ACLU Backs Law to Restrict Freedom of Speech 

(New York) A congresswoman is upset that some anti-abortion groups are operating pregnancy crisis centers which mislead pregnant women into believing that they perform abortions. As a consequence, Rep. Carolyn Maloney has introduced legislation to require the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules to prohibit advertising "with the intent to deceptively create the impression that such person is a provider of abortion services if such person does not provide abortion services." In other words, make it illegal to impersonate an abortionist.

To fortify her proposal, Rep. Maloney, who represents parts of Manhattan and Queens, has enlisted the backing of the ACLU.

From NYSun.com:

Ms. Maloney said the bill was crafted to avoid infringing on free speech. "We're very careful and worked with the ACLU so that the ACLU has endorsed it," she said.

The director of the Washington legislative office of the ACLU, Caroline Fredrickson, joined Ms. Maloney at a press conference yesterday announcing the legislation.

Ms. Fredrickson said the Federal Trade Commission should have addressed the pregnancy centers' conduct under existing law, but has not. "It's already clear that deceptive advertising and false advertising is illegal," the ACLU attorney said.

By siding with the abortion providers on the issue, the ACLU has adopted a posture which is diametrically opposed to its historical position of advocating no restrictions on speech. Even prominent blogger and law professor Eugene Volokh is taken aback, "It's pretty striking to see the ACLU, which stands for very, very broad free speech protection, actually backing a new speech restriction," he said.

Clearly, ACLU participation in the proposed legislation is inexplicable. That is, unless the ACLU has an agenda which is contrary to what it declares it to be. In the Maloney circumstance, the ACLU is for suppressing speech that differs from the liberal pro-abortion mantra. As a result, the ACLU's actions in support of suppressing speech from pro-life advocates indicate a political agenda that leans strongly left. The assertion that the American Civil Liberties Union fights for civil liberties is misleading. On the contrary, the ACLU promotes a leftist political agenda.

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