The Official Community for Tennessee's Democrats
SEIU & ACORN: Guilt By Association
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has become a favorite target of the extreme right wing. As SEIU becomes a more significant force for change in this country, we are going to continue to be hit by the same extreme right-wing attack machine that is trying to block healthcare reform and regulatory reform – the change this country needs to help working families and to rebuild the middle class.
The radical right in this country wants nothing more than to make SEIU, grassroots community groups, and any individual who fights against the status quo their next casualty. They are seeking to silence the voices of those men and women who suffered the most under 8 years of extreme right-wing policies, and to smear anyone who stands up for those men and women. Right now, there are daily attacks from conservative radio and TV pundits on us for our work on healthcare, labor rights, immigration, and our working relationship with community and progressive organizations – most recently ACORN.
ACORN has come under fire for video footage recorded by undercover operatives posing as a prostitute and her companion seeking tax and housing advice at five ACORN offices across the country. The behaviors we’ve seen on these videos as well some past improper handling of voter registration materials by individuals are unacceptable and ACORN did the right thing by taking immediate action against the responsible individuals. While over the years SEIU has contracted with ACORN for voter registration, canvassing efforts, and organizing work, the union has suspended all active work with ACORN. SEIU President Andy Stern recently joined the Advisory Council of ACORN to provide guidance as they evaluate some recent troubles they have had. Along with John Podesta, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and other Advisory Council members, Andy Stern has encouraged ACORN to take dramatic steps to resolve their underlying organizational problems, and has supported a thorough, top-to-bottom review into ACORN’s systems and processes, led by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
It should be noted that there are no active ACORN offices or staff in Tennessee, nor has SEIU Local 205 worked with them in any official capacity.
At the same time, we must recognize the important need for services and organizations that address issues faced by low- and moderate-income families. ACORN’s challenge, if they want to continue to be a national organization that provides these services, is to immediately conduct an internal investigation to swiftly and completely root out their underlying problems and make sure these issues never come up again.
Our challenge – and that of the progressive community – is to make sure that the critical work of voter registration and campaigns for better housing, schools, neighborhood safety, healthcare, and job conditions continues so we can lift people out of poverty and help rebuild our economy. Furthermore, we refuse to let smear attempts from the radical right deter us from our own goals of passing affordable healthcare, fixing our broken immigration system, and building an economy that works for everyone.
The radical right in this country wants nothing more than to make SEIU, grassroots community groups, and any individual who fights against the status quo their next casualty. They are seeking to silence the voices of those men and women who suffered the most under 8 years of extreme right-wing policies, and to smear anyone who stands up for those men and women. Right now, there are daily attacks from conservative radio and TV pundits on us for our work on healthcare, labor rights, immigration, and our working relationship with community and progressive organizations – most recently ACORN.
ACORN has come under fire for video footage recorded by undercover operatives posing as a prostitute and her companion seeking tax and housing advice at five ACORN offices across the country. The behaviors we’ve seen on these videos as well some past improper handling of voter registration materials by individuals are unacceptable and ACORN did the right thing by taking immediate action against the responsible individuals. While over the years SEIU has contracted with ACORN for voter registration, canvassing efforts, and organizing work, the union has suspended all active work with ACORN. SEIU President Andy Stern recently joined the Advisory Council of ACORN to provide guidance as they evaluate some recent troubles they have had. Along with John Podesta, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and other Advisory Council members, Andy Stern has encouraged ACORN to take dramatic steps to resolve their underlying organizational problems, and has supported a thorough, top-to-bottom review into ACORN’s systems and processes, led by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
It should be noted that there are no active ACORN offices or staff in Tennessee, nor has SEIU Local 205 worked with them in any official capacity.
At the same time, we must recognize the important need for services and organizations that address issues faced by low- and moderate-income families. ACORN’s challenge, if they want to continue to be a national organization that provides these services, is to immediately conduct an internal investigation to swiftly and completely root out their underlying problems and make sure these issues never come up again.
Our challenge – and that of the progressive community – is to make sure that the critical work of voter registration and campaigns for better housing, schools, neighborhood safety, healthcare, and job conditions continues so we can lift people out of poverty and help rebuild our economy. Furthermore, we refuse to let smear attempts from the radical right deter us from our own goals of passing affordable healthcare, fixing our broken immigration system, and building an economy that works for everyone.
Comment
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Comment by Eric Pearson on November 29, 2009 at 1:48pm -
I greatly appreciate your response, and the opportunity to address everything you are apparently misinformed and wrong about.
Like you, I am not thankful for when right-wingers lie about the facts on healthcare reform. That is why I acquire my facts from reliable sources, and I would suggest you should do the same.
You stated, “I'm also not thankful that people like you have to lie about being a Democrat to try and fool people into believing you.” In response I say again, “I’m a Democrat raised in the old school principals of being taught the difference of right and wrong.” As such, I must admit the Democratic Party of today is not the same as it was 38 years ago or when I first voted as a Democrat. Back then, we were taught to question our elected representatives on the important issues, and to seek the truth in anything we were told. By doing so now, it is apparent some people like you call me a liar and not a true Democrat.
You stated, “We all know that a real Democrat supports healthcare reform. In response you should read more about our American heritage as a Nation, especially the section about why Thomas Jefferson that is called the father of our Democratic Party. For instance, the section containing the quote from Thomas Jefferson, “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” Once you do, then maybe you may become a little dissatisfied with our politicians and their obsession with making our Nation more like the Europe our forefathers had left behind.
I must stop now, but I’ll address the rest of your statements later tonight or tomarrow.
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Comment by Mark Naccarato on November 29, 2009 at 9:11am -
Eric, I am not thankful for when right-wingers lie about the facts on healthcare reform. I'm also not thankful that people like you have to lie about being a Democrat to try and fool people into believing you.
While the healthcare legislation is not perfect (thanks to Republican and Blue Dog obstructionism), we all know that a real Democrat supports healthcare reform. We also know that a real Democrat would not resort to distorting the truth about what's in the bill or lie about how many people support reform. And a real Democrat would know that the "controversy" over ACORN is another manufactured non-issue by the Republican network Fox News - the facts of the case have nothing at all to do with "defrauding Americans of their rights for fair elections".
There are plenty of websites and forums for you Teabaggers to spread your anti-American hysteria. I think we real patriots would all give thanks if you take your propaganda to one of those, Eric.
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Comment by Eric Pearson on November 24, 2009 at 12:32pm
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It should be noted according to the federal government under 16% of our American citizens in the 5th district of Tennessee have no health insurance. With that said, is it fair to impose mandatory health insurance reform on everyone else, including the entire population of America?
I’m a Democrat raised in the old school principals of being taught the difference of right and wrong. As such, I clearly know ACORN broke the federal law by tapering with voter registrations with defrauding Americans of their rights for fair elections. We should all give thanks to the individuals that acquired these videos.
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Comment by Eric Pearson on November 23, 2009 at 11:26pm
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As the time of this posting. . . only 36% of Americans want health care reform.
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