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Democrats calling for departure: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Majority Leader: "shortsighted," "arrogant" <50> Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Vice-Chairman of Senate Democratic Conference, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: "doesn't accept or doesn't understand that he is no longer just the president's lawyer," "carrying out the political wishes of the president"<51><52> (first member of either chamber to call for ouster) Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee: "I don't think he can be effective" <53> Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA): firings were "appalling"<54> Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY): "buck should stop somewhere"<55> Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT): "egregious lapses in judgment"<56> Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: "nation is not well served by this"<57> Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: "his resignation is long overdue"<58> Sen. John Kerry (D-MA): "there must be accountability from the top down"<59> Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR): "serious breach between the Justice Department and Congress"<60> Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL): "lost his credibility"<61> Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL): "subverted justice to promote a political agenda"<62> Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR): "when the Attorney General lies to a United States Senator ... it's time for that Attorney General to go"<63> Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: "he had a hard sell to make to me, and he didn't make it"<64> Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker of the House of Representatives:"has lost the trust of the American people"<65>
Republicans calling for Gonzales's departure: Sen. John E. Sununu (R-NH), first Republican to call for ouster: "If I were the president, I would fire the attorney general"<66> Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR): ouster "would be helpful"<66> Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: told Gonzales at hearing that "the best way to put this behind us is your resignation"; had earlier described affair as "idiocy"<67> <68> Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): "very disappointed in his performance", "it would be best for Gonzales to quit"<69> Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), member of Senate Judiciary Committee: "If he and the President decide that he cannot be an effective leader moving forward, then he should resign."<70> (but later voted against cloture on "no confidence" resolution) Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN): "deeply concerned"<66><71> Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), ranking Republican on Senate Judiciary Committee: called failure to step down "bad for the Justice Department"<72> Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): "lost the moral authority to lead"<73> Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA): "the president should have an attorney general who is less a personal friend and more professional in his approach" <74> Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH): "lightning rod"<75> Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI): "he's hurt the President by what he's doing ... he's damaged himself and the President" <76> Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV): "egregiously mishandled," "we need to restore confidence"<77> Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE): "I trusted him before, but I can't now"<78> Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), House Republican Conference Chairman, 1st top House Republican to call for ouster: "time for fresh leadership" <79> In addition, several Republicans have been critical of Gonzales, while not actually calling for his resignation or firing: Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), member of Senate Judiciary Committee: "the way this has been handled has been deplorable"<80> (later voted cloture on "no confidence" resolution) Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), chairman of National Republican Senatorial Committee: "incompetence," "they blew it" <81> (later voted against cloture on "no confidence" resolution) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), member of Senate Judiciary Committee: "some things ... just don't add up" (later voted against cloture on "no confidence" resolution) Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): "I do not think he has served the president well"<82> Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), member of House Judiciary Committee: "could die by a thousand cuts"<83>
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