heath's blog

The Hartford Courant's Ed Mahony and Jon Lender - the duo widely credited for blowing open the Rowland scandals - have turned their focus to Senator Chris Dodd and his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, this week.

Their Sunday story raised questions about the propriety of Mrs. Dodd's participation on at least five corporate boards - earning her more than $500,000 in compensation last year.

The crux of the matter seems to be this: is this a case of big corporations influencing the decisions of the Chairman of the Banking Committee or is Mrs. Dodd a well-qualified member of these boards who would likely be there anyway?

The question provoked strong responses from the chiefs of each Connecticut political party yesterday. Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy released a statement that was highly critical of Mrs. Dodd, essentially reprising his blog post on the issue from Sunday. The sharpest quote from Healy:

"You don't become a board member with this thin a resume unless you know someone," said Healy.

A response, albeit a bit plaintive, came quickly from Connecticut Democratic Chair Nancy DiNardo via e-mail:

Despite what Mr. Healy and the Republicans will try to spin, Jackie should not have to give up her career just because she married a public official. We long ago got over that viewpoint in our society, at least for most of us.

The e-mail goes on to encourage Connecticut Democrats to make a contribution to the Dodd campaign volunteer for Sen. Dodd add a comment to the Courant article online supporting Mrs. Dodd.

That Chairwoman DiNardo would seek to raise the shrill cry of sexism so quickly is telling. While there surely is more to reveal, the facts as presented seem straightforward. Mrs. Dodd, as an officer at the Import/Export Bank and a legislative aide, had a background which arguably could be enough experience for some of these boards.

But the more serious are the questions related to the financial audit committees, which are required to be populated by people with a strong accounting background. Mrs. Dodd does not have such experience. It is on these audit committees, in particular, where Mrs. Dodd's presence seems like an obvious insurance policy for the big corporations: what federal regulator wants to raise serious questions about corporate books audited by the Senate Banking Committee Chairman's wife?

The traditional and obvious response would simply to have Mrs. Dodd resign from the boards - particularly the financial audit committees. But Mrs. Dodd and her defenders seem pretty hot about the sexism/fairness argument - perhaps compelling them to hold the line. At the same time, these are lucrative positions that help pay for the Dodd's expensive lifestyle. Can they afford to go without money?

The next moves in this situation will be made by Mr. and Mrs. Dodd, and it will be fascinating to see what they do.

Originally posted at Connecticut Local Politics on May 6, 2009

(promoted by Soren. I love it that the CT GOP is pushing this online)

Breaking News from MSNBC: On Day 140 of Dodd Watch, MSNBC has revealed that the Justice Department is investigating the Countrywide VIP Loan program that doled out two sweetheart mortgages to Sen. Chris Dodd, among others. According to MSNBC's 'Deep Background', the Justice Department is investigating the legality of Countrywide's VIP Program. Former Countrywide loan officer Robert Feinberg, the gentleman who was in the middle of the so-called FOA ('Friends of Angelo') loan program, spent six hours talking with investigators with the Justice Department's Public Integrity unit.

"The Justice Department is making very serious inquiry into any possible wrongdoing that may involve (former Countrywide CEO) Anthony Mozilo, other Countrywide employees, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Kent Conrad, (former Fannie Mae CEO) Franklin Raines or other public officials," said Feinberg's lawyer, Anthony Salvano. "Robert has always cooperated thoroughly with authorities and is strictly a witness in their investigation."

The revelation that Justice is now involved is only the latest in the Dodd VIP Mortgage scandal. The pressure on Dodd has been growing in recent days as editorial boards and local reporters have finally (!) picked up the scent of blood in the Dodd case - mostly after Dodd started giving doublespeak answers about when he would release the documents.

Dodd has refused to release the documents, after having promised to release them back in July. It has been 140 days since the story broke, and people are getting sick and tired of Dodd's antics. His approval ratings are starting to tank and the sharks are starting to circle. It remains to be seen whether Dodd will go the way of his father and take a public rebuke from the Senate or do himself a favor and resign his post.

The Dodd scandal teaches an important lesson for Connecticut voters. For too long, we've had Senators who have chosen to be national figure, doing their best to rub elbows with the powerful elite from Washington to Wall Street. These connections have propelled both Senators to failed Presidential bids and long absences from regular people in Connecticut. It would be to the benefit of folks in Connecticut if we finally got a Senator that wanted to represent Connecticut, instead of use us as a staging ground for the White House. Hopefully Dodd will get out of the way so we can have that kind of representation in Washington again.

For all the fanfare and bother that comes with being in the United States Senate, individual Senators usually have to be in trouble to get much national-level ink (think Sen. Chris Dodd's sweetheart mortgage deal). So when Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn was written about in both the New York Times and the Washington Post today for actually doing his job, it meant something.

The crux of both pieces is that Senator Coburn is a thorn in the side of the Democratic Leadership in the Senate. The "problem", if you were to call it that, is that because it would take too much time to individually consider all of the slices of pork that each Senator wants, the Senate usually deals with these spending requests by simply adopting them by 'unanimous consent' - that is, the bill passes because no one objects to it.

But Senator Coburn, who has earned a reputation for being a budget hawk during his four years in the Senate, hasn't been afraid to take on his colleagues who want their fill of the pork barrel buffet. Instead of rolling over and playing dead, he's been placing 'holds' on many of these bills - forcing the Senate to go through the normal process of considering each one with the whole legislative bit; you know, School House Rock-style, with votes and stuff.

Good news from Connecticut. -Patrick

On the day the Democratic nomination stumbled to a conclusion, Sen. John McCain showed that he is capable of winning Blue States like good old Connecticut.

Today, Rasmussen Reports showed that McCain had all but erased a sizable lead in the polls to Sen. Barack Obama, now trailing the presumptive Democratic nominee by three points, within the margin of error.

(The Connecticut GOP is one of the most forward-thinking state parties in the country, and we're not just saying that because they're a charter advertiser. Heath is right: we need to ban the word "brand" from all talk of GOP revival. -Patrick)

It is vogue these days, as good Republican editorialists, to bemoan the state of the Party ‘brand’.  President Bush has saddled us with Watergate-era popularity, Congress is and shall be firmly retained by Democratic majorities in both chambers, and Sen. Barack Obama will conquer and pillage in blue states, swing states, and red states on his way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  It is a bleak and jarring picture - especially so for a Party which, barely a few years ago harbored legitimate discussion about a ‘Permanent Majority’.