Getty Images
As recently as December 2012, Public Policy Polling found that nearly half of Republican voters believes ACORN boosted President Obama's re-election prospects. While people are certainly entitled to believe whatever they wish, let's not forget that ACORN doesn't actually exist -- the defunct group permanently closed its doors in 2010.
As it turns out, GOP voters aren't the only ones with lingering concerns about an organization that only exists in the imaginations of conservatives.
A new short-term budget bill introduced on Monday by House Republicans includes a bizarre provision banning federal funding to anti-poverty group ACORN, despite the fact that the group has already been stripped of federal funding -- and has been defunct for nearly three years.
ACORN leaders announced that the group was disbanding in March 2010, after Congress cut off all federal funding to the organization. The provision in the current GOP budget bill, buried on page 221 of 269, would duplicate legislation that has already passed, to target an organization that does not exist.
A spokesperson for the House Appropriations Committee told the Huffington Post the provision in the bill is "typical." I'll concede that I'm not familiar enough with the minutiae of House continuing resolutions to say whether this is accurate or not.
But I can say with confidence that if it's "typical" for House Republicans to write up spending bills barring funds for non-existent entities, this isn't a positive development. Has the House Appropriations Committee also included provisions to prevent funding of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster? Because at this point, they're about as real as ACORN.
Leave a Comment:
And please for God's sake Republicans , stop the Sharia Law takeover of the court system.
OWWWW the stupid hurts
Those low-information legislators strike again!
So, did these people (the ones who are lawyers) actually PASS A BAR EXAM anywhere?
Or maybe they got their degrees from some fake mail order place that didn't require any actual, you know, reading.
Well, it is "typical" for Republicans to be drooling morons. Like sharks, it's what they do.
Glad to see that Republicans are still "creating their own realities" (a la the infamous Karl Rove quote). I hope that they go ahead and ban money for Sauron and the Kingons while they're at it!
Friends of Hamas anyone? LOL!
It just occurred to me precisely at this moment that we are most surely right now deep into the middle of that prescient film, "Idiocracy."
It makes sense to me that Republicans would do this. Reality is a meaningless word to them.
Repugs can't govern, and their attempts at being a protector of values is a joke. Really, what are they good for besides comic relief and a whole lot of stone-walling?
Though the Republicans may be in need of him, not even a Sancho Panza can stop these Republicans from jousting their imaginary windmills! -Kevo
Kevo, Good one! So true.
The band of reverse Robin Hoods, that's our fine GOP!
Hey - think about it - just where does Santa get all those presents from?
C'mon Issa - invesitgate the guy.
C'mon McCain and Grahm - no more nominee confirmations until we have the goods on the fat man in the red suit.
Yeah, and as Arlo Guthrie noticed so long ago - that dude must be a commie bastard for wearing red and trying to redistribute the wealth every year like clock work!
We do need to sic Issa on him! Go Issa, go! -Kevo
Rumor has it that the Bullmoose Party is considering a comeback. If true, can the Whigs be far behind?
Ok this one is easy
People who "Hate" ACORN = Conservative/Tea Party/FOX Audience
Congressman X gets to go on FOX and say: "I Voted against funding ACORN" thus looking good to the former and avoiding a Primary challenge.
Its not stupid it's actually smart politics: Stand for something that accomplishes nothing and claim "Victory" for defeating the bogyman
Dragoon,
Such an interesting policy! Accomplish nothing and proclaim victory. They must think it works, they keep doing it!
They are plotting and drooling over the next self-made crisis they are going to pull off later in March. They need lobster bibs for all the drooling they are doing.
Yes, another plot to screw the president and the country!!! Can't wait!! Drool.....drooolll.............drooool.....this will even top the sequester!............drool...........drool...........
Yesterday Tom Brokaw, praised the Tea Party for getting organized, indirectly thanking Koch Industries for its support of grass root democracy.
Of course this due to his need not to take sides, bad for the access business, and I suppose that the tiny donations from Acorns are supposed to grow might oaks.
Y'know, I'd chip in a few bucks to setup robocalls asking for donations for ACORN sent only to Republican party donors.
It'd be cheap and money better spent than a movie ticket.
"Hi! Don't hang up! Are you ready to help President Obama get moving with his agenda to promote gay marriage in pre-schools, bring back the "Equal Time Rule", and pass heavy taxes on gas to promote Californian solar power startup companies? We are too! Press 1 to donate to ACORN now! Press 2 to be removed from our call list."
Regardless of which you press the chipper voice says "Thanks, and we'll be looking forward to sticking up for the 99% in 2016 with Hilary!"
I agree, watching their heads explode would be totally cool.
It really would be good to bring back the "Equal time Rule." Within 90 days, the Republican Noise Machine would be rusting away, upside down in the ditch.
TC in LA, This is true:
I have this large, black Manx cat (They have no tail), and it literally, this morning, scared a mouse to death. Not a mark on it. He ran over to it and it dropped dead.
I'm thinking............why can't I take him to DC, to McConnell's office...just to see what happens to a turtle? LOL
Jack might be the next weapon the Pentagon is looking for!
Careful with the sarcasm, Steve. Some Fox News reader might get apoplexy thinking we're spending money funding Bigfoot and Nessie (and to that note - why would we fund a foreigner?)
I think those stories are already being prepped for Breitbart.com including their cost to the taxpayer.
What does the C in C-span stand for? Comedy?
The " C " stands for: Cockroach.
I think you're right, Mark. But then the cockroach has more approval than Congress.
Haddie Nuff, (BTW, so have I!)
"The cockroach has more approval than Congress."
And rightly so. Cockroaches actually serve a purpose in the natural world.
True point, India.
Just one more example of the RWNJs spinning inside the bubble. Word hasn't gotten into the bubble that ACORN no longer exists. Then again, when facts do worm their way into the bubble, it is dismissed as being fabricated to forward the progressive agenda. Just what color is the sky in that world?
Um, the BFRO would like to have a word with you...
Now, I'm not so sure about the Loch Ness Monster, but Bigfoot is real. Watch Animal Planet on Sunday nights.
You. Will. Believe.
;)
Come on! Bigfoot is just a big guy in a hairy suit. But "Nessie"? ???????
What's 'typical' is that this is not a 'new' spending bill. The GOP is all about dusting off some old piece o' crap and sending it to the floor as the latest and greatest.
The serious truth about this is that they (the GOP righties) are using up precious congressional hours for pulp fiction like this to avoid having enough hours left to deal with the real issues. There just won't be enough time to deal with all of Obama's agendas such as tax reform, gun safety laws, immigration, etc.
It is quite Machiavellian, really. They may be crazy, but they aren't stupid. Like any predator, they have that killing instinct.
Republicans in the House don't actually craft any legislation, it gets written by the bloggers over at Red State.com and delivered by courier to the capitol five minutes before the vote.
As long as we cut federal funds that might be used to help Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster get gay-married.
Maybe the money saved by not giving to ACORN can be used to fund the DC chapter of the Flat Earth Society.
ACORN! BENGHAZI! COMMUNIST! Rinse and repeat.
Coffee,
"ACORN! BENGHAZI! COMMUNIST!" Rinse and repeat.
You forgot "MORE GUNS!"
Republicans trying to balance the budget without raising taxes. Incredible that any American is stupid enough to vote Republican.
James A Young,
Read, What's The Matter With Kansas, by Tommy Frank. It explains why they do this. It is an amazing book. I have now read it three times and keep learning new things about their tactics to get people to vote against their own interests and for their ruination. Amazing.
It works so well that they still do it after their jobs are outsourced, their neighbourhoods are in ruin, and their local stores are boarded up.
I have never leeched off anyone in my life, A.H. You actually believe that crap about us Democrats? If so, you're an idiot.
The Dow average reaching a new high is the perfect example of how well Republicans like you are serving our wealthy corporations. The salary of Joe Sixpack has reached a LOW not seen since 1966.
I trust that pleases you. If you make under $250,000.00 a year, it shouldn't.
Rampant, unregulated Capitalism will destroy this country. Don't demonize Socialism. You don't have a clue what it is.
Yes, Chavez is dead. RIP.
Actually Van Roberto The stock market soared today because the Chinese Government has been spending a huge amount of money, in their version of stimulous.
You obviously know nothing about how the stock market works.
#18,
Or how anything else works.
China at least has the sense to use Keynesian stimulus. (Or their weird version of it). Maybe their leader could talk to our GOP caucus in the House of reps, get them to do something to help our flagging economy.
Well, you must not have much ass left by now. That must be a liability.
I have never met a hippie, so I don't know much about them. It didn't strike me that they'd be very funny, though. They did not appeal to me, that's for sure. Like you, I showered regularly. Didn't look like they did.
You say they said we'd be socialists by 2013. Sure they did. What a coincidence!
I've only seen them on TV, like shows about them.
"Do you want higher taxes on the rich and not you?"
My taxes are higher than the very rich. Quite a bit, in fact. Not looking forward to April 15th.
Anything else before I hit ignore?
So, when it comes to picking out certain groups to punish with class warfare tax hikes, that is a very bad thing. But the singling out of women to receive equal pay and only certain women can be protected under VAWA and they must be told to have a medical exam is OK.
Also OK:
http://www.politicususa.com/mean-spirited-gop.html
WTF is wrong with spreading out (aka balancing) any budget adjustments?
Oh, right... they always want things to benefit the haves and the have nots are a drain.
That is what they are telling people, but it is packaged as "Obama/Dems play(s) class warfare" and the poor have to swim without any lifeboat while they cut public jobs and export private sector jobs and cut wages.
I just want people that defend TPubs to ask "what is the priority right now?" Jobs. Debt/deficit is secondary, but they want everyone focused on deficit and cuts, while they call half the nation "takers". Yes, those folks that buy stuff regularly and work for employers' success.
Also, the voting is the foundation, but they still only want "certain people" to vote.
I put you on ignore right away, Van... just so you know. I have a long list on ignore.
I put people on ignore when they make no sense. I sure don't go through life in fear and I bet Sandy doesn't either. Like me, she gets bored with nonsense.
Bye, Van.
Congress really digs in to and plows deeper get to the bottom of this problem:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/what-the-white-house-looks-like-completely-gutted-20130226?mrefid=site_search
See the Evidence twice in the fifth photo, and Congress will spare no expense to destroy the White House.
Dont mess with Nessie funding -= she's totally real
And to think my tax dollars are helping to pay these Republicans' salaries. Not only the legislators, but their staff.
Repubs, esp the teabillies don't want to govern; their whole (hole) idea is the gov doesn't work so let's destroy it and allow the corporations to make our decisions for us. Neither unresponsive gov OR the corps are a good idea for making our decisions but we at least , still have 'some' say in gov....
Called Rogers office and informed them that ACORN was put out of business by the Congress soon after President Obama was elected in 2008. Explained that this was one of the first voter suppression actions - destroying the organization that worked for and registered low income voters. Was told that this provision was put in the bill to ensure that ACORN would not receive any funding. Tried to explain again that there is no ACORN but was again told the same thing. Hal Rogers and so many other of those in Congress are stupid and it is scary knowing they have so much power to determine my fate.