If it wasn't okay for former VP vetter Jim Johnson to get sweetheart housing loans because of his cozy relationship with Countrywide, I think it's safe to assume it's not ethical for the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee either, right?

Sen. Chris Dodd (D.-Conn), who oversees housing issues in the Senate, got the same kind of "Countrywide Discount" Johnson did, according to this story.

And the conflict of interest is much worse than it was for a VP vetter. As Chairman of the committee Dodd is now pushing a $300 billion bill to pump tax dollars into the housing industry and help those lenders, like Countrywide, who gave him healthy discounts on his mortgages because of his occupation.