Et Tu, ACLU?

[babsbunny]

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/20/2010/3696

by Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman
January 27, 2010

The Supreme Court's atrocious Citizen's United green light for unlimited corporate campaign spending had a willing accomplice---the American Civil Liberties Union.

Why?

As long-time supporters, we are horrified by the ACLU's betrayal of political reality and plain common sense.

Standing proudly with the victorious corporate hacks on the steps of the SCOTUS was none other than the legendary First Amendment crusader Floyd Abrams.

Keith Olberman has called him a "Quisling" for aiding and abetting this catastrophic confirmation of corporate "personhood."

[Dinger]

1. God No. Is ALL Hope Lost?

:-(

[babylonsister]

2. Seems they're changing their tune...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7567125


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

[mike_c]

3. I stand with the ACLU on this one....

Hear me out, though. The real problem is granting "personhood" to corporations. THAT is what should be rescinded-- and I think rescinding it is necessary to save democracy. I think it is one of the most important issues facing the U.S.

But if corporations are granted personhood, then I think the ACLU is entirely right to insist on extending civil liberties and constitutional rights to ALL persons within the constitution's jurisdiction.

There is a simple solution that preserves the essential principle of equal rights-- rescind the corporate personhood that is the basis for such rights.

[ellenfl]

4. perhaps that's the plan? sorry, i'm a pollyana. eom

[Luminous Animal]

6. I agree. And a point of information.

The four dissenting justices affirmed "corporate personhood" in Stevens' dissent.

This case's decision made no new inroads to "corporate personhood" nor was any such argument made.

[NYC_SKP]

5. ACLU is changing their stipes on this matter...

To their credit, though a bit late...

ACLU May Reverse Course On Campaign Finance Limits After Supreme Court Ruling
By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN, Special to the Sun | January 24, 2010

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.

The ACLU has long opposed government limits to how much a donor can give to a political campaign or spend airing advertisements on an issue during an election. On this point, the ACLU has been in agreement with conservative organizations that believe money contributions are a form of political speech and deserving of First Amendment protection. It has been at odds with many liberal organizations, which have argued money in politics must be strictly limited so that rich organizations and individuals don't wield outsize influence.

But Thursday’s Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, which would enable corporations to spend freely on political causes, is forcing the ACLU to address what one internal memo describes as a "Skokie moment," a reference to the controversy in which the organization defended the right of American Nazis to march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie. The moment is often seen as one of the acid tests of the ACLU’s willingness to stick to its First Amendment principles.

The First Amendment, opening article of the Bill of Rights, says that Congress “shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press . . .” It was cited in Thursday’s Supreme Court’s decision, which was is in accord with the ACLU’s traditional position that the government should keep out of regulating money in politics. The organization had filed a brief in support of the winning side in the case. But concern that the Supreme Court ruling will fundamentally alter American democracy has ignited within the union an intense debate that was aired on Saturday at the regular quarterly meeting of the 83-member board of directors and in interviews with this reporter. The board on Sunday sent the issue to its special committee on campaign finance to mull the impact of Citizens United.

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