From Ravings of John C. A. Bambenek
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."-Voltaire
The right to express unpopular opinions, advocate despised ideas (NAMBLA) and display graphic images is something the ACLU has steadfastly defended for all of its history. Exception: in the case for pro-lifers.
The ACLU's Reproductive Rights Project has a lot to do with why the ACLU is so reluctnat to defend the rights of anti-abortion protesters.
"With a $2 million dollar budget and a staff of 17 employees, Janet Benshoof was the Union's most devoted activist for abortion rights.....she became so overextended in her approach that she advocated mob pressure on the judiciary; she pushed for "pro-choice" activists to march on court rooms where abortion cases were being heard. "Twilight of Liberty
To the ACLU, anti-abortion protesters are not seen in the same light as civil rights demonstrators in the 60's, but as lunatic fascists out to destroy freedom.
"Hence, the reluctance of the ACLU to defend principle, that is, the excersize of First Ammendment rights by anti-abortion activists. Ironically, real facists-like the American Nazis and Klansmen-have had thier rights protected more often and with greater vigor by the ACLU than anti-abortion demonstrators .Twilight of Liberty
Of course there are loonies in the anti-abortion movement, but that was true of the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement of the 60's, and even today in the "pro-choice" demonstrators. Every movement has it's fringe element. But while the ACLU was right on top in defending any violations of the law for all of these movements, when it comes to the opponents of abortion having their First Amendment rights violated by the authorities, the ACLU is completely absent.
Not even having the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act(RICO) thrown at anti-abortion protesters moved the ACLU into action.
The ACLU is nominally opposed to the RICO statute, and there are some senior members, like Washington official Antonio Califa, who are truly opposed to the invocation of RICO against any protesters, including opponents of abortion. However, due largely to the influence of Benshoof, the ACLU's record is grievously stained in this area. Twilight of Liberty
It was actually her suggestion in a booklet titled, "Preserving the Right to Choose: How to Cope with Violence and Disruption at Abortion Clinics." The ACLU would not tolerate the use of RICO against nuclear weapons dissedents, but in the case of anti-abortion protesters the matter is quite different. In fact, the ACLU has actually used the RICO against them. When pro-life demonstrators were sued under RICO in Philadelphia, the local chapter of the ACLU filed an amicus brief on behalf of the plaintiffs, the Northeast Women's Center.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - BillB
I have not spent a lot of time sizing up the aclu. I've never sent them any money but you could say I support them in spirit.
That being said, it only makes sense that they, when confronted with the choice of representing the side (pro-choice) that supports freedom in a very meaningful and very personal way, that is, decisions that so dramatically affect ones life, versus representing the fereedom/rights of those to VOICE the opposite opinion (anti-abortion), that admittedly has no real personal affect on their lives, they choose the former.
Where's the problem here?
The issue of the aborted fetus/baby (feel free to pick the semantic representation of your choice) is not of consequence for the purposes of your argument.
You reference the Klan and Nazi's but that's thoroughly irrelevant to the abortion deal.
I'm not familiar with the so-called rico hypocricy so if they use it when it suits them and are against it when it doesn't I would agree with you there.
Obviously that would be the epitome of hypocricy. I would add not uncommon in the field of Law.
But choosing sides? That's as old as the oldest profession and I can't fault them for that.
I should say that I am pro-choice.
2 - Steve S
The ACLU defends a principle here and there, which can put them on one side of an issue or another. Since the principles they defend are individual rights (abortion) and equality (gay and lesbian rights), then it only stands to reason that conservatives label them a liberal group as individual rights and equality are liberal ideals.
The thing I love about the ACLU the best is the migraines they give the Right.
3 - Shark
Hey, BambiNeck, the cartoonist called and said panel #6 had the labels incorrect:
The guy with target on his chest should have read: "Abortion Doctors"
And the guy holding the target should have read, "Pro-Life Terrorist"
Please correct.
Thanks in advance,
The Management
4 - Shark
Forgot to mention:
Man -- am I glad fanatical Right-Wing groups have found a marketing tool on the internet!
They've been so MARGINALIZED over the last few years.
Welcome to Blogcritics, boyz; pull up a modem and start cutting and pasting!
5 - Mark Saleski
The thing I love about the ACLU the best is the migraines they give the Right.
which is one of the many reasons i never forget to renew my yearly membership.
6 - JR
Dear Mr. Bambenek,
Can you also please post a list of corporations that support your cause?
Thanks.
7 - John Bambenek
More intelligent commentary from the bowels of the left....
8 - Aaman
JohnB, nice cartoon. I strongly feel however, that linking to all sites in yr roll is not appropriate from blogcritics. I suggest you do this from your own blog.
Editors?
9 - John Bambenek
That's fair, Aaman. JR, I have no ideas what corporations do and do not support. There is no buy red as far as I know.
10 - Shark
The marketing shit is WAY outta line, imo.
Dangerous move for BC to allow it.
11 - John Bambenek
huh??
12 - bhw
From the post:
If you would like to join, it is very simple.
Go to our new portal at Protest The ACLU , click where it says "sign up now", and fill out a simple form. This will enable us to send you a weekly newsletter with information, and keep your email private.
That's marketing.
13 - Mark Saleski
from the bowels of the left....
ah, that didn't take long.
nice.
14 - Steve S
Mark, it ought to be clear that the Christian Right here at BlogCritics is anally obsessed.
15 - ClubhouseCancer
No one should take seriously any book by moron bigot William Donahue, who, despite having written several books, almost certainly is incapable of even reading one. I'd guess the laughable typos in the excerpt above are in the original. (It's "amendment," you know, like "amend," which means "change"?)
To Donahue, gay marriage is "a notion that belongs in asylum."
Culture critic Donahue has also observed: "Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular... I like families. I like children. They like abortions."
Catholics and right-wingers do themselves no favors by sending out this backward, low-IQ asshole as a spokesman.
The ACLU isn't perfect, but it is dedicated to preserving free speech rights. Their opposition to abortion-clinic terrorism of course doesn't mean they don't support the anti-choice folks' right to express their opinions, as most people know.
This kind of crap is just the same-old same-old that us in the ACLU have heard for years. Yawn.
16 - Aaman
Tear down the wall (of links), please
17 - Rodney Welch
The ACLU can be a thorn in the ass of the dogmatic Left, too. They have also defended Oliver North, Rush Limbaugh, and yes, even fundamentalist Christians.
18 - John Bambenek
In regards to Donahue, it isn't like we had an election and made this guy our spokesmen. He does it on his own volition.
19 - ClubhouseCancer
Mr. Bambenek, you have constructed a post around Donahue's "ideas." In fact, most of your post consists of quotes from his work.
20 - John Bambenek
I know what I did, I was just saying he is not the official spokesperson of the Roman Catholic Church of America...
21 - gonzo marx
the final line of the original Post sez..
*This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst!*
"Blogburst" shows , by definition, that we have a concerted blitz of Propaganda co-ordinated into "production"s
just a bit of Confirmation of what many around BC have speculated upon, straight from a "Source" involved
nuff said?
Excelsior!
22 - ClubhouseCancer
Mr. Bambenek,
If you're attempting to distance yourself from Donahue and his evil idiocy, I'd say smart move. Otherwise, I'm not sure I get your point.
You built a post around someone's "ideas," and I've criticized that someone.
And he may not have been elected spokesman, but Donahue sure gets on the TV a lot. He sure sounds like a self-appointed spokesman at least. And surely he's the spokeman for the Persecuted Catholics of America, or whatever he calls his organization.
I will also point out that you chose to let him speak for you in the post above.
23 - Matt
Donahue is an apologist for pedophiles, and a lunatic on the far fringes of the right, who couches his hate speech under the umbrella of Catholic Civil Rights. I will never wish disease on anyone. But if I did, Donahue could be on the short list. If the Catholic Church doesn't want "the bowels of the left" like Clubhouse and myself to see him as a defacto spokeperson for the entire RC Church, perhaps they should kidnap him and bury him in a crypt under St Peter's, with the other pedophilia apologists.
24 - Voracious Reader
I don't mean to be an ass...what's wrong with links? Are we not supposed put links in our reviews/articles?
25 - Dave Nalle
Contrary to all the criticism levelled at the ACLU, there seems to be one consistent characteristic of who they support and who they don't - money.
The two main rights issues the ACLU gets flack for not helping out with are gun rights and right to life issues. But unlike other issues the ACLU does take an interest in, both of these have their own outspoken and effective lobbying and legal defense organizations. Perhaps that's why the ACLU doesn't get involved?
Dave