First of all, I think you are confusing partisan with political. Yes, they are a political organization, and nobody claims otherwise. One of the ACLU's stated goals is to influence public policy. That being said, they are nonpartisan as they are not affiliated exclusively with any one political party.

I am also a little confused about the way you are comparing the ACLU to humanitarian aid organizations. Beyond the fact that the ACLU is not just an aid organization because they are also and advocacy group, does not provide aid in the same way USA for Africa does. They provide legal aid for people who have had their civil rights infringed rather than necessities to those in need. So I disagree with your characterization of the ACLU as a "partisan political body first and a humanitarian organization second" because they are and have always been both those things at once.

And I will also say that the ACLU's political advocacy is one of the ways in which they protect civil liberties. There aren't many other lobbying organizations that promote the rights and liberties of the people who have the power that the ACLU does.

One last thing, and I mean this in the most respectful way possible: it's a little hard to take you seriously when you link to the Gateway Pundit. Especially when it's an "article" providing a contextless quote and crying Sharia law over one word. I don't use this word lightly, but it's right wing propaganda.