Crawford, Texas – With Republican support for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales eroding, President Bush offered renewed confidence in his longtime friend Monday and said the attacks on him were “pure political theater.”
Senate Democrats last week called for a vote of no confidence in the attorney general, stemming from an investigation into the firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year and his testimony about it to Congress.
Bush said lawmakers should be focusing more on approving bills and less on what he presented as political role-playing.
Speaking at his ranch, Bush said, “I stand by Al Gonzales, and I would hope that people would be more sober in how they address these important issues,” Bush said. “And they ought to get the job done of passing legislation, as opposed to figuring out how to be actors on the political theater stage.”
Gonzales will draw more scrutiny this week when his former White House liaison, Monica Goodling, testifies Wednesday about her role in the firings.
