February 1, 2001 AFL-CIO News Release

In a close vote, John Ashcroft was confirmed as U.S. attorney general Feb. 1.  The 58-42 Senate vote followed weeks of debate over the Missourian's controversial civil rights record, opposition to affirmative action and a St. Louis school desegregation plan and his stands against workers' and women's rights.

Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
on the Confirmation of John Ashcrost as U.S. Attorney General

We are extremely disappointed that the United States Senate would confirm John Ashcroft as Attorney General. Because Mr. Ashcroft's views, public statements and conduct as a public official place him so outside the mainstream of American values and beliefs, we fear that this appointment will only deepen that which divides us at the very moment that this nation needs healing.

Mr. Ashcroft's past actions as anelected official and his outspoken views on matters of great concern to our nation - especially civil rights and women's rights - demonstrates that he lacks the temperament, integrity, and commitment to basic worker protections and to equal justice for all that Americans expect and are entitled to from an Attorney General.

What Mr. Ashcroft brings to the position is an ideological extremism and divisiveness that the nation doesn't want - and didn't vote for last fall. A majority of America voters in last November's election said they support strong protections for working families and for civil rights and women's rights. President Bush's nomination of Mr. Ashcroft, and the Senate's confirmation, represents just the opposite of what voters supported.

The deep division in the Senate and the historic opposition generated by this nomination - from millions of working Americans and scores of organizations that champion rights and equality for all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation and other considerations - underscore how troubling this nomination is. Millions of Americans are deeply concerned about placing Mr Ashcroft at the Justice Department helm.

Like all those who opposed this nomination, we are gravely concerned about the message this selection sends about President Bush's priorities and about future nominations to the federal courts and to critical executive branch positions. We will not be silent in the face of similarly inappropriate nominations and the American people will certainly not accept similarly extreme ideologues for these important posts.

Mr. Ashcroft has promised to enforce the law fairly for all. The AFL-CIO and America's working families now call on those Senators who voted in favor of John Ashcroft to hold him accountable for keeping that promise - for the nation and all our citizens, especially those most dependent on our system of justice to protect rights and interests.

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