With very rare exceptions, the Constitution refers to "persons" or "the people" rather than "citizens." That is, civil rights apply to everyone who comes under the jurisdiction of US law, citizens or not. The ACLU understands this; it's alarming how many Americans don't.

As a practical matter, those who think that rights can apply to one group of people but not another usually find out, quite dramatically, how wrong they are. My father, who is white, grew up in apartheid-era South Africa. Everyone knows how bad it was to be black in SA in those days, but what they don't realize is that most white people were pretty afraid of the government as well, because it had to be a police state to exercise that level of control. Once you start taking rights away from one group of people, everyone else's rights start disappearing too. History is full of examples of "privileged" groups who have gone along with tyranny by assuring themselves "it won't happen to me" -- and they're always wrong in the end.

They're biased in favor of the Constitution and the rights of all Americans. Could you explain exactly what problem you have with that?

I'm not Soliel, but I can tell you the problem I have with the ACLU: they don't just represent Americans anymore. I used to really respect their work, but until they stop supporting illegal immigrants and focus once again on American citizens, they won't see one red dime from me.

I think a lot of people feel that way (probably not on Salon though).

... you're right, of course, that the ACLU has a bias. They're biased in favor of the Constitution and the rights of all Americans. Could you explain exactly what problem you have with that?

The first letter predicts the right-wing response to the letter, and the second letter provides a perfect example.

the ACLU is not exactly unbiased.

Their opinion of her means nothing...they are not objective at all.

Those with a decidedly partisan, lopsided, wrongheaded, nutter view of the world will see ACLU approval is solid confirmation of "liberal bias."