Ashcroft, annointed with Crisco...
Ashcroft likened his two gubernatorial inaugurations to Jewish kings David and Saul, who "were anointed as they undertook their administrative duties."
On the eve of his becoming a senator, Ashcroft remarked to a group of family and friends, "It's too bad we don't have any oil."
Ashcroft's apparent feelings on certain other issues, such as his anti-gay, anti-civil liberties stance, and his pro-War Against Some Drugs view, have prompted many people to voice their concern about his nomination. But something that really bugs me, something that (probably) epitomizes his entire being: John Ashcroft anointed himself with Crisco cooking oil.
Ken Freidman posted an editorial recently to the alt.discuss.politics newsgroup, dissecting Ashcroft's apparent belief that he is "ordained by God to blend politics and religion."
In his book, Lessons From a Father to His Son (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998), Ashcroft writes of his anointing himself, before both terms as Missouri Governor. He felt that his successful 1995 Senate campaign was important enough to warrant using a bowl of Crisco. Friedman then pointed out a New York Times article, containing this comment about Ashcroft: "'The act of anointing,' he wrote in his largely autobiographical book, replicated the practice of 'the ancient kings of Israel, David and Saul,' who Ashcroft said 'were anointed as they undertook their administrative duties.'"
Of course, neither David nor Saul anointed themselves, they were anointed by the Prophet Samuel, who did it under direct orders from god. But as Friedman so eloquently noted, "there is something entirely appropriate about Ashcroft anointing himself in Crisco."
Friedman continues: "The Bible prescribes the specific formula of sacred anointing oil in Exodus 30:22-29. Sacred anointing oil is comprised of fine spices blended into olive oil. The spices include myrrh, cinnamon, fragrant cane, and cassia, all in a 'fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.' (Exodus 30:25) John Ashcroft substituted supermarket cooking oil for sacred anointing oil. This seems appropriate for a senator distinguished for representing corporate interests."
Ashcroft on executions
"Just because a murderer has learned to love the Lord does not mean the state should pardon him," Ashcroft wrote. "As a Christian, I am willing to forgive him; but as governor, it would have been inappropriate for me to pardon him unless a mistake had been made in the judicial proceedings."
"Let's see if there's something in the kitchen," his father suggested.
Someone brought out a tiny bowl of Crisco oil.
"We chuckled about that, but my father assured us, 'The oil itself isn't important, except as a symbol of the spirit of God," Ashcroft wrote. |
