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Morning News

Transition of Power: Supporters, Critics Gearing Up For Ashcroft Confirmation Hearings

Aired January 16, 2001 - 9:01 a.m. ET

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

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Supporters and critics are gearing up as confirmation hearings begin today for Attorney General nominee John Ashcroft. Later this hour, we'll hear from a coalition of groups opposed to Ashcroft. And then later on this morning, we'll take you to a rally of Ashcroft supporters.

But first, a preview now of today's hearing from CNN national correspondent Bob Franken. He is on Capitol Hill, as he has been of late.

Good morning, Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

And there are supporters and opponents by the scores, by the hundreds, actually, of organizations around the country either coming out for Ashcroft or against Ashcroft, trying to influence the confirmation process in the Senate, which begins with hearing this morning. Now, these hearings -- excuse me, this afternoon the hearings begin. And the hearing are run by the Democrats, who are very temporarily in power in the Senate before the inauguration and the new vice president. We all know about that.

Now, we're talking about a full campaign to support Ashcroft as well as to discredit him. And the campaign extended to "Good Morning America" and the wife of John Ashcroft, Jane Ashcroft, who even spoke of things in a highly personal matter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANET ASHCROFT, WIFE OF SEN. JOHN ASHCROFT: I was attacked by a rapist. And John's response to me was absolutely perfect, which amazed me. He has no sisters and -- but his care for other people is just astounding. And his response to my situation was exactly the way any woman would want him to respond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: This was an effort on the part of Mrs. Ashcroft to convince the people who were watching that John Ashcroft was a compassionate man, contrary to the image of his opponents.

In any case, that is a subject that probably will not come up in the hearings, but there will be a discussion about the various public utterances of John Ashcroft and the claim that his very strong conservative political positions might make it difficult, say his opponents, to administer the laws that he so strongly opposes -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, you know, Bob, Republicans have said early on -- I believe what Trent Lott was saying last weekend, that he's pretty sure that all 50 Republicans in the Senate are going to vote for Ashcroft. Is it clear exactly what tack the Democrats are going to take, considering the fact that they may not want to risk any tipping of this bipartisanship cart at this moment?

FRANKEN: Well, first of all, this is not going to be a bipartisan hearing. There are any number of Democrats who are going to try and discredit Ashcroft. They are going to try and cause a popular uproar which would translate on -- to pressure on the senators to change their minds. But you make a good point: They have to try and do this without looking like political opportunists. It's something that the people of Washington do all the time. They walk a delicate line, and they're going to be doing it with this hearing.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. We'll be watching. Thanks much, Bob Franken in Washington this morning.

Stay with us. We'll have live coverage of the Ashcroft confirmation hearing beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. That's 10:30 a.m. Pacific.

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