Lawyers' Group (ABA) Promotes Constitution With Ads

Associated Press ^ | Saturday, June 29, 2002 | LESLIE MILLER

[Dog Gone]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- American lawyers have been thrown into the battle against terror by government decisions on custody of suspects, special tribunals and other actions some consider constitutionally suspect.

The American Bar Association is commissioning its first paid advertising campaign, starting in major newspapers July 8, to promote the Constitution itself.

``We as a profession have really been in the focus, in the middle of public debate,'' said Robert Hirshon, president of the American Bar Association.

Hirshon said the $2.5 million, 13-month effort is meant to get people talking about controversies that arise in a democratic society fighting terror.

``The rule of law and the role of the rule of law has never been more important as we have been balancing our civil liberties with our need to protect ourselves,'' he said in an interview.

``An integral element of our democracy is debate and dialogue,'' Hirshon said. ``Sept. 11 was a vivid reminder that we must not take our liberty and freedom for granted.''

The ads will appear in newspapers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Francisco and Washington.

The first ad will picture a little girl sleeping under a blanket imprinted with an image of the Constitution on it. The caption: ``Security Blanket.''

The association will run a second ad inviting Americans to debate electronic surveillance, an issue that gained steam in October when Congress expanded the FBI's authority to eavesdrop on private citizens.

It's an issue important to American Muslims, who came to the Capitol last week to tell members of Congress they worried that the FBI's new surveillance powers would be used to trample their civil liberties.

Differences over freedom and security already divide Americans.

The lawyers' group commissioned a survey that found 45 percent agreed that the country's laws and constitutional principles make it easier to fight terrorism, while 40 percent believe they prevent the United States from fighting effectively.

The telephone survey of a nationwide cross-section of 1,010 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive on June 14 and June 17. The error margin is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Hirshon said he was heartened by the survey because it found 57 percent of Americans have talked to their children about democracy or the U.S. Constitution since Sept. 11. Sixty-two percent have talked to their children about how America is different from other countries.

``Unless we pass our values on to our children in ways that make democracy relevant to them, there is no guarantee that what we have and cherish today, we will have tomorrow,'' he said.

The bar association, which represents 400,000 lawyers, also plans to embark on a public service campaign that will expand on a program initiated by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Kennedy developed the ``Dialogue on Freedom'' program to promote discussion of American civic values in high-school classrooms.

[rellimpank]

--I anxiously await to see how they will treat the Second Amendment--

[jigsaw]

--I anxiously await to see how they will treat the Second Amendment--

What? You didn't hear?!?

The 9th Circus Court of Appeals also declared the number "2" unconstitutional.

Therefore, there is no Second Amendment anymore.

[Greeklawyer]

ABA voluntary social club.
no regulatory power.

does the 400,000 inclund free memberships to students, judges, and professors?

[Ken H]

The ABA could start by getting our form of government correct. We are a constitutional republic, not a democracy!

I wonder if they'll mention the Tenth Amendment and how it has been trampled by the Leftists' use of the Commerce Clause over the last 70 years to further their agenda.

[steve50]

The commerce clause has been used by both sides to advance an authoritarian federally dominated state, not just the liberals. They've pretty much destroyed what was left of states rights with it.

[supercat]

Sounds to me like the ABA may actually, like a stopped clock, be doing something right. I personally find it very worrisome that the government is seeking new surveillance powers, especially when such powers are almost inevitably targetted at those who pose a (perhaps legitimate) threat to those in power rather than at those who pose a threat to the nation.

It has been shown, time and time again, that the government's refusal to go after real threats and real criminals has nothing to do with its lack of power to do so, and everything to do with the agenda of those at the reins.

[RFP]

a little girl sleeping under a blanket imprinted with an image of the Constitution on it. The caption: ``Security Blanket.''

OK, how about a frog sitting in a pot of water on a stovetop with the Constitution morphed onto it's skin. Have a hand labeled 'Ignorant Congress' turning up the heat. "Q: How do you boil a frog? A: Very slowly."

[Khepera]

I'm sure they can read it but can they understand it given their public education background?

[Maceman]

--I anxiously await to see how they will treat the Second Amendment--

As well as the Ninth and Tenth.

[hinckley buzzard]

Ludicrous. The ABA, as a group, would not recognize the Constitution if you read them unidentified passages from it.

[First_Salute]

Exactly; what they are up to is trying to establish THEIR definition of what the Constitution will be.

[gunnedah]

tHIS GROUPS GOALS IS TOO CONTROL THE WORLD AND THEY WILL DO IT BY THE "RULE OF LAW." Of which they so control from beginning to end and all in between.
THE MOST DANGEROUS SUBVERSIVE GROUP IN THE WORLD!

[Twodees]

Isn't it comforting to have this gang of criminal shysters defending the Constitution for us? A better image of how they view the document would be the preamble printed on a roll of toilet paper.

The ABA can KMA.