Carnahan Denies Ties to ACORN

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan told students at the University of Missouri she has no ties to ACORN, the community activist group that's increasingly come under fire for questionable practices.

The Missouri Republican Party distributed VIDEO of Carnahan's response to a question about ACORN on YouTube HERE. (The MoGOP did not shoot this video; rather it was shot by Arthur Nunn)

CORRECTION: "I'm not sure how you got that the "Missouri Republican Party Posted VIDEO" because I posted that video not them," wrote Nunn to The Notebook.

In fact, a review of Nunn's Twitter and social network posts shows he's more inclined to support liberal positions. The Notebook regrets the error.
"I don't have any ties to ACORN. Not sure why they did that, I think, just to have something to talk about," Carnahan said in a response to a student's question.

The MoGOP recently put up a website dedicated to outlining Carnahan's connections with ACORN. The site shows conversations between Carnahan's staff and ACORN involving research questions and planning meetings. It does not appear to allege anything unlawful, but rather connect Carnahan to ACORN because she hasn't publicly criticized the group for its legal problems.

Specifically, the MoGOP shows ACORN praising Carnahan for her help in defeating photo I.D. legislation in Jefferson City. They also show Carnahan's staff aiding ACORN in its research efforts regarding the same issue.

MoGOP Executive Director Lloyd Smith said Carnahan's claim that she has "no ties" is outlandish. "The documents, obtained by the Missouri Republican Party, tell the real story about what ACORN calls a ‘great team effort,’ detailing meetings in her office, events, research requests, and more. Despite Carnahan’s attempts to re-write history, the evidence is as incriminating as it is clear: Robin Carnahan and ACORN are too close for comfort," said Smith in a statement.

Carnahan acknowledged Missouri has had issues with ACORN. "I've called on law enforcement officials to prosecute anybody who violates the election laws, whether its ACORN or anybody else," Carnahan said.

MoGOP Looking For Carnahan's ACORNs

The Missouri Republican Party has submitted an open records request of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's correspondence with ACORN.

Carnahan's office tells The Notebook that they have always responded to Sunshine requests.

"Our request will shed light on why ACORN’s ongoing and well-documented voter registration fraud merited no response in her 205 page analysis of the 2008 elections," said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.

*Carnahan's full report on the 2008 elections can be viewed HERE*

"We believe it is important to determine if Secretary of State Carnahan’s cozy relationship with ACORN has clouded her judgment," Smith goes on. He also accuses Carnahan of whitewashing "the existence of voter fraud in Missouri."

ACORN is under scrutiny from federal law enforcement agencies in several states for questionable voter registration forms that have been submitted.
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CARNAHAN'S OFFICE RESPONDS:

"The Secretary of State’s office believes it is important that government be open and transparent to Missouri citizens," said Carnahan's Secretary of State spokeswoman Laura Egerdal. "Our office has always complied with the sunshine law, and responds to all requests received by this office. The request received today will be treated no differently."

AND: EGERDAL POINTS TO AREAS IN CARNAHAN'S REPORT that references questionable voting registration applications: "Before the November 4th election, the LEA in Jackson County identified questionable voter registration applications that had been submitted," the report reads. "The Secretary of State’s Office immediately recommended that the questionable applications be forwarded to the Jackson County Prosecutor and the United States Attorney.The same recommendation was given when other questionable applications were identified in Clay County and Kansas City," it goes on.

Egerdal also provided The Notebook with an Oct. 8th letter from Carnahan to the Jackson County Board of Elections where she asks any questionable voter registration application be forwarded to the local prosecutor.

"Additionally, you’ll notice in the recommendations section, we ask that the General Assembly increase the maximum penalty for those who misrepresent themselves on voter registration applications," said Egerdal.

BUT THE GOP CHARGES THAT: "In the past, Carnahan’s office has obstructed Open Records requests, demanding $91,000 in fees to process a similar request from the MRP."

Blunt Isn't Sure We'll Have A Fair Election

THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO HAMMER ACORN AT A STOP IN STRAFFORD TUESDAY

On Whether We'll Have A Fair Election: "I don't know if we'll know until Election Day."

Also, Blunt again brings up the group's ties to Barack Obama and mentions Sen. Claire McCaskill's recent dismissive comments about ACORN's impact.

Adds: "I think what they're trying to do is create chaos."

ACORN Responds To "Vicious Attacks" By G.O.P.

Community Group Worries That Voters Will Be Challenged At The Polls
UPDATE: STATE G.O.P. SAYS IT NEVER RECEIVED LETTER FROM ACORN
"Republicans Do Not Cheat To Win . . . And Never Stoop To ACORN's Level."

The president of ACORN's St. Louis-chapter is expressing concern that political partisans will unfairly interfere with legitimate voters this Election Day.

"Challenging a voter's right to participate because of a pending or finalized foreclosure is just another example of the kinds of voter suppression techniques that unfairly impact certain voting groups," said St. Louis ACORN Board President Lynn Oldham in a statement Monday. "Missouri officials need to remember than even people with financial troubles get to cast their vote on Election Day."

Earlier Monday, Gov. Matt Blunt appeared on Fox News to talk about his concerns with ACORN's activities and its affiliation with Barack Obama's campaign for president. You can read Blunt's comments HERE.

ACORN said that in response to recent reports about alleged fraud, the voting rights group, Project Vote, sent letters to both major political parties in Missouri, urging them "to oppose and refrain from" using lists of home foreclosures as a basis for allowing someone to vote. ACORN is also asking Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to urge election officials to "take all lawful steps to protect foreclosure victims and other Americans from being disenfranchised based solely on returned mail or residency challenges."

"The GOP has viciously attacked ACORN this year, talking about the value of our individual votes as though ACORN members don't understand," said Oldham. "Missouri ACORN calls on all party officials to remember that voting rights have nothing to do with owning a home. Not anymore."

UPDATE . . . 12:01 A.M. But late Monday, the Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party said that the G.O.P. has not received a letter from ACORN. Executive Director Jared Craighead said it's ACORN that has the explaining to do.

"First, ACORN submits hundreds of fraudulent voter registrations in our state so that people can cheat on Election Day, then they have the gaul to manufacture ridiculous claims of voter suppression. The only ones suppressing anything this election cycle are ACORN and the Democrats who know they cannot win if they play by the rules," said Jared Craighead.

"Talking about foreclosure lists and trying to manufacture hysteria based on a lie originating from another state in Missouri demonstrates the desperation of the people associated with ACORN - Republicans in Missouri do not cheat to win and would never stoop to ACORN's level," he added.

Springfield does not have an ACORN chapter, but Republicans have suggested this is a relevant issue for southwest Missourians to pay attention to because fraudulent votes that are cast in the cities of St. Louis or Kansas City could cancel out the choice of Ozarks residents in a close election.

Blunt: ACORN Has History of Systematic Fraud

On Fox News, Gov. Matt Blunt says it's fair to link the Obama campaign to the community group ACORN, pointing to an $800,000 contribution to an ACORN subsidiary.
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"It is frightening. You shouldn't just be worried about this if you are a Republican. Clearly, ACORN and the Obama campaign -- that's aligned with it, is not playing by the rules . . . fraudulent registrations have one purpose, and that's to cast fraudulent ballots."
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Blunt goes on to call ACORN a group with a history of "systematic fraud," pointing to 2003, when Blunt says the group submitted 5,000 registrations in St. Louis City, but less than half turned out to be valid. Blunt backed John McCain's call for a federal investigation of the group. "This is not a well-intentioned social club," Blunt said.
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On the estimated 1 million voters ACORN has reportedly registered: "Even if just a fraction of those are fraudulent, it could have an impact on the election."

Danforth vs. ACORN

In a conference call, Former Senator John Danforth says fraudulent voter registrations by ACORN could send Election 2008 into overtime.

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"If you want to think of a nightmare in America, think about an election either where Sen. Obama wins a close election or loses a close election, and the losing side believes it's been cheated."

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ON OBAMA: "There is a clear connection between ACORN and Senator Obama. He's been endorsed by the ACORN PAC. He's taught classes for ACORN . . . It's a strong connection."

Sen. John Danforth expressed concern about possible fraudulent activity by ACORN in Missouri to register voters multiple times. Danforth only cited one specific instance in Independence where one individual registered "ten different times under different addresses and different social security numbers."

But the Republican added that "where it occurs in a large quantity . . . it could have an impact on the election."

ACORN stands for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. It claims it is the the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families.

Danforth made his statements in a late Wednesday afternoon conference call. None of the alleged activity by ACORN is occurring in Southwest Missouri, but Republicans point out that in a close election, Ozarks voters could see their ballots canceled out if fraud occurs in Missouri's two cities.

"It could be year 2000 revisited, but worse," Danforth warned. "If you want to think about a nightmare in America, think about an election where Sen. Obama wins a close election, or loses a close election, and the losing side believes it's been cheated," he added. He said no matter who wins, the goal should be to get the election behind us after November.

According to the Kansas City Star, Sen. Claire McCaskill said phony voter registration forms are not the same thing as voter fraud: "There has been no fraudulent voting...The people who claim this is a huge problem can never produce any instances where anyone voted fraudulently.

Danforth rebutted that claim. "It is not ok to have fraudulent registration . . . The system has been swamped, and this is not a trivial matter. It is not ok," Danforth said. "The last cycle there were more than questions raised, there were 12 convictions," he added.

Danforth said the goal of the conference call was to call attention to this problem, and try to "do whatever we can to stop it." He said a fair, clean election is in the interest of both parties. But he also raised ACORN's connection with Barack Obama.

"There is a clear connection between ACORN and Senator Obama," Sen. Danforth said. "He's been endorsed by the ACORN PAC . . . He's taught classes for ACORN. It's a strong connection."