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from the grass-roots news desk :
Doug's Action Alert #1 UPDATE: Oppose John Ashcroft
There is a lot of good news to report. An unprecedented coalition
of 20 progressive activist groups has banded together to lead the charge
against Ashcroft's nomination. They include Alliance for Justice, Handgun
Control, Human Rights Campaign, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights,
NARAL, NAACP, People for the American Way and the Sierra Club. They have
set up a website HERE which contains all kinds
of valuable information on Ashcroft's record and how to proceed with our
grassroots effort. Additionally, the Million Mom March has set up a website HERE and People for the American Way has set up a
website HERE which includes an on-line petition
you can sign. I heartily recommend that you visit all these sites, take in
as much info as you can, and then follow their action recommendations.
A new Newsweek poll taken this weekend found more Americans against
Ashcroft's confirmation than for it, even though they generally support
Bush's other nominees. See: Here for more
details. This is exciting news because it shows we are not shouting in the
dark. This issue has touched a nerve with a lot of people. Senator Barbara
Boxer of California became the first U.S. Senator last week to announce that
she would, indeed, oppose the Ashcroft nomination. And many other
Democratic Senators are indicating they are leaning against him, including
Joe Biden of Delaware and Charles Schumer of New York. Democrats had strong
words against Ashcroft on the weekend talk shows like Face the Nation,
indicating that they're tuning in to the American people's hostility to this
right-wing extremist.
So, what's next? THIS WEEK IS THE BIG WEEK, my friends. Ashcroft's
nomination proceedings start tomorrow. He is expected to make a long
opening statement promising that he will faithfully uphold laws he formerly
opposed. He has been receiving coaching all weekend long over at
Bush-Cheney Transition Headquarters. Trent Lott and the right-wingers are
turning up the heat by forming a coalition of right-wing activists IN FAVOR
of Ashcroft, and they are just beginning their grass-roots effort. What
does that mean? IT MEANS CALL, CALL, CALL! And sign the on-line petition
at opposeashcroft.com. And, if you haven't sent out your handwritten
letters yet, GET THEM OUT TONIGHT! All U.S. Senators' offices will be
closely tracking the volume of mail, email and calls they receive both for
and against Ashcroft this week. THE STRENGTH OF OUR GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT IS
KEY to putting Senators on notice that we do not take this nomination
lightly and we will not stand by while Bush tries to eradicate our civil and
human rights with right-wing nominees. Write, email and call. This week,
it's all a question of volume. The more times you call and the more people
you can get to call, the better.
The Ashcroft nomination is shaping up to be the first real political battle
of the Bush White House. The strength of our opposition will send a strong
signal to Bush how much he can expect to get away with over these next four
years. It is up to us to tell the Democrats and the Republicans that we
expect them to hold true to Bush's promise of a non-partisan, non-divisive
administration. It is up to us to tell the Democrats and the Republicans
that the American people expect moderate nominees and that we will not
accept radicals on the courts or in the Justice Department.
Finally, if you still have questions about the role of the U.S. Attorney
General, I would like to suggest an article from MSN which describes just
how important the position is: HERE
Please feel free to pass this message along to any of your friends if you
think they might be interested. For those of you who would like to send me
comments or questions, feel free to respond.
Sincerely,
DOUG HAXALL