ACLU's Gag Reflex When It Comes To Criticism

Reader John Gilmore sends word of the ACLU's latest cause: stifling internal dissent.

From a NY Times account:

"Where an individual director disagrees with a board position on matters of civil liberties policy, the director should refrain from publicly highlighting the fact of such disagreement," the committee that compiled the standards wrote in its proposals.

"Directors should remember that there is always a material prospect that public airing of the disagreement will affect the A.C.L.U. adversely in terms of public support and fund-raising," the proposals state.

Given the organization's longtime commitment to defending free speech, some former board members were shocked by the proposals.

Nat Hentoff, a writer and former A.C.L.U. board member, was incredulous. "You sure that didn't come out of Dick Cheney's office?" he asked.

"For the national board to consider promulgating a gag order on its members–I can't think of anything more contrary to the reason the A.C.L.U. exists," Mr. Hentoff added.

Unexpurgated bit here.