Rumsfeld Fallout: Reaction on the Hill

Nov. 8, 2006— -- Just days ago President Bush said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is "doing a fantastic job." Today, after the Republicans suffered a withering defeat in midterm elections, the president said Rumsfeld is stepping down and tapped former CIA chief Robert Gates to replace him.

Here's a sampling of reaction to the news from congressional leaders:

Secretary Rumsfeld has served our nation with tremendous distinction. During an era of unprecedented threats, his leadership and focus provided a critical anchor. I thank Secretary Rumsfeld for his many years of service, and wish him happiness and success in his future endeavors.

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I hope that this change will bring a fresh perspective to our fight on the global war on terror and help build a bipartisan defense policy in the months ahead.— Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Yesterday's election was a cry for change and for the first time it looks like the President is listening. The nomination of a new Department of Defense Secretary is a good first step, and we hope it is a sign that the President is looking toward a new course of action in Iraq. We look forward to working with him on an Iraq policy that is both strong and smart.Congratulations to Robert Gates on his nomination and I look forward to his swift confirmation.— Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.

I welcome President Bush's decision to accept Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation. If it were up to me he would have been gone a long time ago. But Secretary Rumsfeld's departure is only a small step in fixing the larger problem that stems from the President's failed Iraq policy. The President has continually refused to change our current approach in Iraq despite a growing number of policymakers and experts, including many Republicans, advocating for a change of course. And the President has refused to acknowledge the devastating consequences of an indefinite military presence in Iraq. As I have argued for over a year, a timetable for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq will help pressure the Iraqis to get their political house in order and will help the U.S. military refocus on defeating global terrorist networks.Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.