Louisiana Treasurer Switches To GOP — May Potentially Run For Senate | Home |
Edwards: No Michael Chertoff As Attorney General »
Hillary On Gonzales: "His Loyalty Was To The President, Not The American People"
Hillary Clinton's statement is now out on Gonzales' resignation:
This resignation 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.Attorney General Alberto Gonzales took an oath to uphold our Constitution and respect the rule of law, but time and time again, he demonstrated that his loyalties lie with the President and his political agenda, not the American people or the evenhanded and impartial enforcement of our laws. In his actions and inaction, from warantless wiretaps to the firing of U.S. Attorneys, his loyalty was to the President, not the American people.
The Department’s hardworking lawyers, law enforcement officers, and staff are trusted to defend our Constitution, not one Administration or political party. That trust is central to the sanctity of the rule of law and the vitality of our democracy. Because he betrayed his obligations and the trust of the American people, I welcome today’s announcement that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned his post as Attorney General of the United States.
My hope is that the President will select a new Attorney General who will respect the rule of law and abandon partisanship, who will serve the American people and not the President’s political ideology, and who will answer to the Constitution and not political operatives. It is past time to clean up this mess and restore non-partisan accountability and competence to the Department of Justice.
The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is one more reminder that the President must appoint someone to lead the Department of Justice with the leadership and competence necessary to defend the Constitution.
Hillary's mention of Katrina is interesting. Is it a shot across the bow of Michael Chertoff, whose name is being floated as Gonzales' replacement? Two years ago, Chertoff was widely criticized for his stewardship at the Department of Homeland Security during the Bush Administration's bungled response to Katrina.















My bet is the Katrina reference was entirely designed as a shot at Chertoff. Clinton hates the man, not entirely without reason given his role as D'Amato's guy in the Whitewater investigation.
But even if it is driven by personal animus, I don't think she's wrong. Chertoff hasn't exactly shined as a manager and right now DOJ needs a good manager, by all accounts it's a mess.
Moreover, if you want to play paranoid Democrat reliving the 1990s, in addition to heading up the Whitewater witch hunt, Chertoff is also friends with Guiliani. After seeing how Rove/Gonzales tried to use DOJ in elections, it's hard not to be a little leery about the possible appointment of someone close to the Republican frontrunner who has a history of going after the Democratic frontrunner.
August 27, 2007 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Leave it to Clinton to take five paragraphs to say what Edwards can in four words.
August 27, 2007 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
She voted against Chertoff before when he was nominated for the DHL job.
August 27, 2007 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree LJ...just talk, talk, talk...I liked Rahm Emanuel's pithy remarks far better and the succinct response from that "naiveandinexperienced" Obama ...
not HRClinton she just has to yammer on and on and on to demonstrate 'strengthandexperience'.
August 27, 2007 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree LJ. I liked Rahm's pithy remarks far more along with the succinct response from that 'naiveandinexperienced" Obama...not Hillary..she just has to yammer on and on and on to demonstrate her 'strengthandexperience'
August 27, 2007 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
And savvy, too. When people hear the name Chertoff, they'll think "Katrina"...and further erode what support he might have had.
Watching this whole incident is like watching a trainwreck in slow motion.
August 27, 2007 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
She makes my skin crawl.
August 27, 2007 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink