If you watch the Story TV Channel evenings you’ve surely seen an intense advertisement for the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU. Its actors tell us how the ACLU is fighting for our rights and urges us to send a contribution right away.
I used to be a member, half a century ago, but dropped out when I noticed that the ACLU was strangely silent on our Second, Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. Today’s ACLU, writes Noah Rothman in National Review, has “turned away from advocacy of free speech for its own sake, to advocacy of speech its members like.”
“The group felt compelled to advance the cause of social justice by adopting a set of new guidelines for its conduct. The ACLU’s new mandate precludes the defense of speech by interests perceived to be powerful enough already, speech by right wing organizations whose ‘values are contrary to our vslues, or any speech that might cause offense to marginalized groups. He goes on to describe the purge of seven Florida ACLU Board members who objected to ACLU’s partisan political activity and its active promotion of left wing socio-economic issues.
It’s sad that the once principled ACLU has come to this state, but if you want to defend the Bill or Rights – all of it, not just the parts favored by the progressive left – you’re going to have to keep looking for a home.
Author is the former Vice President of the Ethan Allen Institute. He founded the Institute in 1993 and served as its President until August 2009. He is a former member of the Vermont House and Senate and was Senior Policy Advisor in President Reagan’s White House.
Categories: Commentary
Why am I not surprised by this, after all, the socialist views have pretty much taken over our state government along with the judicial court system and our policing policies! Sad times for our state and country!
Another “non profit” taken over to do the bidding of the world…..
most likely paid for by tax dollars along with ngo’s and corporate minions….
That is an old Marxist tactic. Join, infiltrate, take over. Destroy if not useful to you.
Been there.
Mr. McClaughry, I would posit that every organization that existed 50 years ago and currently is in operations today, that would defend our civil liberties has been coopted. As have our federal government and military. But I would like to point out that our state is in a significant minority. There are many sources, too many to cite here, that demonstrate that our country is predominately right of center. But because the media, who would have in the past reported this fact, have indeed reported or alluded the opposite fact. Causing many of us conservative thinkers and voters to be disheartened and feel isolated. Especially in this state. What stops us conservatives from standing up for ourselves is the very thing that defines us. Polite, hardworking, tolerant people. But also, we are too comfortable.
We think…”this will change, it has too. Smarter and cooler heads will prevail”. Unfortunately, by then, the juggernaut will be unstoppable.
Grifters gotta grift! The days of fine wine donor banquets and 65% off the top for “administrative” and “operation” costs is coming to an end. Including NGO’s and bloated, non-essential bureaucratic dead weights and power point presenters.
I wrote “keep looking for a home.” My Friend Dan reminded me of FIRE, that started out as a Philadelphia student group and is now emerging as a national challenger to ACLU. I went to its web site thefire.org and donated $100.