Dodd Heckled While Touting Health Care Bill’s Passage
by Christine Stuart | Dec 24, 2009 2:22pm
(21) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Congress, Health Care
Following weeks of debate in Washington D.C., U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd arrived at Bradley International Airport just before noon on Christmas Eve to tout the Senate’s passage of a landmark health care reform bill. But its future is just as uncertain as Dodd’s.
“Enjoy it while you can. You’re not going to get re-elected,” a heckler shouted as he passed between terminals.
“Merry Christmas,” Dodd responded with a chuckle.
It did turn out to be a Merry Christmas, politically, for Dodd. He helped shepherd an historic health care reform bill to passage in the Senate Thursday morning, giving him a high-profile achievement to bring home as the hardest campaign of his life gets underway, the campaign for reelection to a sixth term. Dodd wasted no time, flying to Bradley within hours of the Senate vote and holding a pre-noon press conference right at the airport
In Washington D.C.’s airport a few people stopped and offered congratulations, Dodd said. “One fellow said, ‘I disagree with you, but congratulations.’”
And “You just heard someone walk by with an editorial comment,“ Dodd said referring to the heckler.
“I hear the critics and I hear the naysayers,” he said.
However, if you were just going to vote for this based on polling data then “I suppose you would have walked away from it,” Dodd said. “But we’ve seen historically that the best ideas haven’t always been terribly popular at the moment.“
“The implications of doing nothing are catastrophic,” Dodd added.
Dodd was asked how he thinks this historic Christmas Eve vote will impact his reelection campaign.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Dodd said. “I find it somewhat amusing that every move you make is seen as a political calculation.”
There are three Republicans challenging Dodd and at least two of them are beating him in the polls, which has some Democrats whispering about asking Dodd to step aside so the party can maintain the seat.
But Dodd, tired from the longest continuous debate in the Senate since 1917, didn’t seem to want to talk much about politics Thursday.
In answering the question about how the vote may affect his reelection campaign, he went on to talk instead about being an “accidental participant” in the health care debate.
“Had it not been for the illness and death of Senator Kennedy I’d be a vote on the bill and vote in the committee. I ended up in this job not because I sought it, but because I ended up being the next ranking member of the committee.”
In that role, he took over committee hearings that produced the bill. Then he served as a Democratic leader shepherding the final bill to passage on the Senate floor.
This morning before returning to Connecticut Dodd visited the grave of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery. As he was pulling up to Kennedy’s grave site he received a call from President Barack Obama congratulating him on a job well-done.
But Dodd, whose been getting about three to four hours of sleep a night these past few weeks, hardly seemed enthusiastic Thursday.
“This is still really a beginning, not an end to this debate,” Dodd said. “But it allows us to go forward with that debate.”
He said the vote this morning in the U.S. Senate signaled for the first time in the nation’s history “that health care is your right, not a privilege,” Dodd said.
$100 Million In Pork?
Just this week Dodd was criticized for working a provision into the health care bill, which could potentially give the University of Connecticut’s John Dempsey Hospital $100 million to build or renovate.
Dodd said the provision is not an earmark for Connecticut because 13 other states could apply for the competitive grant. He said it was merely creating an opportunity.
“I’m not apologizing to anyone. This is needed in my view,” Dodd said. “If I had written something that just says this goes to Connecticut no matter what that qualifies as pork in my view.”
The state of Connecticut would have to put up a 60 percent match to qualify for the funding if it remains in the bill after final passage.
(21) Comments
posted by: thomas hooker | December 24, 2009 4:18pm
Wait a minute, Christine. You wrote, “a few people stopped and offered congratulations, Dodd said. “One fellow said, ‘I disagree with you..”
So one person, maybe two, said they disagreed with Dodd on the health care bill. But your headline is “Dodd Heckled While Touting Health Care Bill’s Passage”? Really?
Let me get this straight: Chris Dodd serves as the principal leader in the United States Senate and succeeds in passing the most important piece of social legislation in forty years, one that will transform America’s health care system, and you think the most important part of this story is that one guy makes a snarky comment at the airport? Did you really just do that?
No question where your sentiments are, eh, Christine? No attempt to grasp the enormity of this achievement, or to express the place in American history that Chris Dodd has just earned himself. No, the important thing here is some guy making a snotty remark in passing in the airport.
This is truly sad.
posted by: James D | December 24, 2009 11:36pm
Landmark? Historic??
Only in the sense of opportunities missed….
Rest assured that in 2 years, in 5 years, in 7 years, Connecticut will still have more than 300,000 uninsured; our premiums will still be increasing 6 times faster than our salaries; our co-pays and deductibles will still be skyrocketing; and for-dividends/bonuses/profit insurance companies will have successfully gamed the system (again) to make sure we get as little health care as possible at the highest cost possible.
There is no reform in the so-called reform bill.
If this is a sample of Dodd’s best work, give him a “D-” and send him back to school.
posted by: Walt | December 25, 2009 6:30am
Dodd and every Dem in the State (plus Joe) is taking the health insurance of every senior away by voting for this Bill.
They are killing Medicare Advantage Plans while still claiming that seniors, if they desire, can retain their current coverage—-an obvious impossibility for the millions with MA Plans.
They are taking about one half trillion $$ from Medicare itself which will seriously wound if not kill the whole Medicare program on which almost all old folks rely.
Yet they claim to be strengthening Medicare.
What phonies, Dump Dodd in November no matter who is his opponent.
WALT
posted by: CT Jim | December 25, 2009 10:23am
Funny thing I have noticed about these tea baggers and their so called movement.
Not one of these guys have ever voted for Dodd or our 5 congressman .EVER!
So how are these guys supposed to make the difference between whether they get re-elected???
Thats right they don’t they are what they are, right wing windbags that still can’t get over being trounced in 2008.
posted by: iBlogWestHartford | December 25, 2009 5:27pm
The Senate (and ultimate) national health care bills are severely flawed.
Fortunately, the CT legislature showed much more foresight and common-sense by passing the SustiNet plan.
posted by: Walt | December 26, 2009 8:55am
To CT Jim
Not a teabagger,. Not right wing. Not Repub. Was a registered Dem and worked on 2 Dem campaigns in recent local elections
Just an old-as-dirt Independent who recognizes that the Dems were indeed champions of the aged, but under Obama/Reid, Pelosi/Dodd etc. have definitely become the prime enemy of seniors..
They claim to strengthen Medicare, but at the same time take a half-trillion $$ from Medicare for other use.
They say if you like your current plan you can keep it , which is impossible as they have vowed to kill all Medicare Advantage plans which now cover me and millions of other seniors.
The Repubs are now our friends, perhaps temporarily and for ulterior motives, but they are our only hope.
Dump Dodd and the rest of the Dems.
Ask your parents or grand-parents how they will pay their medical costs when the Dems kill Medicare.
Unless they are among the very rich, they will become the dead victims of the Dema efforts against them!
posted by: CT Jim | December 26, 2009 7:21pm
Hey Wally,
Ypu may be confused but you have never been a Dem.
But I do recognize the m.o.
Wasn’t it Newt Gingrich in 1995 who said the only way to deal with Medicare is to stop funding it and let it die on the vine???
Yep it was just before he and his Republican buddies passed a law that would decrease medicare reimbursements to Docs and hospitals.
He even had the gall to call it the medicare savings act .LOL
Then he proceeded to try to privatize Social Security which Bush also tried to do which by the way would have been bankrupted with the 2008 market crash.
If you look at the Republican platform at it’s 2008 National convention it still calls for dismantling medicare and privatizing S.S.
And these are your friends??? LOL
posted by: James D | December 26, 2009 8:16pm
“If a mandate was the solution, we could try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody buy a house. The reason they don’t have a house is they don’t have the money.”
~ CANDIDATE Barack Obama
posted by: CT Jim | December 27, 2009 11:28am
“Our military commitment should be concentrated on things in this country and not on NATION Building”
candidate; G.W.BUSH 2000
whats your point?
posted by: Walt | December 27, 2009 11:30am
JIMMY
If your reading comprehension were a little better, you would recognize that I have not touted the Repubs positions as pro seniors in the past.
Right now, the last half of 2009 and in 2010, the Dems, under Obama/Reid/Pelosi/ Dodd, and throw in Joe if you prefer, are the ones trying to kill Medicare, not the Repubs.
They are a lousy Dem Senate/House Conference away from succeeding to do so.
The Repubs,right now in 2009/10, if successful, will stop these anti- old folk Dem Bills, maybe for ulterior motives, but still will be heroes for seniors.
Right now, 2009-2010,even though it may change again in the future, the Repubs are the heroes to the aged and their families, and the Dems are the nasty villains.
Walt
posted by: vigilante | December 27, 2009 4:27pm
Another giant kickback for a $396,000 corporate bribe. Force 30,000,000 people to buy insurance that will turn down most of the claims. How bad and how obvious does it need to get before you can recognize a simple ripp off? What will it take to piss you people off?
posted by: CT Jim | December 27, 2009 8:53pm
Wally,
The money coming out of medicare is monies that were going to giving to the pharmacutical companies and insurance companies under medicare part D along with anticipated savins from electronic medical files.
Thr Republicans don’t want to close the donut hole in medicare part D this plan does.
The Republicans dont want higher reimbursement rates for Docs and hospitals, this plan does.
So now this makes todays republicans better for medicare???
Really??
posted by: Walt | December 29, 2009 10:23am
So far, all my docs are against the Obamacrat plans.
Urologist even changed procedure scheduled for next week to tomorrow to assure payment under current plan rather than that which may be imposed in 2010.
Most doctor groups are against the Obamacrat plan despite Jimsie’s claims.
AMA which represents only about 20% of docs is an exception and was supposedly bought out by Dem reduction in new taxes which were to be added before negotiations
Never heard or read of Repub objections to removal of donut hole or adequate payment of docs as Jimsie claims, but he often makes up “facts” and may be doing so again.
Have never seen specifics re added payments to docs and hospitals and doubt as the Dems are taking one-half trillion out of the Medicare commitment, money which would be needed to pay the increases Jimsie claims. Would like to see specifics backing up the claim with which my docs are obviously not familiar..
Jimsie also claims I was never a Dem, a “fact” he could not possibly know. If he would put a $100 bet in Paul’s hands, I would call his bluff , present proof, and collect.
Just an ultra-lib blowhard IMHO.
Walt
PS
Apparently new spellcheck is welcome, as I tend to hit 2 letters at one try.Thanks
posted by: CT Jim | December 30, 2009 2:29am
Gee Waldo,
I would get a new orologist, most Docs know that the plan would not effect them till 2013.
Then again your guy could be from Neptune which probably already has a universal Health Care Plan.
My Doctor says that 90% of the Docs in this state are for it and that number is higher with docs that take care of seniors mostly.
They have been brought to their knees by republican changed in Medicare and welcome the Obama plan.
He is also a memeber of a group called physicians for universal Health Care which has over 8,000 members,all Docs and is growing daily.
And Waldo go to any site you want the Republican stance on the donut hole is there.
It was their hole to begin with and if health care reform fails it will stay there and millions of senoirs will continue to have to chose between drugs and food.
As for you being a dem go ahead and prove it I would gladly pay the $100 to have you in the party you belong in.
The Republican party.
But thats a $100 I will never have to pay.
Can’t understand how all you teabaggers were ex Dems yet the Secretary of states office doesnt show some mad exitus from the party.
Why is that Waldo???
posted by: Jay | December 30, 2009 12:27pm
Christine, this is not the usual reporting we are use to getting from you. First, it is not clear when Dodd was Heckled. If it was at the airport, so what? I cannot think of another elected official who has never been heckled. My question? What is the news story? And if he as gotten “pork’ for the State, isn’t that why we elected Senators and Congressman? If he had not brought back the pork would you have failed to report that? I do think you need to get your reporting better. This was a page 10 story at best. Here we have the greatest reform since Medicare and Medicaid and all you can says is that he was heckled.
As for this anti-Dodd movement I don’t get it. The guys running for him on the right are useless if you ask me. We got rid of Simmons in 2006, and now you cowards want to give him back, no thanks.
I understand the anti-Lieberman movement. But Chris Dodd is NOT Joe Lieberman! And aren’t we glad he is not. So what do the republicans offer? no pork? So let get this straight they want to be elected to NOT bring economic opportunities back to Connecticut. Now there is an original campaign platform. If this is the case why vote for them? Frankly, I’ll stick with Dodd at the moment until there is something better, and right now I don’t see anything.
posted by: lothar | December 30, 2009 5:11pm
Yet another Dodd fan who wants to blame a reporter for Dodd’s problems.
This story is excellent. Dodd comes to the airport and someone yells at him, and he acknowledges the heckler in his remarks to the media.
If you folks don’t think this is good journalism, then you’ve got another thing coming.
Yes, Dodd has had a lengthy career. Yes he’s done some good things and he’s been patted on the back many times over for those accomplishments. However, ignoring reality - the reality that there are a lot of people critical of Dodd these days - would simply be bad journalism. That’s just your partisanship coming out for everyone to read here.
If you folks don’t like what’s happening to Dodd, you should get out and support the guy rather than trying to shoot the messenger.
Story is excellent, Christine. Ignore the haters.
posted by: Jay | December 30, 2009 6:49pm
No Christine rethink your priorities and ignore lothar. I am not a self proclaimed “Dodd” fan. I do think he has done a good job so far. However, If Rob simmons, or Joe Libermann, or anyone else had come home and been heckled in the airport would they get the same treatment is what I am asking. Lieberman probably deserves more. The question I raise is what did this one incident have to do with the news story. It is irrelevant. I would be surprised in this day an age if Lieberman, Larson, or any Congress person would NOT get heckled. Its our right to talk truth to power. I certainly don’t like the heckling, but I will defend the right to do so no matter how wrong they are. But the question remains, Christine, if someone had heckled Lieberman, or Courtney, or Larson etc, would you have reported that same thing? Even the president, in bad taste on the floor of the House, got heckled. It was not appropriate, as is all heckling. However, He has the right to act like an idiot. and God Bless him for doing so. The problem is that this is NOT important. And it was overblown into a big deal that as you read the article was not a really big deal. So while I dislike the heckling, I don’t care who does it, fine. What I QUESTION is why the reporter chose to make this apart of the story. I want to hear another story about a heckler for Governor Rell, and the rest of our Congressional and Senatorial representatives. I expect a full accounting.
posted by: lothar | December 31, 2009 1:21am
And that, Jay, is why you’re not a reporter. And B.S. you’re not a Dodd supporter, Jay. Who are you kidding?
If Rell were heckled loudly at one of her events, Jay, and Rell took a moment to respond or acknowledge the heckler in her remarks, Christine most certainly would report that in her story because she’s a professional.
There are no value judgments about the heckler in the story, unless you’re reading a value into it yourself. It really sounds like your own sensitivity to Dodd criticism is coming through here.
Christine was close enough to hear and report what Dodd said immediately following the heckling, and then she as there to hear Dodd speak to it briefly in his prepared remarks. Any reporter who opts not to include that in his/her story is not worth their paycheck. Believe it or not, people actually want to read about what happens at these events, rather than spin.
And no, politicians are not regularly heckled in the way that this occurred. Trust me, I’ve been around these people for more than 20 years and it’s not common - and that alone makes the exchange at the airport newsworthy.
posted by: Jay | December 31, 2009 11:33am
First, I am not questioning Christine’s professionalism. What I am questioning is the newsworthiness of this comment. I am afraid that the 20 years in politics had fogged your sensibilities. I too have worked on campaigns and over the last 20 years heckling in many forms has become standard. What I am saying is what was this heckling have to do with the rest of the story, other than the rudeness of the individual heckling. It doesn’t matter who is being heckled, it is rude and it DOES happen often. Personally, I really don’t care if Dodd was heckled. It appears that he rose above the occasion to me. But I have been at press conferences where the governor was heckled and not one word of this made it into the story. And coming from the 2nd Congressional District, I know Rob Simmons has been heckled.
As far as my sensitivity to Dodd criticism, You have know Idea were I stand on issues, you just assume. When the countrywide issue came out in the press I WAS THE FIRST to criticize this issue. And as a former Banker, I know what documents had to be present in the loan package. It apart of the RESPA disclosure required by the federal government. He deserved criticism over this. But I do think that this issue is really not news worthy. It should have been in the story, no doubt, but I felt it was a cheap tactic to get people to read the article and find that the substance of the story was not about this rude heckler. Indeed, it is not disclosed what the heckler was heckling about? It is assumed!! he is heckling the health care bill, but we are not sure.
I fully understand the importance of a free press. I also understand the rise of tabloid journalism. The disclosure of the fact Dodd was criticised, is important. I have no qualms about that. What I do have qualms about is that this one incident has no bearing on the rest of the story. What was the guy criticizing? If it was health care then it belongs in the story. But since we do not know, why is it here? It was just some off the wall comment. Well, this occurs all the time? I expected more depth and that is what I am complaining about.
posted by: CTforFreedom | December 24, 2009 4:05pm
I’m glad to see that Sen. Dodd believes healthcare is a right and not a privilege…where do these ‘rights’ end. What about food, clothing, shelter, job, summer home, boat, coach purse, 4 wheeler, etc., etc.?
Only 312 days until Nov. 2, 2010 when CT democrats, republicans and independents Dump Dodd!!