ACORN and voter registration

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed:  here is more information from ACORN.  The conference call time in 
Brian's message has also passed.]

From:  Brian Kettering <flacornho at acornmail.net>

Please see ACORN's first ever paid TV ad: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs20Lxb6RqQ being unveiled today.
 

There will be a conference call with reporters to discuss the ad and 
other aspects of the fight back against voter suppression at 12 noon EST 
today.

 

Media Conference Call:

12 Noon EST, Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Call information: 1-800-351-6805, password: 92530

*****************************

From:  Bertha Lewis <newsacorn at acorn.org>

Dear Friends,

Thank you for standing with ACORN in the face of vicious attacks from 
the McCain campaign, FOX news, and others. It means the world to us.


Right now, we're focused on what we do best: educating and turning out 
voters on election day. This is no easy task, even in a good year, and 
this year is one tough year. We are deeply concerned about reports of 
partisan-driven voter suppression in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
California, and Virginia. Can you help us fight back? We've created 
ACORN's first-ever TV commercial to take the fight to the airwaves as 
part of our comprehensive offensive against voter suppression. It starts 
airing Thursday, October 30 on national cable TV.




Here's what's happening:




? In Philadelphia, fliers were distributed in a predominantly African 
American neighborhood which suggested that people with legal troubles or 
unpaid traffic violations will be arrested by undercover cops when they 
show up to vote.

?In Hamilton County, Ohio, Prosecutor Joe Deters - who is also the local 
chair of the McCain-Palin campaign - requested via subpoena personal 
information for 40% of voters who participated in same-day registration.

?In Montgomery County, Virginia, a registrar issued a memo giving 
incorrect and intimidating information to students at Virginia Tech 
University about the consequences of registering to vote, including 
possible loss of financial aid and tax dependence status.

?In Ontario, California, the owner of a firm that the California 
Republican Party hired to register tens of thousands of voters was 
arrested on suspicion of voter registration fraud after dozens of voters 
reported that the firm tricked them into registering with the GOP by 
asking them to sign a petition they believed to be aimed at toughening 
penalties against child molesters.

Our commercial highlights these attacks - educating voters about what 
suppression looks like - and asks the McCain campaign to stop the 
suppression happening on his behalf. As you can see, this is happening 
all over the country. We need your help to fight back and ensure that 
all the voters ACORN helped register can cast a ballot and have that 
ballot counted. Please contribute what you can - any amount helps. Click 
on www.acorn.org/donate.

Nothing is more important to the fabric of our democracy than protecting 
the rights of American voters. Senator McCain should instead join us in 
trying to make it easier for voters to exercise their rights, by calling 
for measures such as extending early voting hours, to facilitate the 
greatest possible participation in this historic election.

One more thing - please know that we are so grateful and honored by your 
support today. It's good to know that you and so many others are doing 
as much as you can during this final week. Thank you.




Sincerely

Bertha Lewis, Chief Organizer

Jon Kest, Executive Director




P.S. If you haven't already, please do sign our petition to the McCain 
campaign to stop the attacks on ACORN and the people we serve, and then 
spread the truth to your friends and family.
www.acorn.org/truth



ACORN is the nation's largest community organization of low- and 
moderate-income families, with over 400,000 member families organized 
into neighborhood chapters in 100 cities across the country. Since 1970 
ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our 
members. Our priorities include: better housing for first time 
homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more 
investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better 
public schools. ACORN is an acronym, and each letter should be 
capitalized. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations 
for Reform Now.


ACORN's website is at http://www.acorn.org.