Amid hard fought campaign, Rubio calls for ACORN investigation in Florida

by Kay B. Day

Marco Rubio, former speaker of the Florida House, was featured in a National Review cover story in August. Rubio is opposing Florida governor Charlie Crist for the GOP nomination to run against a Democrat for a US Senate seat in 2010.[Photo from Marco Rubio website.]Former speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio delivered a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday. Rubio asked for a full investigation of the controversial community organizing group ACORN, citing a number of incidents that raised questions about the group’s standards. In early September The Sun Sentinel (Broward) and other media outlets reported the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office had issued arrest warrants for 11 people who had worked for the local affiliate in voter registration drives. ACORN turned questionable registrations in.

The Sentinel said, “The group turned in 1,400 cards, of which 888 were found to be fraudulent.” State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle commended the group for turning in the questionable cards. Her claims such practices did not affect the voting process brought little comfort to those who believe ACORN has not been accountable, particularly in light of the fact the organization has indirectly received federal funds. Rundle’s claims the group could not have affected the voting process cannot be documented with fact at present. There has been no formal investigation in Florida.

In the letter Rubio pointed out that a left-leaning newspaper raised questions about Crist partnering with ACORN on “several initiatives.” Rubio gave the governor the benefit of the doubt, saying, “If you partnered with ACORN, I have no reason to doubt you did so unaware of ACORN’s propensity for questionable activity, and with what you believed at the time to be the best interests of Floridians at heart.”

Rubio has mounted a diligent effort against Crist for the GOP nomination that will give the winner the right to oppose a Democrat in the 2010 battle for retiring senator Mel Martinez’s seat. The seat is temporarily filled by Crist’s appointee Sen. George LeMieux. More than 400 people came to a Rubio event in Central Florida last week, the latest in a long line of packed houses. Rubio is a charismatic speaker whose agenda includes a strong push for federal accountability on taxpayer dollars.

The son of Cuban exiles, Rubio consistently wins straw polls and has picked up some key endorsements. Among them are Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.) He’s also captured the hearts of grassroots conservatives, especially those concerned about federal spending. Rubio was featured on the cover of the iconic National Review in August. Brown-Waite said, "Washington needs leaders with solid conservative beliefs and the courage to do the right thing.  Marco Rubio does not try to be all things to all people.  Like me, what you see is what you get. Marco Rubio is the consistent, principled conservative we need to provide a check and balance on the Obama-Reid agenda."

Although President Barack Obama has ties to ACORN, he agrees there should be an investigation. But speaking on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Obama didn’t specify who should investigate. He also claimed the ACORN dilemma isn’t something he’s paid much attention to. Generally acknowledged, however, is the consistent, aggressive support ACORN has given Democratic Party candidates, including the president.

Rubio faces a daunting money-machine in Crist, who is credited by analysts for his fundraising ability. Crist is popular with the Republican establishment and with Democrats.

At stake, however, is the conservative base of the GOP in Florida. Many conservatives were unhappy with the party’s past performance on spending issues. Democrats took Congress in 2006 and the spending has risen to historic levels, especially for welfare programs and bailouts.

Whether Rubio’s letter will have an impact on Crist is undetermined. ACORN has experienced criticism from fiscal conservatives before. Democrat-allied media have largely given the organization a pass based on political correctness.

In October, 2008, The Wall Street Journal, one of the only media outlets still doing investigative work,  featured an article detailing a number of questionable activities. The Journal said, “According to a 2006 report from the Employment Policies Institute (EPI), Acorn has been on the federal take since 1977. For instance, Acorn's American Institute for Social Justice claimed $240,000 in tax money between fiscal years 2002 and 2003. Its American Environmental Justice Project received 100% of its revenue from government grants in the same years. EPI estimates the Acorn Housing Corporation alone received some $16 million in federal dollars from 1997-2007. Only recently, Democrats tried and failed to stuff an ‘affordable housing’ provision into the $700 billion bank rescue package that would have let politicians give even more to Acorn.’”

In another article, The Journal pointed out efforts by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) to shine a light on ACORN activities, including an 88-page report he created about ACORN activities.

Congress voted to deny some funds to ACORN after two indie journalists pulled off an undercover sting operation. The House passed an amendment banning ACORN from receiving funding enabled by HR 3221, a bill giving the US Dept. of Education absolute control over student loans. The Senate voted to prohibit ACORN from getting federal housing grants. Theoretically ACORN could possbily still obtain indirect grants for other purposes.

‘ACORN-Gate’ illustrates the complexity of the federal entitlement system and the lack of accountability in a number of organizations receiving taxpayer dollars.