Dodd Earns Some Free Publicity: Makes List of 2008's Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians

Congratulations are in order for Senator Dodd, who was recently awarded a spot on Judicial Watch's "Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians" of 2008 list.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT): Question: Which member of the U.S. Senate took the most campaign money from corrupt institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Answer: Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Given this fact there is little reason to wonder why Senator Dodd blocked reform proposals for Fannie and Freddie, calling them "ill advised." Dodd's willingness to protect Fannie and Freddie would alone merit a spot on the "ten most corrupt list," but there is much more. Dodd was also nabbed for accepting preferential treatment and loan terms from Countrywide Financial. The Connecticut Senator admitted earlier this year that he was told in 2003 when he refinanced two properties that he was being placed in Countrywide's "VIP Program," but said he believed this was simply a courtesy that had nothing to do with his position in the U.S. Senate. This is either a blatant lie or horribly naïve for a man who has served in the Senate for more than 25 years and currently chairs the Senate Banking Committee that regulates the mortgage industry. We're not buying it.

Considering the kind of people we have involved in politics, being in the top ten most corrupt is truly saying something. I mean, he ranked higher than a guy who cheated on his wife who was dying of cancer and lied about it repeatedly, and another who took to hiding his bribe money in the freezer. At least the people Jefferson represented kicked him to the curb, where he belongs.

Even though I read stories, articles and posts about this scandal nearly every day, I am struck every time by the unavoidable choice Dodd presents us: either a) he knows he was doing something wrong when he accepted the VIP deals, but he is a pathological liar and he will never admit it, or b) he is telling the truth when he says he thought his VIP status had nothing to do with being a US Senator, leading to the inescapable concluion that his intelligence is far too low to function as a competent citizen, nevermind the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Is there a third option I am not thinking of?

Folks, we've been electing and re-electing this guy to the senate since Jimmy Carter was President and Walter Cronkite was on CBS. It is time for him to go.

I'd even take a Kennedy or a lying, cheating former SNL actor.