Is the ACLU a Liberal Organization?

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Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenges mainstream characterizations of the ACLU as a strictly liberal organization.

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"In Defense of America: Fighting A Different Kind of War, Without Becoming A Different Kind of Country" with Anthony Romero, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

President Bush says the U.S. is fighting a "different kind of war," but does that mean it must become a different kind of country? Rather than justifying the usurpation of constitutional powers, this war demands that we stick to our core values more strongly than ever, says the ACLU. Romero shares examples from the legal war that he has been fighting at home.

Anthony D. Romero is the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, the nation's premier defender of liberty and individual freedom. He took the helm of the 87-year-old organization just four days before the September 11, 2001 attacks. Shortly afterward, the ACLU launched its national Safe and Free campaign to protect basic freedoms during a time of crisis. Under Romero's leadership, the ACLU gained court victories on the Patriot Act filed landmark litigation on the torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. custody, and filed the first successful legal challenge to the Bush administration's illegal NSA spying program.

Romero, an attorney with a history of public-interest activism, has presided over the most successful membership growth in the ACLU's history and more than doubled national staff and tripled the budget of the organization since he began his tenure. This unprecedented growth has allowed the ACLU to expand its nationwide litigation, lobbying and public education efforts, including new initiatives focused on racial justice, religious freedom, privacy, reproductive freedom and lesbian and gay rights.

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: August 24, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Author: ForaTv

Length: 00:05:32
Rating: 3.76
Views: 46611

Tags: speech first amendments rights laws private rush limbaugh radio drugs abortion marriage conservatives liberals foratv

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Video Comments:
xoxopig (November 23, 2008 at 4:08 am)
Love the ACLU. Their only flaw is defending the "free speech" of the religious trash. Otherwise, they're perfect. :)
joelyttle3 (December 23, 2008 at 7:36 am)
Free Speech doesn't just apply to the people you agree with. Otherwise it's not free.
MooseOfReason (December 30, 2008 at 1:09 am)
You can disagree with what they think and what they say, as I do you, but free speech applies to all citizens.

John Adams defended a British captain in court after the Boston Massacre.
kosimpson (November 23, 2008 at 1:42 am)
Oh yeah, everybody knows the ACLU is run by neocons. LOL. Here's a joke: What do Vampires and ACLU lawyers have in common? -They both cringe when they a cross displayed on public property.
taterville29 (November 14, 2008 at 6:50 pm)
The aclu is a an organization that is trying to take away our freedoms and anything good out of this country.All they do is double talk and twist the truth.I would advise anyone that believes in good values and needs a lawyer stay away fron aclu lawyer.Thats the first thing I ask a lawyer when I need one if he or she say they belong to the aclu I walk out and leave because I don't deal with garbage.
nofukenway (November 2, 2008 at 4:44 pm)
A liberal Jew run organization for the advancement of criminals and perverts....
lubestubes (October 29, 2008 at 8:36 pm)
Support the ACLU, the consitution was made to preverve our civil libertys, they do there best to help those whos civil libertys have been voilated. Its not about whos straight, gay, black, or white. It doesn't matter.
seanmadden9 (October 28, 2008 at 11:24 pm)
Liberals want to control everything? lol wow. This would be the conservatives lol. Liberals give people the right to choose their own path in life.... get a clue
havocgate (December 8, 2008 at 4:27 pm)
Conservatives want a government employee in every bedroom making sure you don't do anything naughty.
urasmore (October 22, 2008 at 5:02 pm)
ACLU never threatened to enforce the punishment of words. If you got arrested for saying faggot, the ACLU will probably try to help you