The Questions I Wish We Were Asked

Tuesday night's Democratic Presidential debate in Philadelphia included some of the most serious discussions of Iraq, Iran, and global warming that we've had thus far during the campaign season. I was happy to get the opportunity to speak clearly and directly to why I believe I've offered the boldest, most honest assessments on all three of these critical issues.

But they aren't the only areas where the stakes are high and there are clear differences among the candidates. And so, today I want to talk about a few things we weren't asked by the moderators Tuesday night at Drexel University.

For me, it starts with our Constitution. In November of 2006, the American people overwhelmingly elected Democrats with a mandate to change course. Much attention was focused on Iraq, but make no mistake - Americans were also signaling that they wanted Congress to rein in the abuses to the Constitution under the Bush administration and the Republican Congress. Over the last few weeks, we've seen issues pertaining to the rule of law come up time and again.

Retroactive immunity. Waterboarding. The qualifications and judgment of Judge Michael Mukasey. Data mining. Warrantless wiretaps. The list, sadly, goes on...

At no point Tuesday night was I or any of my fellow candidates asked about their opinions these issues -- some of the most important the next President will face. Not once. So I want to take this opportunity now to talk about these issues.

1. Less than two weeks ago, Senator Dodd, you announced you would filibuster any FISA legislation that included retroactive immunity. Why are you opposed to amnesty?

Quite simply: you can't defend America if you don't defend the Constitution.

The Bush administration came to the telecom companies, some even before 9/11, and asked them to eavesdrop on Americans. They didn't produce court orders or warrants to justify their surveillance. And the telecoms went along with it.

These companies have some of the best legal counsel money can buy. They know the law through and through. And they broke it anyway. That is inexcusable and I'm not about to let Congress step in and stop lawsuits against them for violating the privacy of ordinary Americans.

2. Do you think waterboarding is torture?

Absolutely, according to both US law and international conventions. And in my view, the Bush Administration knows full well it is.

3. You were the first Democratic Senator to announce your opposition to Michael Mukasey's nomination. Why do you think he isn't qualified to be Attorney General?

A lot has been made of Judge Mukasey's troubling stance on waterboarding and torture more broadly. While I think those are critically important questions, his beliefs on executive power are in many ways far more important. The attorney general must be a reliable defender of the rule of law.

But Mr. Mukasey seems to share the exact same ideology as other members of the Bush administration. He thinks the President has the authority to ignore the rule in the name of national security. Mr. Mukasey doesn't seem to understand the oath we take: we don't swear to support and defend the Constitution OR protect the country. We defend the Constitution TO protect the country.

For that reason alone, he should be disqualified to serve as the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the United States government. For me, he is. And I would hope the rest of my opponents--Republican or Democrat--would agree. Because it's time we elect a President who understands that while America's strength may come from our military and wealth - its greatness comes from our faith in the values expressed in our Constitution.

Learn more about my campaign at ChrisDodd.com

Follow Sen. Chris Dodd on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenChrisDodd

Comments

[fraziersview]

Defending the Constitution will always garner votes, but leave the legalization of MJ alone for now. It is a hot controversey weighted with many mixed opinions mostly all based on misinformation, one way or the other. Taking a stand upholding the Constitution is the moral high ground..It is a place of regard, esteem and propriety and cannot be disrespected, disregarded, or degraded..­.and it is ground that other candidates have chosen to shy away from for fear of seeming weak. Little do they know that defending the Constituion is the strongest position they could take. Good Luck with your campaign.

[msfiskvletterman]

11/1/07
8:30pm
Burlington, VT

I agree with you. If I weren't on my way to work at the Burlington Free Press right now I'd add to your list of issues pertaining to the rule of law.
Shirley Ann Fisk

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Not bad, Senator Dodd, not bad.

Many voters now move beyond party politics. You're understandably not yet willing to put yourself at direct odds against the multi-nationals, publicly anyway. And by that, I mean enough degrees of sepertion to say that having 'ANY' lobbies opens a Pandora's Box of legalized bribery and kickback, that ALL should be eliminated as a form of petitioning OUR Government, and ALL elections then be publicly financed.

But, at least you're trying to forge a 'better' Democratic Party than leadership like Hillary, Senator Harry or Speaker Nancy would have us believe is possible. I'm not particularly partial to insiders that have been courted by lobbyists for years as being OUR 'foot-forward' #1 best possible leaders, and especially prevaricaters that say what they have to - for political expediency. However, as far as party direction is concerned I have NO hesitancy whatsoever saying you, sir, would be a far better pick for leading Senate Democrats and steering the tone and direction for OUR country right now. It seems THEIR greater desire is to split the republicant base rather than secure the anti-war independent votes that are currently so considerable. Apparently leadership assumes that ALL voters who are anti-republicant MUST be dem, anything else doesn't occur to them.

Here's wishing the dems looked a lot less republicant, over all.



~NFJT~

[cruisepuppy7452a]

No, the questions I wish you all had to answer are why are Hillary, Obamma, et all who claim to be for healthcare for all, taking money, backing insurance comapanies, which deny claims, healthcare for all? Why are you all opposed to socialized medicine? That is an issue senator. Its one that the American people have a right to know, hear, see. Why are we kept in the dark about this? Will any of you back socialized medicine, which we badly need as much as the end to the Iraq war?
You all talked about being in touch with the American people, and yet none of you seems to be. How many of you have lost jobs, healthcare, been told, you have pre exsisting condition, alzheimers, and we can't perfom tests? None of you. The American people face that and worse every day. Poor wages, lost jobs, wars that are bankcrupting our country, kids going without food, clothing, education, but you all want war. When will any of you say enough is enough and behave like the people you claim to be, who you are representing? That is what I wish you all were asked.

[airea3]

I don't know if this is the correct forum for this topic, but I've grown tired of looking all over the site ;) I wish the question on legalizing marijuana had been better explored. I am 32 years old and have debilitating migraines. Thus far the headaches have been resistant to all of the normal migraine meds; as well as many homeopathic remedies. I am seeing a neurologist who is running a plethora of tests hoping to find a cause. In the meantime, I am taking an anti-seizure medication that "might" help prevent the migraines - topamax. I'm also taking a blood pressure that may or may not act as a prophylactic - verapamil. As I do not have high blood pressure, I'm getting a ton of side effects from that one. And finally, the narcotics: pecocet, vicodin, xanax and valium. Not to be taken all at once, of course. I am to ingest them using my best judgment, based upon the severity of the migraine, until we get this whole mess figured out. I have gone on line, and apparently, I am not alone. There are many people who have experienced drug resistant migraines. They were easily treated with marijuana - at least if they lived in Oregon. Not so much anywhere else. I live in Arizona, the people here voted for legalizing medicinal marijuana, but check out how the law reads for yourself. So, I'm stuck with a cabinet full of enough narcotics to get the whole block high for a week, but I can't smoke pot because I could arrested and/or lose my job.

[zasu]

Senator Dodd, your views on so many important issues is right on the mark. I especially honour your refusal to vote for any bill that give amnesty to the communications companies that turned over information about their subscribers illegally to the government. Your insistence that the Constitution be obeyed is totally honourable.

Your performance during Tuesday's debate was remarkably excellent. The only issue on which we disagree concerns Gov. Spitzer's desire to offer illegal immigrants, in his state, driver's licenses. But other than that one matter, I am in total agreement with you, and I have been and continue to me a supporter of your presidential campaign.

[Independent voter]

Thank you Senator for having the courage to speak up for the decriminalization of cannabis.

While I'm sure this pisses off Annheiser-Bush, RJ Reynolds and Glaxo-Smithkline, it's the right thing to do. It makes no sense to incarcerate people for possession of a weed and it would take the profit out of illegal cannabis smuggling from Mexico.

[Father O'KC]

I don't want Hilary to have Unitary Executive power any more than I want Bush to. So good on you for remembering that it's the Constitution, stupid. But drivers' license should be for one thing only - to prove that you've demonstrated that you can operate a motor vehicle on the road safely. Now we wind up with a bunch of illegals driving without licenses and fleeing from the cops whenever they get pulled over for a traffic violation? Great, there's too many irresponsible high speed chases now as it is...

[FirstForty]

Chris Dodd and Joe Biden are head and shoulders above any of the other Dems in terms of experience. I can only hope that both will land top level cabinet posts in the next Dem administration. Its too bad that grey haired male senators are out of style this year. Both have a lot to offer. Chris, Joe please dont give up.

[lgillooly]

Senator Dod,
Until the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated and the Networks are NOT owned soley by Megacorporations the truth will never be heard by the majority of Americans. The Republicans will win every time unless we can get the facts out. We live in the age of spin and misinformation controlled by the hate-fille­d,fearmong­ering,Neoc­on owned media.This should be our first priority,otherwise we are spitting into the wind...

[blankmw]

Thank you Senator Dodd - You've been a breath of fresh air in this campaign, and I haven't heard your opinion about any issue so far that I have disagreed with. I think that you are a principled and dedicated politician who will protect our Constitution and our truly free society.

[Steamboater]

The modersators concentrated wholely on Clinton. I would have liked to have seen you Sen. Dodd get a chance to speak more. What you have to say about everything is always fascinating and right to the point and head on. I hope in the next deabte when this happens agaon, and it will, you read the riot act to the moderators. Wish you were the front-runner. All my best.

[resurgent]

Splitting The Democracy

The Democrats are hijacking our democracy with illegal immigration just as surely as the Republicans are with the war in Iraq. Bush claimed a mandate when he won by 51%, and it is universally accepted Nixon had a mandate with a 61% win. How is it that when roughly 70% of Americans are against both the war and illegal immigration, there is no talk of a mandate? In this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, political parties can have a mandate with the slightest win but the people cannot have a mandate even with a massive majority. The truth comes clear: the Republican and Democratic Parties are corporations. They don't put "Inc." after their names, but they are de facto corporations. That's why they don't represent the people. Any real political party would derive its power from the consent of the governed (Ever hear that before?) and would automatically be against both this war and illegal immigratio­n.By dividing the issues of mutual consent, the corporations divide the people thereby transferring power to themselves. It's like splitting the atom whereby a huge amount of energy is released. They are splitting the democracy that bound this country together, and gobbling up the released energy for themselves.

What do the war and amnesty have in common? They are both illegal.

[chery]

Sen. Dodd, one of the things I genuinely enough about the debates is the reality that you and Sen. Biden educate the voter while answering the seemingly petty questions asked of the panel. It was a fascinating exchange between the two of you on Iran! A most thought provocating moment when you two agreed that Pakistan is a greater threat in the region than Iran is today. See... this is what America needs more of... men who step outside the box of the canned media sound bites to show us the difference between educated individuals and the propoganda we've been fed for too long! Thank you for chosing to stand out in the crowd! And by all means, please interject your own questions when the moderators appear to be too afraid to ask something of substance! Voters love you for it!

[animalhamilton]

Mr. Dodd,

Please find out why they wanted to spy prior to 9/11.

I am happy to see you address that point.

Thank you.