2007.04.01: April 1, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Hispanic Issues: Des Moines Register: Dodd spends 10 minutes speaking to about five Latinos before heading to a larger crowd of Johnson County Democrats gathered for an off-year caucus
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2007.04.01: April 1, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Hispanic Issues: Des Moines Register: Dodd spends 10 minutes speaking to about five Latinos before heading to a larger crowd of Johnson County Democrats gathered for an off-year caucus
Dodd spends 10 minutes speaking to about five Latinos before heading to a larger crowd of Johnson County Democrats gathered for an off-year caucus
Leaders of the Latinos in Action group say Dodd's campaign contacted them about speaking at a potluck. But when Dodd was greeted by a miniscule crowd of five people, he spent only about 10 minutes speaking, in Spanish, before leaving to appear before a more raucous crowd of around 200 party loyalists. Dodd told a reporter that he would come back to the group, which grew to about 30 people for a potluck later in the afternoon, but he didn't make it back. Alejandra Menchaca Guedea, who is from Mexico and helped organize the smaller event, said Dodd missed a chance to connect with a community she described as disengaged this election cycle. "His presence would have been very powerful," said Menchaca Guedea, 29, of North Liberty. At the caucus, Dodd spoke about U.S. relations with Latin America. He called for increased diplomacy to reverse what he described as soured relations in the Western Hemisphere. "It's sad to see an American president travel there and almost have to hide out from the general public," said Dodd, referring to President Bush's recent tour of South America, where protests followed him. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.
Dodd spends 10 minutes speaking to about five Latinos before heading to a larger crowd of Johnson County Democrats gathered for an off-year caucus
In Iowa, Dodd says diplomacy is needed in Latin America
BY DREW KERR
REGISTER CORRESPONDENT
April 1, 2007
Iowa City, Ia. - Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd has based his campaign on grass-roots mobilization and personal voter contact.
Sometimes that means speaking to only a handful of people.
On Saturday, the U.S. senator from Connecticut spent about 10 minutes speaking to about five Latinos before heading to a larger crowd of Johnson County Democrats gathered for an off-year caucus.
Leaders of the Latinos in Action group say Dodd's campaign contacted them about speaking at a potluck. But when Dodd was greeted by a miniscule crowd of five people, he spent only about 10 minutes speaking, in Spanish, before leaving to appear before a more raucous crowd of around 200 party loyalists.
Dodd told a reporter that he would come back to the group, which grew to about 30 people for a potluck later in the afternoon, but he didn't make it back.
Alejandra Menchaca Guedea, who is from Mexico and helped organize the smaller event, said Dodd missed a chance to connect with a community she described as disengaged this election cycle. "His presence would have been very powerful," said Menchaca Guedea, 29, of North Liberty.
At the caucus, Dodd spoke about U.S. relations with Latin America. He called for increased diplomacy to reverse what he described as soured relations in the Western Hemisphere.
"It's sad to see an American president travel there and almost have to hide out from the general public," said Dodd, referring to President Bush's recent tour of South America, where protests followed him.
Dodd said his experience as a member of the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic during the 1970s gives him the necessary insight to help foster better relations.
He also said he is not dismayed by recent polls showing his support level near the bottom of the field.
"I don't think this race has been decided yet," Dodd said. "I intend to be the next president of the United States."
A poll of likely Iowa Democratic caucus-goers released this week showed support for his candidacy was slim compared to the trio of household names also seeking the party's nomination. John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama led the poll, while Dodd's support hovered around 1 percent, which was similar to his support in a poll last December.
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Headlines: April, 2007; RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic); Figures; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Politics; Congress; Hispanic Issues; Connecticut
When this story was posted in April 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
| He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
| Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
| The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
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Story Source: Des Moines Register
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Dominican Republic; Politics; Congress; Election2008 - Dodd; Hispanic Issues
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