Reaction to Gonzales’ Resignation

Monday, Aug. 27, 2007 | 3:04 a.m.

Quotes Monday on the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:

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"I have lived the American dream. Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father's best days." - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

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"Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove. This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House." - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

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"The attorney general's decision to step down is a positive step forward for the Department of Justice. Attorney General Gonzales' ability to lead the Department of Justice had been undermined by his serious errors in judgment and conflicting statements. I am hopeful that the President will name a strong successor who will begin to restore confidence in the department." - Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

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"Long overdue. The rampant politicization of federal law enforcement that occurred under his tenure seriously eroded public confidence in our justice system. The president must now restore credibility to the office of the Attorney General." - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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"I thank Alberto Gonzales for his public service and wish him well in his future endeavors. It is my hope that whomever President Bush selects as the next attorney general, he or she is not subjected to the same poisonous partisanship that we've sadly grown accustomed to over the past eight months." - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

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"It has been a long and difficult struggle but at last, the attorney general has done the right thing and stepped down." -Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

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"The life of Alberto Gonzales has been defined by his devotion to family and deep commitment to public service. ... I appreciate his hard work in defense of our country and look forward to his future contributions." - House Republican Whip Roy Blunt.

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The Justice Department under Gonzales "suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence." Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

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"It is a sad day when the attorney general of the United States resigns amid a cloud of suspicion that the system of justice has been manipulated for political purposes. More than accountability, we need answers. ....If the power of the prosecutor has been misused in the name of partisanship, we deserve a full airing of the facts." - Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., House Judiciary chairman.

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"He has exhibited a lack of candor with Congress and the American people and a disdain for the rule of law and our constitutional system. I strongly urge President Bush to nominate a new attorney general who will respect our laws and restore the integrity of the office." - Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

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"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." - New Mexico governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson.

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"Better late than never." - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

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"It's about time ... Gonzales now joins a long list of Republican officials resigning under a cloud of scandal, but these resignations cannot purge the Bush administration of its problems. The true problem rests with the Bush White House itself, which continues to put what's best for the Republican Party ahead of what's best for America." - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean.