ACORN Conduct 'Indefensible,' White House Says
Asked for the first time today about the infamous ACORN footage, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called the conduct of some of the organization's employees "indefensible."
"The administration takes accountability extremely seriously," he said. The U.S. Census Bureau's decision to sever ties to the group reflects that, he added, with their view that the group "could not meet the bureau's goal of achieving a fair and accurate count in 2010."
Gibbs would not say, however, whether President Obama would, as the leader of the Democratic Party, urge the DNC and other campaign committees to sever ties to the group.
The issue, after heavy coverage on Fox News and widespread conversation online, has only now broadened to other media outlets to the point that it was addressed at the daily White House briefing today.
And it's not just the White House reacting to the criticism of the group. Today, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), a potential 2012 aspirant, issued this letter urging state officials to stop any payments to ACORN.
"The recent reports of questionable behavior and potential illegal activity by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now are of great concern," he writes to the state commissioner of Management and Budget. "I am directing you to stop all state funding to ACORN unless the state is legally obligated to provide such funding."