Longtime ACORN apologist Rick Cohen of the Nonprofit Quarterly finally noticed that ACORN isn’t such a public-spirited organization after all.

Remember ACORN? The national organization has been out of business since April 2010, but conservatives still love to use the group to hammer community organizers (and the political leaders who support them) who dare to engage in constitutionally protected nonpartisan voter registration programs.
Now, in Nevada, District Judge Donald Mosley has fined ACORN $ 5,000 for one count of “felony compensation for registration of voters.” Conservatives, start hammering!

We’re way ahead of you, Mr. Cohen!

Amazingly, Cohen still finds a way to make excuses for ACORN.

ACORN’s voter registration problems typify the organization’s basic management and oversight lapses that led to a high-profile review of ACORN’s operations by the Proskauer and Rose law firm … ACORN’s response to the review was too slow, and the organization continued its long slide toward dissolution.

Anyone who’s studied ACORN knows this is nonsense.

One of the co-conspirators in a White House-approved plot to use federal resources to produce partisan propaganda to advance President Obama’s policy agenda has been chosen to lead an Obama 2012 get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort.

The Obama operative chosen to head the GOTV effort, Buffy Wicks, was deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. In that capacity she participated in a now-infamous 2009 conference call in which Obama officials urged artists to create art that would help advance Obamacare and the rest of the president’s policy objectives.

Wicks will head a GOTV effort named after the branch of ACORN that employed Obama in 1992. Perhaps to honor Obama’s radical roots, the “campaign-within-a-campaign” will be named “Project Vote,” according to Politico’s Mike Allen.

Obama’s storied performance as head of Project Vote in Illinois during the 1992 campaign was widely credited with getting the radical left-wing Democrat Carol Moseley Braun elected to the U.S. Senate. It also helped Obama cement his reputation as a master community organizer.

The original Project Vote is part of the ACORN network. It continues to operate out of ACORN’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, and works with the new ACORN front groups created after ACORN, the shell corporation that ran the network, filed for bankruptcy last November.

There is no wall of separation between the two organizations. On registration and mobilization campaigns, ACORN and Project Vote work together to the point where it is difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference. They share staff, office space, and money.

ACORN senior official Amy Adele Busefink, who earlier this year pleaded no-contest in a major ACORN-approved voter fraud conspiracy in Nevada, works at Project Vote as a field director even now according to the group’s website.

The mission of the new “Project Vote” that is part of the Obama campaign apparatus will be the same as the old Project Vote: the manufacture of voters.

“The big goal here is to expand the electorate,” an Obama campaign official told Politico. “That’s how we won in 2008, and we think that’s the path to victory again in 2012.”

It was two years ago that Wicks, acting on behalf of the White House, gave birth to the NEA propaganda scandal.

Readers of the “Big” websites will recall that Patrick Courrielche reported at the time that the NEA and the White House encouraged “a handpicked, pro-Obama arts group to address politically controversial issues under contentious national debate.”

Wicks acknowledged during the call that she was “actually in the White House and working towards furthering this agenda, this very aggressive agenda.” She said, “We’re going to come at you with some specific asks here.”

Yosi Sergant, then-communications director at the taxpayer-funded National Endowment for the Arts, also was on the call encouraging artists to do the administration’s bidding. Sergant was forced out of his cushy post after his involvement in the scandal was revealed.

On the call Michael Skolnick, political director for hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, acknowledged the White House and the NEA “had the idea that I would help bring together the artist community.” The purpose was “to support some of the president’s initiatives,” he said.

Three days after the teleconference an alliance of arts organizations, led by Americans for the Arts, which participated in the call, issued a press release that urged the creation of “a health care reform bill that will create a public health insurance option.”

A few days later another group from the call, Rock the Vote, unveiled its own pro-Obama initiative. “We can’t stand by and listen to lies and deceit coming from those who are against reforming a broken system … Enough is Enough. We need designs that tell the country YES WE CARE! Young people demand health care.”

According to Commissioner James J. Donelon, approximately 30 percent of drivers in the Pelican State do not carry an automobile liability policy, while the Insurance Research Council estimated the percentage to be 13 percent in 2009. Nonetheless, what ever the exact percentage may be, not only is it illegal to drive without automobile coverage but Louisiana’s uninsured motorists are subject to the state’s “No Pay, No Play” laws. What this means is that these uncovered individuals give up certain rights following an accident and may face financial hardship as a result.

In the event that a motorist is involved in an accident and does not carry a Louisiana auto insurance policy, they will be subject to the state “No Pay, No Play” law, which means that the uninsured motorist will be unable to collect for the first $ 25,000 in property damages resulting from the accident and the first $ 15,000 for personal injuries. It does not matter if the other party was entirely at-fault for the incident. What this also means is that the uncovered driver forfeits their right to sue in court for the first portion of certain types of damages; these usually include non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.

Other Repercussions for Driving without LA Car Insurance

Aside from not being able to collect for the first portion of a claim in damages resulting from an accident, there are many other consequences that could arise from driving with auto insurance. First and foremost, it is against the law to operate in the state while uninsured and doing so can be an expensive mistake. If a driver is stopped by a law enforcement officer and caught without a policy, the motorist could have their vehicle immediately impounded or have the license plates removed a yellow sticker placed on the back windshield of the automobile.

According to the Louisiana Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance following a citation, the vehicle owner will then be given three days to furnish proof of a policy to the Office of Motor Vehicles or face fines ranging from $ 75 to $ 100 for a first conviction, $ 100 to $ 250 for a second conviction and up to $ 700 for an additional conviction. Motorists may want to keep in mind that these small fines can pale in comparison to being involved in an uncovered accident where the uninsured motorist is likely to be responsible for paying for damages to the third party as well as worrying about their own expenses. This could amount to ten of thousands of dollars. 

The September issues of Capital Research Center’s four monthly publications have been posted on the CRC website.

1) Foundation Watch

The War on Corporate Campaign Spending
By Michael Marinaccio
Last year’s Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC drove the activist Left to madness. The decision affirmed a principle that corporations, like individuals, have free speech rights, which liberal doomsayers predict will lead to nothing less than the downfall of American democracy. To combat the ruling, the Obama White House has drafted an executive order that, if issued, will compel both for-profit and non-profit corporations (including labor unions) to disclose their political contributions whenever they apply for federal grants and contracts.

2) Organization Trends

Is ACORN Bullet-Proof? Radical Community Organizers Re-Organize
By Matthew Vadum
Supporters of ACORN make long faces, lamenting the collapse of their sainted organization. Don’t believe them. It’s all for show. In 2009 Congress banned further federal funding for ACORN and last November the group declared bankruptcy. But ACORN operatives are rebuilding their organizing and fundraising apparatus, and ACORN is spawning new progeny. The groups have new names, but the faces behind them are familiar. They are roaming through government agencies in search of more federal grants. In this issue Matthew Vadum explores ACORN’s latest reinvention since the May publication of his book Subversion Inc.

3) Labor Watch

NLRB’s “Quickie Election” Scheme
By Hannah Bowen
On June 21 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proposed making changes to how it will conduct union elections. It wants to speed up workplace elections, “eliminating unnecessary litigation” and “streamlining the election procedures.” According to NRLB Chairman Wilma Liebman: “Resolving representation questions quickly, fairly, and accurately has been an overriding goal of American labor law for more than 75 years.” AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says the changes are “a modest step to remove roadblocks.” But how “modest” is the proposal that the NLRB put forward by a 3-1 vote? Brian Hayes, the NLRB’s lone Republican member, opposes what he calls the “quickie election” option. Hayes says the Board is acting at Big Labor’s behest “and at the great expense of undermining public trust in the fairness of Board elections.” The Board has scheduled a 75 day public comment period on the proposal.

4) Green Watch

“Fracking”: The Latest Battlefront in the Green War Against Jobs
By Robert Kirchoff
You will be hearing lots more about hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” the name for an innovative technology that resource companies use to extract natural gas contained within layers of shale rock deep below the surface of the earth. Companies capture vast quantities of otherwise inaccessible natural gas by drilling into layers of rock and then pumping in a mixture of water, chemicals and sand at a rate that generates hydraulic pressure. This creates fractures in the rock sufficient to tap into the natural gas reservoirs contained within them. Green groups want to make Americans hate fracking, and they are spreading scare stories to pressure lawmakers to ban the technology. More natural gas production can only undercut the greens’ dream of forcing the federal government to restrict fossil fuel production so that Americans will subsist on “renewable” alternative fuel sources.

Don’t believe everything that you hear, especially when it comes to auto insurance. Don’t put much weight into things that most people tell you when in fact most of it could just be a myth. Search for the truth for yourself to see if what you have heard is fact or fiction. A number of myths have to to be exposed for being simply that, myths!

Any new vehicle is not just covered by any open policies that you may own. Despite the fact that the majority of insurance companies will insure a new automobile, this would only be provisional, it is your duty to inform them about it in a designated time frame.

It is a myth that every state requires liability insurance by law. The word “every” covers a broad area and the correct word would be “most.”

If somebody is utilizing your vehicle and is implicated in an accident, your insurance is who will offer protection. Your insurance premiums will go up.

  Read the rest of this entry »

There are many different details that go into an auto insurance policy, but one of the major characteristics that Vermont motorists look for in vehicle coverage is affordability. Nearly every driver has a different budget and a unique definition of cheap, but shopping around before making a purchase can help residents find an adequately priced plan. Although there is a minimum amount of coverage that residents must buy to legally drive, sometimes prices can vary by as much as 50 percent depending on the insurer. Instead of buying the first available policy, exploring a variety of options, removing unnecessary coverage and researching potential discounts can help VT drivers save a fair amount of money with only a small amount of effort.

The price of Vermont car insurance is often different for individual residents because insurers typically look at a variety of unique traits when setting premiums. An individual’s age, gender, marital status, location, driving record and many other details can all play a part in how much a person pays for vehicle coverage. This is also why many drivers can benefit from shopping around and comparing quotes from numerous sources. The NAIC estimates that residents pay an average expenditure of $ 653 for auto protection, but these figures can be easily adjusted in a number of ways. One of the best methods for shopping around is to go online and complete a quote comparison. Using the World Wide Web to amass quotes can quicken research by producing dozens of sample rates at one time, giving residents a better chance of finding an affordable insurer.

Cheaper VT Auto Insurance By Shopping

The amount of vehicle coverage that a person buys can have a big impact on the price of the policy. While shopping for quotes it is essential to compare plans that include the same amount of protection for accurate estimates, and omitting unnecessary coverage can often help reduce costs. Vehicle liability is important for drivers in the Green Mountain State with minimum limits of at least 25/50/10 required to legally drive, and increasing these limits is usually recommended. Choosing not to include additional services, such as towing and labor coverage can help vehicle owners decrease policy prices. Drivers with adequate health insurance policies may also want to consider dropping medical payment coverage as well to get a cheaper rate.

In A Consumer’s Guide to Buying Automobile Insurance published by the VT Insurance Division, residents are encouraged to research potential discounts before buying a policy. Just as insurers offer different rates, they also usually provide unique discounts that can help drivers buy cheap coverage. Often individuals can see rate reductions for having multiple vehicles on the same policy, maintaining a clean driving record for at least three years or for insuring a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device. Special offers can be awarded for a number of reasons, and researching what several different companies can offer can lead to significant savings. Vermont residents can often find affordable coverage after a small amount of time invested in searching for the cheapest policies.

Summary: Last year’s Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC drove the activist Left to madness. The decision affirmed a principle that corporations, like individuals, have free speech rights, which liberal doomsayers predict will lead to nothing less than the downfall of American democracy. To combat the ruling, the Obama White House has drafted an executive order that, if issued, will compel both for-profit and non-profit corporations (including  labor unions) to disclose their political contributions whenever they apply for federal grants and contracts.

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President Obama has given ACORN $ 729,849 so far this year and billions more in federal cash may be in the pipeline.

The president’s new economic stimulus package, the so-called “jobs bill,” contains as much as $ 15 billion for radical left-wing groups such as ACORN (his former employer). Obama has been using his presidential bully pulpit to demand that Republicans in Congress “pass this bill,” even though there is no bill yet. Despite all the rhetoric, the proposed “American Jobs Act of 2011” apparently hasn’t even been introduced in Congress.

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We are proud to announce that senior editor Matt Patterson has been chosen as the recipient of the prestigious Warren T. Brookes journalism fellowship at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.  From the C.E.I. press release:

The Competitive Enterprise Institute is pleased to announce that Matthew Patterson has been selected as the 2011-12 Warren T. Brookes Journalism Fellow.

Patterson has written on a wide range of public policy issues, such as global warming, Medicare and healthcare, and labor union politics. He has been published in The Washington Post, New York Post, Washington Examiner, Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, FOXNews.com, Big Government, National Review Online, and more.  He’s also been cited on-air by Sean Hannity and linked to Drudge, RealClearPolitics, RushLimbaugh.com, and others.

Patterson currently edits the Labor Watch and Green Watch publications for the Capital Research Center in Washington, D.C.  His prior work includes being a National Review Institute Washington Fellow, Research Assistant for Charles Krauthammer, Health Policy Analyst for the National Center for Public Policy Research, and a Colorado State Political Coordinator and Policy communications Coordinator for Rudy Giuliani during his run for President in 2008. He is the author of the book, Union of Hearts: The Abraham Lincoln & Ann Rutledge Story.  Patterson graduated from Columbia University, where he studied Greek and Latin.

The one-year fellowship is named in honor of the late nationally syndicated columnist, Warren T. Brookes, who was known for his detailed reporting, informed by science and economics.  Established after Brookes’ death in 1991, the fellowship affords journalists the opportunity to improve their knowledge, reporting, and analysis of free markets and limited government.

Previous Warren Brookes Fellows have included: Timothy Carney, senior political reporter for the Washington Examiner, New York Times best-selling author and political commentator Michelle Malkin, author and Realclearreligion.com editor Jeremy Lott, and author James Bovard.

Summary: Few outside the world of philanthropy have heard of the nearly 60 year old Arca Foundation but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been effective. Founded by a tobacco heiress, Arca has been on the cutting edge of radical left-wing causes, embracing Fidel Castro’s Cuba, the Palestinian cause, Saul Alinsky-inspired community organizing, and the never-ending social justice campaigns of the Left.

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