Matt Browner-Hamlin, campaign blogger for Christopher Dodd, announces the following development: “Majority Leader Harry Reid has just pulled the FISA bill from consideration in this session. It will be brought up at some point next month.”
Senator Christopher Dodd wouldn’t give up on what so many called a lost cause. He held forth in the Senate repeatedly today, refusing to give his ground, identifying in public again and again numerous principled and practical problems with the FISA Amendments Act. By the end of the day, in the face of Senator Dodd’s arguments, in the face of phone calls and faxes and e-mails flooding into the Senate from across the country, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had no choice but to follow Chris Dodd’s lead and withdraw the bill until next month.
Senator Chris Dodd demonstrated true leadership today, leading a coalition that put a halt to anti-constitutional nonsense. Senator Chris Dodd demonstrated true statesmanship, engaging his colleagues in conversation and using the stage of his position to bring to light a series of serious problems. Through the force of his will and the rectitude of his position, Senator Dodd carried the day. Isn’t that what we want from our next president?
Meanwhile, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Joseph Biden spent the day they had promised to stand by Christopher Dodd and protect the filibuster instead giving speeches to crowds in Iowa on the subject of how wonderful they are. What a contrast.
A leader does not just say. A leader does. I’ve seen a leader in action today. Thank you, Christopher Dodd.
