The Crime: Murder by assassination

The Victim: The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)

The Assailant: The American right wing

The Accomplices: Liberal politicians that ACORN helped get elected; media outlets that either perpetuated lies, did not correct egregious, sloppy reporting errors about the group, or waited until too late to do it.

The Survivors: Lower income Americans (but not by much)

Let it be known that: ACORN, a 40-year-old organization created to empower people whose incomes do not allow them to contribute large sums of money to political campaigns, lobby state and Congressional legislatures and afford decent housing-as well as provide voter education and uniting poor communities-was willfully (and by premeditated, scrutinously planned action) shot point blank in the back by cowards who could not stand for the poor and minorities to threaten their vainglorious birthright.

It should be said that ACORN definitely made its mistakes. It didn't do enough to weed out incompetence or to audit itself or to eventually strengthen its financial foundations, leaving them vulnerable to idealogues whose intent was to pick on those who could least defend themselves.

But while the rich have lawyers, and lobbies to defend their interests, the poor only have poorly funded grassroots organizations to help them help themselves. The wins for the people in the hood, regarding their homes, legal representation and voting rights, have been many over the past four decades. But ACORN's ultimate mistake was caring for what happens to people who don't have very much.

On the other hand, groups with lots of funding and lots of political backing like the National Rifle Association have no problem staying in business - no matter how disgusting its leadership is - because somehow they convince people to drink the Kool-Aid that killing people is a good idea.

The henchman used by the right to shoot ACORN is one James O'Keefe, a right wing activist who videotaped himself and a sidekick going into ACORN offices as a pimp and a prostitute. They were thrown out of most of the offices they went to around the country; however, one did appear to offer O'Keefe advice on bilking the IRS on housing. Some questionable editing of the tape, though, makes it apparent that it isn't what O'Keefe claims it to be.

But the damage was done, and a wave of criticism resulted in the pulling of funding all around the country. Affiliated offices went independent and changed their names in order to avoid the harsh scrutiny of conservatives, and New York and California offices broke off completely. ACORN's plummeting revenues only meant that they would have to close by April 1st.

The wanna-be fascists of the country are probably using this to salve their wounds after the momentous health care win on Sunday by Democrats in Congress. Am I beating up on the right? Yep. Why? Because they've been beating up on this group for years, and if I hurt anyone's feelings, here's a (used) tissue.

Fortunately, ACORN's housing division will remain intact and continue to serve the financially challenged with opportunities to find homes. Other break-off offices will also keep giving the poor a chance, where there had been none.

As for O'Keefe, he's up on felony charges for entering federal property under false pretenses while trying to screw over Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu. I hope they throw the book at him, not just for what he helped do to ACORN, but for all the other people he's attacked in his own disjointed view of what's fair.

But be warned, after this week, you won't see much action from conservative legislators, but from the screwballs and sociopaths who think their way is the only way. They will chide and even threaten violence as the country begins to change into a more tolerant, versatile society. It happened in Andrew Jackson's day and it's happening again now.

ACORN's murder is just an example of their sick, sick agenda.