I just got a thank you letter from the ACLU.

[Zorra]

Here's part of what it says:
snip--
Your decision to join the ACLU could not have come at a more pivotal time for civil liberties in America. A virulent, new wave of extremism is sweeping through our country, and we need to fight back in all 50 states if we hope to protect he Constitution and the rule of law.

From our all-out campaign to strengthen the wall seperating church and state...to our steadfast defense of reproductive freedom...to our stand against those who seek to use the power of government to impose one narrow view of morality on the rest of us...we must continue to make our voices heard as we take strong, proactive steps to create an America we can be proud of again.

with our network of over 50 state affiliates, a dedicated and talented legal team that argues more cases before the Supreme Court than any other private organization, a top notch lobbying staff, a sophisticated media and communications program, and a vast network of committed grass roots activists, the ACLU is uniquely qualified to secure our liberties for today and for generations to come....
*end of excerpt*

Law Firm Drops Defense Of DOMA

by Nina Totenberg
April 25, 2011
snip---
NYU Law professor Stephen Gillers, a specialist in legal ethics, says Clement was "entirely right," and that "King & Spalding was scared off by the prospect of becoming a pariah." Former Clinton administration Solicitor General Seth Waxman, whose firm is on the other side of the DOMA case in opposition to the law, added that Clement's representation in support of DOMA "is in fact in the very highest and finest traditions of our legal system."

But some lawyers seemed to take a pass on the question. James Esseks, director of the ACLU's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Project, said in a statement that "no matter who represents the House Republican leadership, we're confident that the courts will recognize that the so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act' is discriminatory and unconstitutional. Congress should not be wasting scarce resources on high-priced lawyers to defend this law, but instead should stand on the right side of history by ... repealing DOMA once and for all."

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/25/135717362/law-firm-drops-defense-of-doma

I'm really glad to have the ACLU advocating for our rights, and always supporting us so actively.

The ACLU is awesome, I carry my card with pride:-)

[closeupready]

1. Even as a child, I loved them - I think it was because, partly, of Norman Lear's

support - if you recall, he did a series of commercials, didn't he, "People for the American Way", supporting the ACLU. I don't think I'd even been through puberty at the time, but even then, I knew I was gay and that they were pro-gay/pro-civil rights (Lear, of course, created All In the Family and Maude and other very liberal sitcoms in the 70's). K&R

[thanks_imjustlurking]

2. But they really need to learn the difference between meat people and corporations.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/145447/why_the_aclu_supported_the_supreme_court%27s_shocking_assault_on_free_speech

[Zorra]

3. Disappointing for sure.

That is the only case that I know of that I have not agreed with the ACLU on in my entire lifetime, even the Skokie decision.

And it's a biggie.

They would have been wise to just stay out of that one altogether.

Thanks for the heads up; I was unaware that they supported the Citizen's United suit.

They are going to get a continuous stream of shit from me about this.

ACLU May Reverse Course On Campaign Finance Limits After Supreme Court Ruling

The first big impact of the Supreme Court’s decision lifting restrictions on certain corporation campaign spending may be at the American Civil Liberties Union, which, after years of opposing restrictions on free speech grounds, is considering whether to reverse course and endorse government limits on money in politics.
snip--
“The ACLU's version of democracy is from the ground-up,” one civil rights lawyer, David Gans, on Saturday told the ACLU's board, which was assembled downtown at One New York Plaza. “Now Exxon Mobil can spend 2% of its money and blow that all up.”

Mr. Gans was one of several attorneys invited to the board meeting to debate whether the ACLU should change its position on money in politics. Another, Burt Neuborne, also urged the ACLU to change its policy, saying that any effort to salvage campaign finance regulation in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling would face trouble “if the ACLU says it’s against the First Amendment.”

http://www.nysun.com/national/aclu-may-reverse-course-on-campaign-finance/86899/

[thanks_imjustlurking]

4. They get a continuous stream from me as well.

They really need to rethink their analysis and position.