DON'T BE FOOLED: ASHCROFT HAS HIGH GROUND

It has been a long-standing practice in American politics for one party to use an icon of the other party to rile up support -- and, more importantly, attract campaign contributions. Republicans took in plenty by holding up Ted Kennedy as the poster boy of the Democrats. Now the Democrats have latched onto John Ashcroft as the worst representation of the nation's fate under the thumb of a conservative, pro-life, practicing Christian.

As syndicated columnist Cal Thomas -- and many others -- have observed, Ashcroft is being borked. (See Thomas' column elsewhere on this page.) Of all the personnel choices made so far by George W. Bush, the Democrats have targeted Ashcroft.

Why? Let's look at some of the reasons:

* Unlike most politicians, Ashcroft isn't ashamed to wear his religious convictions on his sleeve. Unfortunately, too many so-called Christians choose the path of least resistance when it comes to the biggest moral issues. Not Ashcroft. He is unwilling to ignore his convictions for the sake of political expediency.

* As a result, some liberals -- and this would include some moderate Republicans -- want to instill the fear that Ashcroft will turn the nation, with the full authority of the Department of Justice, into a repressive religious state. In many ways, this sounds like the same hooey that preceded John F. Kennedy's election in 1960, when the word was out that everyone would have to swear allegiance to the pope.

* Abortion activists are particularly upset with the Ashcroft nomination, because they know he will give no quarter. But the fact remains that a woman's right to choice is the law of the land, and the Department of Justice under Ashcroft will uphold the law.

* Unlike Janet Reno's record of finding original and questionable ways of interpreting the law, Ashcroft will stick to federal laws passed by Congress and decisions handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Why would anyone prefer Reno's magic-wand approach to Ashcroft's legitimate adherence to the law?

* Most of all, distorting Ashcroft's record and character is just the picture Democrats want to paint of the Republican Party. Congressional elections are only two years off, which means campaign organizations already are being built. And the Democrats' bid to retake the White House in 2004 will take a massive infusion of cash -- dollars that will flow freely if enough of the party faithful fall for the Ashcroft-as-demon portrait.

For now, Ashcroft serves the Democrats' needs. As attorney general, he will serve the needs of a nation sorely in need of both a moral and legal compass.