Before anyone retorts I do think the ACLU does play a positive role in our society, I do think that some things they do is partison or agenda oriented but if you were ***** slapped by a cop who would you call?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/18/national/18aclu.html?position=&ei=5006&en=1fb103f41ec09d84&ex=1104037200&adxnnl=1&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1103376306-DArPO1yxMs7AylxLcGQyFA

The American Civil Liberties Union is using sophisticated technology to collect a wide variety of information about its members and donors in a fund-raising effort that has ignited a bitter debate over its leaders' commitment to privacy rights.

Some board members say the extensive data collection makes a mockery of the organization's frequent criticism of banks, corporations and government agencies for their practice of accumulating data on people for marketing and other purposes.

Daniel S. Lowman, vice president for analytical services at Grenzebach Glier & Associates, the data firm hired by the A.C.L.U., said the software the organization is using, Prospect Explorer, combs a broad range of publicly available data to compile a file with information like an individual's wealth, holdings in public corporations, other assets and philanthropic interests.

The issue has attracted the attention of the New York attorney general, who is looking into whether the group violated its promises to protect the privacy of its donors and members.

"It is part of the A.C.L.U.'s mandate, part of its mission, to protect consumer privacy," said Wendy Kaminer, a writer and A.C.L.U. board member. "It goes against A.C.L.U. values to engage in data-mining on people without informing them. It's not illegal, but it is a violation of our values. It is hypocrisy."

The organization has been shaken by infighting since May, when the board learned that Anthony D. Romero, its executive director, had registered the A.C.L.U. for a federal charity drive that required it to certify that it would not knowingly employ people whose names were on government terrorism watch lists.

That's crazy. I agree it's hypocritical as well. That's why I support the notion of no tax exempt status for any organization, unfortunately that's not likely to happen. But when you want public funds for your organization, either in grants or tax exemptions, you are going to be tied to government policy and regulations. That can and obviously does interfere in the autonomy of the organization. That's also what's wrong with Bush's "faith-based initiatives."

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I agree!

Man am I turning into a liberal? whenever I retake the political compass test the little dot keeps moving left.

On the privacy issue I really don't care because all of our personal information is already available to anyone who wants it for a fee. If anything needs regulation it's that.