John Ashcroft once hailed Confederate war heroes as "patriots," refused to sign a report on minorities in America and rented his fundraising list to Linda Tripp when he was sitting in judgment of President Clinton at the impeachment trial.
DEMOCRATS READY TO TROT OUT ASHCROFT'S CONSERVATIVE VIEWS
chicagotribune.com
Excerpts from article published in Chicago Tribune
by John Solomon
Associated Press
December 28, 2000
" John Ashcroft once hailed Confederate war heroes as "patriots," refused to sign a report on minorities in America and rented his fundraising list to Linda Tripp when he was sitting in judgment of President Clinton at the impeachment trial.
Now the conservative views of President-elect George W. Bush's choice to be attorney general are being laid out in public as his soon-to-be-former Senate colleagues weigh his nomination.
A review of Ashcroft's writings, speeches and interviews found that the Missouri senator and former governor and state law-enforcement official:
Opposed federal money for drug treatment, saying government assistance shouldn't further the "lowest and least" conduct.
Advocated an increased role for charities in assisting the needy.
Fought vigorously against abortion rights.
Opposed federal job training money for Americans who don't complete high school, saying a diploma was necessary to "enable workers to adapt and meet the needs of ever-changing technology."
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"Your magazine also helps set the record straight," Ashcroft told the Southern Partisan, a 20-year-old periodical that has published articles defending Confederate figures.
"You've got a heritage of .. defending Southern patriots like [Gen. Robert E.]Lee, [Gen. Stonewall] Jackson and [Confederate President Jefferson] Davis,"
Ashcroft said.
At the time, he was courting conservatives for a possible
presidential candidacy.
"We've all got to stand up and speak in this respect or else we'll be taught that these people were giving their lives, subscribing their sacred fortunes and their honor to some PERVERTED AGENDA," he added.
(PERVETED AGENDA WAS THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, 1860-1864, After the war ended and the south was defeated Afro-Americans were free. B4 the War, they were slaves!!!!!!- Mephisto )
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In 1988, Ashcroft would not sign the final report of a 40-member federal commission on the plight of minorities. The report concluded that the nation was slipping in its efforts to achieve equality for blacks, Hispanics and Indians.
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Ashcroft came under fire for accepting an honorary degree and giving the commencement speech at Bob Jones University, which until recently opposed interracial marriages and dating.
He said he was unaware of the university's views when he gave the speech but declined to return the degree.
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In February 1999, as he (ASHCROFT)sat in judgment of Clinton during the Senate impeachment trial, Ashcroft's political action committee SOLD access to his fundraising mailing list to Tripp, who secretly taped former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, so she could raise money for a legal defense fund.
Ashcroft earlier RENTED the same list to Paula Jones, who had sued Clinton for sexual harassment. |
