Kirk calls on U.S. Census to sever ties to SEIU

[Joanne98]

Source: Chicago Sun Times

Illinois' largest union has close relationship with ACORN, which is being investigated, Kirk said

On the heals of a congressional vote to de-fund ACORN, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) is calling on the U.S. Census to sever all ties to Illinois' largest union, the Service Employees International Union, because that union, Kirk says, is too close to ACORN.

Kirk also urged the firing of the National Intelligence Officer for the Middle East, who he blames for under-estimating Iran's nuclear capabilities.

U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-Va.) joined Kirk in raising the red flags about SEIU because of what Kirk called, "the close inter-relationship in management, location, leadership, and financing between SEIU Local 880 used to boast it was founded by ACORN. ... I think the integrity of the Census is in danger if so closely linked to is still involved in the federal census."

The Census Bureau uses SEIU to recruit people to go out and be census-takers, Kirk said. He could not provide a dollar amount for how much the Census might give SEIU-referred workers.

SEIU leaders say ACORN closed its Chicago offices two years ago. Prior to that, the Bush Administration and even Kirk himself voted to give federal money to the group. It was only during the last election that many of the group's chapters were accused of vote fraud. Kirk also received campaign donations from an SEIU-funded group. Kirk said Monday he would send that money back.



Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1795110,kirk-sever-ties-seiu-acorn-092809.article

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First They Came For ACORN

by Peter Dreier

First Big Business, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, the Religious Right, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell, and Karl Rove came for ACORN, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not ACORN.

Then they came for SEIU, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not SEIU.

Then they came for the Apollo Alliance, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Apollo Alliance.

Then they came for the Center for American Progress, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Center for American Progress.

Then they came for the Sierra Club, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Sierra Club.

Then they came for the National Organization for Women, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Organization for Women.

Then they came for the other community organizers, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not community organizers.

Then they came for AFSCME, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not AFSCME.

Then they came for the National Council of La Raza, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Council of La Raza.

Then they came for the NAACP, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the NAACP.

Then they came for the ACLU, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the ACLU.

Then they came for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Then they came for the National Council of Churches, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Council of Churches.

Then they came for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Then they came for the AARP, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the AARP.

Then they came for the Teamsters, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not Teamsters.

Then they came for the Catholic Worker, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Catholic Worker.

Then they came for UNITE HERE, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not UNITE HERE.

Then they came for the Immigrant Solidarity Network, and, the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the Immigrant Solidarity Network.

Then they came for the National Education Association, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the National Education Association.

Then they came for the U.S. Student Association, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the U.S. Student Association.

Then they came for the American Association of University Professors, and the Democrats did not speak out -- because they were not the American Association of University Professors

Then Big Business, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, the Religious Right, the Wall Street Journal, Mitch McConnell, and Karl Rove came for the Democrats -- and there was no one left to speak out for the Democrats.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/09/27-3

[baldguy]

1. And so it begins.

[marmar]

2. Repugs are about as subtle as a drunk rhino is a Pfaltzgraff store......

Clearly, they've been working on this for some time......I think they might have overplayed their hand, though.

[Downwinder]

3. Perhaps Rep. Mark Kirk should look at his own ties.

[bemildred]

4. What a tool. nt

[GETPLANING]

5. The US Census should sever ties with the Chamber of Commerce

Anyone with ties to the Chamber of Commerce should be investigated

[lunasun]

6. KIRK has announced plans to run to fill Obama's senate seat

and has a good chance of getting it..this dude always barely edges past a good dem for house rep. so far.... save our true blue state !!

[Downwinder]

7. Looks like a few of his investors, I'm sorry, contributors might get

caught by the ACORN bill if it becomes Law.

[No Elephants]

10. NO! NO! NO! We cannot have a Republican in Obama's Senate seat. NO!

[AlbertCat]

8. group's chapters were accused of vote fraud.

It was really voter REGISTRATION fraud that it reported itself. Notice how they didn't mention that. They were accuse of "vote fraud" by those who don't know the difference. Those who were and still are wrong.

So this is what the weird ACORNOPHOBIA is really all about. Is anyone gonna fall for this? They've already screwed up the defunding law like a high school student. How many more Dems are gonna fall for it....or even the ones fooled once?...."can't get fooled ag'in". Dems are scared-y cats and clueless, but they're not complete fools like the Repug base.

[No Elephants]

9. Whew! Thought the headline referred to Senator Kirk.