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Candidate Responses

August 27, 2007 10:29 AM

ABC News' Leigh Hartman Reports: The 2008 Democratic presidential contenders didn't waste any time reacting to the (soon-to-be) former Attorney General's decision to resign.

"Better late than never," former Senator John Edwards, D-N.C., said of Gonzales' long anticipated departure.

Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., said he "long believed that Alberto Gonzales subverted justice to promote a political agenda, and so I am pleased that he has finally resigned today."

And in a theme that will no doubt be repeated, Obama called on President Bush "to nominate an Attorney General who will be the people's lawyer, not the President's lawyer."

Bill Richardson continued in a similar vein saying, "The resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is long overdue. The President must nominate an Attorney General who is a lawyer for the American people not a political arm of the White House."

Senator Joe Biden, D-Dela, said he has "lost the confidence of the vast majority of the American people and the Congress," adding , "His resignation is long overdue."

Gov. Mike Huckabee is the first republican to comment on the resignation saying it is, "Better late than never --[the Attorney General] was clearly creating a problem for the President and one he didn't need. Now it's time to find a replacement and move on."

Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., weighed in on the resignation saying it is "long overdue, and so is the appointment of an Attorney General who will put the rule of law and our Constitution above partisan politics."

Clinton added that the next Attorney General should "serve the American people and not the President's political ideology."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., took a different tact, applauding Gonzales' resignation due to what the Congressman perceives as a lack of commitment to enforcing the nation's immigration laws.

"As one who called for Mr. Gonzales' resignation months ago," Tancredo said, "I'm not shedding any tears over news of his departure.  I hope that President Bush will take this opportunity to replace Mr. Gonzales with someone who will actually demonstrate a commitment to enforcing our laws."

Former Governor Mitt Romne,, R-Mass., has said he believes, "the Attorney General made the right decision to step aside," but was much more muted than his potential Democratic rivals.

"The resignation is an opportunity for President Bush to renew the nation's commitment to the law enforcement officers and personnel who are dedicated to enforcing the rule of law and protecting the American people from the threat of terrorism around the globe," he added.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich D-Ohio, accused Attorney General Gonzales of being "nothing but a prop for this Administration to bypass the Constitution" and called on President Bush to "appoint an independent Attorney General who will uphold the Constitution and restore faith in the U.S. justice system."

August 27, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

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Posted by: Callie369 | Sep 4, 2007 11:52:26 AM

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