rssBreitbart, ACORN Foes Release Strange Video of Philadelphia Sting
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 12:54 pm
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Big Government’s Andrew Breitbart brought ACORN videographers James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles to the National Press Club this morning for the release of a video documenting the two young conservatives’ visit to the community organizing group’s office in Philadelphia.
The rollout was simultaneously tense and celebratory, with Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) and Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) dipping into the room to offer their support. While O’Keefe and Giles refused to take questions from reporters, citing ACORN’s lawsuit against them, both addressed the media gathered in the room to claim that ACORN was lying. Breitbart–another party in the lawsuit–was the only participant who took questions, saying that he’d “given the press one month” to follow up on the ACORN videos, and watched reporters go after him, Giles and O’Keefe.
“America, ACORN lied to you,” said Breitbart. He singled out the liberal watchdog group Media Matters for special criticism. “Now that ACORN has lied to you, Media Matters, what are you going to do?”
The source of the “lie” claim was the heavily edited video, which nonetheless cast serious doubt on ACORN’s version of what happened during a July sting in Philadelphia. In September, when O’Keefe and Giles released their first batch of videos, ACORN claimed that the videographers were kicked out of the Philadelphia office after they behaved strangely. Katherine Conway Russell, an ACORN volunteer in the office, produced a police report and video statement, claiming that she answered some basic questions and referred them to a meeting, but after they asked about El Salvador (their ruse included a plan to smuggle under-age prostitutes in from the country) she told them that “they had to leave and I had other things to do.”
O’Keefe’s video contradicts some of this. But not with Conway Russell’s own words. Fearing legal repercussions, he muted her voice in the hidden camera footage, leaving only the audio of his own questions and Giles’ questions. This edited footage does have O’Keefe referring to Giles as a “prostitute” multiple times, and, according to O’Keefe, it is taken from 32 minutes of face time with Conway Russell — ACORN has maintained that the videographers were kicked out after a “few minutes.” (The full 32 minutes, said O’Keefe, would be released soon.)
The muting of the ACORN worker’s voice led to a strange presentation; O’Keefe simply told reporters what Conway Russell was saying whenever the audio cut out. Blogger Mike Stark asked Breitbart if the whole, unedited video would be released.
“James O’Keefe is the producer of it,” said Breitbart, “and since he’s in a lawsuit, I can’t have that discussion with him right now. But I would certainly be open to that possibility.”
After the meeting, Giles and Breitbart quickly headed out to Grover Norquist’s off-the-record Wednesday meeting of conservatives. Kelly Shackelford, one of the attorneys helping out Giles, stuck around to answer questions, and said that the video muting was O’Keefe’s idea. It was understandable, he said, that the two twenty-something activists would limit their liability now that ACORN was targeting them in a lawsuit.
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21 Comments
Pingback posted October 21, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by daveweigel and kerrylauerman, WashIndependent. WashIndependent said: Breitbart, ACORN Foes Release Strange Video of Philadelphia Sting http://bit.ly/2BumGM [...]
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
The media should press Conway Russell to allow for the release of the audio and to indemnify O'Keefe for anything Russell may have said on the video.
If Ms. Russell was being honest with us in her earlier statements then I don't see where she has anything to fear from Mr. O'Keefe's audio.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 5:17 pm
Meanwhile a week or two ago Welch wrote a fluff post about Breitbart. I have no idea how you lasted as long as you did at Hit & Run, David.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
Is it clear to you that she fears the audio? It's not to me. O'Keefe's lawyer claims he mutes the audio to limit liability. Sounds more like he fears the audio.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
Well paid right wing scumbags. If they had nothing to fear they would be pushing the audio to the forefront, not hiding it and hoping there are no lip readers in the audience to call bullshit on them.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
Agreed… it sounds like he has something to hide. Why do this until you can actually release the audio? It smacks of either desperation that the clock is ticking of the 15 minutes of fame or of deceit on the part of Breitbart et al.
Beyond that… until Breitbart is willing to go after companies that actually waste tax payer dollars in the millions and billions, ahem, KBR, I won't believe he is anything other than a hack.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
If they air the audio, they are subject to liability for violating Pennsylvania's privacy laws. But, the great thing is that Ms. Russell can give her permission for the audio to be aired, if it supports her claims. Somehow I don't think that will happen, however. The main point is that the video, even without the audio, demonstrates that Ms. Russell has been lying through her teeth.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
I think he fears being sued and incurring liability, I don't think he fears what's on the audio. It's up to Ms. Russell to allow the audio to be aired, all she has to do is give her permission.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Companies, like individuals, don't waste taxpayer dollars in millions and billions unless the government gives those dollars to them.
That sounds like a good reason for the government to concentrate on necessary defense – the protection of life and liberty – and discontinue all social, cultural, and entitlement programs.
We need a government to quell violence and aggression from bad people.
We do not need the government to feed the hungry, educate the children, or build the cars – we can do those things ourselves. We don't really even need the government to deliver the mail, but we could let that continue for old times' sake.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
The point is that she called the police after talking to the conservative scammers.
Not whether she talked to the scammers for a few minutes or a half-hour.
Comment posted October 21, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
It sounds like everyone here is in agreement that the full audio should be released. I believe the audio will support Russell's position. For example, Giles asked Russell for her business card. It doesn't appear that Russell offered it. She looks on the video likes she is trying to do the minimum amount she can to get these two idiots out of her office.
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 12:00 am
Skip ahead to 5:39 for a copy of the business card, doofus. Next time, watch before you comment, OK?
Pingback posted October 22, 2009 @ 1:20 am
[...] Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), the fourth-ranking member of the House Republican leadership, before this morning’s Big Government press conference — he had intended to speak, but had to run out early. McCotter is one of the relatively few [...]
Pingback posted October 22, 2009 @ 1:20 am
[...] Steve King (R-Iowa) doubled down on his anti-ACORN activism at today’s Big Government press conference. Video below the jump. Filed under: Government Spending Leave a comment Comments (0) [...]
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 8:26 am
Are you kidding? A card edited in? It was probably picked up on the way out.
Comment posted October 22, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
WE WILL RELEASE IT JUST GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME TO EDIT IT TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD
Trackback posted October 22, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
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Comment posted December 13, 2009 @ 12:07 am
That's brilliant. You know what would lead to a lot of violence and aggression from “bad people” (by which you probably are implying those of a darker skin tone than yours)?
Stumped? I thought you would be. The answer is *drum roll*… Stripping the government down to the life and liberty defending lingerie of your libertarian wet dreams. You know what taxes pay for? The services that make this country livable enough that those of us who aren't property owners, or country club members, or what have you, don't tear apart those that do. Even Ben Stein recognized this, and he was Nixon's damn speechwriter.
We'll look at it simply, there is no way for every person in this country to provide for themselves equally, it's just impossible with those numbers. Now, we could either privatize everything and leave the government to the important business of bombing foreigners for energy supremacy in the new millennium, or we could provide a decent, just, and stable society for everyone to live in. What's the difference between the two? Well, in your version the rich will need armed guards. As for the middle class? Well, how does one get there with everyone else fighting over the scraps? No middle class. Just a few robber barons, surrounded by Pinkerton thugs, and a bunch of cold, hungry, angry, sick folks clawing over whats left. Your call “navigator”.
Comment posted December 13, 2009 @ 5:07 am
That's brilliant. You know what would lead to a lot of violence and aggression from “bad people” (by which you probably are implying those of a darker skin tone than yours)?
Stumped? I thought you would be. The answer is *drum roll*… Stripping the government down to the life and liberty defending lingerie of your libertarian wet dreams. You know what taxes pay for? The services that make this country livable enough that those of us who aren't property owners, or country club members, or what have you, don't tear apart those that do. Even Ben Stein recognized this, and he was Nixon's damn speechwriter.
We'll look at it simply, there is no way for every person in this country to provide for themselves equally, it's just impossible with those numbers. Now, we could either privatize everything and leave the government to the important business of bombing foreigners for energy supremacy in the new millennium, or we could provide a decent, just, and stable society for everyone to live in. What's the difference between the two? Well, in your version the rich will need armed guards. As for the middle class? Well, how does one get there with everyone else fighting over the scraps? No middle class. Just a few robber barons, surrounded by Pinkerton thugs, and a bunch of cold, hungry, angry, sick folks clawing over whats left. Your call “navigator”.
Pingback posted January 26, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
[...] Although information later came out suggesting O’Keefe’s footage was edited and he wasn’t exactly forthright in the campaign, the damage to the organization that works to swell voter ranks in poor areas was already done. [...]
Comment posted April 29, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
The basic intent of the law is to make citizens happy as possible. – Plato
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