"While I served as the governor of the State of Missouri, I learned that several individuals in the administration were homosexuals and had done outstanding work. Unfortunately, several of those individuals with whom I worked and whom I respected met a very early death, in part as a result of the practice of their lifestyle, and it is a tragedy," Attorney General-elect John Ashcroft said in a Senate floor speech on September 6, 1996. I watched the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) debate in 1996 and witnessed my Senator, John Ashcroft, saying these egregious words. I haven't seen them since. They were stricken from the Congressional Record (as any Congressperson can do), probably because they were so extremist. I've been waiting and waiting for them to be in the public perview. Today, they were in the New York Times and now everyone can see how Ashcroft truly feels about gay people and gay rights. Is it no wonder that gay groups and other liberal groups are working to oppose his nomination? Do what you can to oppose his nomination. Write your Senator and let them know that you do not what this extremist crazy person in office! We Missourians rejected his re-election bid. The U.S. Senate should do no less than reject him from higher office. Thank you.