OK, the ACLU does not exactly oppose campaign finance reform

[Carl Yasutomo]

A while ago I posted the following:

With all the posts on here urging people to join the ACLU, I just thought I'd make sure you all know what you are getting into. The ACLU opposed McCain Feingold. They think corporate bribes to political parties are protected by the First Amendment.

I prefer to give to the following groups instead:

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

People for the American Way

Also MoveOn and Democracy for America. And the NAACP.

-------

I would like to retract the above statement, since it seems the ACLU only opposed certain portions of McCain Feingold but actually supports public financing of campaigns. I acknowledge the error pointed out by someone else in this thread.

And to those of you who could not respond to me in a civil manner but instead unleashed a string of profanities, I say :puke:

[LTR]

1. The ACLU often takes up controversial stances

Hell, they defended NAMBLA!

I do respect that they take up unpopular causes, since that proves that they are consistent and not necessarily partisan.

If you want a more partisan organization (and there is definitely nothing wrong with that), I suggest PFAW.

[Dufaeth]

3. I agree, they are about

protecting civil rights, not partisan agenda. It's what makes them great. Every time a right winger says something about them you can just bring up the time they helped Falwell.

[Carl Yasutomo]

4. It's just that I feel particularly strongly about campaign finance reform

I think the current system of campaign finance is one of the most critical issues in need of immediate attention and reform. It is plainly obvious that this country is bought and paid for by the corporations and the wealthy, and the only thing that will stop it is better regulation of the flow of money to politicians. The idea that giving unlimited bribes to politicians is somehow an expression of speech protected by the First Amendment just strikes me as ridiculous and, frankly, dangerous.

I used to be a member of the ACLU, but when I learned of their opposition to McCain Feingold I tore up my credentials and never gave to them again.

[LisaLynne]

2. I belong to them all.

They all have their own focus and their own part to play for us and our democracy.

[Selwynn]

5. GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK

I thought people with under 250 posts weren't allowed to start new threads anymore.

Have you ever READ the ACLU's arguments about campaign finance reform?

THEY DO SUPPORT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

They do not believe that McCain Feingold gives us the kind of reform we need, and there are some decent arguments about that on the site.

I'm not sure I completely agree with all of their points on campaign finance, but then again, I don't think that I need to completely reject any ground because <GASP!> I might find a place or two where I disagree. What matters to me is that their argument is based on principles of CIVIL LIBERTY, and is a rational one. What also matters is that 99% of their positions I completely agree with.

By the way, PFAW has a similar statement on Campaign finance reform. The idea that you are trying to encourage people not to support the ACLU is fucking ridiculous and sad.

[Carl Yasutomo]

6. No reason to get personal and vicious

I expect to be called "fucking ridiculous and sad" by Repubs, not by fellow DUers.

Sheesh.

P.S. And by the way, people with fewer than 250 threads can start new posts if they donate to DU.

[Selwynn]

9. Get used to it.

I'm not apologizing to anyone for anything I have to say for at least the next week.

I'm in the "anger" stage the grief process, so piss off. I have zero interest in tolerate for a second the ridiculous notion that somehow we should boycott the aclu for fuck sake.

[Carl Yasutomo]

11. I guess you missed my retraction and correction

I corrected my original post two hours before you told me to "piss off."

And by the way, I posted my note in what was originally the "help and support" forum, not the "fighting and acrimony" forum. If you wanted to tell people they are "fucking ridiculous" and "piss off," you should have gone to "fighting and acrimony"!!

:grr:

[leesa]

7. Give to whomever you like. The ACLU has done an enormous amount

of good work and they support TRUE campaign finance reform, not the joke put out by McCain

[LibInternationalist]

8. Most. Misleading. Post. Ever.

[Selwynn]

10. Hear fucking hear.