Here's a copy of a letter (e-mail, actually) that I sent to my two Senators. Thought I'd post it here in case anyone might want to use it as a starting point for their own letter. Any feedback would be most appreciated...
Dear Senator ...,
I am writing to ask you to support the nomination of John Ashcroft as Attorney General of the United States. It is time to put aside partisan differences in our deeply divided country and begin to work together to heal and to build -- for ourselves and our children.
When John Kennedy ran for president, there were some who opposed him merely because he was Catholic. Joseph Lieberman undoubtedly had to endure opposition from some simply because he was Jewish. Not everyone who opposed these men was a religious bigot, but there were voices of bigotry there, just below the surface.
The same ugly grumbling of religious bigotry can be heard in the harsh condemnations and lies from some today as groups like People For the American Way castigate Senator John Ashcroft.
The lies and insinuations of racism are evil and wrong. When he was governor of Missouri, John Ashcroft appointed many African-Americans as judges, including the first African-American to Missouri's second highest court. He signed into law a statute aimed at violent racism. He signed into law Missouri's Martin Luther King Day holiday. And finally, as a Senator, he voted for all twenty-six African-American judges confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Its time to stop the "politics of personal destruction." I agree with Senator John Ashcroft, not Ronnie White, in the case involving the murder of Missouri police officers and their families. Ashcroft is fully qualified for the job of Attorney General. He is a man of integrity and expertise and should be confirmed as Attorney General.
As a woman of integrity yourself, I feel confident that you will properly represent me and the many, many others like me in your state who wish to see John Ashcroft confirmed as Attorney General.
Thank you,
Dear Senator ...,
I am writing to ask you to support the nomination of John Ashcroft as Attorney General of the United States. It is time to put aside partisan differences in our deeply divided country and begin to work together to heal and to build -- for ourselves and our children.
When John Kennedy ran for president, there were some who opposed him merely because he was Catholic. Joseph Lieberman undoubtedly had to endure opposition from some simply because he was Jewish. Not everyone who opposed these men was a religious bigot, but there were voices of bigotry there, just below the surface.
The same ugly grumbling of religious bigotry can be heard in the harsh condemnations and lies from some today as groups like People For the American Way castigate Senator John Ashcroft.
The lies and insinuations of racism are evil and wrong. When he was governor of Missouri, John Ashcroft appointed many African-Americans as judges, including the first African-American to Missouri's second highest court. He signed into law a statute aimed at violent racism. He signed into law Missouri's Martin Luther King Day holiday. And finally, as a Senator, he voted for all twenty-six African-American judges confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Its time to stop the "politics of personal destruction." I agree with Senator John Ashcroft, not Ronnie White, in the case involving the murder of Missouri police officers and their families. Ashcroft is fully qualified for the job of Attorney General. He is a man of integrity and expertise and should be confirmed as Attorney General.
As a woman of integrity yourself, I feel confident that you will properly represent me and the many, many others like me in your state who wish to see John Ashcroft confirmed as Attorney General.
Thank you,