Activist Group Acorn Facing Plethora of Problems

Summary

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WASHINGTON -- ACORN, the community activist group shown on Internet videos aiding a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute, started in 1970 to help poor people in Arkansas.

It expanded into a multimillion-dollar conglomerate with a mission so far-flung that two New York schools now bear its name, two radio stations are affiliates and a man its political arm endorsed is the president of the United States.

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Extract

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Activist Group Acorn Facing Plethora of Problems

Has it grown too big for its own good?

The organization praised for its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and treated by federal, state and local governments as a valuable public resource has had nearly $1 million embezzled from it by its founder's brother. The openly Democratic-leaning group has seen its employees accused of voter registration fraud, and taking it down has become a cause celèbre for Republican lawmakers, activists and pundits.

As if volunteers allegedly signing up cartoon character Mickey Mouse to vote didn't give ACORN enough bad publicity, the public is enthralled wi...

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