Analysis: Republicans Worry Firings Flap Is Distracting From Their Message, Hurting Bush

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

Analysis: Republicans Worry Firings Flap Is Distracting From Their Message, Hurting Bush

03-28-2007 4:09 PM
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- Republicans say the flap over firing U.S. attorneys is muddling their message and damaging President Bush.

Instead of trumpeting their criticisms that Democrats are meddling in Iraq strategy and raising taxes, GOP lawmakers find themselves fielding questions about embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. They put a hefty share of the blame on the White House for flubbing its response to the firings.

"It's a distraction _ there's no question about that. It steps on our message for sure," said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.


U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, center, listens to Ernie Allen, left, president and CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, as he takes part in a roundtable discussion regarding Project Safe Childhood Wednesday, March 28, 2007 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

"If they had gotten out and started leaning forward on it right away it might have been helpful, because it would have stopped some of the momentum," Thune said of Bush's team.

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