WASHINGTON - April 9 -  Today, Media Matters released a new report showing that when discussing major news stories, conservatives in the media have repeatedly resorted to blaming ACORN in place of substantive analysis of causes and solutions, even where the organization has little or nothing to do with the issue. The report can be viewed at:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200904070005

"We are disappointed, but not surprised, in the report's findings," said Bertha Lewis, CEO and Chief Organizer of ACORN. "ACORN has watched over the years as the right wing has attempted to blame us for everything from the 2008 financial crisis to voter fraud. We hope that this report serves as a wake-up call that we must no longer be used as a kicking post."

During the 2008 financial crisis, several in the media claimed, suggested or uncritically reported that ACORN contributed to the housing crisis by bullying banks into irresponsible lending to minorities. For example, the media has falsely asserted that much of the housing crisis was caused by ACORN intimidating banks under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to lend loans to minorities and the poor, all of whom could not make payments.  In fact, according to housing experts, a large number of subprime loans were not made under the CRA.

Also, during the 2008 presidential and general election, the media falsely linked ACORN's voter registration campaign to allegations of voter fraud. The media, including CNN and the Wall Street Journal, repeatedly failed to report that in many states in which ACORN registered voters, state law required the organization to submit all registration forms filled out despite being flagged as fraudulent. Moreover, actual instances of illegal votes being cast as a result of registration fraud are extremely rare.

In the debate over the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the media repeatedly claimed that the bill contained language to funnel money to fund ACORN. However, the act does not mention ACORN or otherwise single it out for receiving funding, and ACORN itself has said that it is ineligible for the funds and has no plans to apply for them.  

The media, including The Washington Times and FoxNews.com, has also uncritically reported that ACORN will be a national partner with the Census Bureau in its effort to recruit more than 1 million temporary workers, baselessly suggesting the group will fraudulently influence the count or that the Obama administration is politicizing the process. However, ACORN is only one of "more than 250" groups partnering with the Census Bureau to recruit workers.

Many in the media have also vilified public figures' relationships with ACORN. For example, during the 2008 Senate recount in Minnesota, the media uncritically reported that Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's "ties" to ACORN were proof of his favoritism of Democratic challenger Al Franken over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.

The report also cites incidences where undocumented immigrants are used as scapegoats, including during the debate over the 2009 State Children's Health Insurance Program, when many in the media falsely claimed that the bill made it easier for undocumented immigrants to access health benefits.

To read more:

Media Matters Report (HTML)

Media Matters Report (PDF)

Media Matters Press Release (HTML)