Defund the ACLU?

I found out what the "defund the ACLU" nonsense is all about. It sounds meaningless because the American Civil Liberties Union is funded by private donations. The determined and organized faction of far-right-wing Christians who are attempting to establish a theocracy and dismantle the American system of justice, and their friends in Congress, haven't yet passed a law outlawing private donations for causes they don't support, although I'm sure they'd love to. Apparently, however, they have an effort afoot to deny the award of legal fees to plaintiffs who prevail in constitutional and civil rights cases based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment -- a group that, of course, has included the ACLU. The related bill, HR 2679, passed in the House and awaits a vote in the Senate. Reportedly, a majority of Republicans voted in favor and a majority of Democrats opposed it. The bill tracker is here and the story is here.

Now let's see if the lame-duck Congress tries to push this through before the end of the year, when those wild, Constitution-loving, card-carrying-ACLU-member Democrats take over and block it, unless they're too busy with all their efforts to turn children into homosexuals and destroy Christmas.

In case you don't think the takeover efforts are a serious threat to the American system of government and way of life, here's an interesting quote from D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries and one of the heroes of those who would like to see a theocracy established in the U.S.: "Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society." As he says, you are either for Jesus or against Jesus, presumably including such vile transgressions as wishing people a happy holiday (see "Christmas Without Christ").

Some in this movement take pains to explain that they do not advocate violence, such as R.J. Rushdoony, although it's beyond me how they propose otherwise to establish one interpretation of a particular religion as, in Rushdoony's words, the "exclusive basis for civilization" and the "standard of all of life." I guess bills like HR 2679 are a good start.

Others, however, are not so circumspect. For more hair-raising details, see Theocracy Watch, "The Crusaders," and "Battle Cry for Theocracy." These people aren't finished. Stay tuned.
Tags: ACLU, theocracy, Rushdoony, First Amendment