"The Truth" Will be absent as Leading Journalists and Politicians Acknowledge FOX Bias in Reporting and ProgrammingWith its attempted, often successful, agenda setting, the American right and its media echo chambers (led by Fox) have spent years targeting organizations that advocate on behalf of low-income and minority Americans.   ACORN, as the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income people Americans, has been the target of choice.Tonight at 9:00 PM EST, Fox will be airing what it calls: "Fox News Reporting: The Truth about ACORN."  Although Fox did ask that ACORN participate in tonight's entertainment piece, they refused to provide assurances (such as that ACORN's written statement wouldn't be excessively edited) that ACORN's...

Dear Friends:We write today out of concern for our communities and for the future of the community organization ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) whose member families have provided crucial grassroots voice for justice around the country for decades.  Recently, conservative activists have released disturbing videos of some frontline ACORN staff making indefensible statements.  Although we continue to have questions about the motives and tactics behind these videos, we applaud the swift and decisive action that ACORN's Board of community leaders and its management has taken in response to the tapes.  Scott Harshbarger, former Attorney General of Massachusetts, is conducting an independent and comprehensive inquiry into the systems and processes...

A new study from the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College by Peter Dreier, Professor of Politics at Occidental College, and Christopher Martin, Professor of Journalism at the University of Northern Iowa

From the UEPI:

"Using the controversy over ACORN as a case study, this report illustrates the way the media help set the agenda for public debate, and frame the way that debate is shaped. It describes how 'opinion entrepreneurs' (primarily business and conservative groups and individuals) set the story in motion as early as 2006, how the "conservative echo chamber" orchestrated its anti-ACORN campaign in 2008, how the McCain-Palin campaign picked it up, and how the mainstream media reported these allegations without investigating their truth o...

ACORN's Advisory Committee, comprised of leaders from the philanthropic, labor, government, and business sectors, issued the following statement Tuesday, Sept. 29:

"Yesterday, former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger briefed the ACORN Advisory Committee on his plans for an independent review.

This independent and thorough review, commissioned by the ACORN Board, will review a sample of ACORN service programs in several cities and create a written assessment of the program with a set of recommendations to allow the organization to run intake and service programs in an ethical, professional and effective manner.

In addition, Mr. Harshbarger will review the ongoing work that ACORN and its consultants have done since June 2008 to restructure the governance, financial, an...

WASHINGTON, DC—In response to recently released and distributed video and audio tape obtained by James O'Keefe, Hannah Giles and Breitbart.com LLC, ACORN filed a law suit Wednesday, Sept. 25, against the filmmakers and distributor in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction against further distribution along with compensatory and punitive damages.

ACORN's General Counsel, Arthur Schwartz, said that the acts of Defendants were "clear violations of Maryland law that were intended to inflict maximum damage to the reputation of ACORN, the nation's largest grassroots organization of low-income and minority Americans. Unfortunately they succeeded."

Bertha Lewis, ACORN's Chief Organizer, said, "Although we do not condone what our former ...

Independent inquiry will be aggressive, thorough, and far-reaching.

            ACORN Board Chair Maude Hurd announced Tuesday morning that former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger would lead an independent inquiry into the organizational systems and processes surrounding the social services of the organization.  Mr. Harshbarger, now Senior Counsel to the Firm of Proskauer Rose LLP, is also the former President and CEO of Common Cause, the good government organization.             Mr. Harshbarger said of the process: "I have been asked by the leadership of ACORN to conduct an independent and comprehensive inquiry and review of the manag...

September 17, 2009 "We're disappointed that the House took the rare and politically convenient step of attempting to eliminate federal funding for a single organization, one that has been the target of a multi-year political assault stemming variously from the Bush White House[1], Fox News, and other conservative quarters.  Fortunately, ACORN derives most of its income from its members and other supporters, so the decision will have little impact on overall operations.  The only real victims of today's vote are the families who have benefited from ACORN's important work."  [1] Recently revealed emails show that Karl Rove directly pushed for the termination of US Attorney David Iglesias, in large part for his decision to not pursue allegations of voter fr...

In response to recently released videos of frontline ACORN staff, ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis made the following announcement Wednesday morning:"As a result of the indefensible action of a handful of our employees, I am, in consultation with ACORN's Executive Committee1, immediately ordering a halt to any new intakes into ACORN's service programs until completion of an independent review.  I have also communicated with ACORN's independent Advisory Council, and they will assist ACORN in naming an independent auditor and investigator to conduct a thorough review of all of the organizations relevant systems and processes.  That reviewer, to be named within 48 hours, will make recommendations directly to me and to the full ACORN Board.  We enter this process with a commitment th...

(San Bernardino, CA) -- Today the videographer James O'Keefe's hidden camera "interview" with San Bernardino ACORN organizer Tresa Kaelke, airing repeatedly on Fox "News", including the Glenn Beck show, and on BigGovernment.com, has been caught out in an obvious set of lies and manipulations.When the actors approached Ms. Kaelke with their provocative costuming and outlandish scenario, she could not take them seriously. So she met their outrageousness with her own personal style of outrageousness. She matched their false scenario with her own false scenarios."They were not believable", said Ms. Kaelke of the two actors. "Somewhat entertaining, but they weren't even good actors. I didn't know what to make of them. They were clearly playing with me. I decid...

"ACORN members across America are deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy.  ACORN knew no truer friend in Congress than Senator Kennedy.  Over the years we have worked side by side to better the lives of low-and moderate-income Americans.  Teddy, as many of our members call him, was a frequent participant in various events where ACORN members would come from Massachusetts and beyond to make their voice heard in Washington.

The great influence Senator Kennedy has had on our lives and the way he changed the course of American history cannot be overstated.  He was a true advocate for immigration reform, living wages, civil rights, labor, fair housing, and, of course, what he considered the "cause of his life," healthcare reform.  At ...