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An early effort against ACORN involved the appearance of a Website called RottenAcorn.com, created by the [[Employment Policies Institute]] (EPI,) a front group created by Washington, D.C.‐based astroturf specialist [Richard Berman] and his lobbying company [[Berman & Company]]. The rottenacorn.com Web site says ACORN is "really a multi-million-dollar, multi-national conglomerate," and "Its political agenda is driven by a relative handful of political thugs for hire." The Website accuses ACORN of contributing to the housing meltdown of 2008-2009 by pressuring banks to make sub-prime loans to borrowers. The site also accuses ACORN of "voter fraud" in its effort to register low and middle income people, and minorities. The site does not disclose who its funders are. Rick Berman has earned the nicknames "Dr. Evil," the "Conservatives' Weapon of Mass Destruction" and the "Astroturf Kingpin" for his repeated use of the strategy of forming non-profit front groups that advocate for the interests big business while shielding those same businesses from disclosing financial support for these efforts. <ref>Rick Berman, Employment Policies Institute [http://rottenacorn.com/ Rotten Acorn], Web site, accessed October 19, 2009</ref><ref>Morley Safer [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/60minutes/main2653020.shtml Meet Rick Berman, A.K.A. "Dr. Evil"] CBSnews.com ''60 Minutes'', July 22, 2007</ref><ref>Tim McCown [http://www.examiner.com/x-3629-Philadelphia-Progressive-Examiner~y2009m9d24-Richard-Berman-coming-to-Astro-turf-your-rights-away Richard Berman coming to Astro-turf your rights away] Examiner.com, Philadelphia ''Progressive Examiner'', September 24, 2009</ref>