2007.08.13: August 13, 2007: Headlines: Figures: Dodd: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Portsmouth Herald News: Joe Keefe writes: Dodd deserves the Oval Office

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Dominican Republic: RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic) : RPCV Chris Dodd: Archived Stories: 2007.08.13: August 13, 2007: Headlines: Figures: Dodd: COS - Dominican Republic: Politics: Congress: Election2008 - Dodd: Portsmouth Herald News: Joe Keefe writes: Dodd deserves the Oval Office

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Joe Keefe writes: Dodd deserves the Oval Office

Joe Keefe writes: Dodd deserves the Oval Office

At this critical moment in our history, as we prepare for life after President George W. Bush, we desperately need to elect a president who is unafraid to issue bold, sweeping challenges to the American people. While many presidential candidates offer high-minded rhetoric, there is one candidate who has stepped forward with the boldest, most sweeping agenda of this campaign season. His name is Chris Dodd. While he is not as well known as some of the other candidates, Dodd's record eclipses the field. During 26 years in the United States Senate, he has authored and fought for the Family and Medical Leave Act, sponsored legislation to fund autism research and treatment, created the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, and was named "Senator of the Decade" by the National Head Start Association for his efforts to expand the Head Start program. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.

Joe Keefe writes: Dodd deserves the Oval Office

Dodd deserves the Oval Office

Veteran lawmaker isn't afraid to push bold agenda

Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., takes part in a roundtable discussion while campaigning Wednesday in Manchester.AP photo
By Joe Keefe
August 12, 2007 6:00 AM

Editor's note: The writer, a former chair of the N.H. Democratic Party, is president and CEO of Pax World Management Corp.

When President John F. Kennedy issued the boldest of challenges in 1961 — to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade — many thought it impossible and some derided it as lunacy. Likewise, when President Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate in 1987 and challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," many greeted his words as mere Cold War rhetoric, and very few believed in the imminent collapse of communism. Presidents Reagan and Kennedy believed, however, and neither man was afraid to issue bold, sweeping challenges to the American people or to the world.

At this critical moment in our history, as we prepare for life after President George W. Bush, we desperately need to elect a president who is unafraid to issue bold, sweeping challenges to the American people. While many presidential candidates offer high-minded rhetoric, there is one candidate who has stepped forward with the boldest, most sweeping agenda of this campaign season. His name is Chris Dodd.

While he is not as well known as some of the other candidates, Dodd's record eclipses the field. During 26 years in the United States Senate, he has authored and fought for the Family and Medical Leave Act, sponsored legislation to fund autism research and treatment, created the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, and was named "Senator of the Decade" by the National Head Start Association for his efforts to expand the Head Start program.

Moreover, at a time when the next president will need to reach out and mend fences, Dodd has a proven record — and a natural gift — for bringing people together. When he authored the Family and Medical Leave Act, he was joined by Republican Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri. When he created the Child Care and Development Block Grant, he was joined by Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. When he won passage of the FIRE Act to help our communities equip and train firefighters, he partnered with Republican Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio.

Regardless of his record, however, this election is about the future, and this is where Dodd truly distinguishes himself — by his willingness to be bold at a time when our nation requires nothing less.

On the war in Iraq, Dodd co-sponsored the Feingold-Reid amendment, holding Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama's feet to the fire in insisting on a certain date for withdrawing our troops, and then helped lead the fight against the supplemental appropriations bill to continue funding the war. He continues to push for a firm deadline to end this war and bring our troops home.

On the critical issues of energy independence and climate change, Dodd has proposed a sweeping plan to hasten the transition to a sustainable energy economy. While other candidates are afraid to use the "T" word, Dodd proposes a corporate carbon tax that would discourage big polluters and level the playing field so alternative energies can compete with fossil fuels. The estimated $50 billion in annual revenues would fund research and development of renewable energy technologies.

Dodd also goes further than the other candidates in proposing to eliminate our dependence on Middle East oil by 2015, and raising fuel efficiency standards to 50 mpg by 2017. No wonder his energy plan has been praised by leading environmentalists such as former Vice President Al Gore and the League of Conservation Voters.

Dodd is also the only candidate to propose a universal health-care plan that provides automatic coverage for all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions or ability to pay. Under the Dodd plan, Americans will be able to get their private insurance through their employer or individually through a health insurance marketplace based on the federal employee health-care plan. Individuals and businesses that cannot afford their share of the insurance will be subsidized — no American will be left without coverage.

Dodd's bold idea is therefore based on a simple premise — that every American deserves the same health-care coverage that he and other members of Congress enjoy.

Just as Presidents Kennedy and Reagan were bold enough to imagine the unthinkable — a man on the moon, the end of communism — so today we need a president like Dodd who is not afraid to be bold.

While others oppose the war in Iraq, Dodd was the first U.S. senator running for president to push for a firm deadline tied to funding. While other candidates talk about energy independence or raising fuel-efficiency standards, Dodd sets ambitious timetables. While other candidates dance around the tough decisions on climate change, Chris Dodd proposes a corporate carbon tax to tackle the problem head-on.

While other candidates talk about health-care reform, Dodd issues a sweeping plan to provide automatic, universal coverage.

The country needs that kind of leadership. We need Chris Dodd.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: August, 2007; RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic); Figures; RPCV Chris Dodd (Dominican Republic); Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Politics; Congress; Connecticut





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Story Source: Portsmouth Herald News

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