John Ashcroft. The very name strikes fear in the hearts of all red-blooded Democrats across America.

We were promised from the onset the confirmation hearings waging as I write this would be non-partisan. It is evident after only a half-hour of the hearings that nothing could be farther from the truth. Sure, there have been Democrats who have agreed to listen and hear what Ashcroft has to say before forming an opinion.

I would make the case that this is not happening. So far, more than 10 senators have said they will support Ashcroft. What about the other 90? Ashcroft just left the Senate and already Democrats are denouncing him left and right. It is fairly obvious we are not giving Ashcroft a fair chance. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I like the guy. I do not agree with the man on any of his political views. However, you won’t see me marching to Washington, D.C., denouncing his nomination either.

This is Ashcroft’s only chance to explain his decisions to the American people and show America who he is and why he thinks the way he does. Don’t we at least owe him that? I’ve been called a die-hard Democrat and anti-Republican by past readers, but even I believe we should at least give Ashcroft a chance to explain himself. Hell, even Jean Carnahan, the widow of the late Mel Carnahan, has asked for the senators to “look beyond the bonds and divisions of party” and “look at the facts.”

Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution says it is the responsibility of the Senate to have a say in the president’s appointments. They are to give advice and consent and make sure America has the best person for the job in any given cabinet position.

I find it hard to believe every Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee thinks Ashcroft is best suited for this role. It is also doubtful every Democrat will give Ashcroft a fair chance to prove the validity of his nomination.

Ashcroft’s views are outside the mainstream of many Americans’ beliefs. That doesn’t mean someone with set beliefs should not be allowed to serve on a presidential cabinet. As was pointed out during the hearings, we would not want someone in one of the most important cabinet positions who has not had a lengthy career in politics. However, there is a line between making statements and taking stands and being one of the most outspoken conservatives.

Ashcroft’s past is no secret. He has a long record as a staunch conservative on positions of school desegregation, affirmative action, abortion, gay rights and other emotion-laden issues. He has told his former fellow senators at the confirmation hearings that he vows to enforce the law regardless of any kinds of personal preferences he may have. He has said if confirmed, his goal is to “advanc(e) the national interest, not advocat(e) my personal interest.’’ Ashcroft even said he would enforce any federal law protecting access to abortion clinics.

But Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said it best Tuesday. He asked if it is possible for any man or woman who has had such outspoken, overly-conservative views to be neutral, to enforce laws he does not agree with. I must say that I agree; anyone who is so set in his ways must have a hard time setting aside things he believes so strongly in.

If it came down to it, could Ashcroft make a decision that would support Roe v. Wade? Ashcroft has said Roe v. Wade was “wrongly decided.” He has voted against trigger locks on guns - it is clear any respectable Democrat who holds the party’s traditional views will not consider Ashcroft’s track record to be acceptable.

There are even accusations of Ashcroft being a racist. I do not believe there is enough proof for this to factor into the final decision. However, it is definitely something that needs to be cleared up before he is acknowledged as our next attorney general. Racial profiling, something Ashcroft has been attacked with since his nomination as attorney general, is one of the biggest social problems in our nation as a whole.

I am not convinced Ashcroft is necessarily a racist. However, I am also not convinced Ashcroft will stand up and try to advance racial issues. The Ronnie White fiasco is an embarrassment to Ashcroft and the Republican Party. Opposing White was a stupid move politically for Ashcroft. However, unless Ashcroft announced he was opposed to White’s appointment because of White’s race, you can’t say his decision was a racial one.

The point is this: Can Ashcroft enforce laws he obviously does not agree with? It’s hard to say, but for our democracy to truly work we need to set aside party lines just for a second. The man is obviously qualified for the job. He is a former senator, former state attorney general and former governor of Missouri. He is far, far more qualified to be our attorney general than George W. Bush is to be our president.

The one positive thing that has come from all the Ashcroft debate? I cannot see Ashcroft attempting to prevent abortion, contraceptives, gun control or encourage racial profiling after all of this national attention brought on him. Only a crazy man would try to do such things.

I guess there is only one question that strikes fear in me and it isn’t whether Ashcroft will attempt to ban all the freedoms and Democratic issues I hold so dear. The question that frightens me is this: Is Ashcroft a conservative man who can be fair and I should trust or is he that conservative crazy man that I fear?

Dan Austin, a political theory and constitutional democracy and journalism junior, can be reached at austind1@msu.edu.