John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, and others have attacked the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a group that has dedicated itself to working in some of the most underprivleged communities in America.

USW International President Leo W. Gerard today issued a statement on the attacks, which read in part:

"As the leader of an organization that works very hard to bring new voters into our American democracy, I find the recent attacks from the extreme right wing on ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) very disconcerting. Once again, the exaggeration and distracting rhetoric by extremists is full of misleading statements and half-truths that are meant to rile up their core group of supporters and shift attention away from the real issues of this campaign such as the economy, the fair trade debacle and health care.

ACORN is an organization that has dedicated itself to working in some of the most underprivileged communities in America. They help give a voice to the poorest, the homeless and often the most disenfranchised of Americans. They have 400,000 member families in 1200 cities across the United States and fight for such critical initiatives as: fair minimum wages, holding predatory payday lenders accountable, affordable housing, improved funding for urban schools and sick leave for full-time low wage workers. They also established financial literacy programs that helped thousands of families keep from losing their homes through bank foreclosures. The USW is proud of the work ACORN has done to address these tough issues and to fight for justice for those who often have no voice."

Read Gerard's entire statement by clicking here.