Is the ACLU a biased organization? If not, why? If so, why?

Question

I've read more on this organization thanks in part to your help. All of you...

This organization is the most worthless waste of time ever. Their name claims a fair fight, but they fight towards a goal of their own....uck....how trashy on a huge level can they be???

Answer 1

Yes. It was founded by an avowed Communist.

ACLU = Aging Communist Leftover Union

The ACLU's founder, Roger Baldwin, stated: "We are for SOCIALISM, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the state itself... We seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the SOLE CONTROL of those who produce wealth. COMMUNISM is the goal." (Source: Trial and Error, by Geo. Grant)

Following are some of the stated goals of the ACLU, from its own published Policy Issues:

* the legalization of prostitution (Policy 211);
* the defense of all pornography, including CHILD PORN, as "free speech" (Policy 4);
* the decriminalization and legalization of all drugs (Policy 210);
* the promotion of homosexuality (Policy 264);
* the opposition of rating of music and movies (Policy 18);
* opposition against parental consent of minors seeking abortion (Policy 262);
* opposition of informed consent preceding abortion procedures (Policy 263);
* opposition of spousal consent preceding abortion (Policy 262);
* opposition of parental choice in children's education (Policy 80)

-- not to mention the defense and promotion of euthanasia, polygamy, government control of church institutions, gun control, tax-funded abortion, birth limitation, etc. (Policies 263, 133, 402, 47, 261, 323, 271, 91, 85).

Answer 2

As with all organizations, they are not perfect.

Their core goals are to defend the Bill of Rights, most importantly the five clauses of the 1st Amendment.

They will take any case, from any perspective, but not always equally.

High profiles cases, that get their name out there, or where the issue is national in scope, tend to have higher priority over local issues. That's just part of the political game -- they can't do their job if at least some people in power aren't worried about them.

While they do also claim to value all causes equally, like most attorneys the realize that a sympathetic case is easier to win. So, if they have to choose (limited resources, etc.) they'll take the more winnable case.

However, as an exception, they will take cases likely to lose if it helps their image, including taking cases like the KKK just so they can continue claiming they support everybody equally.

The bottom line is that they are biased towards freedom of expression, and against those who would limit expression. They have no particular religious bias for or against any religion, but can't (as strongly) support groups that are hate-based rather than those who are more reasonable.

So, they balance their goal of free speech for everybody with political reality of taking some cases (and avoiding some cases) that will cause more harm than good in the long run. Which is only sensible.

Answer 3

The ACLU, like any organization, has many facets and many pluses and minuses.

At the core, the ACLU works to defend the bill of rights. Is that a bad thing? I think that all public servants, political appointees, and elected officials should take an oath to the Bill of Rights and be given a test on its contents yearly. You fail the test, you get fired (you have no business on the public dole if you don't understand the document).

The ACLU does have its bad side - defending prisoner rights. However, this really depends on your perspective. For each bad case, you will find 2-3 cases that you might agree on. The police and Fox News tend to take a negative read on the ACLU. They pick and choose cases based on their own biases to show the ACLU in a bad light. If the police would especially learn how to read and reason, they would find hundreds of cases defended by the ACLU which benefited them (the Police Officer bill of rights, public employee privacy acts, etc just to name a few).

I am a card carrying member of the ACLU and the NRA. I believe in the bill of rights and the constitution. Both organizations work hard to defend these rights. Without these defenses, we would be totally at the mercy of the chimps we have in office right now.

Just my two.

Answer 4

I do not know if it was established by Communists or who, but I know that they raise voice whenever there is miscarriage of justice. There are many human rights that are taken for granted this days in USA that would not be heard of without organizations such as ACLU. If you have evidence of bias on their part, lets hear it!
As for Communism: whenever you take your next paid vacation or sick day, whenever you send your child to a public, tuition free school remember that these would not exist without that old movement "communism" that brought important rights to all workers around the world.

Answer 5

An advocacy organization is supposed to be biased. The ACLU is biased for freedom and against oppressive government.

I don't understand how people could be against freedom and for oppressive government.

Answer 6

They are the most unbiased group I have ever seen. They will help to protect the civil liberties of anyone who they feel is being treated unjustly, they protect the rights of the KKK, as long as they act civillay, as well as PETA, and tree huggers. They are for the rights of everyone to act as they want to as long as they do not harm other people, everyone should have the rights that the constitution says they have and the ACLU helps to protect them, even if the person if offensive to most other people.

Answer 7

Yes they are biased.
They fight for the rights of the minority without regard for the rights of the majority.

Answer 8

They may seem biased but their purpose is to uphold civil liberties.

Answer 9

biased ,,,, for civil rights, and liberties, I can't see why

Answer 10

no they will piss off just about anyone