Patterico's Pontifications

9/13/2009

ACORN Claims Videos Were Doctored

Filed under: Government — DRJ @ 6:00 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

An ACORN spokeswoman claims the O’Keefe videos that resulted in 4 ACORN workers being fired was doctored, and ACORN plans legal action against O’Keefe, his companion Hannah Giles, and Fox News for broadcasting it:

“ACORN chief organizer Bertha Lewis issued a written statement Saturday saying that while she cannot defend the actions of the workers who were terminated, O’Keefe may have committed a “felony” with his operation. She also threatened legal action against FOX News, which aired the videos but did not produce them.

“It is clear that the videos are doctored, edited, and in no way the result of the fabricated story being portrayed by conservative activist ‘filmmaker’ O’Keefe and his partner in crime. And, in fact, a crime it was — our lawyers believe a felony — and we will be taking legal action against Fox and their co-conspirators,” she said.”

O’Keefe’s response?

“”Bring it on,” filmmaker James O’Keefe said Sunday on FOX News.
***
In an interview with FOX News senior correspondent Eric Shawn, O’Keefe said he wants an apology from those media outlets “covering for ACORN” as well as from ACORN itself. He said he doubts ACORN will file suit.

“They don’t have any leg to stand on, so they’re saying I dubbed in my voice which is completely absurd,” he said. “When the truth comes out in the end, they’re going to be apologizing to us.”

O’Keefe said he was “just trying to hold these organizations accountable.

Lewis said in her statement that O’Keefe’s “scam” was attempted in several other cities but had “failed for months.”

O’Keefe declined to comment on the allegedly unsuccessful attempts, but said it’s a “lie” to claim that any ACORN offices “kicked us out.”

I haven’t seen anything to suggest Fox News was involved in O’Keefe’s actions which tells me ACORN is pursuing a political rather than a legal response. Suggesting O’Keefe is linked to Fox News will raise doubts among liberals, but bringing in the deep pockets of Fox News strikes me as a mistake if there is a legal proceeding.

On the other hand, I would not discount the possibility that ACORN could prevail if venue lies in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.

— DRJ

41 Responses to “ACORN Claims Videos Were Doctored”

  1. ACORN doesn’t dare file suit because it would open them up to discovery requests, which they can ill afford to fill.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  2. Doctored video is probably the worst claim to make, as it is easily resolved by watching the entire tape or file.

    It’s hard to distract away from enabling underage prostitution.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  3. If it’s a doctored and edited video, then why did ACORN feel compelled to let their employees go?

    Dana (863a65)

  4. This is just pure BS damage control spin on the behalf of ACORN. They have to say something. The more they say, the more chance the media will have to cover it, so that’s a good thing.

    Has anyone seen their spokesweasel Scott Levenson on TV yet?

    daleyrocks (718861)

  5. Is that the guy that asked Glenn Beck off-camera why he (Glenn) was afraid of blacks? What a brain-dead idiot he was on-camera.

    John Hitchcock (3fd153)

  6. If the film was doctored, why fire the workers?

    Shouldn’t they be the ones suing ACORN then?

    This is posturing, pure and simple.

    Techie (482700)

  7. Right on cue…

    Paul (creator of "Staunch Brayer") (784fd8)

  8. Has ACORN called it racist yet? Waiting for that to happen if it hasn’t already.

    PatAZ (9d1bb3)

  9. Heh, PatAZ, sounds like reference to PIATOR’s ignorant comments from elsewhere, no?

    John Hitchcock (3fd153)

  10. I can tell you what is being doctored at ACORN, and that is the books!

    pd (73c032)

  11. Those guys should just go somewhere and hide their heads in shame.

    The Emperor (0c8c2c)

  12. PatAZ – Do they even have to say it?

    daleyrocks (718861)

  13. I have a bold prediction. This whole thing will die and be a distant memory in a month.

    When the ruling party is the Democratic Party, and the media enablers are running the offense, we won’t hear about this again.

    For goodness sakes, Charlie Rangel is still the chairman of House Ways and Means. And Chuck Dodd still heads the Senate Banking Committee.

    It’s much more important to investigate the CIA.

    The most important thing, right now, is to keep eyes off health care. We’ve got to collect those former administration scalps. Haven’t you received the memo?

    Ag80 (64bef0)

  14. Hello Daleyrocks.

    The Emperor (0c8c2c)

  15. “”Bring it on,” filmmaker James O’Keefe said Sunday on FOX News.

    Could be wrong but that sounds like the reply of a freshly-showered lawyered-up conservative. Yesss!

    “And don’t let them give you any sh** about your ponytail pimp outfit. “Well done young man.” /US Marshal Samuel Gerard

    no one you know (1ebbb1)

  16. “…ACORN is pursuing a political rather than a legal response…”

    As if they have ever done anything else!

    As for the racism charge:

    http://biggovernment.com/2009/09/11/maryland-acorn-official-foxnews-racism-behind-acorn-investigation/

    Like I have written before, this kind of charge is now used as a bludgeon toward people with whom the user disagrees. It has very little to do with issues of race.

    So much for “the content of one’s character.”

    Eric Blair (721b15)

  17. “It is clear that the videos are…”

    …prima facie evidence that ACORN employees conspired to break numerous federal laws?

    I agree.

    And, that leads me to ask the question: has the Obama DOJ got around to issuing indictments yet?

    No?

    Well, maybe tomorrow.

    Dave Surls (b1282f)

  18. When the CAIR folks tried suing someone they quickly folded their tent when discovery motions came along. We’ll see if this lasts more than one news cycle.

    Mike K (addb13)

  19. Lewis said in her statement that O’Keefe’s “scam” was attempted in several other cities but had “failed for months.”

    So… She wants kudos for the times Acorn did the right thing? Okay, I’ll give her that. Acorn acting properly would be newsworthy!

    Chuck Roast (da27e9)

  20. Well well well.

    Another investigation in NYC. Video included!

    This makes my month. These fine young journalists are doing what the entire MSM won’t.

    no one you know (7a9144)

  21. ACORN doesn’t dare file suit because it would open them up to discovery requests, which they can ill afford to fill.
    Comment by daleyrocks — 9/13/2009 @ 6:05 pm

    True, but only if O’Keefe has the resources to defend himself and undertake the legal proceedings. I don’t know what jurisdiction the case would be filed in and what kind of Anti-SLAPP measures are in place. I am way too familiar with that strategy.

    MD in Philly (d4f9fa)

  22. “#21 Well well well.
    Another investigation in NYC. Video included!
    This makes my month. These fine young journalists are doing what the entire MSM won’t.

    Comment by no one you know — 9/14/2009 @ 4:37 am”

    Good job, I say!!

    MD in Philly (d4f9fa)

  23. Couple of days ago that gal from those vids was on Red Eye and, while she wouldn’t say how many other places they had been, she hinted that ACORN should be very worried.

    I expect to see at least 2 more…

    I don’t know what jurisdiction the case would be filed in and what kind of Anti-SLAPP measures are in place.

    If he was smart, he incorporated as an LLC before starting this, and did so in a state with the best Anti-SLAPP-type laws possible.

    Scott Jacobs (445f98)

  24. “If he was smart, he incorporated as an LLC before starting this, and did so in a state with the best Anti-SLAPP-type laws possible.

    Comment by Scott Jacobs — 9/14/2009 @ 5:43 am”

    Thank you for the thought, I’ll need to remember that.

    MD in Philly (d4f9fa)

  25. Yup–Baltimore, Washington DC and Brooklyn videos.
    In Brooklyn the young lady was told to say that she was a “free lancer”.

    Wonder if they have a video from Chicago? Problem is ACORN doesn’t know where the next shoe will drop.

    Mike Myers (3b216c)

  26. There are few problems in life dealing with being sued that can’t be solved with good anti-SLAPP laws and an LLC.

    For the record, Nevada has great laws regarding LLCs. It’s like they were set up with the mafia in mind.

    Scott Jacobs (445f98)

  27. Exactly, Mike. They are calling every office and asking “Did you people recently talk to a pimp and a whore who were looking for tax advice?”, and trying to not sound panic-y.

    As a side benefit of being an LLC (with “primary business” being something like “Investigative Journalism”, wouldn’t that shield them from prosecution for violating two-party consent laws?

    Or am I just totally wrong?

    Scott Jacobs (445f98)

  28. I love it when the manure hits the jet engine for the Democrats.

    PCD (02f8c1)

  29. Yup, I don’t think it’ll be in ACORN’s interest to file a suit. Then again, I think it won’t be long before someone decides to audit them. http://www.newsy.com/videos/backed_into_acorner. I think that might be the best follow-up, instead of having O’Keefe appear on Fox.

    metakid (f74874)

  30. Of course they were doctored they left out the REALLY bad parts

    EricPWJohnson (785fbc)

  31. Comment by Dave Surls — 9/13/2009 @ 8:51 pm

    Those are calendared for the 12th-of-Never!

    AD - RtR/OS! (5c940e)

  32. What a beautiful thing to see. Bight young investigative reporters putting the truth about these people out there.
    I call for a full investigation into each and every government application issued with the assistance of Acorn or a Acorn affiliate. I suspect tons of fraud at all levels.

    John (676e48)

  33. The Maryland DA is thinking of prosecuting the kids who made the video because they didn’t have ACORN’s consent.

    Lovely.

    Mark my words; this administration and its allies are all crooks.

    Mike K (addb13)

  34. Mark my words; this administration and its allies are all crooks.

    Yes MikeK – The heist is above all their ideology. Everything else just supports the scam.

    Apogee (e2dc9b)

  35. Grasping at straws as usual.

    The Emperor (0c8c2c)

  36. its been said already as I knew it would coz this is kind of a lawblawg but heres why no lawsuit is coming from ACORN thugs against the 2 Brady Bunch kids:

    D.I.S.C.O.V.E.R.Y

    Mike D. (c513a5)

  37. Emperor said:

    Grasping at straws as usual.

    I get your point. You did catch a strawman.

    So, I’ll give you another.

    Just suppose another group, let’s say Presbyterians (to borrow from Tim Blair) was organizing its community to make sure that any group who disagreed with them (let’s say Catholics) couldn’t have access to, I don’t know, let’s say Head Start.

    But that group (the Presbyterians) did allow, let’s say the Aryan Nation, to place their children in Head Start.

    That’s a stupid strawman.

    But we have folks in Acorn, willingly allowing a pimp and his prostitute (although fake) to apply for government money and giving them advice on how to evade government oversight.

    It’s pretty straight-forward.

    I would condemn those stinking Presbyterians in my strawman. Why can’t I condemn those Acorn workers?

    Ag80 (64bef0)

  38. Chimperor/Lovie – Was the Senate grasping at straws when they voted 82-7 to defund ACORN?

    JD (5e5cad)

  39. That’s different, JD. Don’t disturb Teh Narrative….

    Eric Blair (721b15)

  40. Chimperor/Lovie – What say you?

    JD (4217af)


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