WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- The White House Friday defended U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales from Congressional critics.

Press officers for President George W. Bush said Gonzales' testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee -- which has been widely criticized by Democrats and Republicans in Congress -- was limited by national security considerations, The Washington Post reported. They said Gonzales' testimony on a warrantless wiretapping program was not contradicted by FBI Director Robert Mueller.

"I understand it's difficult to parse, because what you have involved here are matters of classification," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters. "Sometimes it's going to lead people to talk very carefully, and there's going to be plenty of room for interpretation or conclusion."

Mueller told the House Judiciary Committee this week that he and other officials almost resigned over the National Security Agency wiretapping. Gonzales said there was no serious disagreement.

Dana Perino, a Bush spokeswoman, accused Democrats who have called for a special counsel of starting a "crusade to try to destroy the attorney general."

Schumer: Slow down on high court noms

WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate should only confirm President George W. Bush's Supreme Court nominees "in extraordinary circumstances," a leading Senate Democrat said Friday.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told the American Constitution Society convention in Washington the Senate should "reverse the presumption of confirmation," Politico.com reported.

"The Supreme Court is dangerously out of balance," he said. "We cannot afford to see Justice (John Paul) Stevens replaced by another (Chief Justice John) Roberts, or Justice (Ruth Bader) Ginsburg by another (Justice Samuel) Alito."

Democrats and some liberal advocacy groups have complained that the Supreme Court has moved faster than expected to overturn legal precedents since Bush's nominees -- Roberts and Alito -- joined the court.

Schumer Friday said senators too easily accepted the nominees' word, during their confirmation hearings, that they would respect legal precedents.

"There is no doubt that we were hoodwinked," said Schumer, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Schumer's remarks showed "a tremendous disrespect for the Constitution," Politico.com reported.

House passes farm bill

WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- A farm bill that continues subsidies to agriculture and includes a tax increase to pay for food stamps passed the U.S. House of Representatives Friday.

The 231 to 191 vote tended to follow party lines, although 19 Republicans -- mostly from farm districts -- supported it, The New York Times reported.

Republican opponents focused on the addition of taxes for some foreign corporations that have not had to pay them because of treaties. President George W. Bush has threatened to veto the bill.

The $280 billion bill eliminates subsidies for farmers who make more than $1 million a year. The House rejected an amendment that would have lowered the threshold to $250,000.

The bill increases support for farmers who grown fruit and vegetables. Traditionally, farm subsidies have been most generous for crops like sugar, cotton and wheat.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., described the bill as a historic change in the way agriculture is subsidized. Critics suggested she had missed a chance for real reform.

Republican hopefuls avoid YouTube debate

WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- The GOP version of the YouTube debate among Democratic presidential candidates could end up with U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, debating himself.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani claims a scheduling conflict will keep him from taking part, Time magazine reported. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been making fun of the questions asked of Democratic candidates, submitted to CNN via YouTube, the online video site.

The planned debate is to be co-sponsored by CNN and the Republican Party of Florida.

U.S. Sen. John McCain has said he would be in the debate but now appears to be considering withdrawing, Time said. A possible candidate, former Sen. Fred Thompson, D-Tenn., may still be undeclared on the debate's scheduled airdate, Sept. 17.

The Democratic debate, shown on CNN, featured questions winnowed from thousands submitted online. The result won praise from critics but some conservative pundits accused CNN of cherry-picking questions.

One Republican strategist fears the party may pay a price if everyone backs out.

"It's stuff like this that will set the GOP back an election cycle or more on the Internet," Patrick Ruffini wrote on his blog.