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James O' Keefe (right) and Hannah Giles (left) used undercover cameras on ACORN. AP Photo, Big Government
James O' Keefe, the man who setup the ACORN undercover videos, has now been arrested by FBI after an alleged failed attempt to bug Senator Mary Landrieu's (D-LA) phones. O' Keefe and three other men have been charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent to commit a felony. O' Keefe reportedly tried to videotape the three other men who were dressed as telephone company employees. Two of the men tried to manipulate the phones in Landrieu's office. When one official asked for the men's credentials they tried to leave in vehicle only to later be arrested by the Marshal's Service.
After O' Keefe released his undercover videos of ACORN many liberals accused him of breaking the law by secretly recording the employees. In addition many accused the released videos of being very heavily edited in such a way as to only show the most incriminating evidence against ACORN. The ACORN organization subsequently filed a lawsuit against O' Keefe and his partner, Hannah Giles, alleging a violation of civil rights. Evidence also emerged that the two had been kicked out of two ACORN offices and reported to the police.
The conservative media was quick to come to the defense of O' Keefe and Giles at the time. Various organizations like Newsbusters promoted a legal defense fund for the pair. Sean Hannity defended the pair's actions going as far as to joke about breaking Hannah Giles out of jail if she was convicted.
Now that O' Keefe has been arrested on separate charges it will be interesting to see if conservatives still hold him up as a martyr of the cause. If O' Keefe's recent actions are approved of by conservatives one might ask if there is any line that can not be crossed in an effort to embarrass liberals.
Comments
"ACORN videographer James O' Keefe arrested, will conservatives still come to his defense?"
Ask Oliver North.
spinslps,
So your answer is "no." But the ACLU may. Remember one of the kids arrested was the son of a US Attorney. (ouch).
This action does not negate the evidence uncovered. ACORN should NEVER be defended in their fraud, which this article attempts to diminish. Even if they arrest the people that hacked the emails that destroyed the Global Warming lobby, the evidence still stands.
We shall see, JS - Acorn Maryland and the woman who appears to have been selectively edited (and who called the cops on O'Keefe and Giles) in Philly both have lawsuits filed.
Michell Malkin is already running away from O'Keefe. LOL
I honestly don't know why he took such a unbelievably stupid risk. I think he must have thought he was immune to the law and he could get away with anything after the ACORN stuff. He could have literally lived off the ACORN story as he was a conservative hero from the story. Now I honestly think he will be spending time in jail. It is almost like Oceans 11 meets real life, that sort of stuff works in Hollywood movies when you try it in a real U.S. Senator's office it lands you in jail.
Read the affidavit, Witt - they go into a federal building, pretend to be phone repairmen, are directed to the ~~GSA~~ utility closet and try to con the ~~GSA Security Dude~~ saying they left their credentials in the truck!
Even a GSA rent-a-cop ain't THAT dumb!
Maybe O'Keefe was looking for a big payoff to cover his rapidly increasing legal bills??
"If O' Keefe's recent actions are approved of by conservatives one might ask if there is any line that can not be crossed in an effort to embarrass liberals."
Seeing as liberals didn't think a line had been crossed when the emails of Sarah Palin's children were hacked, the outrage seems contrived.
Still if O'Keefe has broken the law he must face the consequences.
JShope says:
"This action does not negate the evidence uncovered...."
yes it does...it shows how far into illegally the person is willing to go...if this was a cop getting arrested for planting cocaine on a suspect, it would throw all cases that he/she has ever been involved in into question...therefore all people convicted using his/her evidence could be granted a retrial with his/her evidence being put into question...his/her worth as a witness becomes zilch on the stand and no prosecutor will put him/her on the stand any more on the retrials.
It is difficult for ex-cons to get a job. If only there was a community organization to assist Mr. O'Keefe when he gets out of prison.
Ross, O'Keefe clearly broke the law in Philly if ANYONE he recorded didn't know in advance; Pennsylvania's recording law is pretty much the strictest in the nation.
He also lied about the cops being called, as demonstrated by the actual police report being released.
And only a blind person could miss the rather obvious edits in some of those 'exposes' - the actual raw, unedited videos have not been released; in discovery, he'll either have to produce them or, if he claims they were destroyed, face a summary judgment against him.
He could always get a job registering people to vote, teabugger.
The truth offends you or are you merely a proverbial ostrich?
He was caught red handed by the US Marshals. They were actively committing a federal offense. The is a felony plain and simple. It was pre- meditated , done with planning and even went to the length of acquiring costumes. They should by the law and by justice get at least the minimum sentence.
In the end because of political connections they will only get the time they served overnight and probation.....
Everyone is quick to jump the gun on this. Have you even heard what O'keefe has been charged with, NO. The other two we know what they have been charged with but not O'keefe. All reports do not even put him in the office with the two who were tampering with the phones.
As for recording the ACORN personnel where both parties have to give consent to the recording, how many interviews have people in those states given to others when NO consent was given? Maybe that is why MOST states now recognize that only one party needs to know about the recording. How many times have people in these states left messages without giving consent on answering machines? Do not give me the implied consent as implied consent does not hold up in a court of law in the U.S. at this time.
I have to wonder if it had been a liberal or democrat that did the clandestine interviews at ACORN would we even be hearing the garbage that is being spewed from those caught lying & cheating & those who support the
Gater, read the affidavit: O'Keefe admits conspiring, according to the fed.
As for the illegal recording, you REALLY need to look at Pennsylvania's law and the relevant court cases. NO media lawyer would let a reporter audio or video tape clandestinely in that state; they'd lose every time.
As for Acorn: Show the raw unedited tape. If you got the goods, show it. But for now, there are way too many obvious edits to take them at face value - no matter who made the videos.
@Gater Read the affidavit and then reconsider your comment.
What goes around comes around. Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Ah sho' nuff knows nuttin' illegal was a' goin' down in dem ACORN offices. I kin reed jus like you! Our very own presedint Obama came from da bowels of that ACORN! He wont lie bout nuttin ether! Fool!
Not this one. If he was up to no good shame on him. He and his ho deserve the Pulitzer Prize for their expose of the corrupt criminal organization ACORN though.
I hope there is no pro or per secution of him.
Snark says: Acorn Maryland have lawsuits filed.
Believe me, that lawsuit is dead in Baltimore.
Hey Witt, did you see your idol Stewart ream Obummer for using a teleprompter in front of 6th graders? How did you miss that one?
Oh,,,,nevermind.
I is a reul smart persun eatin tv dinnas wit Booger an wachin fox neews.
Did you see where Newsbusters issued a retraction on the fake 6th grader teleprompter self pwning? Wingnuts are so gullible.
Wait until O'Keefe starts snitching on his co-conspirators. Punkboy O'Keefe's cornhole is puckering uncontrollably right now at the thought of prison. He can't wait to rat out anybody and everybody.
The Teabugger says:
"Wait until O'Keefe starts snitching on his co-conspirators. Punkboy O'Keefe's cornhole is puckering uncontrollably right now at the thought of prison. He can't wait to rat out anybody and everybody."
would be great if he implicates someone at foxnews as pushing him into it....hey!, we all have our dreams, don't we?
Exposure of corruption should be done legally, but I will argue with one point made by Ryan. I don't believe it's possible to 'embarrass liberals'.
Gigi says:
"Exposure of corruption should be done legally, but I will argue with one point made by Ryan. I don't believe it's possible to 'embarrass liberals'."
or people going for hikes in the appalachian mountains, or someone telling their voters that they are quiting 'for their sake", or drug addicts passing judgement on other people.......
I am embarressed every time every time I read a 'letter to the editor' written by a wingnut.
Liberal says:
"I am embarressed every time every time I read a 'letter to the editor' written by a wingnut."
your wife's embarressed every time you say "Herbie the Lovebug is coming atcha"
Wally,
You're right. I don't believe it's posible to 'embarrass liberals' or most politicians in general.
Let's do all we can to give them power over as much of our lives as posible!
Gigi says:
"Wally,
You're right. I don't believe it's posible to 'embarrass liberals' or most politicians in general.
Let's do all we can to give them power over as much of our lives as posible!"
OOOOOORRRRR, we could give them just enough power to make sure no one in America goes hungry or goes without healthcare and no more power than that, cooool? Don't tell me you're for people in America going hungry and without healthcare....WWJD (what would Jesus do?)
Liberal,
No need to be 'embarrassed' when you read an letter to the editor by a 'wingnut'. I understand far left ideas sound 'dumb', but you can always come to your senses and stand up to them and their 'statist' stupidity.
I can see why those in 'power' want 'statism', but it is self destructive idiocy to wish it upon yourself if you're not. On second thought...you should be embarrassed.
Wally,
Trusting the untrustworthy is foolish. I'll leave Jesus out of it.
Gigi says:
"Wally,
Trusting the untrustworthy is foolish. I'll leave Jesus out of it."
are you saying that Jesus is untrustworthy?
Wally,
Ok, it's getting late. You're starting to ramble....
Looks like the premise of your story is wrong again. I do dnot see many defending any illegal action of this gang.
Oh the irony of it all. Pimpyboy O'Queef exposes Acorn and now he's going to be exposing his A for a Corn-holing. There's a party in your mouth Pimpyboy and everybody's cummin. Ha Ha.
I'm sure when he explains to his new friends in his cell block that he was just kidding they'll understand. He can tell he was just foolin with those Acorn folks.
In two weeks he won't be able to get traded for 1/2 smoked lucky strike found in the urinal.
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