Dodd, Wife Serve Meal at Shelter
Jason Clayworth
November 22, 2007
The Des Moines Register
Willis Cleburn Green III waited at a Des Moines shelter Wednesday for Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd to serve him cranberry sauce and stuffing, wondering about an important issue.
Would Dodd support legalized marijuana for medical uses?
"I have a psychiatric problem known as bipolar psychotic features. It's an explosive disorder and the only way they know how to treat my disorder is to completely sedate me," said Green, who is homeless and lives along the banks of the Raccoon River.
"Yes, I do smoke marijuana, and it helps keep me from going into psychotic rages," he added.
Good news for Green: While Dodd didn't talk about marijuana Wednesday, he has previously said that he would consider less strict criminal penalties for the drug.
Dodd, a U.S. senator from Connecticut, and his wife helped serve the meal Wednesday at the Iowa Homeless Youth Center as part of a program run by the Connection Cafe.
The family volunteers throughout the year for such charities and wanted to continue the tradition throughout the holidays.
Most of the more than 100 people who were served a meal didn't care much about politics. While several shook Dodd's hand and wished him luck, others simply walked through the line or chatted about issues not related to the presidential race.
One woman, for example, told Dodd about a purported conspiracy involving a friend. Police said her friend died of a drug overdose, but the woman said she believes her friend was murdered.
Dodd listened intently. His daughter Grace, 6, who is enrolled temporarily at a Des Moines elementary school, did not attend, largely because of the weather.
"We'd like her to learn early on that everybody doesn't live in the same bubble," Dodd said.
His wife, Jackie Marie Clegg, washed dishes while he served the meal. The volunteer work won't gain him extra votes, she predicted.
"If you want to get to know a community, you need to see all aspects of the community, Clegg said.
The Connection Cafe ran out of green beans and cranberry sauce while Dodd was serving.
The candidate gave people extra servings of stuffing to help offset the deficit. | 
