Michelle Malkin » San Diego’s government-sponsored Happy ACLU Day

San Diego’s government-sponsored Happy ACLU Day

By Michelle Malkin • March 26, 2008 03:36 PM

Yes, it’s true. The San Diego City Council voted yesterday to pass a resolution “commending the American Civil Liberties Union of the San Diego and Imperial Counties for its continuous advocacy for the rights and freedoms of all San Diego” and proclaiming an “American Civil Liberties Union Day” in the City of San Diego. (Hat tip - Rick Roberts)

The city bestowed the honor despite the ACLU’s litigious vendettas against San Diego, which cost some $900,000 in city tax dollars (remember the Mt. Soledad Cross case):

Two speakers opposed the recognition, including Heather Cameron, a representative of the law firm of Charles LiMandri.

LiMandri also serves as the West Coast director for the Thomas More Law Center, which along with other organizations, including the American Center for Law and Justice, donated thousands of hours of time to fight the ACLU’s demand that San Diego remove a historic cross from the Mt. Soledad Veterans’ Memorial. The case continued even after the federal government took over the site and San Diego no longer had control over it.

Cameron told the council members “one of the great myths” is that the ACLU started out as a pro-civil rights organization.

ACLU founder Roger Baldwin said, “Communism is the goal,” she told the council.

Cameron said Baldwin asserted that only a “small group of highly educated intellectuals” should dictate what everyone else believes.

In San Diego, the ACLU cost the city’s taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by raising the fight over the Mt. Soledad cross and continued the battle even after 76 percent of the voters supported maintaining the cross where it was built.

James Hartline, a Christian activist in San Diego, also spoke. He said the proposal to honor the ACLU was “one of the most repugnant acts” ever accomplished by the council and blamed the ACLU for a “long-term campaign of hate and religious bias against Christians.”

He cited a previous case brought against the city by the ACLU in which the organization collected $900,000 from city taxpayers.

“We do not want our names to be used to honor the American Civil Liberties Union,” Hartline said. “You are doing so in our name.”

A bipartisan team of council members, Tony Young and Brian Maienschein, opposed the resolution, and Jim Madaffer did not vote. The other five members – Kavin Faulconer, Atkins, Donne Frye, Ben Hueso and Scott Peters – went along.

Is your city council up to the same kind of government-sponsored self-flagellation?

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#1

On March 26th, 2008 at 3:48 pm, ajmontana said:

Please, Please, Please someone make all the insanity stop! and Hurry!
#2

On March 26th, 2008 at 3:56 pm, Rusty said:

If the ACLU actually had the guts to support the Second Amendment, I’d be happy to join and donate. Being “neutral” on gun ownership is as silly as being “neutral” on free speech. Even if I agree with them most of the time, their Second Amendment wishy-washiness makes it hard for me to take them seriously.
#3

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm, Boomer said:

Nothing like shooting yourself in the face San Diego. I have to agree with ajmontana stop the insanity or better yet stop the planet I think I want to get off.
#4

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:06 pm, Ditkaca said:

In San Diego, the ACLU cost the city’s taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by raising the fight over the Mt. Soledad cross and continued the battle even after 76 percent of the voters supported maintaining the cross where it was built.

That’s the problem. The majority is seldom taken into consideration in these matters. 76% should be enough to have the issue decided and done with. Sadly that rarely happens and I’m getting very tired of it.
#5

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm, md1964 said:

Who is surprised??? Common Sense in America Died Decades ago.
#6

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm, DBNinKY said:

“He cited a previous case brought against the city by the ACLU in which the organization collected $900,000 from city taxpayers.”

Isn’t the SD resolution like sending the guy who mugs you a thank-you card? Go figure!
#7

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:18 pm, bananny said:

San Diego County resident here.

As soon as we heard it was up for a vote, we KNEW that it would pass because of the way California leans, but there is no way on earth that I will ever support the ACLU (except for its demise, perhaps).

BRAVO to Heather Cameron, though; I’m surprised that groups against the ACLU actually got to speak or that their comments were even allowed in print.

For us, we are done with California after 42 years here; I used to be an optimist, but after witnessing firsthand what our lovely state has turned into and what the politicians have in mind (can it get any worse than Boxer, Feinstein, Pelosi, Baca, Nunez, & Villar?), and that all-important “voting bloc” over which they’re salivating, it’s time to go.
#8

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pm, cpodug said:

bananny said: can it get any worse than Boxer, Feinstein, Pelosi, Baca, Nunez, & Villar?

You forgot my own personal favorite, Pete Stark-Raving-Mad, my “representative.”

Seriously, I lived in San Diego for many years, before I moved up to the Bay Area. I’ve lived in many areas of the country, and visited a whole lot more. I’m afraid there’s no place left to go at least no place sane! Not in the USofA, anymore.
#9

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

Isn’t the SD resolution like sending the guy who mugs you a thank-you card? Go figure!

Yep. Kinda like a liberal complaining about Bush’s tax refund checks but never sending them back.
#10

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:37 pm, graysonret said:

Nothing like celebrating a communist-inspired organization! Well, communism is part of socialism,so I guess with socialists running the council, it doesn’t surprise me. I really feel sorry for the decent, intelligent people who live there. It’s a slap in the face to them.
#11

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm, wrcnossen said:

Ah, California. The land of fruits and nuts, with plenty of fertilizer for both.
#12

On March 26th, 2008 at 4:49 pm, granite said:

#6 On March 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm, DBNinKY said:

“Isn’t the SD resolution like sending the guy who mugs you a thank-you card? Go figure!”

#9 On March 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

“Isn’t the SD resolution like sending the guy who mugs you a thank-you card? Go figure!

Yep. Kinda like a liberal complaining about Bush’s tax refund checks but never sending them back.”

Whoa!
Two terrific bon mots.
Rim shots to you both!

#8 On March 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pm, cpodug said:

“bananny said: can it get any worse than Boxer, Feinstein, Pelosi, Baca, Nunez, & Villar?

You forgot my own personal favorite, Pete Stark-Raving-Mad, my “representative.”

Seriously, I lived in San Diego for many years, before I moved up to the Bay Area. I’ve lived in many areas of the country, and visited a whole lot more. I’m afraid there’s no place left to go at least no place sane! Not in the USofA, anymore.”

Massachusetts, a much smaller state, with Kennedy, Kerry, Frank, Patrick, and (previously) Studds, (and I’ve probably left some out) might deserve “honorable” mention.
#13

On March 26th, 2008 at 5:58 pm, vickisoup said:

My bet is on this “ACLU Day” being a non-monetary component of some settlement reached between the City and the ACLU. This is precisely the kind of cr*p that shows up in the “confidential terms of settlement”.
Que lastima.
#14

On March 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm, sdillard said:

Well, since I work for San Francisco government, nothing surprises me. I would have thought SD had more sense.

My parents moved out of CA a few years ago after living in CA since 1948. I have five years until retirement and then I am gone as well. I am a native Californian but the state has become unrecognizable. When Villaraigosa or Nunez is elected governor in 2010 this state will rapidly become completely unlivable.

Leave now.
#15

On March 26th, 2008 at 6:40 pm, DaveC said:

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit..
#16

On March 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm, Defector01 said:

San Diego is a rather normal city in California considering but does have its moments of stupidity
#17

On March 26th, 2008 at 7:18 pm, zorro said:

ACLU founder Roger Baldwin said, “Communism is the goal,” she told the council.

And I believe there is an audio recording of this commie fool making these statements.

San Diego’s representatives have made a major mistake. I’m sure the good people there will take care of it the next election cycle.
#18

On March 26th, 2008 at 8:48 pm, Tennessee Dave said:

On March 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm, Defector01 said:
San Diego is a rather normal city in California considering but does have its moments of stupidity

Isn’t that akin to being the least crazy person in the insane asylum?
#19

On March 26th, 2008 at 9:44 pm, Speakup said:

Part of a settlement? Was 1M now 900K?
#20

On March 26th, 2008 at 10:20 pm, ammo john said:

Reminds me of the Bush Library giving drunkard Kennedy an award a few years back. Sounds like appeasement to me.
#21

On March 26th, 2008 at 10:43 pm, LC said:

And communism takes another bite out of America…
#22

On March 26th, 2008 at 11:28 pm, MJ said:

DaveC…….you just made me laugh so hard. Too funny. Thanks, I needed that.
#23

On March 27th, 2008 at 1:32 am, greenfairie said:

I live here…trust me, most of the people here seem sane compared to El Lay or San Franfreako but our city council is full of morons.

Don’t blame me, I work for the county!
#24

On March 27th, 2008 at 8:47 am, NJRepublican said:

Our President is elected with less of a majority than 76%.