Civil libertarians run the gamut of political affiliations. We're Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Greens, and every other party under the sun. But there is one thing that unites all of us: the Constitution. And the Constitution is not partisan. It protects all Americans, regardless of their politics.
For the past eight years, Americans have watched the Bush administration take a virtual shredder to the Constitution; they've flouted the rule of the land, and we have to show that we won't stand for it. It's time give back, time for us to stand up and fight for the Constitution. The fundamental rights of Americans need to be a front-and-center issue in this election. Not flag pins, not lipstick and not pit bulls.
Today we're launching a new campaign, "I'm a Constitution Voter." We’re pledging to make the Constitution our focus and our guide for this election and in the future. We hope you'll join us, take the pledge and spread the word. Together, we can make a statement that no politician can spin away.
And on September 17, Constitution Day, we're asking all civil libertarians to flood local and national media with letters to the editor, call-ins to radio shows and comments on the blogs urging them to cover civil liberties issues when talking about the election.
Demand to know more about how the candidates stand on wiretapping, torture, watch lists, political protest, Real ID, reproductive rights, the death penalty and LGBT rights. Let the media know that you care about these issues, and won't tolerate the fluff and mindless sniping that has dominated campaign coverage thus far.
All the candidates for elective office, not just the presidential ones, need to know how deeply we care about our civil liberties. By pledging to be a Constitution Voter, you can be sure that these leaders will know that the Constitution is the first thing on our minds.
