ACLU Debates New Campaign-Finance View

The American Civil Liberties Union is convening to debate the group’s position on campaign finance in the wake of the groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling that overturned restrictions on corporate advertising during political races. The ACLU has long opposed limits on campaign donations and advertising—a position it shares with conservatives—and filed a brief on the winning side of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. But now members are considering reversing course due to concerns that huge corporations could use a tiny part of their budget to drown out the views of average citizens. But First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams has a different view: “The worst thing you could do… is transform a civil liberties organization into a liberal political organization.” Some within the ACLU see this as a “Skokie moment,” when the group defended the right of Nazis to march. It was controversial at the time, but now is a source of pride for sticking to principles.