Does Senator Dodd really think he reassures the public by saying he didn't know what his legislation was doing?

AP reports:

On Wednesday, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., acknowledged that his staff agreed
to dilute the executive pay provision that would have applied retroactively to
recipients of federal aid. However, Dodd said he was not aware of any American
International Group Inc. bonuses at the time the change was made.

No, Senator Dodd, your staff did not agree to anything. You are the Senator. You propose legislation. You offer amendments to legislation. You vote and speak on the floor of the Senate. Your staff does none of those things.

Senator, you say that you weren't "aware of any American International Group Inc bonuses at the time the change was made." Is this supposed to reassure us somehow? Why do you think the amendment was suggested? Would you have supported such bonuses for some of the companies bailed out, but not AIG? Why? Did you not try to understand the purpose of the amendment that you were asked to offer? Do you carry legislation that you do not understand and vote for legislation that you don't know the effect?

In fact, the AIG bonuses are probably quite defensible even though too many of our political leader would rather demagogue them than show real leadership. Would AIG and the taxpayers really be better off if the people who understand the various instruments had left AIG for other jobs rather than stay for the retention bonuses?

If the taxpayers are going to bailout companies, they need to be prepared to analyze salaries and bonuses in hard business terms, not in simplistic, emotional ways. Instead, our Senators and Congresspersons would rather grab a torch and pitchfork to lead the mob.