NYT: Dodd should release mortgage papers now
posted at 9:30 am on October 21, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The New York Times sets its sights on an unfamiliar target — a liberal Democrat. Chris Dodd has still not released his mortgage records to the public to show how much money his “Friends of Angelo” loans saved him on two different properties financed by Countrywide, despite his promises to do so. The Times’ editorial board wonders what excuses Dodd will offer next:
After reports emerged in June about him having received favorable treatment on two home mortgages from the Countrywide Financial Corporation, Senator Christopher Dodd, a Democrat from Connecticut, promised that he would release documents to support his contention that he never benefited financially from the terms of the loans.
The senator has failed to keep his promise, and his excuses are wearing ridiculously thin. …
The Senate Ethics Committee is investigating whether the terms of the loans violated its rules on disclosing gifts. But such an investigation does not preclude Mr. Dodd from being candid.
Mr. Dodd admits he was extended “courtesies” by Countrywide. It’s time for him to extend some courtesy to his constituents and the rest of the nation and release the records on the mortgages, without delay.
An honorable man would have released the records immediately after the cozy relationship got uncovered. On the other hand, an honorable man would never have put himself in that position in the first place. Accepting gift mortgage rates under a VIP plan from a company Dodd helped regulate is such an obvious conflict of interest that it should result in criminal prosecution, not an Ethics Committee ruling.
It’s past time for Dodd to release the records. It’s time for Dodd to resign his seat in the Senate. It’s time for Barney Frank to resign his seat in Congress, along with the other Representatives who blocked regulators from doing their jobs — like Lacy Clay, who flat-out called them racists for reporting on the fraud that Franklin Raines was committing under their noses, and Maxine Waters, who hailed Raines as a genius while Raines set the stage for the collapse and tried to hide the losses to get bigger bonuses.
Then again … there’s no honor among thieves.
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The NYT has a Tourette’s moment!
mylegsareswollen on October 21, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Hey guys, you managed to get Joe the Plumber’s tax lien information, instead of saying “we grow tired of his goading us,” why don’t you go and actually investigate it.
Oh yeah, liberal Democrat. I forgot.
BKennedy on October 21, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Clearly the Times thinks the election is in hand and now they can pretend to be reporters again.
patrick neid on October 21, 2008 at 9:35 AM
The NYT is only doing this because they are so confident Obama will become president soon and absolutely no “justice” will actually come the way of Dodd, Frank, et al. This is a very small attempt to look “bipartisan.” Big friggin whoop.
Sugar Land on October 21, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Dodd is a first class scumbag.
And a liar.
But why is the Times turning on him right now?
drjohn on October 21, 2008 at 9:38 AM
There fixed that for you, Ed.
Mcguyver on October 21, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Somebody needs to be fired at the NYT editorial board. Not for failing to do their job, but for actually doing it.
Vashta.Nerada on October 21, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Republican misdeeds = culture of corruption
Democrat misdeeds = lapses of judgement
Now I understand
moxie_neanderthal on October 21, 2008 at 9:39 AM
We need to call our congressmen on this too! They need to DEMAND that Dodd release his records. I realize they have limited power, but they can still hold press conferences can’t they?
I think Boehner is pretty much ineffective.
Oink on October 21, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Several of us called his office to suggest just that, and were cussed out for our efforts.
Vashta.Nerada on October 21, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Are there any left in office, they are all dishonest.
joeswampy on October 21, 2008 at 9:40 AM
But they won’t. In fact, their liberal associates in Congress will applaud and defend them. And the NYT, after this brief brain fart, will return to its role as protector of the nation’s socialists.
whitetop on October 21, 2008 at 9:41 AM
And when Dodd says “no” the NYT will simply shrug and move on to business as usual.
twoarmman on October 21, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Their overconfidence will be their undoing on Nov 4.
ManlyRash on October 21, 2008 at 9:43 AM
ugh. He is my Congressman.
ctmom on October 21, 2008 at 9:44 AM
The Congress of the United States is the source of all of our problems.
Unfortunately, the moron called “the voters” love to keep sending the same pimps and whores back again and again.
mylegsareswollen on October 21, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Dodd and Frank pretty much come from the same gene pool. In this case, the scum that you find when you break through the bottom of the barrel.
pilamaye on October 21, 2008 at 9:45 AM
The NY Times calling for this is more ‘buses in a flooded parking lot’ work — a perfect picture that don’t change anything. Voters send Democrats to public office be crooked or incompetent or both, i.e. Ray Nagin got reelected.
Sergeant Tim on October 21, 2008 at 9:45 AM
As Bob Frantz would say, “Dirty rat bastards, I hope you all in up in jail!”
Kevin in Washington State on October 21, 2008 at 9:45 AM
ug can’t type
Kevin in Washington State on October 21, 2008 at 9:46 AM
I couldn’t agree more
tottoritodd on October 21, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Jail should be a punishment. We’d need to figure out an alternative sentence for Barney.
moxie_neanderthal on October 21, 2008 at 9:51 AM
How ’bout an ad, GOP?
Come on, get off your a$$e$.
Waxman’s now delaying hearings on FM/FM until after the election.
Hey, John Boehner, get your guys in safe districts to take turns spending days at the Capitol demanding hearings on FM/FM now!
either orr on October 21, 2008 at 9:52 AM
mylegsareswollen on October 21, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Don’t forget, the system is rigged to protect incumbents. Another argument for term limits.
Kafir on October 21, 2008 at 9:52 AM
I guess the probama media assumes the election is already in the bag and thus they can appear to be “fair” and “balanced” by going after a Democrat.
Sorry, I’m not buying it NYTimes. Your credibility is already thoroughly shot and if your headline read “The sky is blue” I would still look up.
rbj on October 21, 2008 at 9:53 AM
The NYT takes time out from stalking Facebook to bother with this?
I thought that they approved of Democrat corruption.
benrand on October 21, 2008 at 9:53 AM
Anyone think the NYT would have bothered to write something, even as untimely as October, if Dodd was up for reelection?
Me neither.
Karl on October 21, 2008 at 9:55 AM
I thought I’d never see anything like how the media held water for slick Willie. They are going to need an even bigger tank for all the water they will be holding for The One.
How many jails will be built for Obama doubters such as Kurtz, Freddosso, Steyn and Corsi?
Any doubt these reporters will be audited by the IRS?
Angry Dumbo on October 21, 2008 at 9:57 AM
YES! Thank you, YES! Nothing short of resignations. Who’ll step up and lead the conservative bloggers relentlessly to demand these resignations?
petefrt on October 21, 2008 at 9:58 AM
In the govt that comes when the current one in Washington finally collapses, there needs to be three changes to the constitution.
1) Term limits for all politicians.
2) The age of eligibility needs to be raised to 35 for Representatives. 45 for Senators. 55 for Presidents. (Along with a requirement that they have worked outside govt and lobbiests for at least 10 years.)
3) No representation without taxation. Anyone who works for govt cannot vote. Preferably the more you pay in taxes, the more votes you get.
MarkTheGreat on October 21, 2008 at 9:58 AM
In the past 48 hours I have seen issues brought up on Fox that involved anything from school textbooks to voter fraud to abortion. On all three issues no Obama spokes person appeared. NOT ONE. The silence on morality, and important issues facing this nation coming from the Obama camp is more than deafening. They are just as silent on Dodd and Frank.
With the emergence of ACORN I am beginning to wonder if the electorate is as brain dead as we have a tendency to think. Just this morning it was reported that 40% of the early votes cast in Cleveland, OH were fraudulent. 40%, 40%, 40%! I said it three times fast while spinning around in the middle of the floor. Nothing happened. My point is that WE The People must not let this issue die down if McCain wins. ACORN is impacting our elections and perhaps the makeup of Congress. Integrity and faith in our elections must be restored, or we will find people less and less interested in not only voting, but the very important issues facing them and their future. I believe we can change the direction this nation is going if we would just stay pro-active and fight like hell those like ACORN. Just think, we could perhaps deliver those living in bondage in Dodd’s district!
freeus on October 21, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I’d be happy with frog marching them to the local federal penitentiary.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on October 21, 2008 at 10:00 AM
I think The NYT has provided McCain with an additional opening. Additionally, Barney Frank’s call for higher taxation provides more fuel for McCain’s final two weeks.
McCain got a gift from Obama with Joe the Plumber and “spreading the wealth” around. He also got a gift from Biden regarding foreign policy. Obama’s visiting gramdma and Biden’s been sent to his room. McCain and Palin should be scaring the p*ss out of people not merely about foreign policy tests but, more important, about Obama’s weak responses–all according to his running mate. Suspicions confirmed.
Returning to Dodd, now that he has The NYT to cite, McCain should finally do what he should have been doing for too long: run against Congress as well as Obama. McCain should have dropped bipartisanship-bullsh*t schtick weeks, if not months, ago. The heart of our economic woes is Fannie and Freddie. They are almost an exclusively Democratic product. McCain needs to argue that only he can clean that up. How can Obama take Dodd and Frank to task when he’s so tied up in Fannie and Freddie himself?
Look, Obama turned me off in March with Wright and Ayers scares me to death. But independents don’t care about these guys. Drop Wright and mention Ayers solely in connection to Obama’s service as chair of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge and emphasize how those two collaborated to waste $161 million on useless efforts at school reform. And now Obama wants to expand pre-school nationally?
Aside from that, McCain needs to go after Obama on this Fannie and Freddie mess. If McCain doesn’t win, we’ll never get to the bottom of this. Pelosi and Reid will bury it.
And I failed to mention, McCain needs to describe what an Obama administration will do to the country’s energy policy. Energy efforts will be one of the things to lead us out of the downturn. An Obama admininstration along with Pelosi and Reid will have us flushing billions down rabbit holes for alternatives that don’t work.
Somebody page McCain’s campaign.
In this regard,
BuckeyeSam on October 21, 2008 at 10:04 AM
I believe the saying is
“Character is what you do when no one is looking”.
Obviously, his is lacking.
PappaMac on October 21, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Why release them? What is anyone going to do?
What, is Gambino Family errand boy Harry Reid going to demand Dodd produce the papers? Please. Reid doesn’t live in a glass house, he lives in a house of toliet paper and is not going to throw any stones.
And the press? They’ll issue a couple of thoughtful editorials and then drop the entire issue.
Crash the entire economy? No reason to get huffy.
Now if a Republican litters on Constitution Avenue, it’s a 24/7 relentless hounding.
But Democrats? No ability and no accountability.
NoDonkey on October 21, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Do you have a link for that?
JiangxiDad on October 21, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Peddling papers is what the Times really does. They would throw Dodd under the bus for better circulation, and since they believe “O” is inevitable…..what could it hurt?
Hening on October 21, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Great line in the movie ‘Master and Commander’, when the captain was talking about finding a single ship in an entire ocean: “like finding an honest man in Parliament.” Same applies here. Foxes guarding the henhouse. Despicable.
jackmac on October 21, 2008 at 10:18 AM
The Times has made a habit of going after Democratic politicians … but where they’re confident that if a corrupt liberal Democrat is forced out of office due to revelations about corruption, the voters will simply elect another liberal Democrat to take his place. See the Times’ coverage of Bob Toricelli in New Jersey, which was pretty good, and their lack of concern later when the state’s Supreme Court allowed N.J. Democrats to flaunt election laws by putting Frank Lautenberg on the ballot at the last minute to make sure that the Republicans didn’t take the seat. Or the Times’ coverage earlier this year of the Elliot Spitzer sex scandal, when they knew Patterson would be the replacement.
If the paper was worried that hounding Dodd right now would result in his Senate seat eventually going Republican, or God forbid, a Joe Lieberman clone winning the job, then Dodd would be off-limits. But in their mind it’s a “safe” liberal seat, and so then it’s OK to push for an investigation.
jon1979 on October 21, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Well, assuming they were kicked out of the system for being fraudulent, that is a good thing, no?
Vashta.Nerada on October 21, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I know the Times is loath to mention a competitor, but the Wall Street Journal interviewed the loan officer that handled Dodd’s loan and the other Friends of Angelo loans. They have Dodd dead to rights, not only getting a sweetheart deal but lying about it after that story appeared in Portfolio.
Funy how it takes them three paragraphs to mention that Dodd is CHAIRMAN OF THE FREAKING SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE.
If we don’t do anything else in the next two years, we MUST organize to get this corrupt bastard out of the U.S. Senate.
rockmom on October 21, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Source, please. Not that I doubt it at all, but I definitely wish to see this myself.
Vic on October 21, 2008 at 10:31 AM
The Times has also been deafeningly silent on the revelation about Chuck Schumer in last Saturday’s WSJ. It turns out that right about the time Schumer went after IndyMac, a hedge fund that has given Schumer and the DSCC over $400,000 was going over IndyMac’s books and looking at buying its assets. Now, thanks to Schumer, those assets are almost worthless and ths fund can pick them up for a song.
There’s some real stinky s*** going on with this financial meltdown, and there are some bigtime Democrats right in the middle of it. If we can’t get the story out to the voters in time to sink Obama, at least we can start working on guys like Schumer and Dodd who are up for reelection in 2010. This could end up being a big enough scandal to sweep Republicans back into a majority in 2010, even if Obama wins and doesn’t screw up as badly as we expect him to.
rockmom on October 21, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Ergo, that’s why he’s not released them ;) Dodd is one of the worst senators; how do such men keep getting elected?
Richard Romano on October 21, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Is there some island I can move to and never have to hear about Obambi and his trickle down taxation?
Can I hope that he has a moment of clarity and sets himself on fire the day before the election?
Can I hope that 4 voters in very district in Ohio, Fla, PA, NC, and Colo say “screw it, McCain”?
Can I hope that the Dems don’t get a super-majority in Congress and spending and deficits don’t go up to where the USA goes bankrupt? B. Fwank seems to think it will be ok to raise spending and taxes now. I thought the Dems were saying Bush’s spending was bad for America? maybe it was the wrong spending and not enough of it I guess.
Excuse me while I go throw up…..
JP1986UM on October 21, 2008 at 10:33 AM
College athletes are watched more carefully regarding taking favors from alumni, fans, and donors, but someone who supposed to be administering/managing our government – ARE YOU KIDDING???
AubieJon on October 21, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Numbnut, numbskull, uneducated voters who choose not to listen and learn. Instead, they just pull a lever. It requires no laborious thinking.
AubieJon on October 21, 2008 at 10:36 AM
This may be slightly off topic but concerning ‘voter fraud’. I worked in an ER doing registrations. We had software that checked the validity of an address when someone presented w/o ID. When you go to buy a pack of cigarettes or a six pack you need to produce photo ID. Why does this not happen with voting???
red131 on October 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM
The corruption runs deep in Dodd’s family. In 1967 Dodd’s father was censured by the Senate for using campaign funds for personal purposes.
Contrast Dodd’s corruption given his family history with McCain’s scrupulousness given his non-role in the Keating Five scandal.
thuja on October 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Heh. Surreal.
They identify his party in the first paragraph!
Maybe the media thinks it can look more fair if they go after the truth, now. Obama’s lead in polls is giving them the sense of security they need to report Democrat misdeeds.
I’m sure they know if an Obama victory is percieved as a media win they’ll be looking at serious viewership/readership backlash. I am not buying ther “objectivity” just yet…
Theworldisnotenough on October 21, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I’m not stupid. The NYT is only doing this to limit the damage to Dodd and there by turn a blind eye to the rest of the Democratic rats nest.
FiveWays on October 21, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I agree with you. As James Carville famously said during Clinton’s campaign, “it’s the economy, stupid.” These corrupt and idiotic Democrats like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank (sleeping with a Fannie Mae executive while sitting on the committee that ostensibly regulated FM/FM) have to be exposed to the public. Their culpability in bringing our economy to the brink of ruin should be known to every American, as should the role of Obama, who not only accepted large contributions from FM/FM (second only to Dodd), but who also trained ACORN activists and failed to vote for bills to rein in abuses at FM/FM, like the McCain-sponsored Senate bill 190.
McCain needs to point the finger of blame at Obama and the Democrats and never retreat from this position. And he needs to remind the public every day that Obama’s plan to raise taxes and increase government spending will not only prolong the current recession, but may tip us into depression.
AZCoyote on October 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Somebody must have been cleaning their typewriter, and it went off!
New message: “Trial Here, Trial Now, Save Democracy”.
RegularJoe on October 21, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Add to that those lazy bums that cannot even be bothered to get out and vote. I spent 20 minutes this passed weekend trying to explain to my brother-in-law,in PA no less, why it was damned important that he get out there and vote. Neither he, his wife, or his inlaws, are voting. Why? They don’t know much about what’s going on and “that’s what all those people in Washington DC and big cities are for”. (For a smart guy he sure sounded pathetic and stupid)
But don’t you know these ill informed idiots will be the first to complain when they don’t like the outcome. I was so PO’d. I think all of AZ could hear me screaming at this guy about why it was his duty as a father, husband, small business guy, small town guy, gun totting, PA “red-neck”, conservative, and above all else, AMERICAN to get out there get informed and vote.
My husband said by the time I was done with him he was pretty sure his brother was crying. I was pretty satisfied.
mauioriginal on October 21, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Time for a revolution the old fashioned way.
I’m ready. Are you?
Badger40 on October 21, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Monday, October 20, 2008 – 3:56 PM EDT
Special prosecutor to probe alleged voter fraud in Hamilton County
Business Courier of Cincinnati
link:
Interesting to see how this shakes out.
moxie_neanderthal on October 21, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Because Democratic legislators and special interest groups (like ACORN) do everything they can to prevent it. Here in Arizona, we passed a law a few years ago requiring photo ID when voting. As always, there was intense Democratic opposition. They made the specious claim that it was discriminatory against the poor, because the poor don’t always have photo ID. This is the same lame argument used (often successfully) in other states. “The poor” have to use a photo ID to cash a welfare check, get on a plane, buy liquor, etc., and nobody raises a stink about that being “discriminatory.” Also, many states offer photo ID for free to any resident who can’t afford to pay the fee. But Democrats keep using the same old excuse, and they usually manage to either kill the voter ID laws, or get exceptions added in. That’s what happened in AZ. A person who claims they don’t have/can’t afford photo ID can still vote using easily-faked “alternate” sources of ID such as utility bills. Even with the loopholes in AZ’s law, it was still challenged multiple times in court by special interest groups (funded by Democrats) who don’t want any sort of impediment to fraudulent voting.
AZCoyote on October 21, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Actually, Ed…
I have SEEN MORE HONOR among thieves
originalpechanga on October 21, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Who cares? The next four years are going to suck for so many reasons but the so-called Right’s sophomoric rants about nonsense like this is insane.
Collectively, we should be totally focused on Obama and what he brings to the table (or doesn’t) and how Americans should be scared to death. But no, we’ll stay distracted on whether Dodd got a point off his closing costs. The NYT does know how to play Republicans like a fiddle.
grdred944 on October 21, 2008 at 11:29 AM
It doesn’t matter what Dodd and Franks do. All that matters is the badge of imunity after their name on the ballot, the (D).
JIMV on October 21, 2008 at 11:34 AM
When the revolution reaches the streets, they will be dragged, drawn and quartered after the guillotine.
wepeople on October 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Under the trifecta of Obama, Pelosi and Reid, Dodd, Frank, Waters and Clay will be safe. Sad, but true.
Star20 on October 21, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Trolls at Hot Air? Oh my are they out and about under the guise of being GOP supporters.
Americans need to focus on the financial crisis perpetrators whoever they are voting for. What part of Fannie/Freddie fraud and mortgage bonuses don’t people get. We the taxpayers are paying for their greed and I’m furious about that.
Only and idiot would put Chris Dodd on the backburner…..I guess liberals can’t muli-task.
SayWhat on October 21, 2008 at 2:11 PM
the reps. need to squeak out some sort of majority to bring these thieves to justice. thieves protect their own.
jimmer on October 21, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Was it on the front page? If not, I’m less than impressed.
Hog Wild on October 21, 2008 at 9:33 PM
The top recipients of FannieMaeFreddieMac cash?
Who employs all those ex-FannieMaeFreddieMac executives? Barack Hussein Obama(D)… so that requires a little smokescreen and Ed Morrissey notes the NYTimes throws Dodd(D) under the bus.
DANEgerus on October 21, 2008 at 10:49 PM
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