New Canaan News-Review - Himes Wants American Dream for All

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New Canaan News-Review - Himes Wants American Dream for All

Democratic Congressional hopeful Jim Himes wants everyone to have a chance at the American dream.

The main way is education, Himes said to a crowd of about 30 New Canaan Democrats at Waveny House May 28. The Cos Cob resident talked about his upbringing, his realization of the American dream and how he intends to make it happen for the citizens of the 4th Congressional District's if elected to the House of Representatives.

"Every child should have the opportunity for education," Himes said. "It's not a political project, but repairing a country that needs repair. It's bringing back the values that made this country great."

The opponent to incumbent Rep. Chris Shays (R-4) said he wants to bring back the country's unity and work toward improving the education system, especially in urban areas; find alternative fuel sources and reduce energy consumption; and offer universal health coverage.

"Every generation, with a little bit of hard work, can leave behind a better life. For the first time in our history, that's something we cannot take for granted," Himes said. "There's been an abandonment of fundamental American values in the past eight years."

Himes said, for example, part of this was lost in how President George W. Bush treated the American people post-Sept. 11. The Congressional hopeful said the sentiment he remembers after the attacks was the sense of purpose and togetherness.

"This president could've asked us to do anything and we would've done it. But, instead the president asked us to go shopping. He thought of us as consumers," Himes said.

That undermines the nation's capabilities. Under previous administrations, he said, the country has enacted the Emancipation Proclamation and landed on the moon.

"We achieve great things through common purpose," Himes said. "What keeps me going for 2009 is that we'll finally, finally get serious about energy, change our ways or leave our children with a world that's uninhabitable."

Himes said his mission is to help fix these problems.

"They are tough, complicated problems that we must address and solve," he said. "But this is what we do. We've been asked to think of ourselves as white or black, rich or poor, alien or native, gay or straight for the past six years. They have asked us to forget that this is what we do: we come together and solve problems."

Himes said he is an example of the American dream. He grew up in small New Jersey town with a single, working mother. While going to school, he said, he worked "every single job I could." That ranged from mowing lawns and painting houses to working at the town's pizza parlor, hardware store and pharmacy.

"And I got to go to a good public school," Himes said. "That opened doors for me. I went to Harvard, which opened more doors."

He became a Rhodes scholar and attended Oxford University in England for a few years. Upon his return, Himes went to work for Goldman Sachs & Co and rose to the rank of vice president during his 12 years at the company. For the past four years, he has run the Northeast operations of Enterprise Community Partners.

New Canaan Selectman Sally Hines said she finds Himes logical and thoughtful. She attended his address last week and has heard him speak on other occasion, she said.

"I like what he has to say about the issues. They're important topics, topics everyone is interested in," Hines said. "(His positions) are well-reasoned and they make a lot of sense. I think he'll be a great congressman."

Congressman James Clyburn (D-S.C.) had prefaced Himes' speech, and strongly supported the prospective candidate's run for office. Clyburn, the House of Represntatives majority whip, said Himes' background and experience make him a good fit for the state's 4th District.

"We need to get Jim Himes in there because our caucus is very diverse and if we have a caucus that's reflective of this diverse country, we'll have a greater chance of passing legislation," Clyburn said. "We want to be able to pass on to the future of this party how to guide this nation."

Clyburn said the Democratic Party is gaining strength. Out of the 435 members of Congress, 236 sit as Democrats. Clyburn said that number went up by 13 in the last six months when the party won "special elections no one thought we'd win."

"I think people have changed their conservations, that the Republican brand isn't what it was two years ago," Clyburn said. "This is the environment Jim Himes is running in. It's not the same as four years ago. We believe he will come to Congress, add to the majority and make my life a little easier."

Himes also highlighted Clyburn's rise to political office. He said the current majority ehip grew up in the segregated south and became a high-ranking politician despite being told he would never serve in public office.

"These are illustrations of the American dream," Himes said.

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