CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS, WRACK, BROWN, WHITE,
           MALE, FEMALE, YOUNG, OLD, RICH, POOR. IN MY OPINION, FORMER
           SENATOR ASHCROFT'S RECORD CLEARLY FAILS TO SATISFY THAT MOST
           BASIC QUALIFICATION. TO THE CON ,, HE HAS ESTABLISHED A YEER

           YEAR TRACK RECORD OF OPPOSING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND FAIR PLAY
           FOR TOO MANY AMERICANS. THE BASIC FACT REMAINS THAT THE U.S.
           ATTORNEY GENERAL IS THE PEOPLE'S LAWYER. NOT THE PRESIDENT'S
           LAWYER. THE PEOPLE'S LAWYER. AND HE OR SHE IS THE GUARDIAN OF
           THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN. AND I
           CANNOT, MR. PRESIDENT, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, SUPPORT A NOMINEE

           WHO HAS SPENT MUCH OF THE PAST YEERS YEARS OPPOSING THE
           CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF FAR TOO MANY OF OUR CITIZENS. THANK
           YOU. I YIELD BACK.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEVADA.
           

           MR. REID: IF I COULD ENDID MI MY FRIEND FROM UTAH FOR A BRIEF
           MINUTE. THE MANAGER OF THIS NOMINATION, I KNOW OUR FRIEND FROM
           KANSAS IS HERE. THE SENATOR FROM HIGH WITH A SPOKE FOR QUITE A
           LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN SPOKE FOR A FEW
           MINUTES. WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE -- I THINK IT WOULD BE
           APPROPRIATE BUT I AM ASK THE SENATOR FROM UTAH TO HAVE THE
           SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA SPEAK. SHE WILL PROBABLY SPEAK FOR MINS
           MINUTES OR MINS MINUTES.
           

           MR. HATCH: IT IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE SENATOR
           BROWNBACK WAS NEXT AND HE WOULD -- I BELIEVE OWE.
           

           MR. BROWNBACK: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO SPEAK
           AND SO IF I COULD I IT WOULD LIKE TO GO IN A BACK AND FORTH
           ORDER IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. REELED REED THAT WILL BE FINE.
           

           MR. HATCH: IF THE SENATOR CAN KEEP HIS SPEECH WITHIN TEN
           MINUTES OR LESS WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
           

           MR. BROWNBACK: AM I LIMIT TODAY MINS MINUTES NOW IS THAT
           CORRECT?
           
           

           MRS. BOXER: CAN SKUK I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT FOLLOWING
           SENATOR BROWNBACK, SENATOR REED BE RECOGNIZED THEN SENATOR
           BOXER THANK YOU.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. THE SENATOR FROM
           KANSAS.
           

           MR. BROWNBACK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. I APPRECIATE
           THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF OUR COLLEAGUE,
           JOHN ASHCROFT TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. IN
           LISTENING TO COMMENTS IN SERVING ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
           WITH THE ESTEEMED PRESIDING OFFICERS, YOU WONDER SOMETIMES WHO
           PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING HE IS TOO
           FAR THIS WAY OR THAT WAY TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WONDER HOW

           DID HE WIN STATEWIDE ELECTION TO A SWING STATE LIKE MISSOURI
           FOR STOLE DIFFERENT ELECTION HOU HOW WAS HE ELECTED PRESIDENT,
           PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL ATTORNEY GENERALS ??
           HOUR WAS HE ELECTED HEAD OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR ABSENCE SOAKS?
           BIPARTISAN GROUPS. IF THIS GUY IS SO FAR OUT THERE ON THESE
           ISSUES HOW ON EARTH DID HE GET ELECTED TO ALL THESE POSITIONS?
           IT JUST BAFFLES ME OTHER THAN TO STAY HE IS NOT EXTREME. IN
           MOST OF HIS POLICY ISSUES THAT HE HAS PUTS FORWARD HE CARRIES

           STRONGLY WITH PASSION, BUT THERE IS A SOLID CORE OF AMERICANS
           IN MANY CASES IN MOST CARESS A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS STRONGLY
           BELIEVE AND AGREE WITH HIM ON ISSUES LIKE PARTIAL-BIRTH, OTHER
           ITEMS. BUT THAT REALLY IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. THE REAL
           ISSUE IS WILL HE ENFORCE THE LAW. THAT'S WHAT AN ATTORNEY
           GENERAL IS REQUIRED TO DO, CALLED MONDAY TO DO WHAT THEY ARE
           CALLED TO DO IN STATES. HE HAS DONE THAT AS A STATEWIDE ELECTED
           ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HE WILL DO IT AS NATIONAL ATTORNEY
           GENERAL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE UNITED STATES. I'M NEW TO

           THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WITH THIS SESSION. I AM LOOKING FORWARD
           TO SERVING ON THAT BODY. BUT WHAT I HAVE FOUND BY THIS PROCESS
           THAT WE HAVE HAD OF TREATMENT OF JOHN ASHCROFT, EXTRA
           ORDINARILY UNFAIR PROCESS UNFOLD, AND I THINK QUITE
           UNDESERVEDLY TOWARDS JOHN. I GREW UP IN A EMPTY MILESE MILES
           FROM MISSOURI FROM WHERE JOHN ASHCROFT SERVED IN HAS SMALL TOWN
           CALLED PARKER, KANSAS. MUCH OF OUR NEWS CAME FROM MISSOURI. I
           HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW HIS CAREER NOR A LONG PEERED OF

           TIME. IT IS AN ASTOUNDING CAREER. IT IS AN ACCOMPLISHED CAREER.
           OUR STATES HA HAS COMMON ERER. IN THE SENATE JOHN AND I SERVED
           ON TWO COMMITTEES TOGETHER. WE WERE ON EXAMINERS AND FOREIGN
           RELATIONS. OUR OFFICES WERE DOWN THE HALL FROM EACH OTHER. ONE
           TIME WHEN MY APARTMENT BUILDING IN TOWN CAUGHT FIRE HE TOOK ME
           IN AND LET ME STAY WITH HIM NOR A WHILE WHICH I WOULD SUBMIT HE
           WOULD DO FOR ANYBODY. THAT NEEDED A HOUSE AND ROOF OVER THEIR
           HEAD. MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN GEOGRAPHY OR COMMIT ASSIGNMENTS OR
           COMMON COURT CITIES JOHN EXTEND TODAY SOME PEOPLE IN HIS

           LIFETIME, IS JOHN IS, AS I HAVE LEARNED AS A FRIEND AND PERSON
           WHO KNOWS HIM WELL, IS AN HONEST INDIVIDUAL, COMPLETELY FULL OF
           INTEGRITY, AS HAS GREAT DID HE TO TO HIS FAMILY, HIS CREATOR,
           HIS STEADFAST IN HIS BELIEF THAT EACH OF US IS PUT HERE ON
           EARTH TO HELP OUR FELLOW MAN AND TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER
           PLACE FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. CONTRARY TO THE ASSERTIONS OF
           THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A LIVING EBBS ASER BAITING THE TENSES THAT
           DIVIDE US AS A NATION, I KNOW JOHN ASHCROFT IS COMMITTED TO OUR

           NATION'S PROMISE OF EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. PRESIDENT BUSH MADE
           HAND OUTSTANDING CHOICE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL. JOHN ASHCROFT IS
           ONE OF THE MOST QUALIFIED NOMINEES FOR THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY
           GENERAL IN HISTORY. BUT EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN HIS RESUME, MR.
           PRESIDENT, ARE JOHN ASHCROFT'S WORDS AND DEEDS. ARTICLE ,,
           SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION, PROVIDES THAT THE PRESIDENT OF
           THE UNITED STATES AND HERE IS A QUOTE "SHALL TAKE CARE THAT THE
           LAWS BE FAITH FLY EBBS CUTED." THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS THE
           PRIMARY GOVERNMENT AGENCY CHARGED WITH THE PRESIDENT'S

           CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE LAWS OF THE
           UNITED STATES. JOHN ASHCROFT FULFILLED THIS FUNCTION AS A TWO
           TIME ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. IN THAT ROAM
           JOHN ASHCROFT UPHELD LAWS WHICH HE PERSONALLY DISAGREED WITH,
           AND WHICH MANY OF US IN THIS BODY MIGHT DISAGREE WITH AS WELL.
           BUT AS MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL HE SWORE AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE
           LAW AND HE DID. MR. PRESIDENT, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES ON WHICH
           MANY OF US IN THIS BODY DISAGREE. BUT WE ARE LEGISLATORS AND
           WRITE LAWS. THAT IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE

           UNITED STATES. MR. PRESIDENT, JOHN ASHCROFT RAISED HIS RIGHT
           HAND, SWORE BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THAT HE WOULD
           FAITHFULLY OWN FORCE THE LAWS OF THIS LAND TO HELP ME GOD. AS A
           PERSON WHO FEELS FORTUNATE TO CALL JOHN ASHCROFT A FRIEND, AS
           MOST PEOPLE IN THIS BODY, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A STRONGER
           GUARANTEE HE WILL DO THAT THAN THE OAT THAT HE TOOK. SOME HAVE
           CALLED SENATOR ASHCROFT'S RECORD ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND MISSOURI
           INTO QUESTION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROGRAM OF DISTORTION. AS

           MISSOURI GOVERNOR HE SIGNED THE FIRST HATE CRIME STATUTE INTO
           LAW. AS UNITED STATES SENATOR HE SUPPORTED EVERY
           AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUDICIAL NOMINEE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE, AS
           CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION HE CON
           STREEND A HEARING AND RACIAL PROFILING WITH SENATOR FEINGOLD.
           STATED ON THE RECORD THAT RACIAL PROFILING IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
           SENATOR ASHCROFT'S RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. HE IS A MAN OF
           INTEGRITY DEDICATED TO EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW. THERE HAVE
           BEEN OTHER DISTORTIONS OF SENATOR ASHCROFT'S RECORD BUT I THINK

           OTHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HIT SOME OF THAT. ONE I WAS MOST HEART
           END THOUGH TO HEAR ABOUT COMMENTS ABOUT HIS RECORD WERE THOSE
           FROM SENATOR FEINGOLD, DEMOCRAT FROM WISCONSIN. REMARKS HE MADE
           YESTERDAY IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. HE EXTENDED AN OLIVE
           BRANCH OF PEACE AND COOPERATION TO OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE. WE
           HAVE A SENATE MORE EVENLY DIVIDED THAN WE HAVE HAD FOR ALMOST
           50 YEARS. SENATOR FEINGOLD ANSWERED PRESIDENT BUSH'S CALL TO
           CHANGE THE TONE IN WASHINGTON. IT IS A BOLD STEP. A STEP I HOPE

           MY INCREASE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WILL FOLLOW. I HAD
           THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK PERSONALLY WITH WITNESSES WHO
           TESTIFIED BOTH FOR AND AGAINST JOHN ASHCROFT'S NOMINATION.
           BELIEVE ME, THERE IS MORE THAT BINDS US TOGETHER AS PA PEOPLE
           AND A NATION THAN KEEPS US APART. LET US BEGIN THIS CONGRESS IN
           THAT SPIRIT WHICH ABRAHAM LINCOLN USE TODAY HELP HEAL A NATION
           WHETHER HE WARNED THAT HAS HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT LONG STAND. YOU
           INTEND TO VOTE FOR JOHN ASHCROFT NOMINATION TO BE ATTORNEY
           GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH

           SIDES OF THE AISLE TO FOLLOW THE SPIRIT OF LINCOLN AND HELP
           RENEW THE TIE THAT IS FWIND US TOGETHER AND RESIST THE
           TEMPTATION TO USE THIS PROCESS FOR POLITICAL GAIN AND FURTHER
           DIVIDE US AS A NATION. I THINK ONCE JOHN ASH CROOFT IS APPROVED
           AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, HE WILL BE AN
           OUTSTANDING AND EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR ALL AMERICAN
           PEOPLE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I YIELD THE FLOOR. MRS.
           BOXER: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
           

           MRS. BOXER: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK SENATOR HATCH
           AND REED NOR RESERVING THIS TIME FOR ME. AS MOST PEOPLE NOPE
           THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US THAT CAME OUT EARLY WITH A POSITION ON
           JOHN ASHCROFT. MOST CAME OUT FOR HIM BEFORE THE HEARINGS AND I
           CAME OUT AGAINST HIS CONFIRMATION, AND THE PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT
           FOR JOHN ASHCROFT BEFORE THE HEARINGS SAID THEY KNEW ENOUGH TO

           KNOW THEY WERE FOR HIM, AND I SAID AFTER LOOKING IF HE RECORD
           AND BEING VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE RECORD, I COULD NOT SUPPORT
           HIM AND I ACTUALLY ASKED THEN-PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH TO
           RECONSIDER HIS CHOICE BECAUSE I BELIEVED HIM WHEN HE SAID HE
           WANTED TO UNITE THE NATION RATHER THAN DIVIDE THE NATION, AND I
           FELT THAT THIS NOMINATION WOULD BE VERY DIVISIVE. WOULD RAISE
           THE VERY SAME ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED DURING ONE OF THE MOST
           DIFFICULT CAMPAIGNS THAT I CAN CERTAINLY EVER REMEMBER FOR

           PRESIDENT AND I THINK WHAT I SAID WAS BORNE OUT. THIS
           PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WASN'T A MANDATE. MANY PEOPLE THINK IF
           ALL THE VOTES HAD BEEN COUNTED IT MIGHT HAVE COME OUT A
           DIFFERENT WAY. THAT'S NOT THE POINT. THE POINT IS, BECAUSE IT
           WAS SO DIVISIVE, WHOEVER WON, WHETHER IT WAS AL GORE OR GEORGE
           W. BUSH, WHOEVER ACTUALLY TOOK THE OFFICE, IN THIS CASE THE
           SUPREME COURT DECIDED STOP THE COUNT AND GEORGE W. BUSH BECAME
           THE PRESIDENT. WHOEVER WAS PRESIDENT, HAD TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS

           A VERY DIVIDED NATION, AND THAT WE NEED TODAY PUT UP MODERATE
           PEOPLE, MODERATE PEOPLE FOR IMPORTANT OFFICES SUCH AS ATTORNEY
           GENERAL, INTERIOR SEC SECRETARY AND THE LIKE. AND I WILL SAY
           FOR ME IT IS VERY RARE TO OPPOSE A BUSH CABINET NOMINEE, OUT OF
           ALL OF THEM I HAVE OPPOSED TWO -- I HAVE SUPPORTED EVERY OTHER
           ONE. ONE THING JOHN ASHCROFT SAID IS HE SAID I SUPPORTED 90% OF

           PRESIDENT CLINTON'S JUDGES. WELL I SUPPORTED 90% OF BUSH'S
           CABINET PICKS. AND THEREFORE, WHEN I CHOOSE TO SAY NO, IT IS
           BECAUSE I FEEL VERY DEEPLY AND VERY FIRMLY THAT JOHN ASHCROFT
           IS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE. PRESIDENT BUSH SAID HE WOULD PICK JOHN
           ASHCROFT BECAUSE, AND I AM QUOTING, "HE HAS A COMMITMENT TO
           FAIR AND FIRM AND IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE." HE TOLD

           US THAT JOHN ASHCROFT IS "A MAN WHO HAS A GOOD AND DECENT
           HEART, AND HE ASKED US TO LOOK INTO THE HEART OF JOHN ASHCROFT.
           BELIEVE ME, I HAVE DONE THAT. BE I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE HEARTS
           OF PEOPLE WHO JOHN ASHCROFT HAS HURT. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS
           NOMINATION SHOULD BE REJECTED. AND I AM GOING TO BE VERY

           SPECIFIC. JUDGE WHITE WAS JOHN ASHCROFT'S TREATMENT OF JUDGE
           WHITE FAIR?
           DID HE HAVE A GOOD HEART WHEN IT CAME TO DEAL WITH JUDGE RONNIE WHITE?
           LET'S REVISIT IT. THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION GAVE JUDGE WHITE
           A UNANIMOUS QUALIFIED RATING. JUDGE WHITE WAS INTRODUCED AT HIS
           NOMINATION HEARING FOR A JUDGESHIP IN FRONT OF THE JUDICIARY
           COMMITTEE WITH GLOWING REMARKS BY SENATOR BOND. WITH NO

           WARNING, JOHN ASHCROFT CHAMPIONED THE DEFEAT OF JUDGE NWITE'S
           NOMINATION ON THE SENATE FLOOR. AND MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT YOU
           TO KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN IN ELECTED LIFE FOR 25 YEARS, AND
           CERTAIN THINGS JUST -- YOU DON'T REMEMBER AND A LOT OF THINGS
           YOU DO. AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY THAT THIS UNITED STATES
           SENATE VOTED DOWN JUDGE RONNIE WHITE ON A STRAIGHT PARTISAN
           VOTE. THE FIRST TIME IN 50 LONG YEARS THAT A JUDGE NOMINEE WHO

           HAD MASSED FAVORABLY THROUGH THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WAS SO
           TREAT IT HAD. WHY WOULD I REMEMBER IT SO CLEARLY?
           I THOUGHT THAT A FEW PEOPLE MIGHT VOTE NO JUST AS WE HAVE ON
           MANY JUDGE NOMINATIONS. BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT JOHN ASHCROFT
           WOULD HAVE ROUNDED UP AND MADE A BIG POLITICAL ISSUE THAT ALL
           OF THE REPUBLICANS WOULD STICK WITH HIM ON THIS VOTE. WE ALL
           KNOW BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CHILDREN HERE IN THIS BODY, THAT THERE

           ARE OTHER WAYS TO TREAT SOMEONE WHO SUDDENLY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
           HE IS GOING TO BE CONFIRMED. YOU BRING IT BACK TO DID THE
           COMMITTEE. YOU HAVE ANOTHER VOTE. YOU DON'T DO WHAT THEY DID TO
           RONNIE WHITE. AND I REMEMBER THAT CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS
           CAME OVER FROM THE HOUSE THAT DAY, ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS, AND
           SHE WAS HERE BECAUSE SHE
{END: 2001/01/31 TIME: 17-00 , Wed.  107TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}