Author Topic: ACORN Sues Congress  (Read 2068 times)

Hazcat

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ACORN Sues Congress
« on: November 12, 2009, 11:08:20 AM »
By Michael McAuliff

The much-maligned and video-taped ACORN is suing over Congress’ recent defunding of their group, charging it was unconstitutional on many fronts.

The suit, brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights charges Congress “with violating the Bill of Attainder provision in the U.S. Constitution, violating the Fifth Amendment right to due process, and infringing on the First Amendment right to freedom of association by targeting affiliated and allied organizations,” says a release by ACORN and the CCR.

In case you’ve forgotten, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now landed in hot water after conservative activists videotaped ACORN workers giving really bad advice to a fake pimp and hooker.

That sparked a firestorm, and very few legislators (New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand being an exception) were willing to vote to save ACORN’s federal contracts.

To CCR, that just was downright un-American. “It’s not the job of Congress to be the judge, jury, and executioner,” said CCR lawyer Jules Lobel. “We have due process in this country, and our Constitution forbids lawmakers from singling out a person or group for punishment without a fair investigation and trial. Congress, as well as individuals and organizations must abide by the rule of law.”

“It is outrageous to see Congress violating the Constitution for purposes of political grandstanding,” said CCR legal boss Bill Quigley. “With all the crimes and infractions committed by banks, pharmaceutical companies, and private government contractors, they have been rewarded with bailouts, tax credits, and billions of dollars in new contracts. Congress bowed to FOX News and joined in the scapegoating of an organization that helps average Americans.”

So who sues next? AIG? Wait, the government owns them, so they can’t.

ACORN wants a temporary restraining order so it can keep doing its computer training, asthma education, tax preparation, and GED classes. The announcement is after the jump.

CCR Charges Congress Violated Constitution in Vote to De-Fund ACORN, Affiliates, Allies Lawsuit Seeks Temporary Restraining Order in Bill of Attainder Case

November 12, 2009, New York - Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a case challenging Congress’s unconstitutional defunding of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). The case charges Congress with violating the Bill of Attainder provision in the U.S. Constitution, violating the Fifth Amendment right to due process, and infringing on the First Amendment right to freedom of association by targeting affiliated and allied organizations, as well. CCR attorneys say members of Congress violated the Constitution by declaring an organization guilty of a crime and punishing it and its members without benefit of a trial.

Said CCR Cooperating Attorney Jules Lobel, “It’s not the job of Congress to be the judge, jury, and executioner. We have due process in this country, and our Constitution forbids lawmakers from singling out a person or group for punishment without a fair investigation and trial. Congress, as well as individuals and organizations must abide by the rule of law.”

The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the government from reallocating funds designated for the organization and its affiliates and a preliminary injunction to stop Congress from singling out a single organization for punishment without proper investigation or due process. The plaintiffs are ACORN, the ACORN Institute, and the New York ACORN Housing Company. The suit is ACORN v. USA and was filed in federal court in the Eastern District of New York.

CCR Legal Director Bill Quigley said, “It is outrageous to see Congress violating the Constitution for purposes of political grandstanding. With all the crimes and infractions committed by banks, pharmaceutical companies, and private government contractors, they have been rewarded with bailouts, tax credits, and billions of dollars in new contracts. Congress bowed to FOX News and joined in the scapegoating of an organization that helps average Americans going through hard times to get homes, pay their taxes, and vote. Shame on them.”

Since the vote to temporarily ban all federal funds from ACORN and its affiliates, related organizations have suffered. For example, in an affidavit filed in today’s lawsuit, an ACORN affiliate wholly separate from the national organization charges it has been unfairly affected. The organization, ACORN Institute (AI), had grants pending to provide computer training, asthma education, tax preparation, and GED classes, among other programs. The affidavit avers that no grant the organization has received and administrated “has ever even allegedly involved any misconduct, misappropriation, fraud or other illegal conduct. AI has never been indicted nor convicted of any crime, nor … has any AI employee ever been indicted or convicted of a crime in conjunction with any work they have done for AI. AI has never been denied any grant from any federal agency due to fraud or other alleged misconduct.”

The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2009/11/acorn-sues-congress.html#ixzz0WfKnFvUD
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tombogan03884

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2009, 12:02:07 PM »
FTA;
"The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change".

Anti American UN front organization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

The structure was influenced by the Code Napoleon, including a preamble and introductory general principles.

Article 24
    Everyone has the right to rest and leisure,

Article 25

   1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Article 29

   1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
   ( think hard about the implications of that one )


tt11758

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2009, 01:44:19 PM »
Where in the hell does the Constitution PROVIDE for the funding of these groups?
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r_w

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2009, 02:52:32 PM »
Where in the hell does the Constitution PROVIDE for the funding of these groups?

+1!  That is the real question.
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PegLeg45

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2009, 09:06:53 PM »
Crooks suing crooks......... how novel.
"I expect perdition, I always have. I keep this building at my back, and several guns handy, in case perdition arrives in a form that's susceptible to bullets. I expect it will come in the disease form, though. I'm susceptible to diseases, and you can't shoot a damned disease." ~ Judge Roy Bean, Streets of Laredo

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #5 on: Today at 01:43:26 AM »

fightingquaker13

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2009, 11:44:22 PM »

Quote from CCR
It is outrageous to see Congress violating the Constitution for purposes of political grandstanding,” said CCR legal boss Bill Quigley. “With all the crimes and infractions committed by banks, pharmaceutical companies, and private government contractors, they have been rewarded with bailouts, tax credits, and billions of dollars in new contracts. Congress bowed to FOX News and joined in the scapegoating of an organization that helps average Americans.”

Sounds to me like a classic case of throwing everything against the wall to see if something sticks. Me, I don't think ACORN is any more corrupt than a dozen groups on the left and right that get paid by the signature on a petition. Thing is, no one ever became a saint by living down the block from a sinner.  ACORN is dirty, they deserve to go down, full stop, period, but please get the other bastards  as well.
FQ13

Neon Knight Anubis

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2009, 09:03:11 AM »
Whoever wins, we lose. As usual.
We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line

tombogan03884

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2009, 09:50:50 AM »
 FQ, you should credit that Quote to the article, not the organization, I thought "CCR" was a member and went looking for the post you quoted, since I knew Credence Clearwater Revival never posts on here  ;D

On topic, If these crooks win you can expect to see the Mafia suing the FBI for harassment.

HAWKFISH

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Re: ACORN Sues Congress
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2009, 10:01:43 PM »
Typical liberal response... oh well I'll just sue you.  ::)

 

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