2006.09.23: September 23, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Iraq: Hartford Courant: Chris Shays backers aren't willing to turn out a man they see as an effective, moderate politician who can work both sides of the aisle, even if some disagree with his support of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Fiji: Special Report: Former Congressman Chris Shays: RPCV Congressman Chris Shays: Newest Stories: 2006.09.23: September 23, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Iraq: Hartford Courant: Chris Shays backers aren't willing to turn out a man they see as an effective, moderate politician who can work both sides of the aisle, even if some disagree with his support of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq

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Chris Shays backers aren't willing to turn out a man they see as an effective, moderate politician who can work both sides of the aisle, even if some disagree with his support of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq

Chris Shays backers aren't willing to turn out a man they see as an effective, moderate politician who can work both sides of the aisle, even if some disagree with his support of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq

The Courant over the past week interviewed eight former Shays backers from Greenwich, Fairfield, New Canaan and Weston, and the prevailing theme was this: They still like and respect Shays, a pro-choice moderate who supports stem cell research, has a solid environmental record and voted against impeaching President Clinton. But the defectors say they have a deeply felt need to send a message to President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, which they believe to be guilty of an abuse of power.

Chris Shays backers aren't willing to turn out a man they see as an effective, moderate politician who can work both sides of the aisle, even if some disagree with his support of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq

Shays Feels Heat Of Message To Washington

September 23, 2006

By JOSH KOVNER, Courant Staff Writer

[Excerpt]

Forget traffic jams on I-95. Set aside private-school vouchers and prescription drug prices. It's the war that's dominating the congressional race in Fairfield County.

The Iraq conflict has divided supporters of Rep. Chris Shays, the 19-year Republican incumbent locked in the toughest campaign of his career against Democrat Diane Farrell in the 4th Congressional District.

Shays still has a formidable following in the district, which stretches from Greenwich along the wealthy Gold Coast to Oxford in the lower Naugatuck Valley. His backers aren't willing to turn out a man they see as an effective, moderate politician who can work both sides of the aisle, even if some disagree with his support of the Bush administration's policies in Iraq.

But others who voted for him in his narrow victory over Farrell in 2004 cannot set aside the war issue. They are bailing on Shays and supporting Farrell, who served eight years as first selectwoman of Westport.

Shays has gone to Iraq 14 times and chairs a subcommittee that has held more than 15 hearings on the war. He's a self-proclaimed expert on Iraq and terrorism. With six weeks to go, the defections from his camp are helping to make the race a toss-up, with a crucial string of debates starting Oct. 4.

The bailout factor is partly why this race is viewed nationally as a battleground on Iraq policy and a test of how much candidates such as Farrell will benefit from the anti-war backlash, as Ned Lamont did in his primary victory over Sen. Joe Lieberman. Normally, in mid-term elections, the turnout lags and the incumbent becomes very difficult to beat. But the war and deepening dissatisfaction with the Bush administration have infused the Shays-Farrell race and the state's other congressional campaigns with the buzz of a presidential election year.

The Courant over the past week interviewed eight former Shays backers from Greenwich, Fairfield, New Canaan and Weston, and the prevailing theme was this: They still like and respect Shays, a pro-choice moderate who supports stem cell research, has a solid environmental record and voted against impeaching President Clinton. But the defectors say they have a deeply felt need to send a message to President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress, which they believe to be guilty of an abuse of power.

Listen to Karen Watt, of the Riverside section of Greenwich. A self-described housewife and active volunteer for a host of community issues, Watt is part of a group of women with feminist leanings who have switched support from Shays to Farrell:

"I was absolutely a supporter of Chris's, and I still am in a strange way. But I must dissent," Watt said. "Ultimately, he supports the Republican leadership, which sets the agenda for the country. Loss of life, prison torture, civil liberties - we are very distressed and feel very deeply about these issues. Fortunately, we have a viable alternative in Diane Farrell."

And this from John Moeling of Greenwich, a real-estate broker who was a longtime supporter of Shays:

"If I voted for Chris and [House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.] kept his seat by one vote, I couldn't live with myself. I do believe the country is in some danger, if we don't change the direction we're going," Moeling said.

"You're either in Chris Shays' house or out of it, more so than ever," said Frank Doegler of New Canaan, a retired real-estate broker who is backing Farrell this time around.

For his part, Shays said he doesn't believe the bailouts are widespread, and is eyeing the debates against Farrell - there are 11 of them, in a dizzying stretch between Oct. 4 and Oct. 19 - to clarify his position on the war. He essentially believes the policies that brought us to Iraq were sound, but that the president and the Republican leadership have done a poor job of carrying out the war. Since shortly after the Lieberman-Lamont primary shocker on Aug. 8, he has been calling for a timetable for withdrawal. It's the first time he's done that, prompting Farrell and some of his ex-supporters to charge that he is desperately trying to shore up his position. Shays counters that his position has evolved.

"A lot of people recognize that I get it about the terrorist threat and that my committee is helping to lead the effort to shape a response," Shays said after a recent fundraiser in Wilton.

"Look, Chris Dodd, Joe Lieberman and I voted to go to war. I won't blame anyone for that vote," Shays said. "I consulted with a lot of people, including Bill Clinton [about whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction]. I consulted with various countries, and only France said no. Now, they turned out to be right, but we learned that Saddam had bought off France and Russia with oil for food," Shays said.

He said he told his campaign staff that he'll win or lose this race "on whether I do a good job campaigning in this district down the stretch. And I feel we've done a great job. I feel I have the record and the experience for people to examine."

Farrell's position on the war is that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should be removed, and that his successor should produce a comprehensive plan for transition and withdrawal within 30 days. The plan would include a diplomatic strategy to avert a civil war and rebuild Iraq, and assurances that veterans will receive proper benefits. She said Shays' call for a timeline doesn't go far enough, and that in any case, "he's far too late coming to the party."

She's well-funded, has a solid base of support, and also feels Shays is doing a great job - for her.

She's greeting former Shays supporters with open arms, such as the group she met a few weeks ago at Sue McCally's house in Greenwich, a gathering that included Moeling and Watt.

"We're helping people to feel OK about it," Farrell said, pausing to talk during a campaign stop at a country fair in Weston recently.





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Story Source: Hartford Courant

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Fiji; Politics; Congress; Iraq

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