What the ACLU does is inherently political, talking about basecamp and coinbase here doesn’t make much sense to me.
The question facing the ACLU is should they be partisan (fight for the rights of just one side) or merely political (fight for all side’s rights, even the sides that you disagree with).
I would change the framing a little: should they continue to be non-partisan.
And becoming partisan isn't just a way of pushing for the core mission more/less effectively. It means dropping huge chunks of the core mission (rights for anyone you disagree with).
It is relevant because you had an organization with a clear creed and track record to protect the liberal principles even when its inconvenient, that is now subverted into political activism for progressive causes in the same way that similar activism subverted basecamp and coinbase.
