|
Home » ACLU Insider » Archives » September 2008 Archives
September 2008 Archives Questions I'd Like to Ask at the Next Presidential Debate September 30, 2008  Following Friday's first Presidential Debate, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois put out a campaign ad criticizing Senator John McCain for not using the words "middle class" during the 90 minute debate which was focused, at least partially on the economy.I can't say whether or not the words "middle class" should have been mentioned - but what struck me is that, during a debate about who should be the next President of the United States, no one mentioned the word "Constitution." The oath of office, administered to each incoming President does not pledge to "preserve, protect and defend" the economy, the middle class, the borders, or even the nation or the people of the United States. Instead each new President swears "that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." That's the oath they take standing in front of the nation.Those are the words that magically transform them from President-elect to President. So it'd be nice to know what they think it means - especially given the Bush Administration's disasterous relationship with our founding documents. So, to the debate moderators for the next three presidential and vice presidential debates - how about a few of these questions: read more » Constitutional Tots September 25, 2008  I had the good fortune to find myself in line in a high school cafeteria yesterday. It's been a long, long time since I've had the opportunity to make a meal of tater tots and pizza.I was there to talk to students about the Constitution and Bill of Rights - Sept. 17th was Constitution Day after all - and push them to think about why our system of limited government and civil liberties is important. I thought I was ready to answer the tough questions students might throw out (Skokie, Fighting Terrorism, 2nd Amendment). But what I was unprepared for was the level of enthusiasm of the students for discussing the constitutional issues that affect them most directly - they had very sharp opinions about student rights to free speech and privacy and they were excited about the upcoming election. I was really impressed by how many 18 year old students were already registered, and how many under-18s were mad about not being able to vote yet. I think the country will be in good hands. read more » Civil Liberties Video Contest September 19, 2008  Win Fame, Glory and an iPod Touch by entering the ACLU of Illinois' 2008 Student Civil Liberties Video Contest. All Illinois high school students are invited to submit a video - 3 minutes or shorter - on the topic "What civil liberties issue shoudl the next president address first?" Winners will receive iTunes music, ACLU tshirts or even an iPod Touch. Top videos will be published on the ACLU of Illinois website and shown at the ACLU of Illinois Member Conference. To enter, visit http://action.aclu.org/videocontest. It's your Constitution. Stand Up for it. read more » Good news for Reproductive Health Care from Illinois! September 12, 2008 From Colleen Connell: Score a victory for reproductive justice in the Illinois Appellate Court on Friday! Ruling that an unimplanted, fertilized egg is not a "human being" for purposes of a wrongful death action, the Illinois Appellate Court today reversed a 2005 decision by a Cook County Judge. The decision strikes a blow for scientific sanity and access to reproductive health care. Had the lower court's decision been allowed to stand, an Illinois couple would have been able to sue their fertility clinic for tens of thousands of dollars because the clinic inadvertently had destroyed unimplanted eggs stored at the facility. The lower court had accepted the argument that a human being is created when an egg is fertilized, regardless of whether the fertilized egg is implanted in a woman's body or left in a Petri dish. Left undisturbed, the lower court's decision could have limited the ability of women in Illinois to contraceptive services and genetic testing. Moreover, the decision would curb the ability of couples in Illinois to use reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, in starting a family. read more » ACLU Calls for Investigation of Police Conduct Around RNC September 03, 2008 Numerous accounts from the Twin Cities show some disturbing trends in police conduct towards protestors at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota. According to Glenn Greenwald, over the weekend: Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than "fire code violations," and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying.read more » |
|
