POLITICS: Support President-Elect Obama

Dear ACLU Supporter,

I've never done this before. In my entire seven years as the
ACLU's executive director, I have never asked you to sign a
presidential petition written in appreciation and support, rather than
in outrage and protest.
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=JNI5WGPfRBo8N_zX0MdRrw

That's how dramatically different things can be now.

After eight years of a Bush administration that thumbed its nose at
the Constitution and the rule of law, it was incredibly gratifying to
see President-elect Obama in his "60 Minutes" interview
affirm his intentions to reject torture and put an end to the
Guantánamo prison camp and its sham military commission system which
have been a stain on America's name at home and abroad.

Just last week, you helped the ACLU run a full-page ad urging Barack
Obama to take the lead on these critical issues. And now, using
language strikingly similar to the words we use to describe the
horrors of Guantánamo Bay, the President-elect has confirmed his
promise.

I hope you felt a special sense of achievement upon hearing his close
Guantánamo pledge because it wouldn't have happened without you
and the ACLU.

Watch Barack Obama's strong words.
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=boL7C12IxN7zqr8-TqsReA
(This will take you to CBSnews.com.)
Then, affirm your support for bold action!
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=m1Dz66bow93RN36dgb572w

Our task now is to do everything we can to maintain momentum for a
January 20th executive order. Immediately closing Gitmo and shutting
down the military commissions can be a powerful first step on the long
road to a full restoration of our fundamental freedoms.

The naysayers are already working to snuff out our hopes for immediate
action with their
"go slow" warnings.

They want us to believe that our greatest aspirations for American
freedom are "impractical," "too difficult," or
"better left for another day."

In the face of that kind of resistance, we've got to have Barack
Obama's back. We have to be as loud and vigorous as ever --
supporting the President-elect's clearly-stated intentions and
sweeping aside any and all objections to swift action righting the
intolerable wrongs of the Bush administration.

Watch Barack Obama's strong words.
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=L5fw363iiVNiqGNRFf3wJA
Then, affirm your support for bold action!
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=L8eAquCe9gLMTq0OjgCcSw

Don't miss this opportunity to sign the first freedom-affirming
ACLU petition of the Obama era.

Let the President-elect know that we're eager to support
energetic Day One efforts to defend freedom and advance justice.

For freedom,

Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director, ACLU

© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004