Democrats are supposed to be the party of the "little guy," are they not? Well, then why would they ever, ever agree to be accorded VIP status, as Sen. Chris Dodd (D), and five others were given by Countrywide in regards to mortgages and finances? I mean, what the heck does VIP stand for, but Very Important Person? That should rail against the supposed foundation of Democrats as the party of "the little guy." Here is some of the CYA, er, explanation given by Sen. Dodd in regards to the emerging scandal:
Christopher Dodd said he and his wife knew that Countrywide, Inc., was treating them as VIP customers when they refinanced mortgages on two homes in 2003, but that it didn't cross his mind he was getting a perk from Countrywide.
"I would never, ever, ever be a part of that. That there was a VIP section we were in, but we're [sic] assumption was -- No one ever said to us, "You're going to get some special treatment." We thought it was a courtesy."
Come on now. What does VIP stand for? This is a lame excuse. Very lame. And then of course, Dodd is head of a committee and a proponent of a big bailout for Countrywide and other loan agencies in the housing situation...but here is more Dodd:
I never talked to them about my mortgages, and I never would! I mean the idea you call a CEO of a bank to get a mortgage to try to work something out, I just wouldn't do.Kent Conrad did; Richard Holbrooke did. There are six of you that did. Donna Shalala did. The point is, all you people have enough money. This should not happen. Don't we always hear that we can raise taxes on the rich 'cause they have more than they need? Didn't the Clintons say they got tax cuts they didn't even ask for? These people were looking for a deal.
And their excuse? We thought it was a courtesy....For what? Because you are lib elitists? Because of what? What were you willing to do for the "courtesy?"
Now to be fair, some prominent Republicans were also named. This is shameful as well, as Matt and I have written extensively on the need to get rid of this nonsense from both parties. As one ethics aide said in the piece, about how said this really is:
You have to keep in mind that for folks like Shalala and Holbrooke there is nothing wrong with what they did. They just got a sweet deal that the great unwashed probably couldn't get," says the ethics aide. "It's just interesting to see all these people who financially are well off by any standard getting caught up in something that was totally unnecessary. It's nickel and dime stuff, but that's usually what gets people into embarrassing situations."
That type of Washington entitlement mentality on BOTH sides is what discourages people from getting involved in the process.
Update: Chris Dodd better phone home and see how his constituents are thinking about this one....
Senator Chris Dodd’s nearly 28 years as Connecticut’s United States Senator is being seriously tested. He says he thought the VIP treatment he got from Countrywide Financial was just because he was a good customer, and not because he was a United States Senator who chairs the senate banking committee. It appears some people in Connecticut are having a hard time buying that.
W-T-I-C AM Radio’s Jim Vicevich has been fielding calls about Senator Chris Dodd’s mortgages since Friday. But, since Dodd finally addressed the issue in public Tuesday, it appears many are not buying his explanation.
“As anyone’s been through this, you negotiate, you shop around, you negotiate points and other matters, it’s really commonplace,” Senator Dodd said. “So we were, obviously, trying to get the best deal we could but not a deal based on the job I held.”
Tony, a talk show caller, replied, “Does this really surprise anybody? I’m starting to believe that not only do the Democrats and all politicians in general think that everybody’s stupid.”
Meanwhile, Jim, a talk show caller, added, “This man is the chairman of the Senate Banking Commission and he says he doesn’t know that he got a good deal? Then he’s incompetent, he should step down from his position immediately.”
I think that is what most people find hard to believe, that someone who is the head of the Banking Commission would be so ignorant of, I don't know, reality?
But, Dodd also appears to be receiving some of the pent up anger that many feel about all politicians in general. “Even if he didn’t know, what else has he not known?” George, a talk show caller, said. “He’s spending our taxpayer money and he doesn’t even know his own finances. But, we’re supposed to trust him with our tax dollars?”
What’s described as a liberal watchdog group, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington’ has filed a complaint and the Senate Ethics Committee has begun a preliminary investigation of Dodd’s mortgages.
Check out this article from the Corner.
