`  == New Section ==  As stated above (by Chris in the ``Conason Op-Ed section``), BigGov is offering an ACORN tract that shows its own participation with NBC in an undercover video sting operation. BigGov is calling foul on the idea that NBC/ACORN were not cited as ``unethical`` as per this operation, and it seems that Chris is suggesting we add this to the article. However, BigGov's argument is fallacious, and adding it would only weigh down this article with a point that would, by necessity, negate itself.  While the legal case with Baltimore ACORN involves local wire-tapping laws, the majority of the valid criticism directed against Giles and O'Keefe has less to do with wire-tapping, or lying to prospective sources, and more to do with their excessive editing, their release methods, and their deliberate inaccessibility to news-groups which they characterize as their ``enemies`` (their words, not mine.)  For example, in the Oct 21 interview with Carol Leonnig by Greta van Susteren, the major criticism offered isnt wire-tapping (which both journalists dismiss). Rather, it's the heavily edited content, the hoakie excuse that ``the battery died``, the police report (which contradicts the BigGov narrative), and the posture contrived through the late release of a video (whose unedited presentation Philly ACORN has been asking for already) (http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200910210046).  The Columbia Journalism Review criticizes Breitbart, Giles and O'Keefe for blackmailing the attorney general to meet their demands, not for wire-tapping. Greg Marx points out that if Breitbart has crucial info (and Breitbart claims to have evidence of real criminal activities), then he should forthrightly produce it, and not play some weird game with the AG Holder(http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/well_it_may_deserve_an_award_i.php?page=all&print;=true).  Alexandra Fenwick points out that Giles (in her interview with Sean Hannity) admits to not really knowing what ACORN actually did before she decided to ``expose them``. However commendable Giles's work may be, by taking that approach, Giles represents ``shadows of journalism's muckraking past.`` (http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/acorns_family_tree.php)  So the majority of the criticism of Giles's work has very little to do with wire-tapping (even as per the woebegone Conason quote.) The issues with Giles's videos are that they mis-represent and manipulate information for political purposes, and her neglect of regional wire-tapping laws don't form the meat of the arguments against her work.  From the very beginning of this issue, Breitbart has repeatedly stated that his video-release method was contrived as an attack against what he calls ``the liberal democratic media complex`` (see his Sept, 2009 articles in the Wall Street Journal and in the Washington Times.) This aspect of The BigGov.com agenda saturates the entire video scandal in terms of its execution, it's release, and of the whole fictitious narrative that BigGov has contrived to frame this story (i.e., Breitbart says that the standard newsgroups were ``ignoring`` him, Hannah & James, while in fact all 3 actively refused opportunities that were offered to share their stories with those same newsgroups. This is thoroughly documented in the ACORN Video Controversy entry.) This places BigGov's video work in a completely different category than the work conducted by NBC/ACORN  I have read the source material BigGov offers concerning NBC, and their comparison to their own position. No where in the case citied by BigGov do we see ACORN or NBC claiming that because of this sting, all tax-agents ought to be de-funded or investigated (as BigGov does with ACORN.) No where do they claim that H&R; Block should be shut down, since it is part of a larger ideological complex that the operation was meant to attack (as Breitbart does with ACORN.) We dont have NBC slowly dragging out the release of the story in order to inflict ``maximum damage`` to their ``enemies`` (as Giles & O'Keefe do.) We dont have ACORN or NBC trying to blackmail the Attorney General into catering a witch-hunt at their behest (as Breitbart most recently did), or threatening to release a torrent of damaging videos just before the next election cycle if they are not thus indulged (again, Breitbart's latest stunt.) NBC's undercover work with ACORN is of an entirely different order than the politically saturated, openly hostile and all-encompassing attack which BigGov is staging. That very big difference is what makes Giles's work unethical.  Even if one chooses to indulge the argument about undercover work, I am 100% certain that NBC fully obliged the ethical and legal standards of wiretapping in their targetted area (as any professional organization would) before embarking on that operation. If you have ever engaged in qualitative data gathering, wheth