4 ms·

Trump's election handed them an extra ~$100m a year, but advocating for free speech in Charlottesville put that all at risk. Their Director, Anthony Romero, im

by dahdum 4y ago

Trump's election handed them an extra ~$100m a year, but advocating for free speech in Charlottesville put that all at risk. Their Director, Anthony Romero, implemented a new ideological and political backlash test for those they represent. It was his decision. His interviews show he'd much rather be in charge of sprawling, well funded partisan organization than a smaller crotchety one. I see the appeal. He's becoming a Democratic power player, funding campaigns and helping define the Democratic agenda. Why would he ever go back? He has more personal impact than he ever could under the old ACLU, can become much wealthier, fraternize with celebrities and politicians, and all while being consistent with his personal politic views. I used to support the ACLU and I support progressive causes. Now that they are one and the same, I'd rather donate to candidates and causes directly instead of letting Romero pick for me.

api 4y ago
It reminds me a bit of what happened to the National Rifle Association honestly. The money is in being hyper-partisan, not being objective and standing for some principle. The NRA is now basically a far-right Republican lobby group that is only incidentally about second amendment rights. Seems true in media too. Look at what happened to Joe Rogan when he got his big deal. His move down-market and toward a more partisan position is just going where the money is, I'm sure at the behest of his new owners. Objectivity doesn't pay. Standing for principles doesn't pay. Selling out to partisan or corporate agendas pays.
- jerkstate 4y ago
  There are gun advocacy groups which are issues-focused and compromise far less than the NRA, which is kind of a joke among younger gun advocates. Gun Owners of America is one who frequently supports legal funds for gun advocacy issues. Occasionally, a state gun rights group escalates a case up through circuit courts to the supreme court and deserves financial support. This past year, the California Rifle & Pistol association fought a case around standard-capacity magazine bans, and the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association fought a case regarding restrictions on carrying and transporting firearms. I believe CRPA is a 501(c)3 organization so donations are tax-deductible. I am sure there are others but I would be fine if the ACLU focused on the 1st amendment and left gun advocacy to other more focused groups (although I would appreciate if those groups also got 501(c)3 certification)
- SV_BubbleTime 4y ago
  >The NRA is now basically a far-right Republican lobby group that is only incidentally about second amendment rights. As someone who has extensively followed the missteps of the NRA under Wayne LaPierre… I don’t believe you understand what Far-Right is, nor the actual details of the NRA. Allow me to give you a primer that isn’t built off of media fear mongering… NRA is very much Establishment Right. That’s part of the problem. They wanted to snuggle with McConnell and Graham and hated Trump just as much as the afore mentioned do. The NRA wants status quo. Don’t actually do anything because we can’t campaign on that. Go to galas, make important calls and meetings in DC, have the company buy a house for you. As both sides have abandoned compromise solutions, the NRA is still playing the 2A game as if it was bowling pin matches and skeet clubs. Guess what though? The young people that make up modern gun owners have different concerns. The Hearing Protection Act and National Reciprocity should have gone through on Trump Day 1. But the NRA didn’t really care about either. Almost every gun owner in the county was pissed off when NRA didn’t storm the fucking gates when Philando Castile was killed by a twitchy cop. That was a fucking home run to prove gun ownership isn’t about skin color and they did absolutely nothing. GOA and SAF took an immediate stand despite many members and groups being police affiliated. GOA and SAF have been building their ranks with young, motivated, and politically active members. The NRA Old Guard is dying of age, not by bullets real or political, by bloat. Anyone that is anti-gun should not be celebrating the slow dissolve of the NRA. And likewise, if you (seriously!?) think the NRA is “Far Right” you really aren’t going to like the ambitious and motivated direction of the new guard. They’ll compromise when it makes sense, but real compromise, where you give something up for something they want.
  - tomschlick 4y ago
    SAF and GOA are doing great work. Side note: For anyone who doesn't know, they are available on Amazon Smile as a charity so you can support them with a few cents from every purchase you make at no additional cost to you.

by dahdum 4y ago

api 4y ago

It reminds me a bit of what happened to the National Rifle Association honestly. The money is in being hyper-partisan, not being objective and standing for some principle. The NRA is now basically a far-right Republican lobby group that is only incidentally about second amendment rights. Seems true in media too. Look at what happened to Joe Rogan when he got his big deal. His move down-market and toward a more partisan position is just going where the money is, I'm sure at the behest of his new owners. Objectivity doesn't pay. Standing for principles doesn't pay. Selling out to partisan or corporate agendas pays.

jerkstate 4y ago
There are gun advocacy groups which are issues-focused and compromise far less than the NRA, which is kind of a joke among younger gun advocates. Gun Owners of America is one who frequently supports legal funds for gun advocacy issues. Occasionally, a state gun rights group escalates a case up through circuit courts to the supreme court and deserves financial support. This past year, the California Rifle & Pistol association fought a case around standard-capacity magazine bans, and the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association fought a case regarding restrictions on carrying and transporting firearms. I believe CRPA is a 501(c)3 organization so donations are tax-deductible. I am sure there are others but I would be fine if the ACLU focused on the 1st amendment and left gun advocacy to other more focused groups (although I would appreciate if those groups also got 501(c)3 certification)
SV_BubbleTime 4y ago
>The NRA is now basically a far-right Republican lobby group that is only incidentally about second amendment rights. As someone who has extensively followed the missteps of the NRA under Wayne LaPierre… I don’t believe you understand what Far-Right is, nor the actual details of the NRA. Allow me to give you a primer that isn’t built off of media fear mongering… NRA is very much Establishment Right. That’s part of the problem. They wanted to snuggle with McConnell and Graham and hated Trump just as much as the afore mentioned do. The NRA wants status quo. Don’t actually do anything because we can’t campaign on that. Go to galas, make important calls and meetings in DC, have the company buy a house for you. As both sides have abandoned compromise solutions, the NRA is still playing the 2A game as if it was bowling pin matches and skeet clubs. Guess what though? The young people that make up modern gun owners have different concerns. The Hearing Protection Act and National Reciprocity should have gone through on Trump Day 1. But the NRA didn’t really care about either. Almost every gun owner in the county was pissed off when NRA didn’t storm the fucking gates when Philando Castile was killed by a twitchy cop. That was a fucking home run to prove gun ownership isn’t about skin color and they did absolutely nothing. GOA and SAF took an immediate stand despite many members and groups being police affiliated. GOA and SAF have been building their ranks with young, motivated, and politically active members. The NRA Old Guard is dying of age, not by bullets real or political, by bloat. Anyone that is anti-gun should not be celebrating the slow dissolve of the NRA. And likewise, if you (seriously!?) think the NRA is “Far Right” you really aren’t going to like the ambitious and motivated direction of the new guard. They’ll compromise when it makes sense, but real compromise, where you give something up for something they want.
- tomschlick 4y ago
  SAF and GOA are doing great work. Side note: For anyone who doesn't know, they are available on Amazon Smile as a charity so you can support them with a few cents from every purchase you make at no additional cost to you.