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.
Follow Sen. Chris Dodd on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenChrisDodd
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Well Played Senator Dodd. Now it comes down to action not words. Follow through on your oath, with no excuses, and you will get my vote.
Ditto
Hammer down and full speed ahead Senator. You're on the right road.
It's not too late. If you keep up this stance, you could win. Let's hear you speak out on the many assaults on American law. I'm watching and listening, every day.
Dodd:
There are no 'hero' US troops in Iraq. There are troops with courage, but no heroism.
There is no such thing as heroism of troops fighting on the wrong side, fighting in a war to control the flow of oil.
Good, lets have an old fashion filabuster! Not this baby stuff where you threaten to filabuster and then don't really do it and everyone caves in because you made the treat. Get up and talk and talk and talk and talk. Lets have a real filabuster and stop that crappy anticonstution bill.
By the way, how about a filabuster agains this new appropriation bill for more supplamental money for the war?
Senator Dodd,
If you are elected President, will you pledge to create a Constitutional Committee, composed of constitutional scholars whose task it will be to determine if actions by the current administration violated the constitution? And, whose task it will be to define measures to forestall such future violations of our constitution?
Peace! GWB - WPE/GWB - Destroyer of the Constitution
Mark
respectfully, Thank You Senator Dodd for being amongst the few Senators or Congressmen/women who ARE honoring the oath of office! Senator Snowe and Senator Collins are still amongst the rethuglican representatives that are NOT honoring their oaths, they seem to still want to lap-dance for Bush Co et al despite this constituents’ democratic pleas to represent ALL of their constituents and the oath they took!
peace
And the war with Iran is imminent. They all signed the Lieberman/Kyl Amendment. We are being fed only words. We don't see action.
It is a case of us and them! They are duping us
to make us believe that they are concerned about us while busy raiding the treasury and
ruining this country. Our next immigration bill
will tell us exactly what they think of us.
People might think you're joking, vippy, but you're right. It's always been about the money.
Tom Delay was their patron saint for awhile, but he stumbled on the turf of an old fashioned Texas prosecutor. But they were all right behind him, when he said he wanted to starve government until it was small enough to drown in a tub.
Well it's getting there, as more and more government gets "farmed out." They are spending ever more; and as much of that spending as they can manage is going into private hands.
It's been their plan all along, to destroy our government. To sell it off in pieces to people who won't ever actually repair any levies, but will sell that contract on to a low-bidder.
This is part and parcel of their religion: the Church of Capitalism. They are fundamentalist jihadists. Just not the ones we're always being warned about. These jihadists only want to destroy government's every influence on commerce, to Set Capital Free.
This is their paradise. Paltry taxes, no hiring restrictions or workplace "interference," no vacations or minimum wages, no unions, OSHA, family leave. No frickin retirement programs or medical. This was their Chicago School plan from the first, and it depends on us being stupid, which we are, and on us not getting wise to the plan. Which we just may.
It comes to the difference between a government and a business. You expect the government to do things, and when they don't you make them. Whereas a company is not supposed to do work if it can avoid any. Its main purpose is profit, after all -- not doing things.
Bush only wants to run the clock out now. Early on, they probably thought they'd be able to bring in Jed by now. But Jed is dead, and the rest couldn't be worse jokes if Colbert were writing them.
Now they all just want retroactive immunity (oh- and to keep the loot).
For Transit and others like, who believe we must wait till 2008 to see change, I urge you to reconsider and take action now! If we wait, 2008 may be too late. Organize a protest, join a protest, write letters, whatever you can do to help get the message out, do it . . . this is a time for action, not just words or waiting, thank you Senator Dodd, for being willing to risk your political future and take action.
"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."
Hey Great! Now all you have to do, sir, is back up that oath by cosponsoring HR 3835 IH, The America Freedom Act.
Dodd is great. A fine choice for President. Finally, a Democrat with a backbone.
I agree.
Thank you, Senator Dodd. You have no idea how helpless and betrayed many informed Democrats feel right now. I personally feel as if we've been sold out for campaign contributions. The likes of Rockefeller, Reid, and Feinstein are stomping on our Constitution and laughing all the way to the bank. When Congress changed hands in 2006, I had a glimmer of hope that things would change. That glimmer is almost completely extinguished, but you are trying against all odds to keep the flame alive.
I understand you are getting cold stares from your cohorts in the Senate right now. They are not worth a passing glance. What you're exhibiting is patriotism at its finest. Your father would be proud.
Far, far closer to the words WE need to hear from ALL of OUR elected officials, Senator Dodd, and those words of OATH are ones each and every official should recite every day. If their Pledge of Allegiance to these United States is NOT to the principles of The Constitution, as THE BASIS OF ALL OUR LAW and the TRUE foundation of OUR great nation, then likely their pledge means NOTHING ...to anyone else anyway!
One might ask where was a filibuster from yourself or even Senator Feingold was, during passage of the Partriot Act or Military Commissions Act, both of which seem to contain knowingly Unconstitutional provisions? Is even this eloquent post and promised filibuster a part of some grandly orchestrated scheme for CONgress to seem engaged yet intentionally accomplish nothing? I don't wish to think or ask such cynical questions, but this CONgress and government has largely left little choice.
I still want to know YOUR stand on Equal Civil Rights for same-sex couples and to see you or ANY candidate speak to American designs on Iraqi Oil and Natural Gas reserves. But as I said, Senator, it's far, far closer to what EVERY candidate should be saying.
Thank you.
Senator Dodd-
If something isn't immediately done to reverse the movement towards an authoritarian, closed society, I would like the opportunity to reclaim the money that was taken from me and put into social security, so that I can afford to leave this country and become an expatriate. I vow, as an American citizen, that after reaching my new "home" country, I will walk into the U.S. embassy and renounce what I used to hold so dear. It is worth less and less every day you let this travesty continue.
Judging from Congress' INACTION, they've all promised, "I do solemnly swear to watch the USConstitution ripped to shreds while I do nothing about it".
Stupid is as stupid does -- LOTS OF DAMAGE to Americans and America.
If you claim "willingness" to defend the Constitution--PROVE IT!!
.
Dear Senator Dodd,
While I applaud you for stepping up to the plate to support and defend the Constitution this time, I would ask that you consider the following statement for reflection during these trying moments:
The base reason for the necessity of FISA leniency is because "We are in a time of war". However, our Founders carved out that very Document you swore to support and defend when THEY WERE AT WAR, ON OUR SOIL, all the while, it was THEY, who WERE THE INSURGENTS!
If mandating what redactions of Habeas Corpus Rights were to be and when, likewise mandating that warrants be had, and ensuring the freedom to peaceably assemble was good enough for our Founders, in that time of war, even when it's on our soil, then why must we diverge from that path previously carved and walked for nearly 200 years?
In short, Senator, How did the Founders get it so wrong that it must be undone?
?
I HAVE YET TO HEAR A SENATOR CRY OUT:
"where is that impeachment from the other chamber?"
?
Senator I never thought I'd be thanking some one like you for honoring that oath.But here we are through the looking glass.Do your colleagues not get it, or do they not care?Cheney could not have been more wrong when he said"We might be a country ruled by men rather than the rule of law."after 9/11.Thank you sir for doing your duty to your country,its constitution,and citizens.
sorry senator but you belong to a party that has no courage. spineless is what most folks are now calling your party.
alpha dog bush owns your party. all he has to say is support the troops and you demos open the taxpayers wallets. no wait we are on a china credit card. screw the grandkids I want my wars now paid for by china says congress.
our only hope in american is a voter revolution with a third party that represents the people and not the money that got demos and repubs elected.
are americans up to it. hope so but it does not look promising.
fascism is near when the economy goes belly up when china wants payments for this illegal war.
I'd like to applaud your stand, but we'll know that you have truly emerged from the Lieberman zone when you lead a fight to repeal the bankruptcy bill. Wrapping yourself in the Constitution won't hide the stench.
How about a pledge to get a divorce from your banking buddies and quit stabbing us in the back? Until then I'll resist the urge to get all teary-eyed about you and your oath.
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