Talk:ACORN 2009 undercover videos controversy/Temp/SandboxVersion2
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Criticism of Videos
Some of Giles and O'Keefe's work has been criticized for not providing adequate context, or for presenting inaccurate information. Describing the video ensemble as a "politically motivated piece"
During a September 14 television appearance on FOX, O'Keefe was interviewed wearing a fut coat, sunglasses, and holding a cane. The host announced "...[O'Keefe] is dressed exactly in the same outfit that he wore to these ACORN offices up and down the eastern seaboard," followed by asking him "is that what you think a pimp looks like?" O'Keefe answered yes.[6] Political journalist Mike Stark questioned the accuracy of O'Keefe's portrayal of his ACORN visits dressed as a pimp, noting that O'Keefe never actually wore the pimp outfit inside ACORN offices and on one occasion actually posed as a candidate for Congress.[7] Stark went on to ask, "If they really wanted the truth out there, why do they need to edit these tapes in the first place? Why aren't the unedited videos already in the public domain?"[8]
Washington Post staff writers Darryl Fears and Carol Leonnig wrote "Giles and O'Keefe have been criticized for accuracy problems. Their videos include the oft-repeated conservative claim that ACORN is expected to get up to $8.5 billion in government funds. But that's a bold exaggeration, as it includes $3 billion in stimulus funds set aside for revitalization efforts nationwide, and $5.5 billion in federal community development grants." The number assumed ACORN would apply for and win every project and grant in the country, and ACORN did not apply for any of the stimulus funds.[9] Leonnig also observed that "the videos, in some cases, left out what I would call some exculpatory material... for example, in one, a San Bernadino employee at ACORN explains that there is no way ACORN would support what the couple were proposing..."[10]
Brown's report released on April 1, 2010 found O'Keefe's videos to be "severely edited" and did not find evidence of criminal conduct on the part of ACORN employees, with the Attorney General commenting "things are not always as partisan zealots portray them through highly selective editing of reality."[11]
References
- ^ Fenwick, Alexandra (2009-09-18). "ACORN's Family Tree: Was the Baltimore video journalism?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ ibid
- ^ "Breitbart: A conservative rebel with a cause - Washington Times". washingtontimes.com. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ McDonough, Molly (2010-03-02). "NY Prosecutor Clears ACORN Workers in Pimp and Hooker Incident". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ ibid
- ^ ACORN Filmmaker James O'Keefe In Pimp Outfit: More Videos To Be Released
- ^ Stark, Mike (2009-10-22). "All You Need to Know About the ACORN Scandal and Who Is Behind It". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ ibid
- ^ Fears, Darryl (2009-09-18). "The $1,300 Mission to Fell ACORN: Duo in Sting Video Say Their Effort Was Independent". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Carol, Leonnig (2009-09-23). "Latest Developments in ACORN Story". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Jerry, Brown (2010-04-01). "Report of the Attorney General on the Activities of ACORN in California" (PDF). California Office of Attorney General. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
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