 | |||
| Publications | Issue List | Vote Analysis | Main Page |
John Ashcroft -- The Best Man For the Job
(No. 2, January 10, 2001)The following are recent quotes on President-Elect Bush's nomination of Senator John Ashcroft for the office of U.S. Attorney General.
" 'I've never felt he was racially biased,' Mrs. Carnahan said in a Fox News Channel interview. 'I don't know what was in his heart that caused him to vote the way he did over the Ronnie White issue, but I'm not convinced it was racial.' ...
"Jerry Hunter, who served as Mr. Ashcroft's secretary of labor when he was governor, told Fox yesterday that attacks against Mr. Ashcroft as racially insensitive were unfounded.
" 'Unfortunately, it's character assassination,' Mr. Hunter said. 'I can tell you, based on my experience with Governor Ashcroft and years since he left the governorship, he was certainly concerned about issues concerning the minority community.' "
(George Archibald, The Washington Times, 1/10/01)" 'We are seeing a tremendous response from people across the nation who want to speak out in support of Senator Ashcroft's nomination,' said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ American Center for Law and Justice. 'Senator John Ashcroft will make an exceptional Attorney General - a man dedicated to fairness who embraces a strong commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. ...
" 'The people who we are hearing from not only support the nomination of Senator John Ashcroft as Attorney General but believe the smear tactics being used by liberal groups and organizations will ultimately backfire,' said Sekulow. 'When Senator Ashcroft testifies, the American public will hear from a man who is not only eminently qualified for the position, but they will hear from the Senator himself concerning his deep commitment and dedication to enforcing the laws of the land equally and fairly - whether he personally agrees with those laws or not.
" ... 'It is unfortunate that there are those groups and organizations that are targeting the nomination of Senator Ashcroft and attacking a man because of his deeply held religious beliefs. It is our belief that the American public will not tolerate these destructive tactics designed to disqualify Senator Ashcroft because of his moral underpinnings and religious faith.' "
(The American Center for Law and Justice, Business Wire, 1/10/2001)"Ashcroft wasn't alone in opposing White's nomination. The National Sheriffs' Association, the Missouri Federation of Police Chiefs, the Missouri Sheriffs' Association and the Mercer County, Mo., prosecuting attorney all wrote letters to then-Sen. Ashcroft and other senators, urging them to oppose White's confirmation to the federal bench. All cited White's dissent in Missouri vs. Johnson, and all disputed his nomination over concerns that he was anti-law enforcement.
"In the end, the Senate voted 54-45 to reject White's appointment.
"Robert George, professor of philosophy of law and constitutional interpretation at Princeton University, dismissed the claims of racial prejudice.
" 'If opposing a black nominee for a judicial position were indicative of racism, then virtually every Democrat in the Senate would be a racist, since almost all of them voted against Clarence Thomas' nomination,' George said. 'Ashcroft's concerns had to do with (White's) behavior as a judge, and his philosophy of judging, and the way in which his political views (affected) his rulings from the bench.' "
(Ben Taylor, CitizenLink - a web site of Focus on the Family, 1/10/01)" 'These are extremely qualified individuals who would be a great addition to the Executive Branch. This coalition of organizations and individuals will make our voice heard on Capitol Hill and will defend these men and women against malicious attacks by the left.
" 'Liberal groups such as People for the American Way and the National Abortion Rights Action League have launched vicious personal attacks against Senator John Ashcroft and Gale Norton. Americans for the Bush Cabinet will counter those claims by presenting the truth about these nominees and will work to rally the support among the American people that these individuals deserve.' "
(David A. Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, U.S. Newswire, 1/10/01)
" 'Former Senator Ashcroft is one of the most qualified individuals ever nominated for this position. ...
" 'Ashcroft is a gentleman of known integrity. He has upheld the individual Second Amendment civil right of law-abiding American citizens to keep and bear arms throughout his public career.
..." 'The Justice Department needs a real cleansing,' he added, 'and John Ashcroft can apply the wire brush where it is most needed.' "
(John Snyder of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, U.S. Newswire, 1/10/01)