Greenwich Citizen - Fresh Back from Israel, Himes Hones in on Issues

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Greenwich Citizen - Fresh Back from Israel, Himes Hones in on Issues

Congressional candidate Jim Himes, displaying a smoother oratorical style than in the past, spent two hours updating a packed Town Hall crowd on campaign issues July 16.

The Greenwich stop was the fourth of 17 Himes has on the drawing board this month to solicit support for his presumed November campaign against U.S. Rep Chris Shays, a 22-year veteran in the Fourth Congressional District.

Presumed campaign? Yes. First, Himes must face challenger Lee Whitnum in a Democratic primary Aug. 12.

The "new" Himes delivery style was devoid of the frequent pauses that marked speeches during past appearances in Greenwich. At times, back then, he appeared to search for words.

His body language was stiff, boardroom stuff: close-to-the-vest hand gestures, no waving arms and no strolling back and forth in front of the audience the way seasoned politicians do.

The "new" apparently well-rehearsed Himes came up with appropriate answers to questions this time. Each question from audience members he called on gave Himes an opportunity to brilliantly frame his take on campaign issues. The words rolled off his tongue effortlessly.

His performance was captured by two crews of videographers, their cameras on twin tripods at the back of the room. One crew worked for the Himes campaign; the other for the Shays campaign.

During his Greenwich visit, Himes brandished newly gained credentials on foreign affairs. He told about travels to Israel early in July.

He met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, had discussions with the staff of the Israel Foreign Affairs Ministry, a member of the Israeli Knesset, and traveled to Sderot -the border town subjected to constant rocket attacks by Hamas militants in Gaza.

Himes said he journeyed to Israel to learn more about the national security issues he will confront daily if elected to Congress.

"From a national security perspective," he said, "there is no country that knows more about the threats we face than Israel.

"The Israelis have tremendous experience in the fight against Islamic extremism; they obviously have an extremely sophisticated understanding of the Middle East in general, and in many ways we share the same concerns. The Israelis are concerned about what happens in Iraq. And no one stands to lose more from a nuclear Iran."

During the Greenwich forum, Himes basically underlined issues in his political platform, as promulgated in campaign literature and TV ads.

The platform:

* Take the real world to Washington.

* Grow economic opportunity in the nation's cities. To accomplish this, Himes expects to draw on experience honed as a vice president of an affordable housing nonprofit entity building environmentally friendly affordable housing.

* Help create jobs, and compete in the global economy. On this front, Himes expects to tap his 12 years at Goldman-Sachs strengthening American companies.

* Working to make America's public schools great so they can provide kids with what it takes to be "the innovators, thinkers and problem-solvers" needed to make communities thrive. Himes credits his public school education (in New Jersey) with earning him admission to Harvard College and winning a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford in England - a coveted post-college honor.

* Restore America's leadership abroad and bring the troops home from Iraq.

"Lots of politicians promise change," Himes told the nearly 100 lending their ears as they harvested his words in the Town Hall Meeting Room. The audience composition appeared to be 99 percent Democrats.

A notable exception was RTM delegate Ed Dadakis, 1st District (South Central) A member of the Republican Town Committee (RTC), Dadakis did not get a chance to aim a question at Himes.

However, Dadakis spoke his mind about Himes in the Town Hall lobby before the meeting during a chance encounter with Lee Whitnum.

Here's what happened:

"I am Lee Whitnum and I am running in the primary against Jim Himes and hope you will vote for me," she said, greeting Dadakis as she attempted to greet each individual stepping into the lobby before getting to the meeting room where Himes was holding forth.

"I hope you win," Dadakis told Whitnum.

Then he looked at a little blue calling-card she had pressed into his hand. The card solicited support for her in the Aug. 12 Democratic primary and noted "donations appreciated."

Dadakis glanced at the card and repeated: "I hope you win."

Whitnum is going toe-to-toe in the Democratic primary Aug. 12 to select the Democratic Party nominee running against Shays.

Meanwhile, sounding as though he was playing on the "change" theme of presumed Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama, Himes in the meeting room, told folks:

"We need a congressman with energy and fresh ideas - one who understands that our country and our world are changing."

A bump in the Himes campaign came up when a questioner asked if Himes intended to return campaign contributions from U.S. Rep Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. Rangel had been facing fire for holding four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem. Three are for his family and one is his office.

Rangel also has been under the public microscope for varying acts of misconduct, which potentially break House Ethics Rules and New York City Law.

The questioner did not identify himself. But he described himself as a recent college graduate who cannot find a job.

Himes answered the question about returning campaign money given by Rangel.

"I tell you what," he said. "Charles Rangel is a friend of mine and I'm very proud of it."

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