Rich Lucibella
Staff
Other than the fact that this former Missouri Senator is a gracious "conceder" (I don't think he lost), what do we know about him. Looks like he's gonna be our next Attorney General? Researching it now.
Rich
Rich
What do we know about John Ashcroft
- Thread starter Rich Lucibella
- Start date
Rich Lucibella
Staff
GOA gave him a C-
He has co-sponsored a variety of screw-the-children "Youth Crime Bills" which were veiled attacks on Law Abiding Firearms Owners. His history is not encouraging. OTOH, compared to Janet, he's a God.
Rich
He has co-sponsored a variety of screw-the-children "Youth Crime Bills" which were veiled attacks on Law Abiding Firearms Owners. His history is not encouraging. OTOH, compared to Janet, he's a God.
Rich
It may not be all bad: He Owes NRA Big Time
"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) received the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) single largest contribution to benefit any federal candidate in this election cycle -- $25,000 -- and his campaign has been bolstered by nearly $300,000 the NRA spent to back his re-election, Public Citizen has found.
"Senator Ashcroft may be the NRA’s best friend in Washington, D.C.," said Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch. "How else can you explain the NRA’s largesse? They arm Ashcroft, and he hits his target."
In all, the NRA has spent nearly $300,000 in this Senate election cycle to back Ashcroft, including $48,000 in hard and soft money contributions and almost $240,000 for TV and radio ads, bumper stickers and billboards.
Ashcroft has opposed gun-control measures on 13 consecutive Senate votes since 1996, including votes against funding for the Brady Bill, mandatory background checks for guns sold at gun shows, and requiring safety locks on handguns.
Ashcroft also vigorously supported the NRA’s concealed handgun referendum, Proposition B, in Missouri in 1999. The senator even appeared in radio ads, urging voters to approve the hidden handgun proposal. Missouri voters rejected Proposition B in April 1999. But the NRA still rewarded Ashcroft with an unprecedented $25,000 "soft money" contribution in March 2000 to the Ashcroft Victory Committee, a joint fund-raising committee set up by Ashcroft and the National Republican Senatorial Committee to collect unlimited contributions from special interests. The NRA has also given Ashcroft another $21,900 in hard money contributions since he started collecting money in 1995 for his re-election bid (see Table 1).
No other candidate for the House, Senate or presidency received such a huge contribution from the NRA in this election cycle, Public Citizen research shows. And many candidates wouldn’t want to collect such soft money, because it circumvents campaign finance law limits on contributions to candidates – and amounts to evidence that a candidate is violating the spirit, if not the letter of the law.
Current campaign finance law allows Ashcroft to receive up to $1,000 from an individual per election and up to $5,000 from a political action committee (PAC). Current law prohibits candidates from receiving direct contributions from corporations, unions and organizations such as the NRA. Unfortunately, it does not prohibit those groups from making unlimited soft money contributions to political parties, which can set up committees that directly benefit a candidate, such as the Ashcroft Victory Committee.
Federal candidates, like Ashcroft, help raise these large contributions, and the money is put into accounts that are clearly meant to help them. This skirting of the law blurs the lines between candidate and party fund raising – and makes it more difficult to enforce the law.
Such unlimited soft money contributions from corporations, unions, individuals and groups would be banned by campaign finance reform legislation (S. 1593) sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But Ashcroft has voted repeatedly against McCain’s bill."
http://www.citizen.org/press/pr-cfr29.htm
ALSO:
The national news reports that liberals are complaining, so that is good. It may be that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
[Edited by Gary H on 12-22-2000 at 12:06 PM]
"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) received the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) single largest contribution to benefit any federal candidate in this election cycle -- $25,000 -- and his campaign has been bolstered by nearly $300,000 the NRA spent to back his re-election, Public Citizen has found.
"Senator Ashcroft may be the NRA’s best friend in Washington, D.C.," said Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch. "How else can you explain the NRA’s largesse? They arm Ashcroft, and he hits his target."
In all, the NRA has spent nearly $300,000 in this Senate election cycle to back Ashcroft, including $48,000 in hard and soft money contributions and almost $240,000 for TV and radio ads, bumper stickers and billboards.
Ashcroft has opposed gun-control measures on 13 consecutive Senate votes since 1996, including votes against funding for the Brady Bill, mandatory background checks for guns sold at gun shows, and requiring safety locks on handguns.
Ashcroft also vigorously supported the NRA’s concealed handgun referendum, Proposition B, in Missouri in 1999. The senator even appeared in radio ads, urging voters to approve the hidden handgun proposal. Missouri voters rejected Proposition B in April 1999. But the NRA still rewarded Ashcroft with an unprecedented $25,000 "soft money" contribution in March 2000 to the Ashcroft Victory Committee, a joint fund-raising committee set up by Ashcroft and the National Republican Senatorial Committee to collect unlimited contributions from special interests. The NRA has also given Ashcroft another $21,900 in hard money contributions since he started collecting money in 1995 for his re-election bid (see Table 1).
No other candidate for the House, Senate or presidency received such a huge contribution from the NRA in this election cycle, Public Citizen research shows. And many candidates wouldn’t want to collect such soft money, because it circumvents campaign finance law limits on contributions to candidates – and amounts to evidence that a candidate is violating the spirit, if not the letter of the law.
Current campaign finance law allows Ashcroft to receive up to $1,000 from an individual per election and up to $5,000 from a political action committee (PAC). Current law prohibits candidates from receiving direct contributions from corporations, unions and organizations such as the NRA. Unfortunately, it does not prohibit those groups from making unlimited soft money contributions to political parties, which can set up committees that directly benefit a candidate, such as the Ashcroft Victory Committee.
Federal candidates, like Ashcroft, help raise these large contributions, and the money is put into accounts that are clearly meant to help them. This skirting of the law blurs the lines between candidate and party fund raising – and makes it more difficult to enforce the law.
Such unlimited soft money contributions from corporations, unions, individuals and groups would be banned by campaign finance reform legislation (S. 1593) sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But Ashcroft has voted repeatedly against McCain’s bill."
http://www.citizen.org/press/pr-cfr29.htm
ALSO:
The national news reports that liberals are complaining, so that is good. It may be that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
[Edited by Gary H on 12-22-2000 at 12:06 PM]
I don't know, but HCI apparently wants the guy gone forever...check this out:
http://www.ashcroftandguns.com/top_race.asp
sponsered and paid for by HCI it says at the bottom.
http://www.ashcroftandguns.com/top_race.asp
sponsered and paid for by HCI it says at the bottom.
Really, a C- rating does not sound like an accurate measure of Mr. Ashcroft's efforts on behalf of RKBA. If he actively campaigned for concealed carry, then I'm for him.
BTW, if Ashcroft's loss in the (weird) Missouri Senate race was a victory for HCI, it seems to me that pro-gunners now stand to win a greater victory by having him as the AG. IOW, HCI may be choking over its victory right now. Let 'em choke!
BTW, if Ashcroft's loss in the (weird) Missouri Senate race was a victory for HCI, it seems to me that pro-gunners now stand to win a greater victory by having him as the AG. IOW, HCI may be choking over its victory right now. Let 'em choke!
NRA evaluation is encouraging, GOA rating is suspect. All in all I feel o.k. He may be a honest, ethical, etc. kinda guy but he still quit a senate campaign against a dead candidate in a state having rampant voter fraud. He may be the best thing since twist top bottle caps but he still quit. His decision to concede the senate race my well be the reason the democrats control the senate. Sen. Thurmond and Jesse Helms have health problems. One leaving office gives the democrats control over supreme court selection. If he fought and won two senators would have to leave.
I don't want the guy around for that reason.
I don't want the guy around for that reason.
Rich Lucibella
Staff
OK, I'm convinced. GOA's ratings are real strict; thus the C-. Ahscroft's history seems to be pretty good. We could do far worse.
Rich
Rich
http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/John_Ashcroft.htm
John Ashcroft on Abortion
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Abortion.
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on disallowing overseas military abortions. (May 1999)
John Ashcroft on Budget & Economy
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Budget & Economy.
Voted NO on $500B Omnibus spending bill. (Oct 1998)
Voted NO on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted YES on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
John Ashcroft on China
Click here for 1 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on China.
Voted YES on China in WTO. (Mar 1999)
John Ashcroft on Civil Rights
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Civil Rights.
Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
John Ashcroft on Crime
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Crime.
Voted YES on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
Voted YES on repealing federal speed limits. (Jun 1995)
John Ashcroft on Defense
Click here for 6 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Defense.
Voted NO on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
Voted NO on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
Voted YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)
John Ashcroft on Drugs
Click here for presidential candidates on Drugs.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on Education
Click here for 1 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Education.
Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
John Ashcroft on Environment
Click here for 5 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Environment.
Voted NO on keeping CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
Voted YES on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
John Ashcroft on Families & Children
Click here for presidential candidates on Families & Children.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on Foreign Policy
Click here for 5 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Foreign Policy.
Voted YES on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
Voted YES on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
Voted NO on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
John Ashcroft on Free Trade & Immigration
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Free Trade & Immigration.
Voted YES on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
Voted YES on fast track trading authority. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
John Ashcroft on Government Reform
Click here for 7 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Government Reform.
Voted NO on limiting funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
Voted NO on ending some agricultural subsidies. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on cloture of 1998 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Feb 1998)
Voted NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996)
Voted YES on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
John Ashcroft on Gun Control
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Gun Control.
Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
John Ashcroft on Health Care
Click here for 6 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Health Care.
Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
Voted NO on increasing funds for Medicare prescriptions. (Mar 1999)
Voted NO on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Voted YES on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
Voted NO on medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
John Ashcroft on Juvenile Crime
Click here for presidential candidates on Juvenile Crime.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on Kosovo
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Kosovo.
Voted YES on allowing all necessary forces and other means in Kosovo. (May 1999)
Voted YES on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
John Ashcroft on Principles & Values
Click here for presidential candidates on Principles & Values.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on School Choice
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on School Choice.
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
John Ashcroft on Social Security
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Social Security.
Voted YES on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
John Ashcroft on Tax Reform
Click here for 4 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Tax Reform.
Voted YES on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on $792B tax cuts. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
Voted YES on FY99 tax cuts. (Apr 1998)
John Ashcroft on Technology
Click here for 1 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Technology.
Voted YES on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
John Ashcroft on Welfare & Labor
Click here for 4 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Welfare & Labor.
Voted YES on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
Voted YES on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
John Ashcroft on Abortion
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Abortion.
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on disallowing overseas military abortions. (May 1999)
John Ashcroft on Budget & Economy
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Budget & Economy.
Voted NO on $500B Omnibus spending bill. (Oct 1998)
Voted NO on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted YES on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
John Ashcroft on China
Click here for 1 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on China.
Voted YES on China in WTO. (Mar 1999)
John Ashcroft on Civil Rights
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Civil Rights.
Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
John Ashcroft on Crime
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Crime.
Voted YES on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
Voted YES on repealing federal speed limits. (Jun 1995)
John Ashcroft on Defense
Click here for 6 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Defense.
Voted NO on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
Voted NO on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
Voted YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)
John Ashcroft on Drugs
Click here for presidential candidates on Drugs.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on Education
Click here for 1 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Education.
Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
John Ashcroft on Environment
Click here for 5 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Environment.
Voted NO on keeping CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
Voted YES on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
John Ashcroft on Families & Children
Click here for presidential candidates on Families & Children.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on Foreign Policy
Click here for 5 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Foreign Policy.
Voted YES on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
Voted YES on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
Voted NO on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
John Ashcroft on Free Trade & Immigration
Click here for 3 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Free Trade & Immigration.
Voted YES on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
Voted YES on fast track trading authority. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
John Ashcroft on Government Reform
Click here for 7 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Government Reform.
Voted NO on limiting funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
Voted NO on ending some agricultural subsidies. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on cloture of 1998 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Feb 1998)
Voted NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996)
Voted YES on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
John Ashcroft on Gun Control
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Gun Control.
Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
John Ashcroft on Health Care
Click here for 6 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Health Care.
Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
Voted NO on increasing funds for Medicare prescriptions. (Mar 1999)
Voted NO on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Voted YES on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
Voted NO on medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
John Ashcroft on Juvenile Crime
Click here for presidential candidates on Juvenile Crime.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on Kosovo
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Kosovo.
Voted YES on allowing all necessary forces and other means in Kosovo. (May 1999)
Voted YES on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
John Ashcroft on Principles & Values
Click here for presidential candidates on Principles & Values.
No stance on record.
John Ashcroft on School Choice
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on School Choice.
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
John Ashcroft on Social Security
Click here for 2 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Social Security.
Voted YES on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
John Ashcroft on Tax Reform
Click here for 4 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Tax Reform.
Voted YES on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on $792B tax cuts. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
Voted YES on FY99 tax cuts. (Apr 1998)
John Ashcroft on Technology
Click here for 1 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Technology.
Voted YES on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
John Ashcroft on Welfare & Labor
Click here for 4 full quotes OR click here for presidential candidates on Welfare & Labor.
Voted YES on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
Voted YES on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
http://www.ccrkba.org/defender1998.htm#March
John Ashcroft
Sen. John Ashcroft of Missouri is the designated recipient of the CCRKBA Gun Rights Defender of the Month Award for March.
In nominating Ashcroft for the Award, John Michael Snyder, CCRKBA Public Affairs Director, said that the U. S. Senator "is an experienced, elected public official who understands that, very often,
personnel is policy. That is why it was so important that he took the lead in trying to prevent the confirmation of Dr. David Satcher, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as
Surgeon General of the United States.
"Sen. Ashcroft knows that Satcher, a notorious anti-gun medical bureaucrat, could use the joint posts of Surgeon General and Assistant Health Secretary as a perch from which to continue and to
amplify his attacks on the individual Second Amendment civil right of law-abiding American citizens to keep and bear arms.
"Even though he was not successful in this instance and Satcher was confirmed last month, we’re glad that Sen. Ashcroft, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, did step out in front in the
Satcher matter. His action puts the scandal-ridden Clinton Administration on notice that some Senators at least will be looking at Satcher’s activities with a high-power magnifying glass. Sen. Ashcroft
certainly is most deserving of this Award."
Satcher previously characterized so-called "handgun violence" as a "public health menace."
In late January, Sen. Ashcroft announced at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D. C. that the confirmation of Satcher "would weaken seriously the influence and moral
authority of the position."
Ashcroft noted that he, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, and others had placed "holds" on the Satcher nomination. A "hold" means that the Senate cannot proceed to consideration of the
nomination without debate. This eliminates the possibility of a merely formal confirmation vote on the nomination, as distinguished from a vote after thorough floor debate.
Ashcroft said that, even if Lott and others did lift their "holds," which they did, he would maintain his. He said that if the nomination were to proceed, which it did, he would familiarize the Senate with
all of the facts regarding the nomination before proceeding to a vote.
Last year, after the Clinton Administration submitted the Satcher nomination to the Senate, Alan M. Gottlieb, CCRKBA Chairman, said "we oppose David Satcher. He’s totally anti-gun. This is
another slap at gun owners by Bill Clinton, who is the most anti-gun President in history."
Shortly after his National Press Club announcement on January 20, Sen. Ashcroft noted in a statement prepared for POINT BLANK that "James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, decried the Old
World governments for ‘being afraid to trust the people with arms.’ He reassured his countrymen that they did not need to fear their government because of ‘the advantage of being armed, which the
Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.’ One cannot help but question whether Mr. Madison would be so optimistic today.
"In a little over two years, the Clinton Administration has established itself as the most anti-gun administration in recent history. Under the guise of fighting crime, federal agencies and cabinet
departments have supported policies which threaten the rights of law-abiding gun owners. These efforts include the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) support for research which portrays gun
ownership as a hazardous activity, the Department of Education’s promotion of programs biased against firearms ownership, and the Forest Service’s proposal to outlaw firearms on public lands under its
control. Unfortunately, administration officials forget a basic rule: CRIMINALS DON’T OBEY LAWS. Restricting firearm ownership may sound good, but it won’t stop crime, and it is an intolerable
violation of our Second Amendment rights.
"Like the European despots from whom our Founding Fathers fled, today’s power brokers and policy wonks ‘are afraid to trust the people with arms.’ I don’t share their fears. Instead, I am fearful of a
government that doesn’t trust the people who elected them. You have my assurance that I will continue to oppose legislation which infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms."
John Ashcroft, who was elected to the United States Senate in November of 1994, served previously as Governor of Missouri, 1985-93, as Missouri Attorney General, 1976-84, and as Missouri State
Auditor, 1973-75.
Born May 9, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, he graduated cum laude in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1967 from the University of Chicago
Law School.
Ashcroft was Associate Professor of Law, 1967-71, Coordinator for Judicial Affairs, 1969-73, then Associate Professor, 1971-73, all with Southwest Missouri State University.
A member of the Assembly of God church, he and his wife, Janet Elise Roede, who also received her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1967, are the parents of three children,
Martha Patterson, Jay and Andrew.
back to top
John Ashcroft
Sen. John Ashcroft of Missouri is the designated recipient of the CCRKBA Gun Rights Defender of the Month Award for March.
In nominating Ashcroft for the Award, John Michael Snyder, CCRKBA Public Affairs Director, said that the U. S. Senator "is an experienced, elected public official who understands that, very often,
personnel is policy. That is why it was so important that he took the lead in trying to prevent the confirmation of Dr. David Satcher, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as
Surgeon General of the United States.
"Sen. Ashcroft knows that Satcher, a notorious anti-gun medical bureaucrat, could use the joint posts of Surgeon General and Assistant Health Secretary as a perch from which to continue and to
amplify his attacks on the individual Second Amendment civil right of law-abiding American citizens to keep and bear arms.
"Even though he was not successful in this instance and Satcher was confirmed last month, we’re glad that Sen. Ashcroft, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, did step out in front in the
Satcher matter. His action puts the scandal-ridden Clinton Administration on notice that some Senators at least will be looking at Satcher’s activities with a high-power magnifying glass. Sen. Ashcroft
certainly is most deserving of this Award."
Satcher previously characterized so-called "handgun violence" as a "public health menace."
In late January, Sen. Ashcroft announced at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D. C. that the confirmation of Satcher "would weaken seriously the influence and moral
authority of the position."
Ashcroft noted that he, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, and others had placed "holds" on the Satcher nomination. A "hold" means that the Senate cannot proceed to consideration of the
nomination without debate. This eliminates the possibility of a merely formal confirmation vote on the nomination, as distinguished from a vote after thorough floor debate.
Ashcroft said that, even if Lott and others did lift their "holds," which they did, he would maintain his. He said that if the nomination were to proceed, which it did, he would familiarize the Senate with
all of the facts regarding the nomination before proceeding to a vote.
Last year, after the Clinton Administration submitted the Satcher nomination to the Senate, Alan M. Gottlieb, CCRKBA Chairman, said "we oppose David Satcher. He’s totally anti-gun. This is
another slap at gun owners by Bill Clinton, who is the most anti-gun President in history."
Shortly after his National Press Club announcement on January 20, Sen. Ashcroft noted in a statement prepared for POINT BLANK that "James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, decried the Old
World governments for ‘being afraid to trust the people with arms.’ He reassured his countrymen that they did not need to fear their government because of ‘the advantage of being armed, which the
Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.’ One cannot help but question whether Mr. Madison would be so optimistic today.
"In a little over two years, the Clinton Administration has established itself as the most anti-gun administration in recent history. Under the guise of fighting crime, federal agencies and cabinet
departments have supported policies which threaten the rights of law-abiding gun owners. These efforts include the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) support for research which portrays gun
ownership as a hazardous activity, the Department of Education’s promotion of programs biased against firearms ownership, and the Forest Service’s proposal to outlaw firearms on public lands under its
control. Unfortunately, administration officials forget a basic rule: CRIMINALS DON’T OBEY LAWS. Restricting firearm ownership may sound good, but it won’t stop crime, and it is an intolerable
violation of our Second Amendment rights.
"Like the European despots from whom our Founding Fathers fled, today’s power brokers and policy wonks ‘are afraid to trust the people with arms.’ I don’t share their fears. Instead, I am fearful of a
government that doesn’t trust the people who elected them. You have my assurance that I will continue to oppose legislation which infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms."
John Ashcroft, who was elected to the United States Senate in November of 1994, served previously as Governor of Missouri, 1985-93, as Missouri Attorney General, 1976-84, and as Missouri State
Auditor, 1973-75.
Born May 9, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, he graduated cum laude in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1967 from the University of Chicago
Law School.
Ashcroft was Associate Professor of Law, 1967-71, Coordinator for Judicial Affairs, 1969-73, then Associate Professor, 1971-73, all with Southwest Missouri State University.
A member of the Assembly of God church, he and his wife, Janet Elise Roede, who also received her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1967, are the parents of three children,
Martha Patterson, Jay and Andrew.
back to top
If you're in a whimsical mood . . .
. . . you can vote for Ashcroft in this poll. Ignore the annoying pop-up window. Underneath is the poll, about 1 page down.
Who did/will do a better job as Attorney General?
Janet Reno 12%
John Ashcroft 42%
Johnnie Cochran 1%
Judge Judy 16%
Don't know 10%
Don't care 15%
http://www.talkcity.com/
. . . you can vote for Ashcroft in this poll. Ignore the annoying pop-up window. Underneath is the poll, about 1 page down.
Who did/will do a better job as Attorney General?
Janet Reno 12%
John Ashcroft 42%
Johnnie Cochran 1%
Judge Judy 16%
Don't know 10%
Don't care 15%
http://www.talkcity.com/