Poll Shows Broad Disapproval for Gonzales

April 16, 2007 — -- Americans by wide margins think political motivations fueled the Justice Department's firing of eight U.S. attorneys and disapprove of how Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has handled it. Fewer -- though still a sizable group -- say it should cost him his job.

Overall, 67 percent in this ABC News/Washington Post poll think the prosecutors were fired mainly for political reasons, not on the basis of their performance. And 58 percent disapprove of how Gonzales has dealt with the issue, while just 24 percent approve. Even in his own party, nearly half of Republicans disapprove.

Nonetheless, fewer, 45 percent of Americans overall, think Gonzales should lose his job, while 39 percent think he should remain. Some of those who don't like how he's handled the issue nonetheless don't see it as reason enough for his ouster; that's true especially among Republicans and conservatives.

In a statement Sunday, Gonzales apologized for "my missteps" and said he should have done more to make the review process more rigorous. But he said the firings were not improper and that he remembered having only an indirect role beyond approving them.

Gonzales is scheduled to testify about the issue Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The outcome could be crucial, since a substantial number of Americans, 16 percent, are as yet withholding judgment on whether or not he should stay in office.

PARTISAN -- There are strong partisan reactions to the issue, albeit with room for substantial criticism from Republicans and conservatives as well as others. More than seven in 10 Democrats, moderates and liberals alike think the prosecutors were fired for political rather than performance-related issues. Two-thirds of independents say the same. Fewer conservatives and Republicans share this view, but majorities (54 percent and 53 percent respectively) still see political reasons rather than performance issues for the firings.

Moreover, only 35 percent of Republicans and conservatives approve of how Gonzales has handled the issue. Apart from these two groups, majorities disapprove.