Davis aide backtracks on Rumsfeld stories

BY CHELYEN DAVIS

Date published: 8/14/2006

BY CHELYEN DAVIS

A spokesman for Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-1st, said yesterday she is not actively calling for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Chris Connolly, Davis' chief of staff, said news reports indicating she was calling for Rumsfeld's resignation misconstrued her comments. The Free Lance-Star published an Associated Press story Sunday on Davis' comments.

Davis had spoken last week to members of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Society of Military Comptrollers.

In that speech, she said of Rumsfeld, "He's probably a nice guy, but I don't think he's a great secretary of defense."

She also said the one thing she agreed with Sen. Hillary Clinton about was Clinton's call for Rumsfeld's resignation. Connolly said that was meant as a joke.

Connolly said Davis would not be sorry to see Rumsfeld go, but that she's not trying to make that happen.

"For years now, Jo Ann has not had any love lost with Secretary Rumsfeld," Connolly said. "She still feels strongly that there have been some mistakes made. But she's not actively seeking his resignation."

Connolly said that from Davis' perspective, she said nothing new at the Hampton Roads speech and her doubtsabout Rumsfeld's leadership in Iraq have increased.

"As the war has gone on, and we look back and see things we should have done differently, one of the things is to follow Gen. Shinseki's advice," Connolly said, referring to Gen. Eric Shinseki, Army chief of staff before the war He said publicly that far more ground troops were needed in Iraq. Rumsfeld fired him in 2003.

To reach CHELYEN DAVIS: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com

Date published: 8/14/2006