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

[mellene]

Chris Dodd is absolutely correct in the questions he raises that the moderators did not. They were too busy posturing over Dennis and his UFO sighting. I bet the higher-ups in the corporatocracy at NBC had a hand in "screening" the questions they wanted raised. We don't need another corportist running the country in '09.

[AstralTechnician]

Senator Dodd,

Thank you for all you are doing to protect and defend the Constitution. I hope the attention and support you are gaining in the blogsphere make your efforts in this regard, and your candidacy more visible in the main stream.

[Jammer]

Senator, I am a big fan of yours. Question: how do the Repubs get away with declaring a filibuster of a bill but then they are not forced to actually filibuster? It seems it is way to easy for the Repubs to just shout filibuster and then 60 votes are needed. Why not force them to do the dirty deed? Make them stand up there and read the dictionary for a week or two blocking bills so they can suffer the consequences? It seems to be way too easy for them now. Good luck on the campaign. You have real courage in your convictions.

[AlaskaMad]

Thank you Senator Dodd. The more I hear you speak the more I have come to think you are the person for the job. When I hear the "front runners" talk I have a nagging feeling that they will actually just be more of the same. They don't seem to realize all the damage Bush and his Texas/Wyoming mafia have done.
Dodd, Kucinich and Gravel seem to be the only ones saying that the Crook in Chief has broken our country and the first job of the new President needs to be to reverse all he has done and make sure it can't happen again.
Keep it up. More people are starting to hear your words.

[Janelynne]

If you don't believe in giving some sort of driver's licenses to undocumented workers, how do you deal with their driving on the highways, getting into, and causing accidents? Without immigration reform, those of us who are on the highways and streets, are forced to deal with it. Do you believe in ignoring it, Mr. Dodd? I thought your comment during the debate was neoconish and supported Russert, whose history proves he schoozes with the Vice President's office.

[ASurvivorInUtah]

Thank you Senator Dodd for stating what should be obvious to everyone so eloquently. I hope that your refusal to allow our Constitution to be trampled on that other politicians will follow suit. It takes a man of integrity to stand up for what you believe in and I can count on one hand the names of other career politicians who aren't afraid to do the same - Russ Feingold, Henry Waxman and John Conyers. I've been following the Mukaskey nomination from the beginning and he seemed to be a real contender, until he stumbled on questions about waterboarding and executive privelege. Everyone has to follow the law including the President or the law is meaningless. Keep fighting the good fight and God Bless you!

[CriminallySane]

Senator, you and your fellow Democratic Senators need to begin placing "holds" on many, many things. Bush nominations for appointed posts can not go through. And do not recess for long enough to open the door to recess appointments.

This is one way to begin the stopping process - we need that before a change of direction.