St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 6

A6 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH NEWS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 postnet.comnews -J- Judge White says Senate's rejection of his appointment could have a "chilling effect" He says it may discourage minorities from seeking careers in the judiciary 'why White told the audience at the Missouri Bar Association program. "I don't know if racism was involved. I am not to the point where I can inquire into people's personal motivations but White Serves on Missouri Supreme Court 1 paign spokesman, said, "The race-baiting by Mel Carnahan has begun. Mel Carnahan's liberal judge wasn't confirmed because law enforcement officers across Missouri opposed his record of overturning death penalty cases on legal technicalities." James said Ashcroft had voted in the Senate for more than 90 percent of minority candidates for the federal bench.

Almost a year ago, White became the first White House judicial candidate rejected since President Ronald Reagan failed to win approval of Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. Panelists at Thursday's forum, including Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, said difficulties remained in getting more minorities into top jobs at big law firms, corporate law departments and the judiciary. This story contains information from The Associated Press. To contact reporter Tim Bryant E-mail: tbryantpostnet.com Phone: 314-615-3283 VJ ASH- By Tim Bryant Of the Post-Dispatch Ronnie White, the only black i judge on the Missouri Supreme Court, says other people of color 1 might avoid seeking careers in the i judiciary because the Senate rejected his appointment to a federal judgeship.

Responding to a question Thursday in a forum on diversity at the Old Courthouse downtown, White's warning about a "chilling effect" was his first public reaction since last year, when he was turned away a second time. His nomination first was rejected in 1997. "Aspiring young African-American students may look and say 1 1 4 I think the public is smart enough to draw their own conclusions." Sen. John Ashcroft, led the Senate fight against White's nomination, calling him "pro-criminal." Seeking to unseat Ashcroft in the general election Nov. 7 is Democratic Gov.

Mel Carnahan, who spoke at the forum but left before White's comment. Camahan drew applause when he told the audience that White was "one of my proudest appointments." David James, an Ashcroft cam v. 4 Ashcroft, Talent urge group to withdraw ad IT'S UKI A RAINfORSST IN YOUB OWN BACKYARDI Missouri Botanical Garden governor, took the House floor Wednesday to ask that the ad be taken off the air. Although Talent had not seen the ad, he said a written version he read "comes perilously close to bigotry, a sentiment that has no place in American politics Since the ad asks people to vote Republican, I think Republicans have a special responsibility to denounce it" The ad, written by conservative Richard Nadler of Overland Park, has a fictional mother saying she had to put her son in a private school because public schools had "a bit more diversity than he could handle." The end of the ad urges people to vote Republican. Nadler has told The Kansas City Star that he would not withdraw the ad, which has drawn protests from Democrats and the state Republican Party.

The ad is scheduled to run in Kansas City until Oct 6. It has not run in St Louis, but Nadler has indicated that it may run in other Nadler, who formed the Republican Ideas Political Committee about a year ago, has said the word "diversity" refers to drugs and violence in schools, not race. The ad starts with a view of a couple and their two children and begins by touting education savings accounts, which give parents a tax break on money they save to pay college costs. The mother says their daughter attended public schools and was an honor student But their son began hanging out with the wrong crowd. The scene fades to a group of three boys sitting around a table.

All three appear to be white. One has a beer in his hand. Two students, apparently one white and one black, are sitting on steps in the background. Suddenly, one of the boys at the table brandishes a gun. The mother intones: "We didn't want him where drugs and violence were fashionable.

That was a bit more diversity than he could handle. So we sent him to a private school run by our church. There he gets more attention, and the moral expectations are higher." Pro-GOP spot, criticized for racial undertones, is running in Kansas City The Associated Press I WASHINGTON Two of Missouri's top Republicans have urged a conservative group to withdraw a pro-GOP television ad it is running, citing the ad's racial undertones. Sen. John Ashcroft and Rep.

Jim Talent each made statements Wednesday denouncing the ads. In a letter to the group sponsoring the ad, Ashcroft said: "It is bad for our country when anyone seeks to exploit racial tension for partisan gain. No matter who does it, it is wrong. The advertisement you are sponsoring is racially divisive in its effect, regardless of your committee's intentions, and should be withdrawn immediately." Talent, a candidate for Missouri The rainforest, and the rest of our world, are open from 9 ajn. to 5 p.m.

every day except Christmas. nzo Angiolm "Liberty" Plus A Gut! Free Yourself From Uncomfortable Shoes! The comfort moccasin that Enzo is renowned for is constructed of a soft leather upper with a leather sole. Perfect for career or casual wear. Available in 16 colors. KEYS TO Receive a free leather and silver plate key chain as your gift with any regular price Enzo "Liberty purchase.

'M 5K 6 7 7SM 9 9XlOll 5 5K. 6 7 TA I 8 8' 9 9lA 10 11 1 1 1 I I 1 I I I Dillard's Fashion colors: Black suede, grey multi, navy multi, red plaid, copper multi, earth multi, camel plaid, blackgrey, black patent multi, peltro or whitegold multi. Extended sizes in classic colors: black, navy, red, opal or lion brown. We will not be undersold on identical merchandise. For Your Convenience We Accept Your Dillard's Charge, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Carte Blanche, Or Diner's Club Card.

SHOP TODAY 10 A.M. 9 P.M. SAINT LOUIS GALLERI A CHESTERFIELD NORTHWEST JAMESTOWN SOUTH COUNTY ST. CLAIR CRESTWOOn'. u'm'uvfn nrmn xwfm wfmwwBwwwimw It.