CWA Joins 87 Groups, Individuals in Blasting ACORN Attacks

CWA joined with 87 unions, civil rights and community leaders, and lawmakers in supporting ACORN's work in registering traditionally disenfranchised voters in the face of efforts by the GOP and the McCain campaign to discredit these efforts and distract from the real campaign issues.

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has helped over 1.3 million low-income people, minorities and young voters register, the joint statement noted. The group came under partisan attack because ACORN itself was victimized by a few people it hired at $8 an hour to register voters who filled out phony registration forms for such fictitious characters as "Mickey Mouse." ACORN flagged these obviously sham registrations when it turned over all forms collected to state officials.

Rather than commend ACORN for trying to police the problem, Republicans have seized the opportunity to invent a "scandal." The GOP has long attacked community-based voter registration drives because of its fears that registering the urban poor to vote works against its interests.

The joint statement notes: "We recognize ACORN's commitment to make the election process clean and fair for all Americans and to make its own program the best it can be. This is emblematic of ACORN's long tradition of working to empower working families, people of color, and low-income communities. ACORN's success in bringing new populations into the electorate should be recognized and supported for what it is: a deeply patriotic act dedicated to strengthening democracy in America."

"This attack, based on exaggerated charges and overheated rhetoric, is outrageous in view of the fact that almost 30 percent of eligible voters, 71 million, didn't register or vote in the last election," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

The support letter is being sent to lawmakers and the news media.