Monday, August 25, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Ashcroft to defend Patriot Act in Las Vegas speech this week

Nevada ACLU director criticizes attorney general's cross-country tour in support of controversial law

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is scheduled to visit Las Vegas this week to continue defending the U.S.A. Patriot Act, a law passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Critics have charged that the act, which aims to crack down on terrorism, violates civil liberties.

Ashcroft is scheduled to speak at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Carol Fitzgerald Jury Assembly Hall at the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse.

Opponents of the Patriot Act plan to hold a news conference at the courthouse a half-hour before Ashcroft's speech to express their concerns about the law and the way the government is attempting to gain support for it.

Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, criticized Ashcroft's cross-country tour, calling it a "taxpayer-funded political campaign."

Peck said Nevadans were given short notice of Ashcroft's plans, making it more difficult to organize rallies. He said the government is trying to control what information is disseminated by limiting media access and prohibiting Ashcroft from answering questions after his speech.

"This is not designed to be a free-wheeling give-and-take," Peck said. "It's obvious that they have no interest in either speaking to or hearing from the American public in regard to the Patriot Act."

The ACLU's national chapter is the only organization that has filed a lawsuit against the law, claiming it violates the public's constitutional rights.

Peck said the ACLU will attend local government meetings to encourage elected officials to pass a resolution opposing the Patriot Act.

Mayor clarifies comment

Mayor Oscar Goodman offered some clarification on one of the more bizarre utterances to echo through council chambers recently.

Goodman had marshals escort former City Council candidate Peter "Chris" Christoff from the chambers after an exchange over how much time he would be given to speak. The matter was not open for public hearing. But the mayor said he would allow one minute.

As Christoff left with an escort the mayor yelled, "I don't want you calling my office pretending you're some kind of Oriental person."

Goodman offered some explanation of the comment at his Thursday news conference.

Altering his nomenclature for political correctness, the mayor said, "Somebody who pretended to be of some Asian extraction called the office complaining about the Moran situation. He's (Christoff) called the office so many times they recognize his voice. There's no reason to pretend you're not who you are. I talk to anybody."

Christoff said later he had a petition with about 100 signatures, requesting the mayor table John Moran Jr.'s request to have a portion of the alley behind his office deeded to him by the city.

"I didn't go up to fight him or disagree with him," Christoff added, though he did call Goodman a "shyster lawyer" and told him to go ahead and kiss Moran's backside as he left.

Christoff denied Friday he was the caller impersonating an Asian individual.

"That was not me," he said. "I never did that."

Moran's request had been billed as a showdown between a powerful attorney and freshman Councilwoman Janet Moncrief, who represents the area and opposed giving the land to Moran.

The undercard proved more entertaining.

Anti-gaming legislation

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., does not plan to use legislation to curtail Internet gambling as a vehicle for his bill to prevent Nevada sports books from taking bets on college games, said Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association.

"While John has not, in any way, changed his view concerning (the sports betting ban), he indicated to me that he would not attach (it) to any Internet legislation," Fahrenkopf said. "I take him at his word. He's never lied to me."

Fahrenkopf said he talked to McCain recently at a meeting of the International Republican Institute in Washington. A call to McCain's office on Friday was not returned.

On the road again

When Gov. Kenny Guinn released his list of more than 100 political appointments to state boards earlier this month, TV news anchor Gary Waddell found himself on an advisory post.

Actually, the KLAS-TV, Channel 8, veteran was reappointed to the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Board, which oversees curricula and provides instructors for safety programs at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Waddell had a motorcycle accident after April's River Run in Laughlin, when he was struck from behind on state Route 163 and thrown from his bike.

He was hospitalized with broken ribs but is feeling better these days. "I've still got a few aches and pains; ribs take a long time to heal," he said.

"There's not much you can do to prevent someone from running into you" when you're standing still, Waddell said.

Waddell, who serves as a volunteer on the board, said he's seeing more single-vehicle accidents in Nevada. The number of bike riders is "way up," and "people are exceeding their capabilities," he said. Also, motorcyclists are all too often getting on the road with only a standard driver's license and not bothering to get their Class M designation from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

He just bought a new Harley-Davidson and is riding again.

Stephens Washington Bureau writer Tony Batt and Review-Journal staffers Adrienne Packer and Warren Bates contributed to this report.