One positive thing that candidate Dodd has brought is the idea of "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007." From The Nation:
He is choosing to make his commitment to addressing the damage done by the Bush administration to basic civil liberties central to his campaign -- talking about the issue in his campaign swings through early primary and caucus states, featuring his commitment at the top of his campaign website and launching a separate http://www.restore-habeas.org/ site that highlights a video of the candidate discussing the roots of America's commitment to the Geneva Conventions and the rule of law, as well as a set of tools for involving citizens in the fight to restore the Constitution.
Dodd's proactive approach to Constitutional matters that often get short shrift in presidential contests -- particularly Democratic primary races -- distinguishes him from the field. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, has signed on as a co-sponsor. So has the chairman of the Constitution subcommittee, Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold, who it should be noted has a better record as a defender of civil liberties than anyone in the Senate, including Dodd. But neither Clinton nor Obama has yet done so.
Every presidential candidate chooses his or her issues with an eye toward enhancing their electoral appeal, and Dodd's effort is no different. Dodd is well aware that grassroots Democratic activists have been especially, and appropriately, concerned by the Bush administration's assaults on the rule of law. But even if there is a measure of political calculation in his timing and his focus, it is meaningful that a senior senator, who will be a key participant in all the pre-primary debates, has chosen to put the defense of the Constitution at the top of the agenda.
No matter how he fares in the caucuses and primaries, Dodd's initiative is consequential. An essential element of any presidential campaign season involves the defining of issues, and the 2OO8 race offers an opportunity to remind Americans that they do not have to sacrifice liberty for security. As Dodd says, "I take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting this country from terrorists. But there is a right way to do this and a wrong way to do this. It's clear the people who perpetrated these horrendous crimes against our country and our people have no moral compass and deserve to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But in taking away their legal rights, the rights first codified in our country's Constitution, we're taking away our own moral compass, as well."
George Bush and his allies have made the Constitution an issue in the 2OO8 race. Chris Dodd deserves credit for recognizing that fact and addressing it legislatively and politically.
Kudos to Dodd for bringing this issue to the front of his campaign. I hope he is able to make enough noise on this subject that whoever winds up being the standard bearer next year, keeps this issue at the fore front of the campaign. This seems to be a solid issue which I whole-heartily support this initiative and the Democrats might be able to use this issue to beat their opponents into the ground next summer. But more than likely this issue will be dropped like a bad habit when Dodd finally comes to his senses when he wakes up and realizes he won't be the next POTUS.
3 comments:
Dodd is really running? I thought that was a joke.
No joke, unless you consider his entire candidacy a joke, an entire waste of time and money, like I do.
What would make him even consider running? If the people in your own state don't support you,how does he think thats going to make him look to the rest of the country.
Definitely wasting his time.
Great post Jeff! I moved out of Connecticut a year ago this month and now I just need to refer to your blog to see the latest happenings.
Health and Prosperity,
Romain Levesque
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