Here We Go Again

Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

This week ACORN announced that they have hired former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger to conduct an “independent” investigation of the group.  We’ve been down this road before.

After Dale Rathke’s embezzlement of nearly $1 million came to light, the ACORN board instructed attorney Elizabeth Kingsley to conduct a thorough investigation of the organization.  Ms. Kingsley and her firm Harmon, Curran, Spielberg & Eisenberg LLP were retained to review the interrelationships of the ACORN COUNCIL and report back on any areas of concern.

Ms. Kingsley did her job – and did her job well.  She conducted an investigation and produced a report that was presented to ACORN and 10 ACORN affiliates.  These affiliates include Citizen’s Consulting Inc. and Citizens Services Inc.

In the report Kingsley discussed the need to properly institute and maintain corporate forms.  The need to wall off political and election related activities.  The need to formalize and better explain the relationships between the various ACORN affiliates.  She also reviewed the Rathke embezzlement.

Kingsley reached many conclusions after her thorough review:

• “if it is not possible to invest substantially more time, attention, and resources in the infrastructure necessary to support what this multi-faceted operation has grown into, it may be necessary to downsize.  These organizations have grown tremendously over the years.  With maturity must come some added discipline.”

• “The organizations also lack an adequately documented delineation of 501(c)(3) from non-501(c)(3) work.” 

• “I have not looked in-depth at the handling of federal grant funds, nor am I an expert in that area.  However, event with the little information I have, there are concerns that must be raised.”

These are only some of the highlights.  Kingsley reviewed ACORN’s operations and warned them that “if you do not make some hard choices now and ensure they are carried out, they almost certainly will be made for you.”  As we see the government start to look into ACORN Kingsley's warning seems prescient.

If ACORN didn’t reform in response to Kingsley’s investigation, why should we trust that ACORN will reform in response to Harshbarger’s investigation?  That's just insane.

It's time that we recieve a thorough and complete government investigation of ACORN.