Attorney General Eric Holder’s “blowoff” letter to 400 pro-family advocates

By: American Decency Staff

Personal note: I have grown increasingly concerned about the threat Islamofascism presents to the very survival of our great land and how our present administration has been cutting the budget of the Defense Department at such a time as this. At the same time, we continue to be rotting from within as pornographers continue to have free rein:  pornography over the Internet, in our homes, businesses, public libraries, and even schools since the advent of the Internet. Recently I joined with many other pro-family leaders to address such concerns in a letter to Eric Holder, President Obama's Attorney General, asking to meet with him. As Pat Trueman, former head of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section states in his presentations given at our conference this summer, there was a hopefulness that our current administration would see the investigation and prosecution of obscenity as an arena whereby they could thrive and depart (at least at this point) away from a predictable liberal agenda. That appears on the basis of responses below not to be the likelihood. http://www.americandecency.org/2009_conference.html ========= Here's how Obama's Attorney General has responded to a letter from 400 pro-family leaders and organizations including former nationally noted and regarded attorneys, i.e. Alan Sears (head of Alliance Defense Fund) and Pat Trueman (former head of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Enforcement Section under Presidents Reagan and George H. Bush). First what follows is a press release from the Alliance Defense Fund from July 17, 2009: ADF president sends joint letter to A.G. Eric Holder to discuss, and encourage the fight against illegal obscenity. WASHINGTON — Alliance Defense Fund President, CEO, and General Counsel Alan Sears and nearly 400 other pro-family advocates across the nation sent a joint letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Wednesday, urging him to meet with them to discuss expanding the administration’s efforts to fight illegal, obscene pornography on a national level. “Illegal pornography is destroying families and our culture. When it comes to deciding between protecting our families or the profits of pornographers, our families and our society come first,â€Â said Sears, who was executive director of the Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography during the Reagan Administration. “The government should promote and encourage strong families by vigorously enforcing the existing federal laws designed to counter the plague of illegal pornography that is scourging this nation’s men, women, and children.â€Â The letter notes the proliferation of illegal pornography that has flooded homes, businesses, public libraries, and even schools since the advent of the Internet. “Pornography addiction is now common among men, women, and even many children,â€Â the letter states. “Children are creating cell phone child pornography, in a new trend called, ‘sexting.’ Pornography use is now a significant factor in divorce. Hotels, motels, cable and satellite companies, and other businesses are making tremendous profits by offering illegal, obscene pornography.â€Â The letter quotes Holder from 1998: “Thus, priority should be given to cases involving large-scale distributors who realize substantial income from multistate operations and cases in which there is evidence of organized crime involvement. However, prosecution of cases involving relatively small distributors can have a deterrent effect and would dispel any notion that obscenity distributors are insulated from prosecution if their operations fail to exceed a predetermined size or if they fragment their business into small-scale operations….  Because of the nature of the Internet and the availability of agents trained in conducting criminal investigations in cyberspace, investigation and prosecution of Internet obscenity is particularly suitable for federal resources.â€Â The letter closes with an open invitation for a meeting to discuss the issue:  “We urge you to continue to speak out publicly against illegal pornography and encourage U.S. Attorneys to fulfill their obligations under federal law and vigorously prosecute the purveyors of obscenity…. We value your past efforts and accomplishments in the fight against illegal obscenity thus far and trust that we can discuss ways to partner with you on this crucial endeavor to further protect children and families.â€Â http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/2657 Second, what follows is an initial letter of response from the U.S. Attorney General's office Eric Holder, but note this, the letter was not signed by Mr. Holder despite the fact that the letter from 400 pro-family advocates included those who have served in the U.S. Justice Department. Quoting the initial letter: AUG 31 209 Mr. Alan E. Sears Alliance Defense Fund 15100 N. 90th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Dear Mr. Sears: This responds to your letter, dated May 25, 2009, to the Attorney General. Thank you and others who joined in your letter for taking the time to share your views on child pornography and obscenity enforcement. As the Department of Justice's record demonstrates, the Departent is committed to combating crimes that threaten the safety of the nation's children and families. We value your input and will consider your views carefully. Lanny A. Breuer Assistant Attorney General Another letter was sent representing the 400 signees seeking clarification.  We had requested a meeting with the Attorney General to discuss our ongoing concerns that unregulated pornography is contributing to the rapid decline of time-honored standards of decency. === Below is the AG's most recent "blow off" letter again signed not by the Attorney General but rather again by Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer ===== September 16, 2009 Mr. Alan E. Sears Alliance Defense Fund 15100 N. 90th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Dear Mr. Sears: This responds to your letter, dated July 15, 2009, to the Attorney General.  Thank you and others who joined in your letter for taking the time to share your views on child pornography and obscenity enforcement.  As the Department of Justice's record demonstrates, the Department is committed to combating crimes that threaten the safety of the nation's children and families. We value your input and will consider your views carefully. Sincerely, Lanny A. Breuer Assistant Attorney General ================== Express your concern to Attorney General Eric Holder Contact: The Honorable Eric Holder- Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice, Room 4400 950 Pennsylvania Ave NW Wash. DC 20530-0001 phone: 202-353-1555 or 202-514-2001 fax: 202-307-6777 email: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov Sample letter (though putting these thoughts into your words is always better) Dear Mr. Holder: What a privilege it has been to live in a land of freedom, to be able to express our concerns openly to our governmental officials and representatives. Your response to 400 individuals representing some of our nations most highly regarded pro-family advocates, including men that you know such as Pat Trueman and Alan Sears, is truly unfortunate, Mr. Holder. Such a placating response by your underling trivializes the deep concern expressed on behalf of our nation's children and families.  Can you not sacrifice one hour of time to meet with leaders who represent millions of American citizens to discuss such a great societal concern of illegal pornography – a blight that is silently and relentlessly degrading, victimizing and destroying people throughout America? Please reconsider your earlier responses, Mr. Attorney General, and bring remedy to this situation.  Meet with these good people and do it soon. Sincerely, ========================================= Match Grant Totals: Received as of 9/14/09 – $14,112.38 (this includes a $300.00 pledge made earlier today by a friend of this ministry!) 94% complete Needed $887.62 With 18 of you giving a gift(those of you who qualify) of approximately $50 we will yet make our challenge. Please help put us over the top. Match Grant Challenge – with 8 days yet to go. Here are the details of this important challenge. 1. it must be new money-from someone who hasn't given in 2008 or 2009. Or, any amount given in 2009 which was more than what someone gave in 2008. E.g. donor gives $400 in 2008 but cumulatively gives $1000 in 2009 by the end of the match period, we will match $600 2. we will match up to $15,000 3. the funds must be received between June 15 and September 30. https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI  49412 www.americandecency.org Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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