Rats deserting a sinking ACORN

09-26-2009 • NY Post

Like rats deserting a sinking ship, ACORN's many enablers over the years are racing for the exits as the scope of the organization's shenanigans come to light.

Even leftist fellow-traveler -- and, until now, stalwart ACORN defender -- Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is squirming.

What took them so long? We've been warning about the group for ages.

Nonetheless, in the past two weeks, both the Senate and the House voted to yank federal funding from ACORN; the Census Bureau cut off ties; the Treasury Department launched a review -- and the IRS dropped ACORN from its list of approved tax-assistance providers.

Funny thing, though: Frank has been a leading promoter and defender of ACORN -- up to and including this year.

Last year, he had a featured role in the group's "Grassroots Democracy Campaign" promotional video. This year, he tried to overturn a law banning groups under indictment for voter fraud (read: ACORN) from getting housing subsidies.

Give Frank some credit. While his ethics and ideology are questionable, the man is no fool: He's clearly read the writing on the wall and is out to distance himself as fast as possible from an organization that's grown politically toxic.

But never mind Frank's hypocrisy.

ACORN's sudden loss of friends may presage an eventual demise of the tainted, radical group that's done so much harm.

Hey, we can hope, can't we?