Rumsfeld reaction

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Wednesday before news of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation broke that if he were the president, he would ask for Rumsfeld to resign.

“As I suggested this morning, I thought it would be wise for the president to make a change, and I’m pleased he’s doing so. I’m looking forward to the confirmation hearings for Dr. Gates,” he said later.

Rep. Steve Chabot, a Westwood Republican, also praised the resignation.
"I clearly believe it's time for new leadership at the Pentagon. As the president has said, I think this will bring fresh prespective to the situation in Iraq and the changes that need to be made."

Updated:

Senator-elect Sherrod Brown: "2006 is about change in Ohio, and Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation is a necessary step in ensuring a new direction in Washington. I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner in the Senate to come up with a winning exit strategy that begins redeployment of our troops over the next two years."

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky: “I deeply appreciate Secretary Rumsfeld’s many years of service to our nation. I hope his efforts to bring our military into the 21st Century, his leadership on homeland security, and his tireless efforts to refocus our efforts on emerging threats will continue.

"I also want to commend the President for his nomination of Bob Gates, he is a man of great experience and will be a strong leader at the Pentagon. I look forward to his confirmation in the Senate."


House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH): "Donald Rumsfeld has served the President ably and admirably throughout his term as Secretary of Defense. His aggressive pursuit of the Global War on Terror has been exactly what America needs in the post-9/11 world. His vision and his passion will be missed.

"I want to thank Secretary Rumsfeld for his service and I look forward to working with President Bush's new choice for Secretary, Robert Gates, on efforts to strengthen national security and keep America safe."

Rep. Jean Schmidt: "While I have not been one to call for his resignation, sometimes there comes a point when the distraction of ones service overshadows his contribution. His resignation will allow the media to focus more on issues and less on personality. I thank him for his service."