Wednesday, September 16, 2009
When aimed at liberals, hidden camera reporting is suddenly "distasteful"
The LA Times, playing catch-up on the ACORN scandal, declares hidden camera reporting "distasteful":
O'Keefe's hidden-camera methods are distasteful, and the extent to which his videos were edited is unknown.
The hypocrisy is transporting, and Glenn Reynolds nails it:
I’ll bet they wouldn’t be saying that if a hidden-camera reporter had turned up Boy Scout leaders speaking well of child prostitution . . . .
Which was, of course, just one of the many crimes that the ambushed ACORN volunteers at least seemed to support.
It is astonishing how many tactics that were once revered as "speaking truth to power" are suddenly "distasteful" and "disrespectful" once the left is in power. Hidden-camera reporting, loud demonstrations that shout down speakers, Nazi analogies, and disrespecting the president have been basic weapons of the left for more than a generation, and only now are liberals waking up to the collateral damage that these tactics inflict on civil society. Well, they're a little late, for the grassroots libertarian right has actually gone on offense for the first time in my memory, and perhaps ever. Nothing can stop this now.
Schadenfreude is an ugly emotion, but I've been feeling a lot of it lately.
MORE: The parts that the New York Times deemed not fit to print. It really is appalling.
20 Comments:
By 
Georg Felis, at
Wed Sep 16, 09:15:00 AM:
And now they've posted the full, unedited footage of the LA visit, and it makes Acorn look even worse. Wonder how many more Acorn videos are still out there...
By 
, at
Wed Sep 16, 09:52:00 AM:
Let's not be critical of the LA Times. Isn't that the paper that has the tape of Michelle bad mouthing white people, i.e., more black racism, and refused to release it? At least they are consistent!
I'm sure, however, their view would change if the came upon a tape of a Republican Congressman acting like a Democrat Congressman like, say, Rangel.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 10:25:00 AM:
The new media is really putting together an impressive record of investigative journalism with political impact. This openness, this truly free speech, the devastating stories, this overmatch with the MSM, is causing the ruling elite to circle the wagons and push back. Democrats have realized now, that "this YouTube thing" is real and powerful. It must frustrate them to no end that despite all their talent, their message does not resonate and does not generate similar support.
The failing economics of the MSM may well lead to efforts to bail them out. The impact of the new media will likely lead to efforts to shut it up. When the Attorney General in Maryland says first of all nothing about Acorn, but that those investigating Acorn may be committing felony offenses, then I think, we'd better be alert because that approach is going to appeal to those facing the sharp end of the spear.
What I found especially amusing was Charles Gibson, he of great wit and knowledge and sophistication who just shattered Palin in a contest of intellectual strength, and who had no idea, or would not admit to any idea, that Acorn was a news item, a policy issue. Such brilliance I can only gaze upon for brief moments.
M.E.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 10:25:00 AM:
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 10:41:00 AM:
You forgot to find the parts where this exposure of ACORN is 'racist' ... clearly this is just an attempt to discredit our community organizer POTUS, and the great work of the fine brown people at ACORN. Put aside that some (aka 30 so far) are in the joint for things they did, or the founder's Bro stole a million and wasn't prosecuted, or these 4 videos offering to help 'new Americans' settle into jobs 'very young American girls don't want to do' ... yada yada
For God's sake ... cut all funding to ACORD, get them out of the CENSUS, and get them far away from registering illegal votes for hope and change. This should enrage all Americans, and it's high time we saw something done to prosecute these crimes, and stop facilitating them with the US taxpayer dollar.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 10:48:00 AM:
In my own opinion, ACORN is a distraction. It is a distastful entity, to be sure, and should not receive any public money at all. But then, neither (in my opinion) should the UAW, the SEIU, GM and legions of other nominally private organizations.
The GOP needs to change the discussion, away from ACORN and to matters of greater substance. Right now a GOP leader needs to emerge from the mist and take charge of challenging the Obama administration on Health Care. The battle against ObamaCare is largely won. Now, a GOP alternative needs to be presented, because the president will be signing a bill and it may as well be "our" bill.
Since we're inside our own echo chamber sometimes, here and at other blogs whose views we follow and generally agree with, it can useful to read thoughtful critiques from the left. Unfortunately, the leading lights of the GOP right now aren't inspiring the troops. Most of the actual "new ideas" seem to recycled Ron Paul material, and while he's a magntic personality for many voters with appealing ideas for some portion of the electorate, I'd argue he's more a classical Democrat (ie, of the Jeffersonian version) than a Republican. His appeal is ultimately limited to those folks who are attracted to a social vision of America that is the mirror vision of the current Democrats vision, certainly, but labels change in politics and the Paulian ideal is not going to attract many Democrats. It will also drive away many GOP'ers, particularly those of us who think there is an important role for a central government to play in helping develop a better more secure middle class America. Tom Schaller, a Democrat columnist who writes thoughtfully on Fivethirtyeight.com (a Democrat polling site) has written on the Paulian influence. While it's from outside our echo chamber, it's a very good piece and well worth your time.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 10:59:00 AM:
ACORN matters because it stuffs ballot boxes for Democrat candidates, and in a manner so openly fraudulent that it should not go unaddressed. Merely cutting funding isn't enough. Prosecute the criminals, get them into prison, and clean up the voter rolls.
That doesn't mean we drop fighting bad healthcare legislation, or any other asinine plan by this team to bankrupt the country. We still need the hope/change for the 50% who are in Foreclosure or at risk by virtue of being underwater, we still have a real unemployment rate of 17%, we have a 'jobless recovery' allegedly underway, and if this is just a headfake like 1930, we have hell coming and we're NOT prepared.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 11:00:00 AM:
This is what I have been saying all along, anon. Your people and party will never get anywhere until you have a spokesperson and candidate that "shines a light".
Can I ask a dumb question? IF these tapes are, in some cases, 4 years old, where have they been? Who has been holding on to them? Why hasn't someone come out before this? Hmmm Questions to be answered.
By Dawnfire82, at
Wed Sep 16, 11:13:00 AM:
Really? THOSE are the questions that need answering? If one of these videos was taken in 2005, does that somehow invalidate it? Is there a statute of limitations on exposure of an organization's willingness to aid and abet child sex slavery?
Well here, let me provide possible answers.
The holders of these tapes obviously gathered them all and held them for sequential release in order to inflict maximum damage on ACORN. (due in part to their own lies and denials) This is basic logic. If they hypothetically released the first tape upon getting it in 2005, ACORN would have done exactly what it did here; issue a general denial, fire the poor saps involved, and tell the rest of their offices to shut up. No more exposures would be possible to prove that these practices are widespread.
But gathering them all in secret and then releasing them more or less all at once 1) prevents such emergency damage control, and by doing so 2) allows for ACORN's pattern of behavior to be proven beyond doubt.
Voila. Dumb question answered.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 12:08:00 PM:
Dawn, not saying that. I am just curious as to why they would delay the release of the videos, just think of the good it would have done to release them 4 years ago and nip some of this corruption in the bud.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 12:26:00 PM:
Democrat political leaders ignored years of corruption charges against ACORN, and they would like to be able to ignore these tapes today.
In opposition, Democrats could ignore responsibility for evil-doing by friends of the party, like ACORN and others.
Now the party is being forced to take responsibility for governing. That's why they suddenly have political force- Democrats now care. Charlie Rangel should take careful note- Democrats now care, and his days in Congress are numbered.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 12:43:00 PM:
In my own opinion, ACORN is a distraction.
ACORN is hardly a "distraction". It is a one of the most critical meta-elements of Democrat campaigning and election strategy.
If ACORN goes down, elections just became dramatically harder for Democrats to win.
Of course ACORN won't disappear, precisely for that reason. There may be a name/logo change, some new stationary, some new names on storefront leases, etc, but the major players and organizational structure will remain the same.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 01:32:00 PM:
Pasadena Vicki:
Can I ask a dumb question? IF these tapes are, in some cases, 4 years old, where have they been? Who has been holding on to them? Why hasn't someone come out before this? Hmmm Questions to be answered…….Dawn, not saying that. I am just curious as to why they would delay the release of the videos, just think of the good it would have done to release them 4 years ago and nip some of this corruption in the bud/
What is the point of the above question? Sounds to me like medieval theologians discussing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
The impression I had was that the videos had been done in the last month. The San Bernadino video states it was done on August 17 2009. I have seen no indication whatsoever that any of the videos were done in 2005. If you have documentation that any were done in 2005, please provide it. Inquiring minds want to know.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 02:11:00 PM:
To Anon 12:43: When I called ACORN a distraction, I wasn't saying it was a minor event.
It is indeed a serious blow to the Democrats. It is also very sad day for the big media, especially the NYT (because they had the story in hand, or enough to blow a big whistle anyway) who failed utterly in their historic duty to the citizenry to investigate and expose wrong-doing.
That said, though, I maintain that bringing the miserable crimes of ACORN to light won't be enough to win elections. Winning elections takes a message voters will vote in favor of, and support politically.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 03:28:00 PM:
Anon 2:11 ... Oh, I think the Obama Administration and his House/Senate are giving us plenting to run on, which voters will vote in favor of.
Hope, and Change.
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 05:05:00 PM:
ACORN is in damage control mode, big time, having announced just a few minites ago that they are "suspending new client intakes" at the operation that was the subject of the videos (sadly, apparently, it is only one of many operations).
Hmmm, won wonders, was there any contact with the White House on this...
The bus hath rolled.
By Foxfier, at
Wed Sep 16, 07:32:00 PM:
Some of the videos say they were done in 2005 because that's the default year on the camera. Already been asked and answered elsewhere.
Come on folks, be reasonable:
Look at the girl on the tapes.
Look at the girl on the TV.
Clearly the same girl, right? Not four years older than in the video?
By , at
Wed Sep 16, 08:40:00 PM:
Prosecute the criminals, get them into prison
Not good enough. Are you aware of any election that was redone after an ACORN official was prosecuted for election fraud? I'm not. It doesn't matter how many of them you throw in jail if the elections they steal don't get overturned. These are true believers, they'll happily sacrifice themselves if the mission succeeds.
By Dawnfire82, at
Wed Sep 16, 11:42:00 PM:
I am most intrigued by the possibility of federal prosecution under the RICO act; shut down the entire parasitic octopus in all states simultaneously.
For the Act to apply, the organization must commit at least 2 crimes from a list; both drug trafficking and human smuggling are on the list. Voter fraud and conspiracy, however, are not. (else these people would likely have been targeted long ago)
Dollars to donuts that the FBI under Holder isn't interested.
By , at
Thu Sep 17, 12:14:00 AM:
vicki pasadena: "I am just curious as to why they would delay the release of the videos, just think of the good it would have done to release them 4 years ago and nip some of this corruption in the bud."
ENDS
Define "good." Helping ACORN? Reforming ACORN just enough to make it a better, subtler, more effective RICO?
To me, good = tearing down this whole filthy hulk in one huge, dramatic WHOOSH and exposing everyone associated with it. It's not that OMG, there's some corruption within ACORN, it's that all of ACORN is inherently corrupt.
MEANS
Eisenhower invaded France with 175,000 troops, all on a single day.
If instead he had invaded France one soldier per day, over 175,000 days, how would that have turned out?
Do you understand now why focus is so important when it's victory you're aiming for?
-Big Tig
