Comments on: ACORN’s Dilemma and Ours

By: J Haas

J Haas — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:39:41 +0000

Thank you for this article on Wade Rathke (founder of ACORN) and his brother, Dale Rathke, who embezzled just under one million dollars from the organization and is now FINALLY under investigation in the last 3 weeks. We have seen very little here in the newspaper or on TV in New Orleans or in the national press. I have only heard Rush mention his name on the radio. Dale Rathke’s elderly parents and certain rich friend(s)have been paying back the money since 2000 and Dale and his brother and people high up in ACORN have kept the whole thing quiet. Can you tell me why the brothers are not in jail? Their mother and father have enabled yet another set of kids (in their 50’s, mind you) cover up a crime and go unpunished!

As a New Orleans native who has served on a board with Dale Rathke, I am sickened about his behavior and about the cover-up. Dale has always enjoyed a very lavish lifestyle and now I know why. Just pathetic! Where does all our money go? Don’t answer that!
Thank you

By: Darren

Darren — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:22:35 +0000

In light of all this, I would hope that ACORN’s fiscal issuse and this voter registration drive will not take center stage on the fact that this economy is suffering at the hands of inept leadership. I will not comment on the political arena or fiasco at this point. Assailing Wade or Dale will get you know where. Observation of their placement in the organization and recollecting any funds lost should be paramount. If the Board maintain confidence in them as leaders, that is a collective agreement. Please evaluate the organization on the work they have done and are striving to continue. Perhaps the Board should look to an Audit firm to provide assistance in strategic in house “strengthening”. In that vein, maybe some of them (Board Members) will see that they may not be the right fit for the organization at this point. (I would say that about many of the non profit organizations in the US).

My issue is in philanthropic and fiscal accountability. A total overhaul is needed in federal and private giving to many non profit organizations. The laws passed under S/O do not get into the real heart and meat of the matter. The feds in their drive to cut down on gov spending has allowed grant entities to become so laxed in their requirements. Gone are the days when a grants officer and project officer would visit grantees to observe and review projects and fiscal operations. This has given entities that receive funds carte blanche to operate in any manner, and problems are found out after project periods have ended. Private grantors do even less.

Does ACORN need a review???? Yes!!!!!! Is it too late??? No.
I still believe in the goals and mission of the operations, and I do know and remember that there were and still are people involved with the organization that still care about people.
My organization donated funds to them for Katrina Relief, and I still stand by my recommendation over 3 years ago.
If any Board Members are reading this, ACT NOW please.

By: Obama's Fraud Factory: An Epic History of ACORN & Co. [topsecretk9]

Obama's Fraud Factory: An Epic History of ACORN & Co. [topsecretk9] — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:51:15 +0000

[...] “prepare a ‘keep your yaps shut’ confidentiality memo to people at Acorn and CCI.” — John’s Comments worth reading CCI [Citizens Consulting, Inc.] the company that Dale Rathke oversaw was the financial [...]

By: John

John — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:52:56 +0000

Dear Rick, john and Helene Saucet: Now with more perfect hindsight I have changed my mind regarding my statement “I think I agree with the cover up”. When the cover up was uncovered the Board took swift action just as they probably would have done back in 2000. The authorities probably would have been informed and “the rule of law” applied. All this would be behind us and hopefully all the wounds healed.

By: John

John — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:20:20 +0000

Dear john (of your comment AT: 8/23/2008, AT 12:19 am): The only way one would know that Wade got none of the embezzled funds is to accept Dale’s word for it, in the absence of proof otherwise. In my opinion Dale was incompetent to do his job properly and had an attitude of entitlement because of his family ties, the result of nepotism. This became more clear as the organizations grew. Apparently because of the obvious nepotism, Wade disqualified himself and accepted a small inner circle’s decision to cover up the fraud in exchange for a formal restituton and cover-up agreement. This small inner circle, at least one of whom included the Board Member and President, Maude Hurd, was able to cover up this “situation” simply by not informing the full Board. How would they know that the incident would become an issue of world wide knowledge in the 2008 presidential campaign?

By: Patty

Patty — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:51:21 +0000

I have been trying to find all over the place and can not find the names of the 51 Current Members of the National Board of Directors for National Acorn.
Do you or anyone here know who these people are?
Can you yet draw some kind of conclusions regarding the funding maze that has gone on for years among the so called umbrella organizations? Federal funds from grants to non-profits require as standard practice Independant Audits of money and progam accomplishments…Boards of Directors of every nonprofit I have ever been involvbed with in 30 years have as a central duty fiduciary oversight ….What in the hell have these Board People been doing for years?
Did no one see financial reports? Can they even read them? Please pursue some answers for me because we all need this information…And then there are Federal Program Monitors for Federal Funds and grants.. Thanks,,

By: Capital Research Center:

Capital Research Center: — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:20:30 +0000

[...] National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy, laments the turn of events at ACORN on his blog, “The Cohen Report,” (July 25). But what is most remarkable are the 37 comments from former ACORN organizers and others [...]

By: darren

darren — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:07:06 +0000

Thanks for all of this interesting reading.

John summed it up and I am fully caught up on CCI news. I was an employee there, and I left in 1988. I remember Sue, and Joann B. After Sue left it was hard to find anyone to fill her void. Each “Controller” were simply caretakers. Sue was the one whom Dale trusted the most. I never knew their history, but I knew she remained a sounding or query board for him.

25 years is a long time, but now it seems like it was only yesterday.

By: Helene Saucet

Helene Saucet — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:37:37 +0000

I am having a very hard time understanding the statement “I think I agree with the coverup”. Now that ACORN board members are split in half and suing for financial records I could hardly agree. Did anyone see the article in the Sept 8th NY Times about the board suing to have Rathkr removed from their offices and demanding financial records? This is so sad.

By: john

john — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:19:18 +0000

My question to you John AT is this. How do you know Wade wasn’t getting any of the embezzled funds? Also how could any responsible ED put his brother in charge and in control of so much power? I don’t know about others but my brother and I love each other very much but we also fight and resent each other for very personal reasons at times. How could anyone think it was a good idea to make Dale the principle spicket for all transactions? How could that happen without the presence of a very dysfunctional BOD? Who was under a very unhealthy control of Eade Rathke?