ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


CNN Today

Ashcroft Confirmation Ignites a Fight on Ideological Grounds

Aired January 11, 2001 - 1:10 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LOU WATER, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now from Washington, Eileen O'Connor, who bring us up to speed on the latest of the transition -- Eileen.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lou. There's some problems for John Ashcroft and some support. Already, the counterattack has begun. Victim's rights groups are going to come out in support of him later this afternoon. But just as liberal women's groups came out against John Ashcroft earlier this week, citing their opposition, saying it was based on his anti-abortion stance, his anti- affirmative rights stance and his opposition to gay rights.

Now conservative women's groups are coming out in support of him because of those ideas, poignantly highlighting what Bush aides contend: This is a fight on ideological grounds; and they say the battle between liberal versus conservative views -- that has been fought and won, they say, by the election.

Janet Parshall of the Family Research Council says the opposition has targeted Ashcroft simply because his views differ from theirs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET PARSHALL, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Some folks in this town, quite frankly, are not being very honest. They are practicing deception for political gain. They divide rather than unite, and they have fostered hatred among people because of differences over ideas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: John Ashcroft has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill, trying to shore up support; but Democrats and Republicans all say, barring some bombshell from his personnel life coming out in his last days, because this is a fight on ideological grounds, they do expect him to win confirmation but it will be a bloody fight.

Democrats say they fully intend to air his views and his stand on certain controversial issues. They say these are extreme views and they say that makes him a bad choice for attorney general, a man who will have to uphold the laws of the land, even though supporting abortion.

Now, less controversial will be the pick for U.S. trade representative, Robert Zoellick. He is expected to be announced later today, sources say, by the president-elect. Robert Zoellick has a lot of experience under former G.O.P. administrations, including the president-elect's father. He was deputy chief of staff for George Bush Sr.; he also served as undersecretary of state for economic affairs. Also, in the Reagan administration, he served in various posts in the Treasury under James Baker.

Another pick, as well, expected to be announced today for labor secretary. Sources say the top contender for that post is Eloise Anderson. She is very pro-welfare reform, she has served, too, under GOP governors: Pete Wilson of California, Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin. She also was co-chair of the California campaign for President-elect Bush. So, she has a lot of experience, both in the GOP and with the president-elect.

Also, in addition, one nominee that has come under fire this morning, Lou, is Gale Norton: She is the nominee for interior secretary. Environmental groups highlighting a 1996 speech she made in support of states' rights. She says that federal powers were trying to encroach on states' rights and she used the Civil War and the Confederacy as her examples. Basically, she said that the Civil War was less fought over slavery than it was for states' rights.

Now, this is a view that has been debated by scholars and endorsed by scholars; she also said she was not endorsing slavery in making this point. But environmental groups are saying that, because she could have made the case other ways to show some of her extreme views -- Bush aides, though, say this is a stretch.

They call it partisanship and they say that they are attacking her; because they can't attack her on the issues, they are trying to destroy her in other means -- Lou.

WATERS: All right, Eileen O'Connor at the White House.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top