Dodd made most of presidential run

1/6/08
To the surprise of no one, including, likely, himself, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd didn’t get very far in his race for the presidency. Despite spending much of the past year traversing the back roads of Iowa, Connecticut’s senior senator barely registered in Thursday’s first-in-the-nation caucuses. Seeing no possibility of a rebound, Dodd quickly bowed out of the race. Welcome back to Connecticut, senator.
The easy analysis is to write off his candidacy as an ego run amuck, a veteran legislator who thought he was due a place in the spotlight after years in the Capitol. There’s likely a bit of truth to this — many a tenured lawmaker has launched a quixotic, late-career bid for the nation’s top office.
But Dodd brought much more to the race than his below-1-percent Iowa showing would indicate. He spoke some hard truths about an out-of-control White House, which has abandoned fealty to the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law in favor of indefinite detention without charges, warrantless spying on Americans and torture. These are un-American values, and Dodd used his position as a presidential candidate to speak out against them.
His finest moment came just before the New Year when, in defiance of Democratic leadership, he staged an old-fashioned filibuster against a bill that would have retroactively allowed large telecommunications companies to help the government spy on their customers. Such actions are a direct violation of federal law, and a betrayal of consumer trust. Regardless of the circumstances, government spying on American citizens can only be allowed with the oversight and approval of a court of law.
Dodd saw the wrongheadedness of such an action, but what was unfortunate was that his Democratic leaders did not. His action to halt the bill was not the end of the story, as the legislation is likely to be reintroduced soon. But by taking action, Dodd stood with millions of Americans who have had it with an administration that shows nothing but contempt for the Constitution and the laws that have governed us for more than 200 years.
Dodd raised some ire by relocating his family to Iowa in recent weeks, and deservedly so. Though he was a candidate for higher office, he was, and remains, a representative of Connecticut. His full attention must now return to his constituents.
Though he will not be president, he may decide to again seek a leadership position in the Senate. After falling a few votes short to former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Dodd may in the future choose to challenge the current leader, Nevada’s Harry Reid.
It’s a worthy goal. Dodd is much more willing to stand up to the administration’s worst excesses than is Reid, and would make a fine Senate majority leader. Though his presidential dreams are over, Dodd retains a strong standing in the Senate, and as a worthy representative for the people of Connecticut.