Pullen for the Party

Nat'l Committeeman Bruce Ash Commentary

Bruce's latest commentary !  Where are you Mr. Obama ?

 

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Fall of ACORN

"One too many nuts have fallen from this tree," said Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, as public outcry mounts for a transparent and accountable investigation into the activities of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN.)

Widely reported in the national news media, ACORN employees were recently filmed giving two individuals posing as a pimp and prostitute, illicit financial advice encouraging them to scam the Internal Revenue Service. This comes on the heals of nearly a dozen arrest warrants being issued in Miami for ACORN workers suspected of falsifying information on hundreds of voter registration cards last year, and States from coast to coast clamping down public funding to the corrupt organization.

"Over the years, we've all suspected that ACORN was involved in nefarious activities," said Chairman Pullen. "Now we can see exactly what they are up to, and it is as disturbing as it is appalling. ACORN officials would have you believe that the actions of a few employees are not representative of their organization, but a few poisoned apples makes me suspicious of the whole barrel. I suspect the more people look into the ACORN's activities, the more irregularities they will find. I think that this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg."

"Ironically, they are appointing someone to oversee an internal investigation who already has a criminal record," the Chairman continued. "Henry Cisneros, who may be best known for being caught lying to the FBI prior to being named as Clinton's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will participate in the probe into ACORN's practices. I can think of no better person to advise ACORN on legal issues than someone who had a mistress convicted of bank fraud and obstruction of justice," he said. "This man also sat on the board of Countrywide Financial which was roundly criticized for their dubious mortgage practices which allowed borrowers to buy homes without down payments, income verification and who allowed monthly payments that didn't even cover the interest. This is the guy they want looking into their misdeeds? You couldn't make this up if you tried."

"More troubling is the media's coverage and President Obama response," said Chairman Pullen. "All but one of last Sunday's talk shows failed to address the issue, but when they did, the President brushed it off as if he was vaguely aware of the controversy. President Obama has evidently seems to be suffering from have short-term memory loss when it comes to his involvement with ACORN. He worked with ACORN for 20 years. He was a community organizer, Director of Project Vote in Chicago, and even served as their attorney. But I guess we shouldn't be surprised by this approach towards his involvement with ACORN. During the campaign he denied had been an ACORN trainer until the New York Times proved he was. We all know that the President has a soft spot in his heart for ACORN, but these recent revelations warrant a strong and immediate response from President Obama."

"Some Democrats like the New York Attorney General have launched full investigations and we need more to follow the lead of Republican Governors from Georgia, Louisiana and California who have already halted ACORN's funding. Even the nonpartisan Census Bureau has severed ties with the group. The question is, 'Who will be the last person left on this sinking ship'?"

My Column from Latino Perspectives magazine

 

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FRIVOLOUS? TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR? ARE YOU SERIOUS?

The reactions of Attorney General Goddard and Kyrsten Sinema are certainly not surprising, as neither want to give up their public paychecks. Calling for an investigation into possible violations of Arizona's 'resign to run' law by two of the state's leading Democrats is certainly not frivolous. Thumbing their nose at the very statues they write or enforce shows either ambivalence or ignorance. Either way, it is a serious problem.

I find it troubling that a spokesperson for the top law enforcement official in the state and aspiring governor would characterize an official complaint of wrong doing as frivolous! I had hoped and expected for a more professional approach to these serious charges.

People making a mistake and promptly correcting it is certainly understandable, but for Ms. Sinema to characterize her Facebook announcement as a 'typographical error' is ludicrous. She clearly made the statement she was running for Senate in 2010 in December of last year, and after 6 months deleted it only after an Internet blogger took her to task. The only thing left for her to do is to file her nominating papers and buy yard signs. She obviously needs to resign and focus on her announced campaign for Senate.

It is a shame that these two Democrats are still displaying this cavalier attitude towards these charges. Rather than making excuses, Mr. Goddard should immediately name a special prosecutor and get to the bottom of this. If he and Kyrsten Sinema expect Arizonans to abide by the laws they enact and are responsible for enforcing, so should they, even if they feel the laws are frivolous and don't apply to them.

AZGOP SEEKS INVESTIGATION INTO GODDARD & SINEMA

With 425 days left until the 2010 general election, Attorney General Terry Goddard and State Representative Krysten Sinema apparently have kicked off their respective campaigns for Governor and State Senate. The problem? They are in violation of the state’s “resign-to-run” law.

Today, I formally requested the Attorney General appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether or not he and State Representative Krysten Sinema have violated Arizona’s “resign-to-run” law by publicly declaring their intentions to run for higher office.

You would think that Representative Sinema and the Attorney General would be more observant of the state’s laws, especially ARS Sec. 38-296, the “resign-to-run” law, being that they are constantly campaigning for higher office.

Mr. Goddard clearly stated he was running for Governor and Krysten Sinema actually wrote it on her Facebook account. Seems like an open and shut case to me. Ms. Sinema, a practicing attorney, cavalier attitude shows either a complete disregard for the law, or ignorance of it. In either case, not something an attorney should be proud of, she should immediately resign.

Citizens expect lawmakers to abide by the very laws they enact. But these two clearly feel that they don’t apply to them, said the Chairman. I’m looking forward to the Attorney General Goddard’s response to my request. My guess is that he will try to run out the clock out until January when they can officially announce.

You can watch today's press conference by clicking the YouTube link below !