My Oath of Office

As required by Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution, Members of Congress are bound to support the Constitution. We take the following oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter."

As the representatives of the American people, our job is in many ways quite simple: to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." There's no question in my mind that Democrats were given a majority in both the House and the Senate based on their promises to change the course of the country. We were elected to strengthen the nation by ending this war, restoring our standing in the world and returning the nation to an adherence to the rule of law. An integral part of that mandate was to reverse and stop the Bush Administration's assault on the Constitution.

Yet, we today are faced with the possibility that the Senate will see a renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that enables the Bush Administration to broadly eavesdrop on American citizens and provides for retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that helped them violate civil liberties and the law.

The Constitution of the United States belongs to the American people, not to the Bush administration. It is our responsibility as Senators and Congressmen to stand up and fight for it.

That's why I announced last week that I would put a "hold" on any FISA reform legislation that includes retroactive immunity for telecom companies -- and why, if my hold is not honored for some reason by the Senate Leadership, I pledge to filibuster to stop telecom amnesty from becoming law.

The need to honor our oath of office isn't limited to defending the Constitution. Anyone who has paid attention these last five years knows that there is no military solution in Iraq. We will be more safe and more secure when we get our troops out of Iraq. To continue on this failed course, to continue to fund our involvement in Iraq's civil war is, in my opinion, a dereliction of our oath of office as well.

The path forward is clear: it's time for Congress to set a date certain for withdrawal from Iraq and tie it to funding. If I could, I'd say we start bringing our troops home tonight to the heroes welcome they deserve. At the same time, we have to act to defend the rule of law and support the Constitution.

The truth is, I never thought I'd be running for President on a platform of restoring the Constitution and America's standing in the world or something as elementary as honoring the oath of office we take. But with our security at risk, we haven't any other choice. I haven't forgotten the words I first uttered on January 4th, 1975 and I will dedicate myself to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic until I take the oath of office on January 20, 2009 - this time, as the President of the United States. I hope you'll stand with me and ask your Senators to do the same as they consider further funding for the war in Iraq and retroactive immunity for telecom companies.

Learn more about my campaign at ChrisDodd.com.

Comments

[horhay]

Thank you Senator Dodd. You are beginning to look like the best hope for our Constitution and a new direction for our nation. You should be a frontrunner in the presidential race.

Note to HUFFington POST:
Senator Dodd's blog should be at the top of the homepage and remain there, so that other candidates can see what someone running for president should be doing.

[Doubtom43]

Bravo Chris Dodd! If not you---who? If not now---when? Show the Senate what a backbone looks like!

[Ragtimer]

Senator Dodd:

I support all your efforts and respect your position. It is a difficult time for candidates. But you are sincere.

What can you do to get Pelosi Recalled?

The constitution also provides that "I" can petition this Government with a "redress of greivences".

I've tried. Can't get any voice or path way to do so. Not because of not trying either. My congress person didn't accept my request and my senator hasn't. Can I sue the government for neglecting to accept my request and ultimately taking away might rights.

After all they are guaranteed, aren't they?

[elementixx]

>What can you do to get Pelosi Recalled?

All H of R members face a de facto recall election every two years

[radlib1]

Until you, we only had one Senator truly safeguarding the Constitution -- Russ Feingold. Not to say that Senators Kennedy, Boxer, and a few (too few) others aren't caring, but I'm glad that you have taken the lead here. You deserve kudos for your conscience and your cojones. Keep it up.

Hopefully, our other limp-dicked Democaratic leaders like Harry Reid will follow your example.

[BizDean]

Having just answered my daughter's question about the meaning of the phrase "safe and sound," I now wonder about "safe and secure." Sen. Dodd and GW both use "safe and secure." What's the diff between safe and secure?

[RobertPaul]

Thank you Senator Dodd!

It's long past time that SOMEONE stand up for the rights of the American people against the Blight of the Bush administration.

I salute you Sir and hope that you are able to stop this totally illegal effort on the part of the BushCo to retroactively immunize the telecoms.

You have my support as a Senator trying to do the "Right Thing" and as a candidate running for office.

THE most important pledge that ANY candidate could make is to UNDO the illegalities that the Bush mal-administration has put into place.

It has gotten to the point that we (the voters) are actually looking for some9one who can save our union from this bunch of criminals that now rule our country.

Please keep this in mind as you strive to protect us from the vagaries of this administration.

[BoulderSue]

Go for it, Senator. I've contacted my Congressional delegation and sorely wish more congresspeople had your determination. Be my Jimmy Stewart!

[Nooneyouknow]

Thanks, Senator, you're a mensch. Now how about some impeachment?

[deminmo]

Sir, I hope you will not be swayed from your
oath by anyone in Washington. We have no accountability, we have no truth from anyone
in Washington. We have two wars right now that
are literally slipping out of our military's control. We have the threat of yet another
military conflict in Iran, that in all likely
hood will develope into WWIII and possibly
nuclear in nature.

The spying through the cooperation of the
telecommunication groups, and exactly who may
have known about it, certainly makes a US citizen wonder when impeachment goes back on
the table. And if impeachment proceedings begin, who it will involve.

I wish you luck.

[kenmattos]

Thank you, Senator Dodd! I sent copies of your essay to both of my Pennsylvania senators. I am sure they are familiar with your perspective, but, as I told them, this bears repeating.

[traffic]

I would like to thank Sen. Dodd for standing up in support of America and Americans. I have also called and e-mailed my senators, Stabenow and Levin, to tell them that I expect them to follow Sen. Dodd's example. I have been a democrat all my life and I never thought I would see the day when our party's leaders would sell out America! Any democrats in office who votes for this should take note. I will never vote for any "Bush Buddy Democrat" not matter what the cause!

[blankmw]

Thank you Senator Dodd.
With your blog post, I think you've just got my vote for President.
I only wish that you were Majority Leader and the entire sad scenario hadn't played out the way it has in Washington.

[SteveWeisert]

I want to hear Sen. Dodd or any other Presidentail candidate say, with no weasel words, that GW Bush is an enemy of the Constitution and thus an enemy of the very country he is poorly trying to lead. I WANT TO HEAR ONE CANDIDATE CLEARLY STATE THAT GWB IS AN ENEMY OF THE CONSTITUTION !

[avril787]

While reading your commentary, a sense of deep sadness overwhelmed me. Is it possible that the persons at the helm of this current administration are of far more danger to us then the any foreign foe we oppose? How could any American passively stand by and see one branch of government usurp power to the extent we are livng through today? What has happened that we have turned into a nation of sheep instead of lions? President Bush does not have the constitutional right to eavesdrop on any citizen without the approval and oversight of the judicial branch. The checks and balances of our constitution are flagrantly being tossed away. To add insult to injury, now they want to grant immunity to those who conspire with them, the telecom industry. Any congressional representative or senator that allows this practice to continue has not honored the oath they swore to uphold. They must be removed from office. I commend you, Mr. Dodd, and you have my vote. There are very few leaders today, I pray for your success and courage.

[DeccaDo]

I truly appreciate your forthright stand on Iraq, as well as many other issues. I am tremendously glad to see you in the presidential debates-if you and Kucinich were not on that panel I would give up watching them all together.

I have lost faith in this party and have joined the Libertarians, chiefly due to their unwavering stand on the constitution, their push to end the war and impeach Bush, their stand for personal liberty. I have had many years of experience working as a consumer/legislative advocate in California. I have had a close up look at the corruption of politics. I have come to the conclusion that politicians either speak from the left side of their mouths or the right side of their mouths but they are all beholding to the special interests that come to own our country.