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Former U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft fires up Lincoln Day Rally
Nevada Daily Mail
"As Americans, we can't say we're better than the people of other countries because nearly all of us, when you go back, were originally from other countries."
Those words, part of a speech by John Ashcroft, former U.S. attorney general, were heard by about 75 people Friday. Federal, state and local candidates along with surrogates and Missouri's 50th governor spoke to Republicans at the annual Lincoln Day dinner at the Vernon County fairgrounds. The gathering concluded with a drawing for several firearms, including an AR-15.
In a pre-dinner interview, Jerry Wadel, chair of the Vernon County Republican Committee asked the former U.S. Attorney General, "What names would you recommend for the vacant position on the Supreme Court?"
"Two people." said Ashcroft. "The first would be the man I helped to become counsel on the Senate judiciary committee and later appointed to be an assistant in the A.G.'s office and still later put forward as U.S. Solicitor General, Paul Clement. Recently, he was in the news as one of the lawyers in the NFL's "deflategate" case involving quarterback Tom Brady. But more to the point, he clerked under Antonin Scalia."
"The other might surprise you but he's one of the best young legal minds in this country, Ted Cruz," he said
Commenting on the presidential race, the former state auditor, attorney general, governor and senator said, "When our candidates stop the personal attacks and simply lay out clear, no-nonsense, conservative positions, then Americans will elect a Republican president."
Ashcroft added, "I'm tired of hearing candidates say, 'I will go to Jeff City or Washington and listen.' We need to send candidates who will stand up for and teach good old conservative Missouri values. Don't listen to 'em, teach 'em!"
The pre-dinner interview concluded by asking the author of several books about his most memorable moments while U.S. attorney general.
"March 2004," immediately responded Ashcroft.
That month, Ashcroft ruled that the domestic intelligence program, Stellar Wind, was illegal. The day after the ruling, Ashcroft came down with acute pancreatitis. President Bush sent his personal lawyer and his chief of staff to Ashcroft's hospital bed to have him sign a document reversing his ruling.
Ashcroft described how, while semi-conscious, he refused to sign.
He added, "Integrity and loyalty are two things I value. The acting A.G. and head of legal affairs for the justice department were there to back me up. Afterwards, the president and I got along fine."
Following an opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance, a minute of silence was observed. This was in honor of Nancy Reagan, the former First Lady, whose funeral was Friday. After a brief welcome, local officials not up for re-election were recognized. State, federal and local candidates then addressed the gathering. Due to simultaneous Lincoln Day rallies in other counties, most candidates were not on hand.
Former Missouri house representative, Barney Fisher, spoke on behalf of several candidates while staff, family or friends spoke for others.
After words from the candidates, an informal presidential preference poll was taken. Fifty-five percent raised their hand for Ted Cruz, 40 percent supported Donald Trump with 5 percent for John Kasich.
After a brief introduction, former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft prefaced his speech by thanking the assembled and by urging them to vote.
"This great state doesn't owe me a thing but I owe you and every Missourian a deep debt of gratitude. I had so much fun being state auditor, attorney general, governor, senator and U.S. attorney general."
"Now before I get to my speech," said Ashcroft, "I want to address an attitude and idea that I think undermines this nation. I'm talking about the foolishness that says, 'The way to revolt and send a message is by not voting.' My friends, that's not revolting, that's surrendering."
This led Ashcroft into his prepared remarks. "After the years following the fall of the Berlin Wall, I was privileged to travel among former communist nations and help set up fair courts and honest systems of justice. I met so many people who craved one thing more than any other, the freedom to vote in a free and fair election. So don't surrender your vote; go out and vote!"
The theme of Ashcroft's remarks was the contrast between liberty and democracy. "Democracy is a process while liberty is a value, this nation's core value."
"There are so many countries around the world who love to call themselves a democratic republic. But in reality, their ruler is a dictator who holds rigged elections and claims to be a democracy because he got 98 percent of the vote."
Presently working for a firm that does legal and consulting work, Ashcroft intoned, "Liberty is and must remain our core value. The pledge to our flag says, 'one nation, under God, with' what?"
"Liberty," responded the audience.
"And when the French gave us a statue in 1866," said Ashcroft, it was not called a statue of democracy but the statue of what?"
"Liberty," called out the crowd.
What for some may have been a surprising point, the former attorney general used the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty as a way to make a positive point about immigration.
"That poem speaks of my own family. Three of my four grandparents were immigrants. Two of them literally were tired and poor, part of those 'huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'"
Ashcroft related some personal history and then stated, "As individuals, we are not better than other people, but as a nation, from day one, our difference has been and must remain our core value of liberty!"
The former Missouri attorney general added, "But we must continue to insist, as did those before us, that we are 'one nation under God, indivisible.' That means we cannot allow ourselves to be isolated as separate ethnic groups."
"This nation, which was built by the backs and ingenuity of immigrants will continue to need more immigrants. But," warned Ashcroft, "we must not attract them because they can get free stuff -- benefit after benefit -- but because here they can find and here they can receive that core value, that pearl of priceless worth, freedom."
"That's why we need 'right-to-work laws', overhaul the tax code, insist that trade must always be fair trade and stop the psychology of entitlements. And speaking as a grandpa, we need to balance the budget and stop mortgaging the present on the backs of our children and grandchildren."
Ashcroft brought his speech to its conclusion and his audience to its feet. "But most of all we need to safeguard, practice, and spread one thing, liberty. Liberty is everything and without it you have nothing. In this way, we can be and shall remain, "one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!"