What do you think?
Rate this book
What's a Nice Republican Girl Like Me Doing in the ACLU?
Republicans have a lot more in common with the ACLU than they think! For decades conservative Republicans have railed against the "liberal" American Civil Liberties Union and its state affiliates for defending unpopular causes from the rights of "criminals" to flag burning, pornography, and Nazi marches down Main Street. So what possessed the Indiana CLU to put a card-carrying Republican at its helm? How could anyone who supported George Bush be a civil libertarian?
In this fascinating first-hand account, Sheila S. Kennedy explains her amazement at stalwart conservatives who seem to think that being a Republican is utterly incompatible with a firm devotion to civil liberties. In perceptive, humorous, and easy-to-understand anecdotes, Kennedy, a self-described Goldwater Republican, skewers the rampant misrepresentations about civil libertarians, the ACLU, and those who have abandoned the libertarian heart of the GOP. With robust enthusiasm and a fervent conviction that the nation needs a "Liberty's Lawyer," Kennedy offers her thoughts on "The Great Prayer Wars," "The Criminal's Lobby versus Tax and Spend Conservatives," "The Gay Nineties and Family Values," "Purveyors of Filth at the Local Library," "A Day at the Legislature, or Can These People Really Be Representative?" and more.
In this fascinating first-hand account, Sheila S. Kennedy explains her amazement at stalwart conservatives who seem to think that being a Republican is utterly incompatible with a firm devotion to civil liberties. In perceptive, humorous, and easy-to-understand anecdotes, Kennedy, a self-described Goldwater Republican, skewers the rampant misrepresentations about civil libertarians, the ACLU, and those who have abandoned the libertarian heart of the GOP. With robust enthusiasm and a fervent conviction that the nation needs a "Liberty's Lawyer," Kennedy offers her thoughts on "The Great Prayer Wars," "The Criminal's Lobby versus Tax and Spend Conservatives," "The Gay Nineties and Family Values," "Purveyors of Filth at the Local Library," "A Day at the Legislature, or Can These People Really Be Representative?" and more.
191 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
11 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Suess Kennedy
12 books1 followerI’m a Professor of Law and Policy in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. (Quite a mouthful!) I’m a Faculty Fellow with both the Center for Religion and American Culture in the School of Liberal Arts and the Tobias Center of the Kelley School of Business, and an adjunct professor of political science.
Before coming to IUPUI in 1998, I had several careers: I practiced real estate, administrative and business law in Indianapolis, Indiana, served as the city’s Corporation Counsel, and in 1980, was the Republican candidate for Indiana’s then 11th Congressional District seat. I was President of Kennedy Development Services, a real estate development company, from 1987-1992, when I became Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (the Indiana affiliate of the ACLU), a position I held until I joined the faculty of SPEA.
Elsewhere on this page, there are links to the various books I’ve written, and most of my scholarly articles are posted under “Academic Articles” for anyone who is interested.
For several years, I was a regular columnist for the Indianapolis Star, in addition to being a frequent contributor to other periodicals, and I used this site basically as a place to “park” my columns and speeches. Beginning in February, 2011, although I still write regularly for the Indianapolis Business Journal and other outlets, I made this site my primary outlet—and I welcome your feed-back, and especially inclusion on your own blogrolls if you like what you read here.
Before coming to IUPUI in 1998, I had several careers: I practiced real estate, administrative and business law in Indianapolis, Indiana, served as the city’s Corporation Counsel, and in 1980, was the Republican candidate for Indiana’s then 11th Congressional District seat. I was President of Kennedy Development Services, a real estate development company, from 1987-1992, when I became Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (the Indiana affiliate of the ACLU), a position I held until I joined the faculty of SPEA.
Elsewhere on this page, there are links to the various books I’ve written, and most of my scholarly articles are posted under “Academic Articles” for anyone who is interested.
For several years, I was a regular columnist for the Indianapolis Star, in addition to being a frequent contributor to other periodicals, and I used this site basically as a place to “park” my columns and speeches. Beginning in February, 2011, although I still write regularly for the Indianapolis Business Journal and other outlets, I made this site my primary outlet—and I welcome your feed-back, and especially inclusion on your own blogrolls if you like what you read here.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 26, 2008
Why is it that only liberal Democrats are viewed as only being concerned about civil rights? Is that an accurate portrayal of the current political system?
The author was the executive director of the Indiana ACLU, and makes some excellent points on how Republicans also have a platform (at least some of them do) that cares for civil rights. The author also discusses how civil rights relating to property have always been much more the realm of Republicans. An interesting read for the politically savvy.
The author was the executive director of the Indiana ACLU, and makes some excellent points on how Republicans also have a platform (at least some of them do) that cares for civil rights. The author also discusses how civil rights relating to property have always been much more the realm of Republicans. An interesting read for the politically savvy.
September 29, 2008
The ACLU is neither for democrats or republicans. It's for civil libertarians, or in Sheila Suess Kennedy's case, it's for those with a libertarian heart. Great explanation of why one can be a member of the republican party and the ACLU!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews