A Sept. 19 WorldNetDaily article promoting Matthew Vadum’s ACORN-bashing book begins: “President Obama’s new economic stimulus package contains as much as $15 billion in payoffs for radical left-wing groups such as ACORN, his former employer.”
Just one little problem: ACORN no longer exists. It filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last December.
WND offers no evidence that the money is specifically earmarked for ACORN (which, again, does not exist). It merely claims that the $15 billion earmarked for “Project Rebuild.” would “go to state and local governments and to ‘qualified nonprofit organizations’ to redevelop abandoned and foreclosed properties.” It’s not explained how that equals ACORN (which does not exist), or how that means that ACORN (which does not exist) would receive all $15 billion.
Further, no evidence is offered that “qualified nonprofit organizations” with a conservative viewpoint are automatically disqualifed from receiving money.
Later in the article, WND walks that back a little:
Contrary to mainstream media reports, ACORN is very much alive, though in a changed form.
Although the shell corporation that ran the ACORN network filed for bankruptcy in November 2010, ACORN continues to operate. Project Vote and ACORN Housing, renamed Affordable Housing Centers of America, are still is business.
But that’s still misleading. In fact, the Government Accountability Office has determined that AHCOA “is not an affiliate, subsidiary, or allied organization of ACORN.”
Vadum and WND are misleading readers to prop up a defunct talking point.