WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn on Thursday called for the resignation of embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"I believe the best way to put this behind us is your resignation," the Oklahoma Republican told Gonzales during a much-anticipated hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

Gonzales quickly rejected Coburn's suggestion that he step down.

"Senator, I don't know whether or not that puts this behind us, quite frankly," he said, again apologizing for any mistakes made in the way the prosecutors had been handled. "I am committed to working with you and trying to restore the faith and confidence."

In response, Coburn gave no ground.

"Mr. Attorney General, you set the standard," he said, reminding Gonzales of his comments on leadership and management skills. "They were sorely lacking in this instance."

Coburn went on to suggest the best path for the Bush administration would be to start with a new slate of leadership skills.

"I like you as a man. I like you as an individual. I believe you are totally dedicated to your job and this country," he said.

Coburn then concluded: "But I think mistakes have consequences."

For weeks, Democratic members of that committee have been leading the charge against Gonzales and others who may have been involved in the process to replace eight U.S. attorneys.

Support among Republicans, especially conservative lawmakers, is considered key to the political survival of Gonzales.

Gonzales, whose problems largely were caused by real or perceived inconsistencies in his and others' explanations on how the eight fired prosecutors were selected, apologized for mistakes, including the way the prosecutors were treated.

But, he insisted he did nothing improper, and said he thought he could continue in his job.

"The moment I believe I can no longer be effective I will resign as attorney general," he said at one point.

He did not appear to help his case with senators by insisting he did not recall certain meetings or discussions.

Seventy-eight times he fell back on faulty memory, saying he could not remember conversations or events surrounding the firings.

The White House is standing behind Gonzales publicly.

Bush spokesman Tony Fratto said Gonzales "can be effective going forward."

A number of Democrats have called for Gonzales to resign or be fired, but until Thursday John Sununu of New Hampshire was the only Republican senator to say so.

Coburn appeared to grow frustrated with the attorney general's responses to his questions.

In a statement released by his office at the end of the day, Coburn again said he did not believe the U.S. attorneys were dismissed to interfere with investigations or because of politics.

Still, he said, the standards used to dismiss them should be applied to Gonzales.