Danforth
The advocacy group ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is calling for a meeting with retired Sens. John C. Danforth, R-Mo., and Warren Rudman, R-N.H., who have both been leveling some of the GOP accusations that the group is behind a potential vote-fraud effort that, in Danforth’s words, could “steal the election.”
The two former senators co-chair the McCain-Palin 2008 Honest and Open Election Committee. Danforth has participated in several conference calls on behalf of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, in which Danforth has noted ACORN’s checkered past when it comes to voter registration drives.
In most recent election cycles, some ACORN contract workers are caught trying to register bogus voters; ACORN officials note that it’s their own operation that usually detects the bogus cards and turns over the information and errant workers to authorities.
This year, ACORN is among a number of groups, including the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who have been registering new voters. ACORN’s political arm also has endorsed Obama, and an affiliate received some money from his campaign.
ACORN said in a statement that its voter-registration drive is among several of its efforts aimed at helping “those who have historically been locked out become powerful players in our democratic system.
“ The organization recently completed its national voter registration drive by registering 1.3 million new voters across 21 states,” ACORN said.
“Dear Messrs. Danforth and Rudman,
“In your capacity as Senator McCain’s designated representatives, we are following up after our Executive Director Steven Kest’s phone call and subsequent conversation with Mr. Rudman on Tuesday regarding setting up an in-person meeting to discuss issues related to the Constitutional right of Americans to participate in our nation’s democratic processes.
“We believe that your continued comments about ACORN’s voter registration program are inaccurate - not surprisingly, since neither of you have reached out to us, or talked directly to us about our program. We would be delighted to walk you through all our procedures, and clarify for you how we manage an effective and professional operation.
“In addition, given that Election Day is twenty days away, we suggest meeting as soon as possible in order to make sure all steps are taken to guarantee that no voters are illegally barred from voting. In the context of the economic meltdown and home foreclosure crisis, we are very concerned about the fact that not only are these Americans losing their homes but that various reports indicate that some of these foreclosed people are being threatened with losing their right to vote in this election. States that appear to be especially important in 2008 when it comes to the voting rights of foreclosed voters, include: Colorado, West Virginia, Florida and Indiana. Fortunately, in each of these four states there is a Secretary of State who is a supporter of Senator McCain and presumably in a position to take strong steps to protect the voting rights of the foreclosed voters.
“We suggest that when we meet that we convene a conference call with these supporters of Senator McCain, including Mike Coffman (CO); Kurt Browning (FL); Todd Rokita (IN); and Betty Ireland (WV), so that we can work together to protect the rights of these foreclosed voters to participate in the election….