By Whitney Cheshire
It’s hard to tell which is worse in
Look – don’t tune me out here. I know it is common knowledge that the ACLU pushes a leftist political agenda and is, rightfully so, criticized for it because of its tax-exempt mantra of “non-partisan” activism. There’s nothing new there.
But today, I want to talk about surveillance cameras on
What do the two have in common? They’re both targets of
For most conservatives, being targeted by the ACLU is like a feather in the cap or decals stuck on football helmets to mark hard hits and pass interceptions (yes, it’s football season again – I couldn’t help myself). But the ACLU has filed a lawsuit against Adair on behalf of Democrat operative Virgil Beagles. And it is, feather aside, absolutely ridiculous.
Let’s back up a bit. As near as I can tell, Beagles and Adair haven’t seen eye-to-eye on much of anything – ever. Beagles has brought numerous lawsuits into the courts, and many of them are political. He has garnered a reputation in
Beagles brought the 2003 lawsuit against Republican County Commissioner Sue Gutierrez that removed her from office. He also sought legal avenues to get Republican state Rep. Nora Espinoza released from her job at the New Mexico Military Institute.
In the 2006 primary, Beagles worked to defeat incumbent GOP leaders and Espinosa in their primaries.
The effort ended in political disaster, with the Beagles-backed candidates losing at every turn and one of the campaign managers (and wife of County Commissioner Dick Taylor) getting in a heap of trouble for election-law violations.
During the tumultuous campaign cycle, Rep. Avon Wilson passed away, leaving her seat vacant just before the general election. The Otero and
Insiders said the move was purely vindictive by GOP commissioners who lost their primary battles, and politically opportunistic for Democrats like Beagles who were still holding out hope that Espinoza could be defeated in the general election if she wasn’t the incumbent.
Those who attended that commission meeting reported that Beagles, Democratic Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, local Republican oilman Mark Murphy and others were seen huddled together at the meeting. One onlooker lamented that it was a shame no one had a camera to capture the political Kodak Moment of dangerous liaisons.
Tensions between the two sides were so high that at some point a “confrontation” erupted between Republican County Commissioner Alice Eppers and Beagles.
Fast-forward to 2007
So, fast-forward to Legislature 2007, where Beagles supposedly showed up to the Roundhouse to exercise his right to free speech.
Keep in mind there were already reports of confrontations between he and those with whom he disagreed. Keep in mind that legislators, Democratic and Republican, have the right to serve in a safe and respectful environment. People can come to the Roundhouse to discuss bills and testify, but they cannot intimidate, irritate, menace, threaten or otherwise disrupt legislative proceedings.
That’s why we have capitol security.
And, regardless of what the ACLU thinks, citizens do not have the right to say and do whatever they want, whenever they want, just because our Constitution protects our right to free speech.
I asked Adair – “What’s with the ACLU picking up the fight for Beagles? What gives?”
His response to me was that he wasn’t surprised. He said the ACLU has opposed “virtually every single bill I’ve ever introduced,” from domestic violence and DWI reform to tougher sexual predator legislation.
As one legislator reminded me, “If the average New Mexican really understood what the ACLU lobbies for in
So be it.
Back to surveillance cameras
But back to those surveillance cameras on
At times like these I’d like to say, “You see? The non-partisan ACLU does some good work. Sometimes. Kudos to you!”
But today, I can’t.
I can’t say those things because, as is exemplified by the bogus lawsuit against Adair, the ACLU deserves the reputation it has obtained. It is nothing more than a politicking front group for Democrats.
If the ACLU really stuck to legitimate policy, instead of playing funny games in political sideshows, it would be easier to extend the olive branch and work together on important issues like individual rights and the ever-growing long arm of government.
Filming an outdoor plaza that is frequently used for political protests is a bad idea.
Put a police officer out there instead. I agree with the ACLU on this one.
But if its message gets lost in the discussion, if like-minded conservatives don’t jump on the bandwagon because it would mean agreeing with the ACLU, then the ACLU has only itself to blame.
Politics is one thing, but politicking is another. The former is acceptable for a tax-exempt, not partisan group; the latter is what gives the ACLU such a bad name.