Difference between revisions of "Christopher Dodd"

Revision as of 15:07, July 11, 2008

Chris Dodd is a United States Senator from Connecticut, and former Democratic presidential primary contender. Dodd is currently serving as a United States Congressman.

History

Chris Dodd was born on May 27, 1944, in Willimantic, Connecticut. He was the fifth child of the former United States Senator of Connecticut, the late Thomas J. Dodd. After Dodd graduated from Providence Challenge, with a B.A. in English Literature , he went to join the United States Peace Corps in 1966. While working with the United States Peace Corps, he traveled to the Dominicans Republic were he worked carrying out humanitarian efforts for the rural community. After returning from his work in the Dominican Republic, Dodd joined the Amy National Guard and served as a reserve. Dodd earned a law degree from the University of Louisville in 1972. He was first elected to the United States Congress in 1974. He served three terms as congressmen, and in 1980, was elected to the United States Senate. In 1995, Dodd served as General Chairman of the Democrat National Committee, a position he held in till 1997. Along with his current race as a contender for the Democrat presidential primary nomination, Dodd serves his fifth term in the Senate today.

Ethics Issues

In 2008, new allegations that Democrats Senator Christopher Dodd, Senator Barack Obama, Senator Kent Conrad cut special discounts deals on their home loans from Countrywide subprime mortgage company. The company is being investigated by the federal governement. Dodd refuses that he asked for or received any preferential mortgage deals. Doubts linger because Dodd admitted the company placed him into a VIP program in 2003, a clear ethics violation. To make matters even worse for the American people, Dodd is in charge of the Senate Banking Committee. At a time when there is a crisis in the housing market, a compromised and ethically tainted Christopher Dodd is leading the efforts in Congress to bailout foreclosed homeowners and industry lenders. ^[1]

In 2006, DNC chairman Howard Dean stated that the former lobbiest Abramoff is a Republican scandal and no Democrats took money. Not long after, a list of Democrats that received money from Jack Abramoff surfaced. Christopher Dodd made the list by receiving more than $14,720 in donations. ^[2] A number of Democrats, such as Harry Reid, refused to give their donations back. No mention that Dodd ever returned his donations. The money came from Abramoff's employees at his law firm and his Native American tribes who were also clients of Jack Abramoff. "All of Mr. Abramoff's personal contributions went to Republicans." ^[3] Dodd is complicit in receiving thousands of dollars in lobby donations from Abramoff.

Political Positions

Abortion

Throughout Dodd’s career in the senate he has constantly voted against pro-life legislation, while supporting easier restrictions on abortion. In 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2003, Dodd voted against bills which would reduce partial-birth abortion^[4].

Iraq

In 2002, Dodd voted to use force against Iraq. Dodd support the Feingold-Reid proposal- which sets a time table for ending the war in Iraq by March 2008. He does not support sending more troops to Iraq.

Health Care

Dodd supported President Bush’s, No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, and now supports its exspantion^[5]. Dodd’s plan for education system is to increase salaries for teachers to create more incentives. He also is calling for increase federal funding for creating lower interest rates for student loans^[6].

Economy

Dodd is a supporter of the freedom to create unions. He advocates the Employee Free Choice Act. Dodd supports greater compensation for personal workplace injuries.

Primary Race

Chris Dodd was relatively unknown for a New England senator. Only 22 percent of likely Democratic primary voters had a favorable opinion of Dodd, 20 percent were unfavorable, 19 percent were neutral, and 39 percent didn't know enough about him to say. Dodd's net favorability rating is +2 percent. Nationally Dodd remained third to last in the polls, with only one percent of Democrats^[7]. The total amount of funds that Dodd had for his campaign is $7,482,467. Chris Dodd withdrew from the race because of his disappointing finish in the Iowa Caucus. Though Dodd did not officially endorse any candidate, he made overtones suggesting support for Barack Obama. ^[8] Later he endorsed Senator Obama, like his friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. If Senator Obama wins the Democratic nomination, it is possible he could be an actual running mate.

External Links

References

↑ http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/08/ap5190637.html , AP Dodd's popularity slips in Connecticut , July 8, 2008
↑ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551786/posts , FreeRepublic.com List of Democrats who have taken Abramoff money, January 4, 2006
↑ http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-1_24_06_JKE.html
↑ http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0131103
↑ http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53277&type=category&category=27&go.x=11&go.y=17
↑ http://www.chrisdodd.com/issues/education
↑ http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm
↑ http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/04/chris-dodd-abandons-presidential-campaign-after-poor-showing-in-iowa/

[1] ttp://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/07/08/ap5190637.html , AP Dodd's popularity slips in Connecticut , July 8, 2008

[2] ttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551786/posts , FreeRepublic.com List of Democrats who have taken Abramoff money, January 4, 2006

[3] ttp://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-1_24_06_JKE.html

[4] ttp://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0131103

[5] ttp://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53277&type=category&category=27&go.x=11&go.y=17

[6] ttp://www.chrisdodd.com/issues/education

[7] ttp://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm

[8] ttp://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/04/chris-dodd-abandons-presidential-campaign-after-poor-showing-in-iowa/

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 , July 8, 2008</ref>
-In 2006, DNC chairman [[Howard Dean]] stated that the former lobbiest Abramoff is a Republican scandal and no Democrats took money. Not long after, a list of Democrats that received money from [[Jack Abramoff]] surfaced. Christopher Dodd made the list by receiving more than $14,720 in donations. <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551786/posts , FreeRepublic.com List of Democrats who have taken Abramoff money, January 4, 2006</ref> A number of Democrats, such as [[Harry Reid]], refused to give their donations back. No mention that Dodd ever returned his donations.  The money came from Abramoff's employees at his law firm and his Native American tribes who were also clients of Jack Abramoff.  "All of Mr. Abramoff's personal contributions went to Republicans." <ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-1_24_06_JKE.html</ref> Dodd is complicit in receiving thousands of dollars in lobby doantions from Abramoff.
+In 2006, DNC chairman [[Howard Dean]] stated that the former lobbiest Abramoff is a Republican scandal and no Democrats took money. Not long after, a list of Democrats that received money from [[Jack Abramoff]] surfaced. Christopher Dodd made the list by receiving more than $14,720 in donations. <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551786/posts , FreeRepublic.com List of Democrats who have taken Abramoff money, January 4, 2006</ref> A number of Democrats, such as [[Harry Reid]], refused to give their donations back. No mention that Dodd ever returned his donations.  The money came from Abramoff's employees at his law firm and his Native American tribes who were also clients of Jack Abramoff.  "All of Mr. Abramoff's personal contributions went to Republicans." <ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-1_24_06_JKE.html</ref> Dodd is complicit in receiving thousands of dollars in lobby donations from Abramoff.
 ==Political Positions==