WP: House Republican investigation never found tangible evidence of misuse of federal funds by ACORN

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092302285_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2009092302386

<snip>

Rathke said an investigation conducted recently by Issa internal and congressional investigations, recently cited by the Post as having found evidence that ACORN was engaged in loose finances and could misuse public funds for political ends during his 38-year tenure, were "rookie" endeavors. He said Issa's investigation was "off the rails" in alleging that ACORN structured itself so it could improperly commingle funds for partisan purposes.

"This was done by a sophomore intern in the office and wheeled out like it was a real investigation," Rathke said of Issa's July report. "Whether people like it or not, there are reasons for corporate divisions. Money is not fungible."

Rathke said an auditor working at ACORN who tried to review some financial records last year wrote up a "speculative report" about money transfers but later backed away from her claim that poor documentation on those transfers suggested funds may have been misused.

"It was gross speculation and probably was the emotion of the moment," he said of the period after the board learned he had not fully disclosed Dale Rathke's $1 million embezzlement back in 1999 and 2000.

An Issa spokesman acknowledged the House Republican investigation never found tangible evidence of misuse of federal funds. But it did find ample reasons, including the embezzlement scandal and internal concerns about ACORN financial management, to be fearful of such misuse.

[stuball111]

1. They love to cry wolf.

And the wolf haters believe there actually IS a wolf, therefore making it true.

[gratuitous]

2. The speculative crime or catastrophe

"Okay, they've never misused federal funds in the past, but they're receiving federal funds, so they might misuse those funds in the future!" Naturally, this sort of "logic" never quite extends to fatcat contractors who have actually misused, misappropriated, embezzled or just plain stolen federal funds. No, Blackwater, Xe, KKR, Halliburton, McDonnell-Douglas, and so many others, are completely immune to congressional oversight.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. ISSA IS POISON TO AMERICA

GOOGLE ISSA FRAUD

[druidity33]

5. please

stop shouting.

We read you loud and clear.

[The Magistrate]

4. This Is Quite True, Sir

Having waded myself through the whole eighty-eight pages of the report produced by Issa, it is clear to me it contains no substance whatever.