Thomas Lifson
American Thinker
September 27, 2009
The image of ACORN as a racketeering organization just got another boost from court records revealed in the New York Post. Dale Rathke, brother of the founder Wade Rathke was charging lavish spending to the family business.
Ginger Adams Otis of the Post reports:
American Express filed a claim against Rathke in 2003 in Louisiana civil district court.
Among the court papers is a partial credit history that indicates Rathke had several different cards from different companies. He used them to shop at places like Gucci and Neiman Marcus, where he spent $1,003 and $1,742 respectively on July 6, 2000.
He visited Gucci at least three other times that year, spending $968, $3,631 and $718, the credit report shows.
In November, he traveled to New York, renting a limo and plunking down $2,000 for a stay at the Waldorf-Astoria and $700 for a gourmet dinner at La Cote Basque.
Anyone who can spend $700 on dinner at one of the most famous restaurants in the United States can fairly said to be living high on the hog. All the while his organization is receiving millions in tax dollars and posing as the friend of the poor.
Not to mention the nearly million dollars he reportedly embezzled, which ACORN declined to prosecute. The details of how the money was paid back to ACORN remain murky. Were any of the funds supplied by foundations, as has been reported? The public deserves a full accounting of the scandal at ACORN.
Because of President Obama’s ties to ACORN, he must appoint a special prosecutor to ensure that a fair and complete examination of the web of crime involved in this organization be fairly carried out.
