Groups attack conservative record of Bush's pick for attorney general
Equality Illinois is adding its name to the list of civil-rights organizations opposed to former Missouri Sen. John Ashcroft, President-elect George W. Bush's pick for Attorney General.
"We are deeply disappointed with the Ashcroft nomination," said Rick Garcia, director of the non-partisan Equality Illinois. "Senator Ashcroft's abysmal record on civil rights and his animosity toward gays and lesbians makes him a wholly inappropriate nominee for Attorney General. We urge that he not be confirmed."
EI has written to Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Peter Fitzgerald asking that they oppose the nomination.
Neither senator could be reached for comment late last week.
When asked who might be a more appropriate choice for the Attorney General spot, Garcia said, "I would suggest anybody would be more suitable than Ashcroft."
While Garcia acknowledged that Bush "has to give a bone to the Religious Right" for its work on his behalf, he said there are better options for their appointees.
"There are other places in the administration where they could put those Right Wing zealots," he said. "Put them in a place where they're not dangerous."
"The attorney general has to uphold and enforce hate-crimes legislation in this country," he added. "Given his record, (Ashcroft) is wholly inappropriate for this position."
Ashcroft lost his Senate reelection bid in November to the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, who was killed in a plane crash in October and whose name still appeared on the ballot. Ashcroft also served as governor of Missouri from 1985 to 1993.
Other organizations opposing his nomination include the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood and People for the American Way.
Groups have pointed to Ashcroft's consistently conservative record, including his opposition to abortion, his votes against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and his support for the Defense of Marriage Act. Those stances have earned him a 0 rating from the HRC.
His record on racial issues has been mixed, the Associated Press reports. As governor, he approved a state holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and named a Black woman to a state judgeship. However, in 1989, he refused to sign onto a report on the impact of racism on minorities, calling it too negative. He has also publicly applauded Confederate war heroes as "patriots."
On the flipside, conservative organizations such as the anti-gay American Family Association have hailed Ashcroft's nomination. The AFA has asked its supporters to write their senators to "urge them to ignore pressure from leftist groups and the pornography vendors in this nation, including AT&T and General Motors."
The AP reports that Ashcroft's conservative speeches, writings and interviews are coming under scrutiny as the Senate prepares for his confirmation hearings.
According to the Advocate.com, Ashcroft is the son of an Assemblies of God minister and does not drink, smoke or dance. He has reportedly written hundreds of gospel songs and recorded several albums.
Equality Illinois and other groups have largely approved of other Bush nominees, including moderates Tommy Thompson, currently the governor of Wisconsin, and New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman.
"The Right Wing zealots are the example and not the rule in Bush appointees," Garcia said.
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