Black Missouri judge defends Ashcroft Says ex-governor unilaterally established King holiday in 'Show-Me State'

By Joseph A. D'Agostino

© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

Editor's note: In collaboration with the hard-hitting Washington, D.C., newsweekly Human Events, WorldNetDaily brings you this special report every Monday. Readers can subscribe to Human Events through WND's online store.

An African-American judge from Missouri has stepped forward to rebut the charges of liberal groups that former Sen. John Ashcroft is not fit to be attorney general because he is insensitive on racial issues.

It is "extremely false" and "highly unfair" to characterize Ashcroft that way, the judge told Human Events in a telephone interview.

Circuit Judge David C. Mason of St. Louis, Mo., was appointed by then-Gov. John Ashcroft on Aug. 6, 1991. He now enthusiastically endorses Ashcroft's confirmation as U.S. attorney general.

Before becoming a judge, Mason served as a state assistant attorney general when Ashcroft was Missouri attorney general. When Ashcroft appointed Mason to the state bench, according to a Sept. 22, 1991, story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mason became one of six black judges in the St. Louis circuit who had been appointed by Republican governors. At that time, only one black on the court had been appointed by a Democrat.

"I think it would be a very positive appointment," Mason said of Ashcroft. "I can tell you that I know that the suggestion that he might have some sort of racist motivation in the things that he does is extremely false, highly unfair. When I was appointed a circuit judge by him in '91, there was no pressure on him whatsoever to appoint someone black.

"And in fact, not only did he appoint me, but within another six months he appointed another black judge, much to the surprise of many." That judge was Democrat Jimmie Edwards, who still serves on the court.

Racially motivated beating

"I grew up in the South, and I've even been the victim of a racially motivated beating, and I can tell you I know racism when I see it and when I'm around it," said Mason. "If there is anything a racist does not like to do it is give independent power to a black male over white people, especially when they don't have to do it. John Ashcroft has done so many times very freely. With him, I was judged on the basis of my qualifications, not by the color of my skin, and that is how he would judge all people and all issues.

"He is highly competent for the position," said Mason, "and I think that anyone who is at all concerned about his position on race, they may disagree with him on specific issues, but his motivation cannot be questioned."

"I would say that he is highly concerned about racial issues in America," Mason added, "and would dedicate himself to the day when we are judged by the content of our character, not by the color of our skin."

Mason, a Republican, said, "I've known John Ashcroft for a long time. I've seen him operate with the black employees in his office, when he was in the Missouri attorney general's office. I've talked with him about his concerns about appointments when he was governor and how he sought to make quality appointments but diverse appointments.

"I remember sitting in his office and discussing with him his concerns at the time that Congress passed a national holiday for Martin Luther King Day. The Missouri legislature was not going to be able to meet fast enough to establish a King day holiday contemporaneous to the first national holiday.

"There were people who were telling him he should stay out of it. He chose, on his own, by executive order, to create the first Martin Luther King Day in the state of Missouri as a state holiday so it would coincide with the national holiday. He could have easily simply said that it was a legislative decision and if the legislature didn't have time to do it that year, they would have to do it the next year.

"But he stepped forward, and I remember his quote to me. He said, 'David, I want my kids to grow up in a state which honors and values someone like Martin Luther King.' I can't think of any clearer evidence of his lack of any racial or racist motivation in his thought. You can disagree with him on issues all you like. With his motivation, he sincerely believes in the best interests of this country and all of its people, black and white."

Black Missouri judge defends Ashcroft

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), January 15, 2001

Answers

Mason became one of six black judges in the St. Louis circuit who had been appointed by Republican governors. At that time, only one black on the court had been appointed by a Democrat.

-- Ain't Gonna Happen (Not Here Not@ever.com), January 15, 2001.