I think what is troubling is not John Ashcroft as a person,

We've opened a Pandora's box, but I think it's not all that bad we opened it.

Those papers that we have received paint a picture of John Roberts as an eager and aggressive advocate of policies that are deeply tinged with the ideology of the far right wing of his party then, and now.

I am not saying I will vote against John Ashcroft because he is pro-life, ... But let me say if someone was nominated for attorney general who was vehemently pro choice -- who in his or her career spent decades trying to find ways to expand the law abortion at nine months would be perfectly legal -- wouldn't you be more upset and raise more of a voice than against a nominee who was simply pro-choice?

Our goal is to mend it or extend it, not end it.

It is critical . . . that we not prejudge a nominee,