Rep. Kendrick Meek from the 17th District of Florida and member of the Congressional Black Caucus encouraging Donald Rumsfeld to resign during the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the jail:

So I just want to say, Mr. Secretary, in all due respect, it really gives me no pleasure to say this -- I think today there's been some reference of members of Congress that have said that, you know, maybe you need to say, "This was good, I did all I could, but on behalf of troop protection, on behalf of the efforts that we have to move forward in the Arab world and protect America and what people think about us."

"Maybe I need to think about my leadership and maybe I need to be able to allow someone else to be able to lead us from this point on." 

And I want to tell you, sir, I have a great deal of respect for you, your service. You've been a member of Congress. You have to understand our job and our responsibility to the American people. 

And I will tell you, sir, in all due respect, I pray for you and I know that you pray to give yourself wisdom and others to do the same. But I would ask you to please think about the forward days, the days that are going to come.

Later, Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) who used to serve on the Committee and a Navy ace from Vietnam gave Mr. Rumsfeld a little solace before some strong advice comparing these tortures to the military's combat against sexual and racial discrimination, drugs and DUIs:

You know something, I saw the Congressional Black Caucus press conference. When they talk about minimum politics in this, I sure hope somebody prays for me as they try and slip the knife in.

It wasn't really that interesting of a point, although as I listened to Rep. Meek speak on CSPAN radio on my way through downtown, I was half expecting him to stop in the middle of his sermon-like remarks and ask Mr. Rumsfeld, "Why are you still sitting here? Go home!"

The CBC has issued strong statements and a press release on Elijah Cummings' web site calling for the resignation of the Secretary of Defense.

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