Data prove untrue charges that push for affordable housing caused crisis

www.miamiherald.com ^ | 10/11/08 | By DAVID GOLDSTEIN Posted on 10/11/2008 6:12:24 PM PDT by listenhillary WASHINGTON -- As the economy worsens and Election Day approaches, a conservative campaign that blames the global financial crisis on a government push to make housing more affordable to lower-class Americans has taken off on talk radio and e-mail. Commentators say that's what triggered the stock market meltdown and the freeze on credit. They've specifically targeted the mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which the federal government seized on Sept. 6, contending that lending to poor and minority Americans caused Fannie's and Freddie's financial... [read full story]