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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If you have to filisbuster how many other Senators will join you? If they do notthen we will all know exactly where we stand....A
In that case plans should be made to know how to face the future attacks, not only on the Constitution but on the nation as a whole and those defending it.
Our character is tested today as it has never been and there are too few in public office who report for duty.
Senator Dodd:
I too have not been a great fan, but this hold shows great leadership. If you are successful in this, you have my vote. We out here in the hinterlands are awaiting a leader to help us out of this morass.
God speed.
Thank you Senator for understanding what is important, and making a stand.
There are times for politicians to slack off, cut deals and enrich themselves, and there are times for politicians to recognize the critical role they play in protecting the nation from the types of decisions that can undermine it. These aren't the Salad Days of America anymore, we are facing tremendous challenges that, with the wrong choices by leaders, can send the Nation on a destructive path that will be hard to correct.
The damage that the Bush Administation has done to the US through hubris, ignorance and bad faith since 2001 is profound and tragic. We can't continue to allow fatal errors to be made by American leaders. The American people entrust their elected officials with the health of the country, it is not expected our elected leaders will take the trust we give them and turn it into a poison to weaken, and sicken our Nation.
So as I praise you for making your stand on these issues, Senator Dodd, I do so with sadness, I think most Americans would feel, like me, that standing up for the Constitution would be the bare minimum they should expect from those they privilege with a leadership role in the United States. That you are the lone Senator, of 100, that feels a sense of responsibility to protect the Constitution of the United States from the abuse of this President is demoralizing.
So thanks again for making a stand on this, Senator Dodd I hope you can inspire some of your colleagues to do likewise.
Senator Dodd,
I admit to not being a fan of yours based on some of your previous votes. The Bankruptcy Bill comes to mind. It was a huge gift to the predatory credit card companies that reside in your state and I think you should be ashamed of your vote. However, if you are sincere about stepping up to the plate and filibustering or doing whatever is required to actually be a member of an opposition party, then I will reconsider my attitude and opinion of you. If you filibuster I would even consider donating to your campaign if your efforts are genuine and not just political theater.
Daisy I agree with you and your evaluation of Mr. Dodd wholeheartedly especially your hope that this effort is "genuine and not just political theater." But for real change in this country we're going to have to wait for 2008 and hope there are enough votes to " strengthen the nation by ending this war, restore our standing in the world and return the nation to an adherence to the rule of law."
Transit..w
Sen Dodd.. Like other..I had not really considered you a potential president; but the more I see of HRC, and the unknows of Obama (his star has faded)...t
You have made some mistakes..
I digress... Stay STrong...d
Senator Dodd - I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You're now my man for President. It's easy to become discouraged and pessimistic, but I truly believe one principled man like you can make the difference.
Sen. Dodd, thank you for your service to your country, and to mankind. The struggle to restore democracy is an important one, I just never thought we would be waging it against fellow Americans.
Senator Dodd, out of all of the soft in the knees, stomach, and spine Democrats in the Senate, you are one of my favorites.
However, promises, from members of the party of "Political Realities," have proven little more than peddling of token gestures and hollow promises.
So thank you, for being one of the best of the worst; of course, not including the craven and sinister Republicans.
So thank you, but do you understand (really?) ... and forgive my pessimism and cynicism?
P.S. Punch Nancy Pelosi in the nose and you'll have my vote.
I promise.
I'm really shocked Dodd and Biden aren't the first tier candidates. Despite their failure to vote against Bush's authorization I think they are the smartest, best qualified guys in the pack. I say this despite the fact that I agree with Kucinich the most, he sometimes gets a little outside my comfort zone. I'd love to see him and Richardson in cabinet posts. I like Obama and Edwards but they have been like tepid water and I don't see the passion. Hillary is my least favorite of the Democratic candidates but I will work evey day for her if she were to be nominated because every last one of those belicose, war-mongering, self-righteous republicans scare the crap out of me.
You shouldn't be shocked, Ivogt. It's more clear every day that the 'leading' democratic candidates are just as bought and paid for as the republicans. As well, in looking at the voting record of, say, clinton, you find someone philosophically aligned with the liberman wing of the party.
I thought both Dodd and Biden were most impressive at the last debate (or what they call debates these days), even more so than kucinich.
Am afraid that your comment regarding Dodd/Biden vs Kucinich represents the ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) that so hobbles the people of this nation. Instead of valuing a consistent stand against the many, many moves made by this administration toward constitutional destruction as Kucinich has done you jump to attention when ONE laudable move is taken in a time of stress.
Kucinich is virtually ignored by the MSM (even derided by people who should know better such as Olbermann). His positions have been CONSISTENT since the 9/11 incident. He has consistently voiced opinions against the "war". Initally, he was one of the VERY FEW who voted against "going to war"in the first place. He has spoken out for impeachment and introduced measures to initiate impeachment proceedings. His has been a voice that has not deviated.
Until people value such long term commitments there is little chance for improvement and the march to elect Hillary moves along. She is little improvement over what we have presently. But, the MSM covers her consistently and therefore lends its support for such an election choice.
Corporate America is electing another pResident and people of short memory are enhancing their efforts. I will withold my vote in 2008 if Hillary is the Democrat nominated to run.
Money is the root of all evil, and that is what is undermining our political process and the constitution.
It really does come down to that. I wish we could have direct voting, people vote on the issues, or at the very least have our representatives do their jobs outside of DC. We have the technology. They just get in this little surreal bubble there and it wears them down.
Yo kids: time to put up or shut up! Write this man the biggest check you can afford, forget what Oprah says (and I know that's hard for some of the readers of this site) and GIVE HIM YOUR PRIMARY VOTE. The worst that can happen is that you'll provide him with enough clout to mount a serious offensive against Harry Reid and end up as majority leader.
Thank you Senator Dodd for protecting our Constitution based upon your oath.
Thank you for standing for the American People and our Constitution.
Senator Dodd
Presumably, your stand of no immunity for Telecom companies will open the door for billions of dollars worth of civil suits to be filed against them for violation of privacy.
Soooo, you have a problem with FISA, and you are going to hold the phone companies responsible?
Congress authorized the war, continues to fund the war, wrote and passed the FISA act, has any number of oversight functions it could perform, has the power to subpoena witnesses to conduct investigations -- and your conclusion of the matter is to hold the Telecom Companies responsible for alleged "invasion of privacy?" You take no responsibility for this yourself, you assign no blame to Congress - you blame the Telecoms?
This would be a laughable joke except, unfortunately, you appear to be serious.
Please post a list of all American Citizens whose privacy has been invaded - names and dates. Indicate the names of the government official who authorized such. Surely you have such information at hand. Any refusal on your part to provide such info indicates that either you don't know what you are talking about, or you are standing in the way of the public's right to know what the government is doing.
Too bad you are an ineffective leader of your fellow Democrats in Congress. (Well, maybe not). And this qualifies you to be the leader of our country???
Senator Dodd gets it! But it is not only his fight to restore the rule of law and to uphold the Constitution, it is ours as well.
Senator Dodd, I never thought I'd be voting in a presidential election on the basis of restoring the Constitution. Yet I will be because if we don't fix that, all the other issues will not matter. I'm sure someone has told you already, but on a straw poll among DailyKos readers, you have jumped into second place. Go, Senator Dodd!
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