Connecting dots:

The Chicago Annenberg Challenge, the radical “education” (read: political activism) group the presidential candidate led in the late ’90s (hand in glove with unrepentant terrorist and “education” guru Bill Ayers) gave funding to the disreputable “community organizer” group ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now).

ACORN militated for risky lending practices (loosening down-payment requirements and overlooking poor credit histories) and engaged in intimidating actions that frequently required police action (e.g., at a ‘97 protest at Pulaski Bank & Trust in Arkansas).

Outrageously, ACORN and organizations like it would have gained from the original $700 billion plan for bailing out the financial markets now in chaos because of the risky lending.

In sum, in the words of the editors of the New York Post:

In the end, from a mighty ACORN an even mightier crisis did grow.
With Barack Obama’s help.