109,000 with an interest rate of 11.25 percent . . . Those two payments together would have totaled $3,386.17 per month. That's before property taxes, upkeep, utilities, etc. Peterson would have to earn at least $50,000 per year just to make her house payments."

The foreclosure was filed in July 2007. "The balance on the main note then was $435,735.86," Ericson reported, plus unpaid interest and late fees - suggesting she made at most one payment on the house. "Had she made all of her payments, Peterson would have spent about $64,335 so far. Had she rented a similar place, she would have been charged around $2,500 per month - a total of $47,500 - since January 2007. Instead, she apparently paid nothing."

Who are the true victims? If only the reporters swallowing their stories were half as diligent about background checks of ACORN thugs as they were with Joe the Plumber.

Are these the exception or the rule?

Originally Posted by classicman

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Are these the exception or the rule?

ACORN is indeed organizing acts of civil disobedience to help home owners facing foreclosure.

The Home Staying campaign is described on the ACORN website.

Teams of ACORN Home Defenders – volunteers from local communities – will employ civil disobedience as needed to help people who have faced foreclosure to stay in their homes until a comprehensive federal solution has been put in place.

"Once they have your home, there's nothing you can do except to resort to civil disobedience," said Baltimore ACORN Foreclosure Fighters Co-Chair Louis Beverly, a leader in the Baltimore Home Staying campaign. "We're trying to get loans modified so that people can stay in their homes."

The details about the specific "victim" in Baltimore, as described by Michele Malkin in her NY Post editorial? Thats a different story.

Hell, its Michele Malkin, a habitual liar in pursuit of her personal political agenda. I would like to see the more questionable allegations in her editioral verified by a reputable source.

In any case, IMO, the ACORN act is much like those acts committed by groups like Operation Rescue in the past, who would use civil disobedience to block abortion clinics, including questionable tactics against women entering such clinics and or the doctors/employees working in such clinics.

I recall Malkin praising such efforts in the past as "front line fighters for justice." So whats the difference between ACORN and Operation Rescue?

The ACORN (or Operation Rescue) dramatic and very public type actions are not my style of political protest, but if groups want to engage in acts of civil disobedience and accept the consequences, its ok with me up until the point they approach physical violence, personal intimidation or threats of violence, or gross destruction of property.

[depmats]

ACORN is the douchebag organization that blackmailed loan companies to force loan approval for the unqualified hopeful homebuyers on the grounds that everyone deserves to own a home. Now that it has become apparent that maybe, possibly, these people couldn't get loans before because they didn't deserve them ACORN wants to come up with some noble civil disobedience. Bullshit. They're trespassing, arrest and try them.

Originally Posted by depmats

ACORN is the douchebag organization that blackmailed loan companies to force loan approval for the unqualified hopeful homebuyers ....

Blackmailed loan companies?

WTF are you talking about.

This is the kind of bullshit that gives you zero credibility.

Yes...the should get arrested for trespassing. In part, that is their intent.

Love it or hate it, that is what is at the heart of civil disobedience.

Whether it is ACORN occupying foreclosed homes.

Or Operation Rescue blocking health clinics.

Or Black college kids in the 60s breaking public accommodation laws and sitting in at "whites only" lunch counters in southern cities.

The hypocrisy of the selective outrage of folks like Michele Malkin is what is laughable.

[depmats]

Look up ACORN's activities with mortgage companies in the late 1990's and the beginning of this decade. I challenge you to really look at it and then call it anything but legalized blackmail. ACORN is far far from black college kids of the 60's trying to get equality.

Originally Posted by depmats

Look up ACORN's activities with mortgage companies in the late 1990's and the beginning of this decade. I challenge you to really look at it and then call it anything but legalized blackmail. ACORN is far far from black college kids of the 60's trying to get equality.

I know that ACORN is the latest and greatest bogeyman to the far right.

But ACORN did not commit commit widespread voter fraud during the last election as alleged by Malkin and others

There is not $$millions in the economic recovery bill for ACORN as alleged by several Republican members of Congress.

And ACORN did not blackmail loan companies as you allege, unless lobbying for the CRA is considered blackmail by wingnuts.

Filter out all the bullshit, including all of the above as well as the unsubstantiated and sensationalist allegations in Malkin's editorial, and judge the ACORN "home staying campaign" for what it is - a self-descibed act of civil disobediance.

I wouldnt participate in it, but I dont find it to be so outrageous...or at least any more so than other political acts of civil disobediance.

And that would go back to what was probably the first act of civil disobediance in the country (or soon to be country) - the Boston Tea Party.

[lookout123]

ACORN had a nice racket before the housing bubble. They'd approach subprime lenders and let them know they didn't like their lending practices and they were going to be acting on the behalf of those descriminated against. (That would be non-white people) If the companies lowered their credit standards and gave a nice donation to ACORN they went away quietly. If they didn't ACORN called borrowers with hispanic last names and told them they might not have to repay their mortgages if they'd just tell a few little lies. Lies like "i don't speak english", "i didn't understand my loan", "I was declined because I'm not white". They would then take these fools on a nice PR campaign boycotting mortgage company offices with signs and geniuses wearing shark suits. Most of the claims were dismissed rather quickly in court - such as the one from the lady who claimed she was taken advantage of because she didn't know english... but gave her deposition in english. or the man who claimed he didn't understand the loan documents... until it was pointed out he was the guy who did all the purchase contracts for a large retail real estate company.
Unfortunately ACORN is well aware the damage bad PR does so most of the mortgage companies wrote checks and approved loans for the credit unworthy to avoid the hassle.

Don't pretend ACORN is some benevolent organization out to help the little guy. They are crooks.

Originally Posted by lookout123

ACORN had a nice racket before the housing bubble. They'd approach subprime lenders and let them know they didn't like their lending practices and they were going to be acting on the behalf of those descriminated against. (That would be non-white people) If the companies lowered their credit standards and gave a nice donation to ACORN they went away quietly. If they didn't ACORN called borrowers with hispanic last names and told them they might not have to repay their mortgages if they'd just tell a few little lies. Lies like "i don't speak english", "i didn't understand my loan", "I was declined because I'm not white". They would then take these fools on a nice PR campaign boycotting mortgage company offices with signs and geniuses wearing shark suits. Most of the claims were dismissed rather quickly in court - such as the one from the lady who claimed she was taken advantage of because she didn't know english... but gave her deposition in english. or the man who claimed he didn't understand the loan documents... until it was pointed out he was the guy who did all the purchase contracts for a large retail real estate company.
Unfortunately ACORN is well aware the damage bad PR does so most of the mortgage companies wrote checks and approved loans for the credit unworthy to avoid the hassle.

Don't pretend ACORN is some benevolent organization out to help the little guy. They are crooks.

YIKES....the ACORN boogeyman is everywhere!

Believe what you want....but you dont have any facts to support the bogus fear-mongering charges of the far right fringe.

Congraulations on your appaling ignornance or blind fealty to the wingnut version of truth, justice and the Amerixcan way.

The GOP Blame ACORN GAME - certainly as credible as Michelle Malkin.

[lookout123]

Originally Posted by Redux

Believe what you want....but you dont have any facts to support the bogus fear-mongering charges of the far right fringe.

Congraulations on your appaling ignornance or blind fealty to the wingnut version of truth, justice and the Amerixcan way.

Wow, you really are impressive. It's almost like you know me better than I know myself.

From where I stand I see your logic as follows:
1) Michelle Malkin = stupid and bad
2) Michelle Malkin doesn't like ACORN
3) ACORN = Admirable organization

Did I miss a step there? It doesn't seem to make much more sense than the underpants' gnomes business plan. Do you normally throw out the "you believe differently so you must be ignorant" card so quickly or was this a special event?

My opinion on ACORN isn't based on some 2nd rate blogger or the latest Hannity/Limbaugh rants. The events I described are events that I personally witnessed. I am intimately familiar with the ACORN M.O. I can see how your logic is easier to grasp though, in a back of the shortbus kind of way.

The problem here is that if what I say is true and your great savior worked with them... then maybe he isn't so spotless either... uh, oh - better ignore that. Wouldn't want your head to explode afterall.

I am not defending ACORN.....I am simply looking for documentation of their alleged criminal acts.

When charges are made of blackmailing loan companies or having a crooked racket responsible for the housing bubble.....I would like to see something factual to back it up....not "google it yourself" or "I saw it firsthand."

WHy is that so hard to provide credible and independent documentatoin of ACORN'S alleged criminal activities if such activities are so wdiespread?

WHy cant conservatives ever provide FACTS? It's alway "I saw it first hand" or "I read that Joe Schmoe said on Rush Limbaugh or saw it on Malkin that he said his cousin saw...."

If you saw it firsthand, did you report it? If not, why not?

Facts, dude!

[lookout123]

I just read through your link. That is some excellent spin ya got there Tex. It doesn't line up with the facts as I experienced them, but it is a good read.

WHy is that so hard to provide if ACORN's criminal activities are so wdiespread?

Maybe I should correct my phrasing. Criminal does imply they were actually tried and convicted of something and that certainly didn't happen. ACORN plays within the letter of the law as an organization. They certainly can't be held responsible if their members stretch the boundaries some. Any challenge of their motives or methods is met with cries of racism and discrimination while they run for the cover of their "helping the downtrodden" mission statement.

But now that I think about it you're probably right. I mean, really, it's easy to see how those wingnuts rightwingers can be fooled by propaganda - they're stupid afterall. You and yours are much to intelligent to buy propaganda hook, line, and sinker though. My bad.

I dont claim the Nation is without its own spin....but I am not the one making allegations.

You made the charge of ACORN being crooked with some racket that caused the housing bubble.

Sepmats made the charge of blackmailing loan companies.

So..document it!

Support your allegation with facts from an independent source.

Why is that so hard?

[lookout123]

If you saw it firsthand, did you report it? If not, why not?

Actually I did. That was buried somewhere in the multiple hours of my multiple depositions though. The newspapers and news channels were more than happy to run the stories of mortgage and loan fraud ACORN provided them with, but they weren't in such a hurry to run the news when those stories turned out to be false.

WHy cant conservatives ever provide FACTS? It's alway "I saw it first hand" or "I read that Joe Schmoe said on Rush Limbaugh or saw it on Malkin that he said his cousin saw...."

How is this a conservative/liberal issue? You slag off those who don't like ACORN and post a link to a spin article as your support. I make a statement and describe my personal experiences but somehow it becomes a "conservatives never have proof" issue? Brilliant.

Originally Posted by lookout123

Actually I did. That was buried somewhere in the multiple hours of my multiple depositions though. The newspapers and news channels were more than happy to run the stories of mortgage and loan fraud ACORN provided them with, but they weren't in such a hurry to run the news when those stories turned out to be false.

How is this a conservative/liberal issue? You slag off those who don't like ACORN and post a link to a spin article as your support. I make a statement and describe my personal experiences but somehow it becomes a "conservatives never have proof" issue? Brilliant.

I am just asking for facts to support your allegation...and the previous allegation of blackmailing.

I wasnt the one to make those allegations of illegal or crooked acts by ACORN.

In all these years and with all these allegations, why is there never any documentation....its all hearsay or second hand or regurgitation of the same talking points....but never any facts...never any sources!

If it is so evident, why have there never been any investigations or charges against ACORN for alleged blackmailing or corruption anywhere in the country?

So now you suggest it was "buried" in your multiple hours of depositions and ignored by the court and/or local media...who somehow would rather protect ACORN than investigate an alleged criminal activity or report a news breaking story about how they corrupted the housing finance market.

Can you understand why that might be hard to accept?

[lookout123]

Good point. It must not have happened.