Embattled Sen. Dodd to visit Cornwall April 25

CORNWALL — Washington will make a stop in the Northwest Corner Saturday, April 25, when Sen. Chris Dodd (D) and Rep. Chris Murphy (D-5) come to Cornwall Consolidated School for a public forum sponsored by the eight-town Democratic Coalition of Northwest Connecticut and the Democratic town committees of Cornwall and Goshen.

“We’ve been very anxious to try and get Sen. Dodd to come and speak to the group,� said Harriet Dorsen, a member of the coalition and the moderator and organizer of the event. “We invited him last spring, but it got terribly complicated with his schedule and ours.�

She noted that Dodd stepped up to take over many of the responsibilities and commitments of Sen. Edward Kennedy after the Massachusetts statesman learned he had a brain tumor. Dodd was also busy with his campaign for president.

The idea of a Northwest Corner visit was put on the back  burner for several months. Dorsen contacted Dodd’s office in January and the April date was set. That was before Dodd became the subject of unfavorable national and statewide media attention regarding what some have called a “sweetheartâ€� mortgage he received from Countrywide.

He also has been questioned about language in one of the bailout bills, which he wrote, that allows AIG executives to collect bonuses paid for with taxpayer dollars.  There are reports that his support in Connecticut seems to be waning (see Dick Ahles’ analysis of donors to the Dodd campaign in Viewpoint, Page A15), with polls showing that any of three Republican challengers might be able to beat him in the 2010 election.

Dorsen said the senator’s decision to visit Cornwall was unrelated to those recent issues. However, she said, “I think there are going to be a lot of tough questions.�

The main focus of the talk will be the economy.

“There are a lot of people who are very concerned about what’s happening in Washington and the economic situation. It’s on everyone’s minds, and he’s in the central spot as chairman of the banking committee.�

Dodd’s office said that his last visit to Cornwall was in 2004, although it was not a publicized appearance. He has also visited Torrington in 2006 and 2008.

“And of course Chris Murphy is here all the time,� Dorsen said.

Health care will also be a topic at the talk.

“Chris has a new assignment on the commerce committee and he is also on the subcommittee on health-care legislation so he’s right in the middle of the discussions and conversations on the health-care bill.

“Whenever we’ve done one of these events, we’ve had the most incredibly thoughtful and good questions,� Dorsen said. “It’ll be tough, but it’ll be good. I expect there will be a lively exchange.�

The Democratic Coalition of Northwest Connecticut is an eight-town coalition, representing North Canaan, Falls Village, Salisbury, Sharon, Kent, Cornwall, Goshen and Litchfield. Dorsen says she expects people “from all over.�

The forum is open to the public and runs from 3 to 5 p.m. A reception will follow.

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