Chris Dodd for President

This post was written by the Dodd campaign's new Grafton County co-chair, who just yesterday publicly endorsed us at a meeting of Plymouth-area Democrats and on his blog. Glenshaw is the co-founder of Democracy For New Hampshire.I'm cross-posting his endorsement post here in full. Also, watch Peter talk about why he's endorsed Chris Dodd in this video below. Chris Dodd for President by Peter Glenshaw I am endorsing Senator Chris Dodd for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. Let me tell you why. It began more than 18 months ago. On a cold Fall day in New Hampshire, Senator Dodd appeared on the porch of my neighbor in Lyme, NH, Peg Little, to support the then-nascent candidacy of Deb Reynolds for NH State Senate. Amidst the rolling fog and the quiet solitude of a Fall morning, Senator Dodd quietly outlined a compelling message about how and why government, and the American people, could still make a positive difference in the world. Senator Dodd first spoke about his father who served as a lead prosecutor in the Nuremberg trials following World War II. At a time when the world had gone mad and justice seemed like the last thing to offer the Nazi war criminals, Dodd described the work of his father and other Americans who ascribed to a better calling. Later, in an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times, Dodd wrote "At Nuremberg, we rejected the certainty of execution for the uncertainty of a trial. The test was one of principle over power, and the United States passed." The contrast to President Bush, who has made America the scourge of the world precisely because he has abandoned principle at every turn, could not have been more sharp. Senator Dodd hearkened an era when American involvement signaled a higher purpose, a moral calling even, that aimed not only furthering our own interests but the interests of the entire global community. Then Senator Dodd spoke about himself. After college, Chris Dodd served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic as well the US Army Reserves, before entering more formal public service as a Congressman and Senator from Connecticut. Why? Why did the son of a well-known US Senator volunteer as he did? As Senator Dodd explained it, "An American President asked me to serve, and I did." Since that cold Fall morning on the eve of the historic 2006 elections, Senator Dodd has continued to press these basic points in his campaign for the Presidency. He has called for a corporate carbon tax, an end to the war in Iraq by March 31st, 2008, a health care plan that will cover all Americans, and important changes in education (including universal pre-school and more affordable higher education). And, at a time when public service itself seems suspect, Chris Dodd has called for an ambitious public service program that would cross generational lines and involve all Americans in an effort that would increase our national cohesion at a time when we need it most. E pluribus unum. These are critical and important policy changes to make. Dodd's environmental and Iraq plans alone are ahead of his rivals for the Democratic nomination, and have garnered critical support. But more importantly, I believe Chris Dodd offers an ingredient vital to the next President. As I've written elsewhere, the next American President faces a White House ruined by a reckless disregard for the law and fair government. President Bush has taken a wrecking ball to virtually every element of the nation's government. From torture to wire-tapping, from perjury to pardons, from Katrina to Baghdad, the Bush administration has taken the low road and brought ruin, rather honor, to the most fundamental principles of American government. The next Congress -- in reaction to this disaster, and a Supreme Court of whom a majority support a radical ideological perspective -- will no doubt insist on dramatic oversight of the next President. Unfortunately, as well-intentioned as this Congressional oversight will be, the next American President must be able to lead -- and lead emphatically -- in order to address the compelling and complex issues of our time. Iraq is at the top of the list, and is quickly followed by a bevy of interlocking issues: the environment and energy, health care, global competitiveness, education, and national security in an age of terrorism. In my opinion, we need a President who can lead at a time when leadership itself is suspect. Chris Dodd is that person. The Democratic Party has an incredible strong team of candidates this year. Each of the candidates has attributes to admire. As we reach the halfway point to the New Hampshire primary, it's clear that there is broad consensus among the Democratic candidates on the major issues of the day. While each of the candidates has taken different roads (some of them maddeningly meandering) to arrive at these positions, it's clear that a Democratic President in 2008 will end the war in Iraq, introduce substantial health care reforms that lower costs and extend coverage, and introduce significant environmental and alternative energy programs that aim to reverse global warming as quickly as possible. On what basis, then, ought we choose the next Democratic nominee? Name recognition? Capacity to fundraise? Enthusiasm and respect for the candidate's spouse? I suggest that as much as these issues seem to dominate our thinking, and the thinking of the press, that we ought to be concerned with who can best re-assemble our nation and our government. Alone, among all of the wonderful candidates for the Democratic nomination, Chris Dodd has the broadest and longest record of distinguished public service. His vision for what this country can be (and indeed, what it once was) is singular and distinctive among the candidates. These distinguishing characteristics -- an impeccable commitment to public service, and vision for how this nation can return to the principles upon which it was founded -- are what lead me to support Senator Dodd. He has my vote and support, and I look forward to working with him and his team over the coming months to encourage others in New Hampshire and the nation to support this campaign.