NORMAN LEAR AND HIS PALS WILL MATCH YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO SAVE THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM

Regular DWT readers know the seriousness of what Bush has brought on regarding the extreme reactionary Supreme Court. People For the American Way, an social justice organization founded by Norman Lear, has been in the forefront of the fight to keep the judiciary a legitimate branch of government, not a partisan branch of the Republican Party. They were very successful in leading the fight to keep Robert Bork off the Court but, frankly, did not have the funds for the full frontal campaign that would have been required to bring the kind of pressure to bear on cowardly Democrats to kill the Alito and Roberts nominations. The result has been devastating. In a letter today, Norman listed some of the "accomplishments" of Bush's Court so far:

• Chiseled away at the right of school districts to promote racial diversity.

• Placed more limitations on a woman's right to choose.

• Ruled against a woman who won a lower court decision after suffering nearly 20 years of pay discrimination.

• Struck down a high school kid's right to display a banner expressing his opinion.

• Ruled against the right of ordinary taxpayers to sue their government when they believe their tax dollars are being used to support religious organizations or activities.

Each of these cases was decided by one vote; they were all narrow, partisan 5-4 decisons with the 4 ultra-right-wing extremists, Clarence Thomas, Saclia, John Roberts and Sam Alito being joined by conservative Anthony Kennedy. What these 5 galloots all have in common is that they always favor the powerful over the powerless.

Today Norman proposed matching all donations to People For the American Way-- whether you give $20, $200 or $10,000 (all tax deductible)-- so that PFAW can work to accomplish the following goals:

• Identify Senate races and presidential battlegrounds where the Supreme Court issue can make the difference.

• Use the internet and the media to to highlight bad court decisions that will resonate in target states.

• Identify and reach target voters who will be persuaded by the Supreme Court issue.

• And keep urgently needed, ongoing pressure on the Congress to stand up, issue by issue, with the strength of its convictions!

You can donate right online, here, and you can also alert any friends you have who you think are interested in the issues of Justice in our country. Maybe they'll notice we had an example of Bush Justice today. Please join me in supporting one of the few groups inside Washington worth the time, effort and money to back up.