Knock him for saying he knows Gonzales, but Richardson want him to step down

[bigtree]

Richardson Calls for Gonzales' Departure
Richardson Says It's Time for Gonzales to Step Down



New Mexico Gov.and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson gestures while speaking during the 9th annual National Action Network convention Thursday, April 19, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

By MIKE GLOVER

DES MOINES, Iowa Apr 20, 2007 (AP)— New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson became the latest Democratic presidential candidate Friday to call for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign, saying he's become a burden to the Justice Department.

"After reviewing the attorney general's behavior, I must reluctantly conclude that new leadership is needed," Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's time for him to go."

The call is significant because Gonzales, a fellow Hispanic, has enjoyed Richardson's support to this point. But Richardson said the questions that have been raised about the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys, and the role that Gonzales played in those firings, have effectively ended his ability to run the agency.

"He's lost his ability to lead," Richardson said, adding that he watched Gonzales' testimony before a Senate committee and found his explanations of his activities unconvincing. Gonzales needed a clear and cogent explanation of his actions, and that didn't happen, Richardson said.

"What bothered me was his couching his explanations," said Richardson. "It's important that he be fully open."

Stepping down now is important, Richardson said, because the Justice Department can't fulfill its mission with a wounded leader. He said the decision came only after spending time "reviewing the attorney general's behavior" through the crisis.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3060453


http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I thought Richardson would come out for resignation after yesterday.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. I kew this was coming. It was just a matter of watching C-span yesterday.

[WinkyDink]

3. But otherwise, Abu No-Habeas-Corpus Gonzo was okay?

Sorry, Charlie.

The OP's title is disingenuous; Richardson didn't merely say he "knows" Gonzales.

[bigtree]

7. that's what he was saying. He said he knows Gonzales, likes him personally

but disagreed with the closeness to Bush and the way he operated at Justice.

It's amazing how you can ignore his clear rebuke of Gonzales' actions. Read his entire quote. (dished out by the media)


"He's lost his ability to lead," Richardson said, adding that he watched Gonzales' testimony before a Senate committee and found his explanations of his activities unconvincing. Gonzales needed a clear and cogent explanation of his actions, and that didn't happen, Richardson said.

"What bothered me was his couching his explanations," said Richardson. "It's important that he be fully open."


Here's his earlier quote:

From HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-clemons/bill-richardson-is-attor_b_44057.html

Among the many blunt but insightful comments Richardson shared were that "Attorney General Gonzales needed to decide if he was the nation's lawyer, the peoples' lawyer, or whether he was just the President's political flack."

Richardson did not feel that matters that were essentially "political" should be shielded by executive privilege. Unless it was a matter of national security, Governor Richardson saw the effort to shield Congressional oversight from the Gonzales attorney firings as inappropriate.

[rodeodance]

4. Must have been difficult for Richardson---a top Hispanic being asked to

step down by so many.

[WinkyDink]

5. Why? I'm Italian-Irish American, and couldn't care less about my fellows' rise in politics.

[bigtree]

6. I think he was right to step up and admit his support for a fellow hispanic

elevated to the historical position of AG. It was very non-political. Teeth-grindingly so, but interesting, nonetheless.

His final judgment should have been obvious all along, but the initial expressions of support were distracting.