August 29, 2006

House Race Hotline Update: Criss Crossed

Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT 04), a stalwart supporter of the war in Iraq, said his position on troop withdrawal evolved during his 14th visit to Iraq. He now favors setting a timetable, and will be holding hearings on Iraq next month.

-- The 9/06 hearings will push Iraq to the forefront of the debate. That's not welcome news for CT's two other 2 vulnerable GOPers (Simmons/Johnson), who would rather talk about the broader "war on terror" or domestic issues.

-- Will voters judge candidates on their "timetable" position or on their overall view of the Iraq war? Shays' opponent, Diane Farrell (D), drew headlines for opposing a time-certain withdrawal earlier this month, but she's been a staunch opponent of the Iraq war from the beginning. And Shays has been one of the leading Iraq hawks, but is now getting attention for supporting a withdrawal.

-- Has Shays finally succumbed to the anti-war sentiment in his CD? After his 7/06 visit to Iraq, he said he opposed any deadlines. But with two months before the election, he's adapted his position. Will Shays' change-of-mind come across as sincere or politically motivated?
[ JOSH KRAUSHAAR]

Posted at 02:15 PM

Comments

Shays' desperate move puts the Republicans in the "divided over Iraq" category, and also undermines attacks on candidates like Lamont. Democrats want to "cut and run?" So do Republicans.

His internal polling must have been brutal and convinced him that the only chance he's got is to side with the majority of Americans on Iraq -- it was a mistake, it wasn't worth it, it's only going to get worse, time to start leaving.

M. D. Williams | 08.29.06 02:59 PM

Want to know the real reason Shays switched positions? It’s because of me. I’m his Libertarian opponent in the race.

On Monday, August 21, I sent an email to his and Farrell’s campaigns with my six-page position paper explaining why we need a deadline, how Iraq is quickly becoming a Communist country, and why the deadline should be July 4th of next year.

At the time Shays/Farrell both opposed a deadline. I invited them to attend the town meeting on August 29, at 8pm, in Greenwich Town Hall to debate the issue with me. They declined. I am hosting the meeting tonight.

But it seems Shays is changing to try to keep up with my policy positions. Even the specific words and reasons he now espouses seem to come directly from my position paper.

For more details, here is a press release:
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/7968/

See my website at http://www.MayminForCongress.com for the position
paper and more.

Best regards,
Phil Maymin
Libertarian Candidate for U.S. Congress
Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District

Phil Maymin | 08.29.06 04:46 PM

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