The ACRU Blog

Jennifer LeClaire, a reporter for The Voice, has written a great article on the ACLU's assault on religion.

ACRU Legal Counsel John Armor had the following comment for the article:

Organizations like the ACLU are using the constitution as a weapon against the expression of religion. The founders intended that government should not be in the business of promoting one religion over the other, not that the government should be hostile to the idea of religion.

John Armor will be discussing the Florida Science Standards, which is the ACRU's latest ACLU Outrage. He will be talking to Chuck Baker on KKKK-AM in Longmont, CO. He will be on Friday January 4th, at 4:00pm EST.

New ACRU Senior Fellow Kenneth Blackwell wrote this op-ed in the New York Sun today. This op-ed discusses two important cases be heard by the US Supreme Court on January 9th.

Crawford v. Marion County and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita is about Indiana's new voter ID law. The law requires people voting on Election Day to show a government issue ID.

Mr. Blackwell discusses how important this case is. Talking about the views on this issue Blackwell said this:

These views come from two different ways of looking at voting rights. One outlook is that the system should do everything possible to help facilitate voting. This would mean making voting registration and casting votes as easy and fast as we can. The other is that voting is an important civic duty, with the emphasis on personal responsibility to properly register, go to the appointed locations, and fulfill whatever reasonable requirements are necessary to keep fraudulent votes from undermining the process.

Case information can be found here. The ACRU has filed an amicus brief, which can be read here.

Peter Ferrara will be interviewed twice on Tuesday, January 8th about the Indiana Voter ID case. The first is with Chad Groening and the American Family Radio Network News. He will be on from 10:30am-10:35am EST. Go here to find your local station or listen live by going here.

The second interview will be with Greg Allen and The Right Balance with Greg Allen. Peter will be on from 11:06am- 11:20am EST. Listen online here.

Rob Bluey, a columnist at Townhall.com wrote the following column Sunday on the upcoming Indiana Voter ID Case being heard Wednesday, January 9th. This is following ACRU Senior Fellow Kenneth Blackwell's column in the New York Sun.

Rob talked about, among other points, that the left claims requiring an ID will reduce voter turnout. Says Bluey,

Claims of disenfranchisement have been rebutted in numerous studies of voter ID requirements. The most recent, a statistical analysis completed by The Heritage Foundation in September, flatly concluded that voter ID laws don't depress voter turnout.

According a poll quoted in Bluey's column, 77% of approve of an ID system at the polls. The ACLU is out of the mainstream.

The problem is spreading. It used to be that Chicago or St. Louis was famous for having dogs, cats and others voting when they were not allowed. But more and more areas around the country are facing this problem. The ACLU and other leftists are on the wrong side of this one. They seem to not care that dogs, cats, and dead people seem to vote.

John Armor will be discussing the Florida Science Standards on WATR 1320-AM in Waterbury, CT. He will be on January 11th, 2007 from 11:10-11:40am EST. John will be talking to Ed Flynn and his Talk of the Town Show. You can listen live here.

Peter Ferrara was interviewed 1200 WOAI in San Antonio about the Indiana Voter ID case being heard at the Supreme Court today. The article can be read here.

When asked about the claim that these laws depress the turnout of the poor, Ferrara responded,

If you don't have a photo i.d., under this law, the state will give you one for free. If you are too poor even to get one of the free photo i.ds, you can be exempted from the law. The only people who are inconvenienced will be those who are trying to commit voter fraud.

More reports on today's arguments as time permits.

Wake Up America wrapped up yesterdays arguments in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. Their discussion is here.

As well as writing some great insight into the justices' questioning, "SPREE" mentioned, the ACRU and our amicus brief that was filed supporting the Indiana Law.

John Armor will be discussing the latest ACLU Outrage, The ACLU siding with illegal immigrants, with Elaine Lawson and The PartyLine on WILO/WSHW in Frankfort, KY. He will be on from 8:30-9:30am EST January 18.

Peter Ferrara will be recapping the Indiana Voter ID case with Mary Maddox and Carmen Pate on the "Point of View" show on the USA Radio Network. He will be on January 11 from 2:30-2:45pm EST. Listen live here or go here to find your local station.

Peter will also discuss the Indiana Voter ID case with Brian Thomas on that 55KRC Morning Show in Cincinnati, OH. He will be on January 14th at 7:40am EST for one segment. Listen online here.

John Armor will be talking to Jean Dean and The Tri-State Viewpoint on WRVC_AM, Huntington, WV on January 17th, from 12:35-12:55pm. He will be discussing the latest ACLU Outrage, their opposition of the Real ID act.

He will also be talking about that same topic with Jay Scott on the Southwestern Montana Radio Network from 11:15-11:45am on Friday, January 25th. Listen in if you are in either one of those area.

Senior Fellow Ken Blackwell wrote this column for Townhall.com where he makes the argument that the Justice Department betrayed us with the amicus brief it filed in the DC Gun Ban case, to be heard by the Supreme Court this term.

Says Blackwell of the US Government's apparent desire to split up gun rights:

The problem with splitting a baby in half is that the baby usually dies. If our rights can be regulated to the point that we can't exercise them in our own homes, then they've been regulated out of existence.

Information on this case, DC v. Heller, can be found here.

Ken Blackwell will be talking to Cam Edwards on Cam and Company show with NRANews. He will be discussing the DC Gun Ban case. Listen in online at NRANews.com or Sirius Radio Channel 144. He will be on from 11:40pm-12:00am EST.

January 21, 2008
Contact Information
703-683-5004
Mary Beth Hutchins ext. 105
mhutchins@crcpublicrelations.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACRU ANNOUNCES KEN BLACKWELL AS SENIOR FELLOW

WASHINGTON - The American Civil Rights Union announces the addition of Kenneth Blackwell as a Senior Fellow.

"I am delighted to be associated with ACRU. It is a civil rights beacon of light in a sea of public policy darkness," commented Blackwell. "It's commitment to individual freedom, regardless of race, gender, or economic station is refreshing. ACRU is a growing force of reason and moral authority in the American conversation on the US Constitution and civil society."

Kenneth Blackwell joins the ACRU as a Senior Fellow and spokesman on a variety of issues including first amendment rights, voting rights and regulations, national security, and Executive Authority. As the former Secretary of State of Ohio, Mr. Blackwell has also held a number of leadership and service positions in the worlds of business, politics, and economics.

"The ACRU is extremely honored to welcome Ken Blackwell as a Senior Fellow," commented ACRU Chairman Susan Carleson. "Ken brings an excellent balance of scholarship and practitioner's experience to our organization. His work as a public official, writer, and teacher in the public policy arena is respected by conservatives and liberals alike. We are glad to add his voice and work to our effort to protect the civil rights of all Americans."

Mr. Blackwell's public service includes terms as an undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and mayor of Cincinnati. In 1994, he became the first African-American elected to a statewide executive office in Ohio when he was elected treasurer of state.

The American Civil Rights Union protects and defends the civil rights granted to all Americans by the Constitution. The ACRU is a non-partisan 501c(3) tax-exempt organization and receives no federal grants or funding.

Peter Ferrara and Horace Cooper will both be on the radio Monday, January 21st to talk about Voting Rights, MLK Day and whatever else comes up.

Peter will be on the Steve Malzberg Show on WOR 710AM in New York at 4:30pm EST. You can listen live here.

Horace will be talking to Scott James and the The James Gang on Fox News Radio 600 KCOL, in Loveland, CO. He will be on at 7:35pm EST. Listen to Horace live here.

UPDATE: Horace will also be on the Mike Agnello Show on WCHS 58 Radio from 5:08-5:20pm EST. He will again be talking about Voting Rights and MLK Day.

ACRU Senior Fellow Han Zeiger has an op-ed in today's Washington Times. He discusses Philadelphia's Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America about to be kicked out of their headquarters they have been in for 80+ years.

In today's New York Sun, Senior Fellow Ken Blackwell wrote a column arguing Congress should reauthorize FISA.

Says Blackwell,

We are at war. Destroying two skyscrapers and part of our military headquarters are not just criminal acts. Killing 2,973 people in a planned attack is not just a criminal act. These are acts of war. While law enforcement is to maintain harmony within our culture, war is to protect our culture from being eradicated.

Peter Ferrara will be talking to Zeb Bell and the Zeb on the Ranch show Monday, January 28 at 12:06am. He will talking about the DC Gun Ban case. He can be heard on KBAR AM 1230 in Burley, ID.

Senior Fellow Horace Cooper has an op-ed in today's Washington Times, where he argues for renewing FISA.

Says Cooper,

It's been six years since the odious attacks of September 11 and even though there is an understandable amount of complacency settling in, as Margaret Thatcher warned the first President Bush, it's "no time to go wobbly." It is essential that our policy-makers at home drown out the scare tactics of leftist groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). We absolutely must do so in order to make sure that we stay ever vigilant and protect our citizens domestically.

The Supreme Court announced that they will hear the DC Gun Ban case, DC v. Heller, on March 18th.

You can read all about the ACRU's activities on this case here.

John Armor will be on the air a couple times over the next few days to talk about the latest ACLU outrage.

On January 31st, listen to John on The Morning Show with Craig Anderson on KWEL-AM, Midland Texas. He will be on at 8:35am EST. Listen live here.

Also, on February 2nd, John with be on The Advocate with Niel Young on WEZS-AM 1350, Lanconia, NH. He will be on either at 9:10am EST or 9:30am EST for about 30 minutes.