Gonzales: I’m still staying for the kids.

Three months ago, Alberto Gonzales batted away calls for his ouster with the line, “I’m not going to resign. I’m going to stay focused on protecting our kids.” He’s still on message. Here’s Gonzales from a press conference today:

GONZALES: You know, I’m focused on protecting our kids. I just left a conference in Miami earlier today where we were talking about the threat of nuclear terrorism. That is something that really concerns me.

I was in Mexico the end of last week meeting with my counterparts from Mexico, Central America and Colombia. We were there to talk about violent crime and gangs and guns. That concerns me. That’s what I’m focused on.

I think that’s what the American people expect the attorney general of the United States, is to be focused on making sure our country is safe from terrorism, making sure our kids are safe from predators, making sure that the public trust is being upheld. And that’s why we go after public corruption. Making sure our neighborhoods are safe from violent crime, from gangs, from guns, from drugs. That’s what I’m focused on.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

GONZALES: Again, I’m going to focus on what I think is important for the American people.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

GONZALES: You know what? I am focused on the next 18 months. And I’ve talked to the folks at the Department of Justice and I’ve told them that I’m going to be looking at the next 18 months and spring to the finish line.

We’ve got a lot of important issues like protecting our kids, like working with these good people here. That’s what the American people expect. And that’s what I’ll be focused on for the next 18 months.

I think — obviously, it’s been a distraction. But I’ve got to remain disciplined and focused on what I think is important for the American people.

UPDATE: An extensive “fact v. fiction” document on Gonzales is HERE.