Angie Craig: “as a Senator, I do not serve on the Judiciary Committee, but I have watched nearly every hour of their hearing on the…”

“as a Senator, I do not serve on the Judiciary Committee, but I have watched nearly every hour of their hearing on the confirmation of John Ashcroft to be our next Attorney General of the United States. I have watched while men and women of good will, while attempting to speak in soft and mellow tones, have been intimidated and bludgeoned by the far left to such a point that we now hear them come to the floor of the Senate and reach to find excuses to vote against a man of good faith and a man of good will. I am not an attorney, nor have I ever claimed to be, but as a human being who has served in public life for a good number of years and associated with a great many people, I believe I am a reasonable judge of character. This afternoon, I heard a speech from one of my colleagues about seeing into the heart of John Ashcroft. That particular Senator said that once she had viewed the heart of John Ashcroft, she could not support him. I suggest to that Senator that I have not seen into the heart of John Ashcroft, but I know it because I have lived near it and around it for the last 6 years. I know of its sincerity and its compassion. I know of its love of people and love of this institution. I know of its great patriotic pride for its country. I know of a heart that has served as a State attorney general, a Governor, a Senator, and who will soon serve as the U.S. Attorney General. No, I have not seen the heart.…”