There are few worse jobs in Washington than consultant. You’re considered one of 435, so it’s not as if any particular person congressman carries a lot clout. You’ve gotten a two-year time period, so the day after you win election you’re again to begging for cash to pay for the subsequent marketing campaign. Why would anybody need such a job?
Joe Cohn advised me it was as a result of he’s devoted his profession, certainly his life, to making an attempt to make this a greater nation, and he’s keen to take the hit for the remainder of us. I attempted to speak Joe out of it, however he made up his thoughts. Joe Cohn is working for Congress within the Third Congressional District of New Jersey.
Joe had a rattling high-quality job working because the Legislative and Coverage Director for the Basis for Particular person Rights and Expression, FIRE, which largely grew to become what the ACLU was again when Joe labored there. He might eat Philly cheesesteaks (with whiz) any time he needed. As an alternative, he put nation above lunch.
Throughout his 20 12 months authorized profession, Joe has labored to relentlessly advance the rights of all folks. As a lawyer on the AIDS Regulation Mission of Pennsylvania, he fought to maintain roofs over the heads of individuals with HIV and AIDS. In non-public apply he fought for victims of employment discrimination and for households with family members killed by stunning negligence in nursing properties. As a volunteer lawyer, he represented asylum seekers trying to America for a life free from political violence. Serving because the authorized director at two ACLU associates, he defended the rights of avenue performers, environmentalists, Occupy Salt Lake Metropolis activists, LGBTQ college students, and prisoners who had been gassed of their cells.
For the final dozen years, by way of his work at FIRE, Joe has defended the free speech rights of
folks on each a part of the political spectrum. He led profitable campaigns in opposition to a North Dakota invoice that might ban schools from internet hosting pro-choice audio system and one other invoice that might have criminalized telling South Carolinian girls the place they might receive lawful abortions out-of-state.
One could be laborious pressed to search out somebody as data about, and as principled towards, civil rights than Joe. In a Congress the place few appear to know a lot in regards to the Structure, and fewer nonetheless appear to think about it a constraint on the federal government’s enactment of legal guidelines and use of energy, it could be awfully good to know that somebody like Joe is there to remind lawmakers that the folks have rights to be protected.
Essentially the most worthwhile factor Joe would carry to Congress is that he places precept above partisanship.
Depolarization. The most important risk America faces as we speak is our personal polarization. We too usually
view the world in “us vs. them” phrases and deal with our political adversaries as enemies. Via
his work defending civil liberties on school campuses and in legislatures throughout the nation, Joe has seen this perspective exhibited by our school college students and our political leaders. Joe’s prime
precedence in Washington will probably be to get out of this vicious cycle as a result of he believes that progress
on every little thing else hinges on our capability work throughout our variations.
The credibility one establishes in a profession spanning the ACLU and FIRE can’t be understated. There isn’t any group as we speak that displays a non-partisan dedication to the principled protection of civil rights, on the whole, and free speech, specifically, than FIRE. And within the dozen years Joe spent at FIRE, he earned our respect and credibility.
Combating Censorship. Free speech is the lifeblood of a democracy. It both applies to
everybody, or it really works for nobody. With out the strong free speech protections assured by the First Modification, America would by no means have loved the essential developments of the civil
rights motion, girls’s suffrage, the labor motion, or the LGBTQ motion. That’s why Joe spent the final dozen years of his profession defending the rights of all folks to be free from censorship. First, on the American Civil Liberties Union after which, on the Basis for
Particular person Rights and Expression, Joe has fought in opposition to those that would censor avenue
performers in Las Vegas, silence the Occupy Salt Lake Metropolis motion, muzzle school college students
and school throughout the political spectrum, criminalize drag reveals, and ban books. As your
Congressman, Joe will proceed to defend free speech for all.
On the identical time, Joe isn’t a one-trick pony, taking principled however pragmatic positions on an array of points that demand sensible and sound consideration.
Decriminalization. “Greater than 1.5 million drug arrests are made yearly within the U.S. – the
overwhelming majority for possession solely.” Joe will push to decriminalize possession of medication for private use.Police Reform. Whereas many police serve honorably, and all are entitled to significant due
course of when they’re accused of wrongdoing, the shortage of accountability has led to deep
mistrust of regulation enforcement. Joe will assist grants to states that require police departments to enhance coaching for officers and have honest, impartial programs for investigating and
prosecuting police misconduct.Supporting Public Defenders. Underneath our Structure these accused of crimes are entitled to courtroom appointed attorneys to defend them if they can’t afford attorneys on their very own.
Sadly, low pay and unreasonable caseloads have created a scarcity of high quality counsel in communities throughout the nation. In Congress, Joe will assist laws to appropriately fund public protection, enhance pay, and set workload limits.
Certain, the satan is within the particulars, and there are an amazing many particulars that require thought and debate, however that’s the place having somebody open to concepts and dispute no matter the place they arrive from issues. Having a consultant who has the authorized expertise and experience to understand why shallow Utopian schemes gained’t repair intransigent society issues issues.
Hardly ever have I written right here to endorse a candidate for workplace, as I haven’t discovered many worthy of assist. Joe is worthy. Should you’re in Jersey 3, vote for Joe Cohn. If not, toss him a donation. Take into account it an funding sooner or later.
