Chris Dodd for President

Jim McConaha of Concord published the following letter to the editor in today's Concord Monitor.

In the Democratic field there is one presidential candidate that brings hope, change, experience and electability to this race. He is Chris Dodd.

Chris Dodd promises that his first task as president will be to restore the Constitution and the rule of law, to restore America's standing in the world.

But what I want most in the next president is someone who will end the war - the war in Iraq and the war in Washington. I want a president who will work to put an end to the epidemic of fighting with the other party, with interest groups, or anybody who disagrees.

Chris Dodd has a gift for turning opponents into allies.

Here's the third of four letters to the editor in today's Iowa City Press-Citizen in support of Chris Dodd.

I had the opportunity to see Sen. Chris Dodd speak during his weeklong tour across Iowa talking about the importance of the rule of law, restoring the Constitution and protecting our civil liberties. This isn't something that comes lightly to him. As the son of a Nuremberg prosecutor, and a returned Peace Corps volunteer himself, Dodd uniquely understands why the rule of law is so important to our national security and standing in the world. Here at home, we've endured years of the flagrant trampling of the Constitution in the name of national security. Abroad, our reputation has been severely tarnished by continuing this war in Iraq and torture at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.

Dodd has said he would restore the constitution on his first day in office, and that in his administration there would be no more Guantanamos, no more water boarding, no Abu Ghraibs. I know he means it. Every day since he became a senator he has carried with him a copy of the Constitution in his back pocket, remembering what it means to him and to this nation.

Dodd has promised to filibuster a bill that provides immunity for the companies that participated with the Bush Administration in violating the civil liberties of millions of Americans. It's that important to him, and it's that important to me. That's why I'm going to caucus for him.

Dodd understands more than any other candidate that the most fundamental rights we need to protect are the ones provided to us in the Constitution. When we turn our backs on that, we turn our backs on the foundation of our democracy.

Hazel Hargrove

Iowa City

There is only one month left before the New Hampshire Presidential Primary on January 8, 2008.

Here are eight reasons to vote for Dodd in 08 on the 8th:

1) Ending the War in Iraq - Chris Dodd believes the time for giving President Bush blank checks is over and that we set a firm deadline tied to funding to begin safely redeploying U.S. combat troops out of Iraq, beginning immediately and completed within one year.

2) Restoring the Constitution - Chris Dodd will restore our Constitution on his first day during his first hour in the Oval Office. He would restore habeas corpus, close Guantanamo Bay, and require the US to live up to the Geneva Conventions.

3) Health Care - As President, Chris Dodd will offer high-quality universal health care to every American regardless of their job status, previous medical conditions or ability to pay. Dodd's plan ensures that all Americans will have quality, affordable health coverage by creating a health insurance marketplace called Universal HealthMart that is based on, and parallel to, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. Insurance purchased in Universal HealthMart will follow individuals, not jobs ensuring that no one will lose their health care by changing jobs or moving to a different part of the country. Finally, the Dodd Health Care plan will phase in universal, affordable coverage to all Americans over the course of four years.

4) Global Warming - From a Corporate Carbon Tax that makes polluters pay to his call for historic fuel efficiency standards that break America's dependence on Middle East oil by 2015, Chris Dodd is the only candidate in the field with a plan to make America the world leader on climate change and bring energy costs down for families and businesses.

Here are video clips from yesterday's event on restoring the Constitution and America's standing in the world in Cedar Rapids.

Thanks to Lynda Waddington, who posted this video from yesterday's rule of law town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Update:Video to come (currently being held up by a snow storm...)

Today at 1 PM Eastern we'll be live streaming Senator Dodd's event "Restoring America's Security & Standing in the World: A Town Hall on Restoring the Constitution and Returning to the Rule of Law" in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Tune in and watch live.