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U.S. Senators To Challenge Bush Attorney General Nominee
WASHINGTON (News Agencies) - Senators were set to grill Attorney General-designate John Ashcroft Tuesday in what is building up to be a bruising first test in Congress for Republican President-elect George W. Bush.
Ashcroft, one of Bush's more conservative cabinet choices, has raised the hackles of a wide coalition of women's and civil rights groups for his anti-abortion stance as well as his record on race issues and gun control.
The former Missouri senator's role in derailing the appointment of black Judge Ronnie White to a federal district court of appeals also has led to questions on his impartiality.
"Ashcroft has proven that his priorities lie with his own personal agenda and the Senate is responsible for making sure he does not control the scales of justice in the United States," National Organization for Women (NOW) president Patricia Ireland told reporters Tuesday.
Headed by Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the Senate House Judiciary Committee is to begin questioning Ashcroft on his record in a hearing that could last several days and test the level of support Bush has in the upper chamber of Congress.
All cabinet nominees must undergo detailed questioning before they can be approved, or rejected, by the U.S. Senate, currently divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans.
The hearing comes just a week after Bush's labor secretary nominee Linda Chavez, who also faced wide-spread union and liberal opposition, withdrew her candidacy amid accusations she harbored an illegal immigrant in her home.
But Bush and Republican supporters have proclaimed their faith in Ashcroft, and rather than bow to pressure against his nominee, Bush will be taking to the phones to make sure his pick wins the necessary majority of Senate votes.
"The president-elect has indicated that he's prepared to make phone calls, but typically the process would be that you wait until it approaches the vote before you start making phone calls," spokesman Ari Fleischer said Tuesday.
As U.S. attorney general, Ashcroft would be the country's chief law enforcement officer, and also would have a key role in deciding judiciary appointments across the country, a fact that concerns women's rights and civil rights organizations.
"John Ashcroft ... is a white male who has acted in bigoted or racist ways," said Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich, executive director of the Black Leadership Forum, at a press conference here.
Citing Ashcroft's record on voting against hate-crime legislation and non-discrimination in employment, Scruggs-Leftwich called on the Senate to reject Ashcroft's nomination.
"African-American leaders call on members of the Senate ... to ask blunt questions about these elements of John Ashcroft's record ... and then reject Ashcroft's nomination as failing to meet minimum requirements of trust, democratic principles, [and] equitable application of the law."
According to a Newsweek poll released Monday, a slim majority of Americans - 41% against 37% - believe the Senate should reject Ashcroft's nomination, a move some political analysts believe unlikely.
NOW also took aim at another conservative Bush choice, Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin to serve as secretary of health and human services. Thompson's hearing is set for Friday, January 19th.
The Senate this week is also to hold hearings on Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell and Bush's choice for treasury secretary, Paul O'Neill. Both men are expected to win Senate approval.
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