Campaign to Defend the Constitution (DefCon) was an American online organization founded in September, 2005 to support the separation of church and state and to oppose what it perceived as the growing influence of the religious right. It was a project of the Tides Center, a non-profit organization that funds progressive groups. However, its funding ran out in December 2007, at which time its blog announced the organization was "taking a break."
Contents
Positions
DefCon described itself on its website as...
Advisory board
The DefCon advisory board included scientists, journalists, and religious and political leaders such as
Left Behind: Eternal Forces Campaign
After Bible publishing company Tyndale House released the video game version of Tim LaHaye's’s Left Behind called Left Behind: Eternal Forces, DefCon asked their members to send emails to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott to stop selling the game. Wal-Mart stated that it did not intend to comply with the request.
Stem cell research
During the stem cell campaign, DefCon ran two full page ads in the New York Times in May and June.
They also released a video on YouTube featuring DefCon advisory board member and former NARAL Pro-Choice America President Kate Michelman's personal views on Stem Cell Research.
Intelligent design
DefCon was launched during the Dover Intelligent Design trial in September, 2005. Since that time the group and its members have played a "key role defending science education" in states around the country including Kansas, Utah, and Ohio.
Criticism
DefCon ran ads asserting the involvement of conservative political strategist Ralph Reed, evangelist Lou Sheldon, and Focus on the Family's James Dobson in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Dobson has denied any connection to Abramoff, and a DefCon spokesman has conceded that there was no proof of collusion between Dobson and Abramoff. In response to the ads, Dobson characterized DefCon as "a radical leftist organization," and stated: